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自掘坟墓 (zì jué fén mù) — to dig one's own grave (figuratively, to bring about one's own ruin)

Definition

Idiom: literally 'dig one's own grave', meaning actions that will inevitably bring about the speaker's own ruin or downfall. Often used to condemn a clearly self-destructive choice.

idiom
to dig one's own grave (figuratively, to bring about one's own ruin)

Examples

  • 自掘坟墓。
    Tā zhè yàng zuò jiǎn zhí shì zài zì jué fén mù.
    What he's doing is practically digging his own grave.
  • ，自掘坟墓。
    Rú guǒ jì xù qī piàn kè hù, gōng sī jiù shì zài zì jué fén mù.
    If the company keeps deceiving customers, it's digging its own grave.
  • 自掘坟墓。
    Zhè zhǒng duǎn shì de zhèng cè wú yì yú zì jué fén mù.
    This short-sighted policy is no different from digging one's own grave.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

自掘dig by oneself
自zìoneself掘juédig
偏正Modifier + head
坟墓grave
坟féngrave墓mùgrave
联合Coordinate

The 'oneself', 'dig', and 'grave' parts build the idea of bringing about one's own ruin.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
屈
屈qū掘jué
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

掘 uses 扌 to show an action done with the hand, and 屈 to give the sound.

Open 掘 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 墳; 坟 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
賁
賁bì墳fén
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 墳, 土 shows the meaning and 賁 gives the sound.

Open 坟 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò墓mù
Same sound today

墓 combines 土 (earth) and 莫 (sound).

Open 墓 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsIdioms & Set Phrases

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