Definition
勾心斗角 is a four-character idiom that originally described the intricate interlocking beams (斗拱) in traditional Chinese palace architecture — each bracket hooking into the next. Today it's almost exclusively used figuratively to mean 'scheming and maneuvering against each other' in competitive environments like offices, politics, or social circles. The literal image of hooks and corners is a vivid metaphor for hidden agendas and petty rivalry.
idiom
to engage in petty scheming and infightingto maneuver against each other
Examples
- 勾心斗角，。Gōngsī li gōu xīn dòu jiǎo de xiànxiàng hěn yánzhòng, dǎozhì xǔduō yōuxiù yuángōng dōu líkāi le.The infighting in the company is so severe that many excellent employees have left.
- 勾心斗角，。Zhèngtán de gōu xīn dòu jiǎo ràng tā gǎndào yànjuàn, zuìhòu juédìng tuìchū xuǎnjǔ.The political scheming made him weary, and he eventually decided to withdraw from the election.
- ，勾心斗角。Tāmen biǎomiàn shàng kèkèqìqì, àndìli què yìzhí zài gōu xīn dòu jiǎo.They act polite on the surface, but behind the scenes they are constantly scheming against each other.
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