狐狸尾巴 (hú li wěi ba) — (figurative) telltale sign, giveaway, something that reveals one's hidden intention or true nature

Definition

Literally 'fox tail' but used figuratively for a telltale sign that reveals someone's hidden intentions. Compare with 露马脚 (exposing a flaw in a plan or scheme).

noun
(figurative) telltale sign, giveaway, something that reveals one's hidden intention or true nature

Examples

  • ，狐狸尾巴。
    Tā zuǐ shàng shuō de hǎo tīng, kě zuì hòu hái shì lù chū le hú li wěi ba.
    He speaks nicely, but in the end he showed his true colors.
  • ，狐狸尾巴。
    Piàn zi zhuāng dé zài xiàng, zǒng huì yǒu hú li wěi ba lù chū lái.
    No matter how well a swindler pretends, there will always be a giveaway.
  • ，狐狸尾巴。
    Zhè ge jì huà kàn sì wán měi, dàn zǐ xì yí kàn jiù fā xiàn le hú li wěi ba.
    This plan seems perfect, but a closer look reveals a hidden flaw.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

狐狸fox
狐húfox狸líleopard cat
联合Side by side
尾巴tail
尾wěitail巴bā
后缀Suffix

狐狸 and 尾巴 together picture the tail that gives away the fox.

Characters in this word

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
犭Written in full as犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
瓜
瓜guā狐hú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

狐 uses 犭, the dog sign, to mark it as an animal, and 瓜 to give the sound.

Open 狐 →

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
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ狸
Same sound today

狸 pairs 犬, a dog, with 里, which gives the sound.

Open 狸 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 尾 combines 尸 (person) and 毛 (hair; feather).

Open 尾 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 巴 →

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