冷箭 (lěng jiàn) — arrow shot from hiding; covert attack; a hidden blow (figurative)
Definition
A 冷箭 is literally an arrow shot from hiding, but it almost always means a sneaky, unprovoked attack (often verbal, like a backhanded remark). It pairs with the verb 放 (放冷箭) — without 放, it sounds incomplete.
noun
arrow shot from hidingcovert attacka hidden blow (figurative)
Measure word · 支
Examples
- 冷箭，。Tā zài bèi hòu fàng le lěng jiàn, ràng rén fáng bú shèng fáng.He launched a covert attack from behind, leaving people unable to defend against it.
- 冷箭。Zhè chǎng zhèng zhì dòu zhēng chōng mǎn le lěng jiàn hé yīn móu.This political struggle is full of hidden attacks and conspiracies.
- 冷箭。Tā méi xiǎng dào péng you huì duì tā fàng lěng jiàn.He didn't expect his friend to stab him in the back.
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