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项庄舞剑，意在沛公
xiàng zhuāng wǔ jiàn , yì zài pèi gōng
Definitions
- •lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[liú bāng] (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang, aka Duke of Pei 沛公[pèi gōng] and the future Han emperor, during a sword dance at the Hongmen feast 鴻門宴|鸿门宴[hóng mén yàn]
- •an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent