蟊賊

蟊賊

1. (Classical Chinese, literally) grain-eating insect

   • 去其螟螣，及其蟊賊，無害我田穉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     去其螟螣，及其蟊贼，无害我田穉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Qù qí míngtè, jí qí máozéi, wú hài wǒ tiántí. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

2. (figuratively) person harmful to the country and the people

   • 天降罪罟，蟊賊內訌。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     天降罪罟，蟊贼内讧。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Tiān jiàng zuìgǔ, máozéi nèihòng. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 吾主漢朝皇叔，反不能占據州郡；其他皆漢之蟊賊，卻都恃強侵占地土：惟智者不平焉。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     吾主汉朝皇叔，反不能占据州郡；其他皆汉之蟊贼，却都恃强侵占地土：惟智者不平焉。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14^th century CE

     Wú zhǔ Hàncháo huángshū, fǎn bùnéng zhànjù zhōujùn; qítā jiē Hàn zhī máozéi, què dōu shìqiáng qīnzhàn dìtǔ: wéi zhìzhě bùpíng yān. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 上天會不會嘉許我替世上剪除這一個戕害天性的蟊賊，不讓他繼續為非作惡？ [MSC, trad.]
     上天会不会嘉许我替世上剪除这一个戕害天性的蟊贼，不让他继续为非作恶？ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1943, Zhu Shenghao, 《漢姆萊脫》 (translation of Hamlet)

     Shàngtiān huì bùhuì jiāxǔ wǒ tì shìshàng jiǎnchú zhè yīge qiānghài tiānxìng de máozéi, bù ràng tā jìxù wéifēizuò'è? [Pinyin]

     And is't not to be damn'd to let this canker of our nature come in further euill?