IntermediateChinese Idiom (成语)

狗仗人势

gǒu zhàng rén shì

“A dog relies on its master's power”

Meaning: To bully others with borrowed authority; to act arrogantly because of someone else's power; to be a bully's lackey

Character-by-Character Breakdown

to rely on / to depend on

The Story Behind 狗仗人势

Source:《醒世恒言》

Period:Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)

The Dog That Relies on Its Master

The idiom 狗仗人势 comes from classical Chinese literature, describing people who act arrogantly because of someone else's power.

It uses the metaphor of a dog that barks and acts aggressively only because its master is powerful.

The phrase emphasizes that such people have no real power of their own and only act tough because of their connections.

It teaches that true strength comes from oneself, not from relying on others' power.

Original Classical Chinese

狗仗人势，狐假虎威。

How to Use 狗仗人势

This idiom is used to criticize people who act arrogantly or bully others because of someone else's power or influence.

It emphasizes that such people have no real power of their own and only act tough because of their connections.

The idiom is often used to describe lackeys or people who abuse borrowed authority.

When to use:

Use when criticizing people who abuse borrowed authority
Often used to describe lackeys or bullies with no real power
Can be used to emphasize that true strength comes from oneself

Common Mistake

Don't confuse this with legitimate delegation of authority. It specifically refers to abusing borrowed authority to bully others, not using delegated power appropriately.

Example Sentences

他不过是狗仗人势，没有他父亲他什么都不是。

Tā bùguò shì gǒu zhàng rén shì, méiyǒu tā fùqīn tā shénme dōu bù shì.

He is just relying on his father's power. Without his father, he is nothing.

不要狗仗人势，靠别人的权力欺负人。

Bùyào gǒu zhàng rén shì, kào biérén de quánlì qīfù rén.

Don't rely on others' power to bully people.

他狗仗人势，因为老板有权就欺负同事。

Tā gǒu zhàng rén shì, yīnwèi lǎobǎn yǒu quán jiù qīfù tóngshì.

He relies on his boss's power, bullying colleagues because the boss has authority.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

狗stroke order 仗stroke order 人stroke order 势stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 狗仗人势 (gǒu zhàng rén shì) mean?

狗仗人势 literally means "a dog relies on its master's power." Figuratively, it means to bully others with borrowed authority, to act arrogantly because of someone else's power, or to be a bully's lackey. It emphasizes that such people have no real power of their own.

What is the difference between 狗仗人势 and 狐假虎威?

Both idioms describe using borrowed authority, but 狗仗人势 specifically uses the metaphor of a dog relying on its master's power, while 狐假虎威 uses the metaphor of a fox borrowing a tiger's power. Both emphasize that the person has no real power of their own.

How do you use 狗仗人势 in a sentence?

Use 狗仗人势 when criticizing someone who abuses borrowed authority. For example: "他不过是狗仗人势，没有他父亲他什么都不是" (He is just relying on his father's power. Without his father, he is nothing).

Is 狗仗人势 always negative?

Yes, 狗仗人势 has a negative connotation. It's used to criticize people who act arrogantly or bully others because of someone else's power. It emphasizes that true strength comes from oneself, not from relying on others.

Is 狗仗人势 difficult to learn?

狗仗人势 is considered intermediate level. It uses characters of varying difficulty (狗 HSK3, 仗 HSK6, 人 HSK1, 势 HSK4). The metaphor is memorable and the idiom is commonly used in modern Chinese.