如虎添翼

Pinyin:rú hǔ tiān yì

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📖 Meaning

Adding wings to a tiger.

📜 Origin

《三国演义》

💡 Detailed Explanation

"Ruhu Tianyi" literally means "like a tiger that has grown wings," a metaphor for a powerful person who becomes even stronger after receiving assistance, or for making something already powerful even more unstoppable. This idiom originates from Romance of the Three Kingdoms and carries a distinctly positive connotation. It is often used to describe people, groups, or forces that already possess an advantage and, after gaining new support, see their strength and momentum multiply, reaching a state that is nearly invincible. Its deeper meaning emphasizes the cumulative effect of "the strong becoming stronger," and it can be applied to military and competitive contexts as well as to business, sports, or personal improvement. It is mostly used in positive evaluations, such as describing a company recruiting top talent, a team bringing in a star player, or a country acquiring key technology. In terms of cultural background, the tiger in Chinese culture symbolizes bravery and authority, while wings represent transcendence and freedom; the combination of the two highlights a qualitative leap. Emotionally, it conveys admiration, awe, and expectation, and sometimes also implies a deterrent to opponents.

📝 Example

1. This tech company already held a dominant market position, and now with a top AI team joining, it's like a tiger with wings—unstoppable. (A metaphor for a strong entity becoming even stronger with added support.) 2. The defending champion team signed a world-class striker during the transfer window, making their strength like a tiger with wings—even more unstoppable, and their chances of winning the title in the new season are higher than ever. (Describing something powerful becoming even more irresistible with added support.)