The literal meaning of "A cunning rabbit has three burrows" is that a sly rabbit prepares three hiding holes. It comes from the Strategies of the Warring States, Qi Strategies IV, where Feng Xuan said to Lord Mengchang: "A cunning rabbit has three burrows, yet it barely escapes death. Now you have only one burrow, so you cannot yet rest easy on a high pillow." Later generations use it as a metaphor for a person who, for their own safety or interests, arranges multiple hiding places or several contingency plans in advance, so that when danger comes they can maneuver flexibly and turn peril into safety. This idiom often carries a derogatory or neutral tone, describing someone who is overly shrewd and skilled at scheming, always leaving a way out; it can also be used in a positive sense to praise someone for being far-sighted and knowing how to prepare for a rainy day. It is mostly used in situations describing political struggles, commercial competition, or interpersonal dealings, where someone is smooth in handling affairs and hedges their bets on multiple sides. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the survival wisdom in ancient Chinese strategic culture of "preparedness averts peril" and "leaving a way out." In emotional coloring, it sometimes carries a sarcastic implication, suggesting that the person is not loyal enough or is too calculating; sometimes it also expresses approval of a thorough strategy.
📝 Example
1. He maintains good relationships with three departments at the company at the same time—truly a cunning rabbit with three burrows; no matter how personnel changes, he can always hold his ground. (A metaphor for arranging multiple escape routes or backers in advance to ensure one's own safety.)
2. This smuggling ring is like a cunning rabbit with three burrows; after the police destroyed one hideout, they quickly reopened elsewhere. (Describes having many hiding places or strongholds, making it difficult to wipe them out completely.)