dụng như hổ, bất dụng như thử
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Employed, a tiger; unemployed, a mouse — the same person is fierce or timid as they are trusted or shelved.
Literally: used, like a tiger; unused, like a rat
Sources & notes
Discovered via Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.
Common questions
What does “dụng như hổ, bất dụng như thử” mean?
Employed, a tiger; unemployed, a mouse — the same person is fierce or timid as they are trusted or shelved. Literally: used, like a tiger; unused, like a rat
Is “dụng như hổ, bất dụng như thử” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.