Lã Vọng
Definition
- Proper Noun:
- Lü Wang: The historical and literary name for Jiang Ziya (Jiang Taigong), a revered military strategist and statesman in ancient China who served King Wen and King Wu of Zhou. He is famed for assisting in the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty and the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty.
- A symbol of an elderly but capable person who achieves great success late in life, often after a long period of obscurity or waiting for the right opportunity.
Usage Examples
- Proper Noun:
- Lã Vọng câu cá ở sông Vị chờ thời cơ. (Lü Wang fished at the Wei River, awaiting his opportunity.)
- Câu chuyện về Lã Vọng là nguồn cảm hứng cho nhiều người. (The story of Lü Wang is an inspiration to many people.)
- Ông ấy như Lã Vọng, đến tuổi bảy mươi mới gặp được minh chủ. (He is like Lü Wang, only meeting his enlightened ruler at the age of seventy.)
Advanced Usage
- "Lã Vọng câu cá": Refers specifically to the legend of Jiang Ziya fishing at the Wei River without bait, symbolizing waiting for a worthy ruler to discover and employ his talents.
- Anh ta cứ sống ẩn dật, đúng kiểu Lã Vọng câu cá vậy. (He lives in seclusion, just like Lü Wang fishing.)
Variants and Related Words
- Khương Tử Nha (Proper Noun): The more common personal name for the same historical figure, Jiang Ziya.
- Khương Thượng (Proper Noun): Another name for Jiang Ziya.
- Lã Thượng (Proper Noun): Another historical name for this figure.
Synonyms
- Jiang Ziya: The standard historical name.
- The Grand Duke of Qi: A title he later held as the founder of the State of Qi.
- A late bloomer: (Conceptual synonym) A person whose talents become successful later in life.
Related Idioms
- "Thái Công điếu ngư, nguyện giả thượng câu" (Lã Vọng câu cá, kẻ nào muốn thì tự mắc câu): Often shortened to "Lã Vọng câu cá." It means to wait patiently under self-set conditions for a willing participant or a perfect opportunity to present itself.
- Chiến lược của ông ta chính là Lã Vọng câu cá. (His strategy is precisely that of Lü Wang fishing.)