Đè hươu

Definition

1. Idiom (historical/political metaphor):
   • To chase the deer / to pursue the deer: A classical Vietnamese idiom derived from Chinese history, symbolizing the struggle to seize the throne or contend for supreme political power and control over the empire. It represents a period of chaos or civil war where multiple factions compete for dominance.

Usage Examples

• Idiom:
  • Thời loạn 12 sứ quân, đất nước như cảnh đè hươu. (During the turmoil of the 12 warlords, the country was like a scene of chasing the deer.)
  • Cuộc đè hươu giữa các thế lực cuối cùng đã kết thúc với một vị hoàng đế mới. (The chase for the deer among the factions finally ended with a new emperor.)

Advanced Usage

• This idiom is almost exclusively used in historical, literary, or formal political commentary to describe power struggles. It is not used in everyday modern conversation.

Variants and Related Words

• Đuổi hươu: This is a direct synonym with identical meaning and usage ("to chase/pursue the deer").
  • Sử sách ghi lại giai đoạn đuổi hươu đầy biến động. (Historical records document the turbulent period of chasing the deer.)

Synonyms

• Struggle for the throne: To fight to become the monarch.
• Contend for supremacy: To compete for the highest position of power.
• Fight for the crown: To battle to become king/emperor.

Related Idioms

• Thiên hạ đại loạn: (The world is in great chaos) – often describes the context in which "đè hươu" occurs.
  • Thiên hạ đại loạn, ai cũng tham gia vào cuộc đè hươu. (The world was in great chaos, everyone joined the chase for the deer.)