Chinese idiom: tú qióng bĭ xiàn

When the map is unrolled, the dagger is revealed

Toward the end of the Warring States Period (475－221 BC), there was a powerful state named Qin. It wanted to annex other states to unite China. In 228 BC, the Qin army conquered one of the states and prepared to attack another named Yan. So the Yan prince, Dan, sent a brave man called Jing Ke to assassinate the king of Qin.

In order to gain the confidence of the King of Qin, Jing Ke brought a map of the most fertile part of Yan territory for the king and hid a sharp dagger in it.

Jing Ke was allowed to present the map to the king in the palace. With great respect, he unrolled the map slowly. When it was completely unrolled, the hidden dagger appeared. Jing Ke grabbed it and stabbed at the king. But the king dodged the dagger and hid himself behind a big pillar. Jing Ke was then killed by the palace guards. His plan failed. Later, Qin wiped off Yan.

People use the idiom to indicate that the real intention is revealed in the end.

圖窮匕現(xiàn) tú qióng bĭ xiàn

戰(zhàn)國末期,有一個很強(qiáng)大的國家叫秦國,它想吞并其他國家,統(tǒng)一天下.公元前228年,秦國的軍隊(duì)占領(lǐng)了其中一個國家.接著又準(zhǔn)備入侵另一個叫燕國的國家.燕國的太子丹就派了一名叫荊軻的勇士前往秦國刺殺秦王.

為了獲得秦王的信任,荊軻帶上了一張地圖,上面畫著燕國最富饒的地方,準(zhǔn)備獻(xiàn)給秦王.他在這張地圖里藏了一把非常鋒利的匕首.

他來到秦國,見到秦王,恭敬地將地圖獻(xiàn)上,然后,慢慢打開地圖給秦王看.當(dāng)?shù)貓D完全打開時,他抽出那把藏著的匕首,刺向秦王.但秦王躲開了,跑到了一根大柱子后.秦王的衛(wèi)士們立刻跑來圍住他,把他給殺了.燕國太子刺殺秦王的計(jì)劃失敗了.后來,燕國也被秦國吞并了.

人們用這個成語來比喻事情發(fā)展到最后,真相或本意就露出來了.