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"得陇望蜀" (dé lǒng wàng shǔ) - Desiring Shu After Obtaining Long

得陇望蜀

Having obtained Long (Gansu), one desires Shu (Sichuan); to be insatiably greedy; never satisfied.

Story

The idiom "得陇望蜀" (dé lǒng wàng shǔ) comes from the Book of the Later Han (Hou Han Shu 后汉书), specifically the "Biography of Cen Peng" (岑彭传).

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cen Peng was a general under Emperor Guangwu (光武帝). After Cen Peng successfully conquered Longxi (陇西，present-day Gansu province), Emperor Guangwu, desiring to unify the entire country, hoped that Cen Peng would continue his military campaigns and conquer Shu (蜀，present-day Sichuan province). This ambition was described as "得陇望蜀," meaning that after gaining Long, he then desired Shu. While not explicitly stated as negative in the original context, later usage of the idiom has become predominantly negative, implying insatiable greed.

Meaning and Usage

"得陇望蜀" literally translates to "obtain Long desire Shu." It describes a situation where someone, after achieving one goal, immediately sets their sights on another, often more ambitious goal, demonstrating insatiable greed and a lack of contentment. It is typically used in a negative context to criticize excessive desire and ambition.

  • Example (In business): “这家公司已经占据了市场的大部分份额，却仍然不断扩张，真是得陇望蜀。” (“Zhè jiā gōngsī yǐjīng zhànjù le shìchǎng de dà bùfen fèn’é, què réngrán bùduàn kuòzhāng, zhēnshi dé lǒng wàng shǔ.”) – “This company has already occupied a large share of the market, but it continues to expand. It’s truly desiring Shu after obtaining Long.”

  • Example (In personal life): “人不能太得陇望蜀，要懂得珍惜现在所拥有的。” (“Rén bù néng tài dé lǒng wàng shǔ, yào dǒngdé zhēnxī xiànzài suǒ yǒngyǒu de.”) – “People shouldn’t be too greedy. They should learn to cherish what they have now.”

Cultural Significance of Chéngyǔ (成语)

"得陇望蜀" serves as a cautionary tale against:

  • Insatiable Greed: It warns against the dangers of excessive desire and a lack of contentment.
  • Unrealistic Ambition: It cautions against setting unrealistic goals and not appreciating what one has already achieved.
  • 贪得无厌 (tān dé wú yàn): Insatiably greedy; never satisfied.
  • 得寸进尺 (dé cùn jìn chǐ): After gaining an inch, one wants a foot; to be insatiable.