请君入瓮
- Literal
- to invite the gentleman to step into the jar
- Figurative
- To trap someone using the very method or cruelty they devised for others; to give someone a taste of their own medicine.
Where does 请君入瓮 come from?
Under Empress Wu Zetian, the officials Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing were feared for their cruel methods of torture. When a report accused Zhou Xing of plotting treason, the empress ordered Lai Junchen to investigate him. Lai invited Zhou to a banquet and casually asked what to do with a prisoner who refuses to confess. Zhou said one need only place him in a large jar and ring it with burning coals. Lai had a jar brought in and a fire lit around it, then rose and told Zhou: "There is a report against you; please, sir, step into the jar." Terrified, Zhou Xing prostrated himself and confessed at once.
Source (出处): 《资治通鉴》
How is 请君入瓮 used? Two examples
- 他用假消息骗别人，我们就请君入瓮，让他自己上当。
He tricks people with fake news, so we gave him a taste of his own medicine and let him fall into his own trap.
- 既然他喜欢设圈套，这次我们就请君入瓮，用他的办法对付他。
Since he loves setting traps, this time we turned his own method against him and beat him at his own game.
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