项庄舞剑，意在沛公

xiàngzhuāngwǔjiàn,yìzàipèigōng

performed the sword dance as a cover for his attempt on Liu Bang's life—act with a hidden motive

* * *

Xiang4 Zhuang1 wu3 jian4 , yi4 zai4 Pei4 Gong1

lit. Xiangzhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦, 刘邦 (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang 劉邦, 刘邦, Duke of Pei 沛公 and future Han emperor, during a sword dance at Feast at Hongmen 鴻門宴, 鸿门宴, an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent

* * *

項莊舞劍，意在沛公|项庄舞剑，意在沛公 [Xiàng Zhuāng wǔ jiàn , yì zài Pèi Gōng] ► lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang ↑劉邦|↑刘邦 [Liú Bang] (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang ↑劉邦|↑刘邦 [Liú Bāng], aka Duke of Pei ↑沛公 [Pèi Gōng] and the future Han emperor, during a sword dance at Feast at Hongmen ↑鴻門宴|↑鸿门宴 [Hóng mén Yàn] ► an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent