In the State of Chu, there was a famous archer named 养由基 (Yǎng Yóujī). When he was young, he was exceptionally strong and skilled in archery. Another archer named Pan Hu was also very good. One day, they competed in front of a crowd. The target was placed 50 steps away, with a board marked with a red center.

潘虎 (Pān Hǔ) shot three arrows in a row, all hitting the red center, winning cheers from the crowd. Proudly, Pan Hu invited Yang Youji to show his skill.

Yang Youji glanced around and said,
“Shooting at the red center 50 steps away is too easy. Let’s shoot at a willow leaf 100 steps away instead!”

He pointed to a willow tree 100 steps away, had someone paint a single leaf red as the target, then drew his bow and shot. The arrow pierced exactly the center of the leaf, astonishing everyone present.

Summary：

  • Idiom : 百步穿杨
  • Pinyin : bǎi bù chuān yáng
  • Literal Translation : shoot through a willow leaf at a hundred paces
  • Extended Meaning : Used to describe someone with exceptional shooting or archery skills; metaphorically means having superb skill or precision.

Character Introduction:

  • 养由基 (Yǎng Yóujī) – A legendary archer from the State of Chu, renowned for his extraordinary marksmanship.
  • 潘虎 (Pān Hǔ) – A skilled archer who competed against Yang Youji.