During the Yuan Dynasty, an official named 彻里帖木耳 (Cheli Tiemu'er) witnessed corruption in the imperial examination system and was determined to abolish it. Once he gained enough influence, he successfully persuaded the emperor to issue a decree ending the examinations.

However, some officials who had benefited from the old system, like 许有王 (Xu Youwang), opposed the reform. After the decree was read aloud, Xu Youwang was mocked as a “person who crosses the river then tears down the bridge”, meaning he had used the old system to rise in rank but now opposed it after the system was abolished.

Idiom Summary

  • Idiom: 过河拆桥
  • Pinyin: guò hé chāi qiáo
  • Literal Translation: cross the river and tear down the bridge
  • Extended Meaning: Used to describe someone who, after achieving their goal with someone’s help, betrays or abandons those who helped them.

Character Introduction

  • 彻里帖木耳 (Cheli Tiemu'er) - A capable Yuan Dynasty official who pushed for major reforms, including abolishing the imperial examinations.
  • 许有王 (Xu Youwang) - An official who benefited from the old system but opposed its abolition, later mocked as 过河拆桥 for betraying those who once helped him.