匹夫之勇

From Mencius

夫撫劍疾視曰，『彼惡敢當我哉』！此匹夫之勇，敵一人者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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夫抚剑疾视曰，‘彼恶敢当我哉’！此匹夫之勇，敌一人者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

Fú fǔjiàn jíshì yuē, ‘bǐ wū gǎn dāng wǒ zāi’! Cǐ pǐfūzhīyǒng, dí yīrén zhě yě. [Pinyin]

If a man brandishes his sword, looks fiercely, and says, "How dare he withstand me?" - this is the valour of a common man, who can be the opponent only of a single individual.

匹夫之勇

1. foolhardiness; courage without wisdom or prudence

   • 顏良，文醜，匹夫之勇，一戰可擒。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     颜良，文丑，匹夫之勇，一战可擒。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14^th century CE

     Yán Liáng, Wén Chǒu, pǐfūzhīyǒng, yīzhàn kěqín. [Pinyin]

     Yan Liang and Wen Chou have but foolhardiness. They can be handled with one battle.