50．革部 leather

马horse革hide裹wrap尸corpse

马革裹尸literally means to be wrapped in a horse hide after death (figuratively—to die on the battle field). In the Eastern Han Dynasty 东汉(25—220), there was a great General named Ma Yuan马援.

At that time the Han Nation was frequently invaded by the Huns匈奴. Ma Yuan was not afraid of death and he asked the Emperor to assign him an expedition. He said “A good man should go out to battle for his country. The best end is to be wrapped in horse hide after death”. He was a hero in his time. Later he died of illness in the battlefield.

Now we use 马革裹尸to describe a soldiers’ heroic and fearless spirit on the battlefield.

【拼音】mǎ gé guǒ shī

【解释】马革即马皮。用马皮把尸体包裹起来， 多指军人战死于沙场。形容为国作战，决心为国捐躯的意志。

【出处】《后汉书·马援传》：男儿要当死于边野，以马革裹尸还葬耳。

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