州官放火 [－－－－]

Jyutping zau1 gun1 fong3 fo2
Pinyin zhōu guān fàng huǒ

Definitions (CC-CANTO)
  1. dictatorship
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, idiomatic
    a tyrant boss or leader can do whatever he likes, but the common people are not allowed the slightest bit of freedom
    (syn.) 只许州官放火, 只許州官放火, 不許百姓點燈, 不许百姓点灯
Examples (Tatoeba—Mandarin-English)
  1. Mandarin
    只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。
    只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈。
    zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ ， bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng 。
    • What is permitted to Jove is not permitted to an ox.
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    只准州官放火，不许百姓点灯。
    只准州官放火，不許百姓點燈。
    • State officials are allowed to set fire, yet civilians are not allowed to light lamps.
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    这种刻意的强加，赤裸裸，昭然若揭，简直就是只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。
    這種刻意的強加，赤裸裸，昭然若揭，簡直就是隻許州官放火，不許百姓點燈。
    zhè zhǒng kè yì de qiáng jiā ， chì luǒ luǒ ， zhāo rán ruò jiē ， jiǎn zhí jiù shì zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ ， bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng ．
    • This kind of impositions, which is intentional, blatant and excessively obvious, exactly means that a boss can do whatever he/she likes but his/her subordinates should have no rights at all.
  2. Mandarin
    更有民众贴出早前纽森进行多人室内聚会的照片，以讽刺纽森只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯的施政作派。
    更有民眾貼出早前紐森進行多人室內聚會的照片，以諷刺紐森只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈的施政作派。
    gèng yǒu mín zhòng tiē chū zǎo qián niǔ sēn jìn xíng duō rén shì nèi jù huì de zhào piàn ， yǐ fěng cì niǔ sēn zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ ， bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng de shī zhèng zuò pài ．
    • There was even someone who posted a photo in which Newsom previously attended an indoor party in order to satirize his administrative manner since he can do whatever he likes but the common people are not allowed the slightest bit of freedom.