作威作福

Chinese
 
to regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do
to regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do; to make
 power; might; prestige
 
to regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do
to regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do; to make
 
good fortune; happiness; luck
good fortune; happiness; luck; Fujian province (abbrev); surname
trad. (作威作福) 作 威 作 福
simp. #(作威作福) 作 威 作 福
Literally: “to punish and award”.

Etymology

From 《尚書·洪範》.

惟辟作福，惟辟作威 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 4th – 3rd century BCE
wéi pì zuò fú, wéi pì zuò wēi [Pinyin]
Only the king awards. Only the king punishes.

Pronunciation

Verb

作威作福

  1. to openly abuse power; to tyrannize
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