Chinese idiom · 成语
舟中敌国
Meaning
Enemies within one's own boat; hostility among people who should be on the same side.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical accountThe Shiji's biography of Sunzi and Wu Qi describes Marquis Wu of Wei admiring his state's mountain and river defenses while traveling by boat. Wu Qi replies that a state's safety depends on virtue, not terrain. He cites earlier rulers who lost their realms despite formidable natural barriers, then warns that if the marquis fails to govern well, even the people in his own boat could become enemies.
The expression condenses that warning. It describes hostility arising among people who are close together or supposedly on the same side.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
团队若失去信任，就可能出现舟中敌国的局面。
If a team loses trust, its members may end up treating one another as enemies.
A formal expression for internal hostility among supposed companions or allies.