chéng城citymén门gateshī失losehuǒ火fire
When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer; one suffers as a result of others' troubles.
Literal meaning
city (城) — gate (门) — lose (失) — fire (火)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase indicating collateral damage.
Examples
gōng公sī司dǎo倒bì闭，yuán员gōng工men们yě也gēn跟zhe着zāo遭yāng殃，zhēn真shì是chéng城mén门shī失huǒ火，yāng殃jí及chí池yú鱼。
The company went bankrupt, and the employees suffered as a result; truly, when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer.
jīng经jì济wēi危jī机bào爆fā发，xiǎo小qǐ企yè业yě也gēn跟zhe着dǎo倒bì闭，zhēn真shì是chéng城mén门shī失huǒ火，yāng殃jí及chí池yú鱼。
When the economic crisis broke out, small businesses also went bankrupt; truly, when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer.
Usage & nuances
Illustrates how innocent parties can be affected by the misfortunes of others.
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