Meaning:

    “大” means “big,” and “老虎” means “tiger.” Literally, the term means “big tiger.” However, Chinese people today use the term to refer to senior officials who are investigated and punished for corruption. Chinese President Xi Jinping was quoted as saying that “the anti-corruption campaign should target both ‘flies’ (junior offficials) and ‘big tigers’ (high-ranking officials)” during a 2014 meeting attended by disciplinary officials. The term has since been frequently used in the press.

    Example:

    A: 过去的一年落马的高官真不少。

    Guòqù de yīnián luòmǎ de gāoguān zhēn bùshǎo。

    A whole bunch of senior officials were sacked last year.

    B: 可不是吗！可见中国高层反腐的决心很大。

    Kě bùshì ma! Kějiàn zhōngguó gāocéng fǎnfǔ de juéxīn hěn dà。

    Indeed! Chinese authorities are determined to wage a war against corruption.

    A: 去年打掉的大老虎都有谁？

    Qùnián dǎdiào de dàlǎohǔ dōu yǒu shuí?

    Who were the big tigers busted last year?

    B: 有徐才厚、苏荣、周永康以及令计划。

    Yǒu xúcáihòu、sūróng、zhōuyǒngkāng yǐjí lìngjìhuà。

    These included Xu Caihou, Su Rong, Zhou Yongkang and Ling Jihua.