旁敲侧击
旁敲侧击 (páng qiāo cè jī) literally means “knock side hit flank” and expresses “approach indirectly to achieve goal”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: pang qiao ce ji, pang qiao ce ji,旁敲侧击 meaning, 旁敲侧击 in english
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
Pronunciation: páng qiāo cè jī
Literal meaning: Knock side hit flank
Origin & Usage
This subtle approach describes knocking (敲) from the side (旁) and striking (击) from the flank (侧) rather than direct confrontation, originating from Tang Dynasty military strategy. It first appeared in texts discussing how to defeat superior forces through indirect attacks on vulnerabilities rather than meeting strengths directly. The imagery draws from siege warfare tactics, where attacking walls at angles proved more effective than frontal assault. During the Song Dynasty, it evolved beyond military contexts to describe diplomatic and conversational strategies. Modern usage spans from negotiation tactics to interviewing techniques, describing any approach that achieves objectives through indirect methods rather than obvious or confrontational approaches.
Examples
English: "The journalist used indirect questions to uncover the sensitive information"
Chinese: 记者使用间接问题来揭示敏感信息
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Related Chinese Idioms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 旁敲侧击 mean in English?
旁敲侧击 (páng qiāo cè jī) literally translates to “Knock side hit flank” and is used to express “Approach indirectly to achieve goal”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 旁敲侧击 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving approach indirectly to achieve goal.
What is the pinyin for 旁敲侧击?
The pinyin pronunciation for 旁敲侧击 is “páng qiāo cè jī”.