避实就虚
避实就虚 (bì shí jiù xū) literally means “shun the solid, go to the hollow” and expresses “avoid strength and strike where it is weak”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: bi shi jiu xu, bi shi jiu xu,避实就虚 meaning, 避实就虚 in english
Avoid strength and strike where it is weak
Pronunciation: bì shí jiù xū Literal meaning: Shun the solid, go to the hollow
Origin & Usage
Sun Tzu, in the chapter on the full and the empty, compares an army to water — it avoids heights and runs to low ground, and so should force avoid (避) what is solid (实) and go to (就) what is hollow (虚). The military sense is straightforward. What learners should watch for is the second life the phrase has developed: applied to speech rather than war, 避实就虚 means dodging the substantive question and answering an easy one instead, and there the tone is entirely disapproving.
Examples
English: "In negotiations, he skillfully sidesteps direct confrontation to find a more advantageous position."
Chinese: 在谈判中，他巧妙地避实就虚，寻找更有利的位置。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
Learn more →
扬长避短
yáng cháng bì duǎn
Play to one's strengths
Learn more →
避其锐气
bì qí ruì qì
Wait out the first rush
Learn more →
虚怀若谷
xū huái ruò gǔ
Stay humble and open
Learn more →
虚张声势
xū zhāng shēng shì
Bluffing with fake display
Learn more →
虚惊一场
xū jīng yī chǎng
False alarm; scare for nothing
Learn more →
将计就计
jiāng jì jiù jì
Turn the enemy's own plot against him
Learn more →
按部就班
àn bù jiù bān
Follow established procedures; step by step
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 避实就虚 mean in English?
避实就虚 (bì shí jiù xū) literally translates to “Shun the solid, go to the hollow” and is used to express “Avoid strength and strike where it is weak”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 避实就虚 used?
Situation: In negotiations, he skillfully sidesteps direct confrontation to find a more advantageous position.
What is the pinyin for 避实就虚?
The pinyin pronunciation for 避实就虚 is “bì shí jiù xū”.