兵不厌诈
兵不厌诈 (bīng bù yàn zhà) literally means “warfare does not spurn deceit” and expresses “strategic deception”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: bing bu yan zha, bing bu yan zha,兵不厌诈 meaning, 兵不厌诈 in english
Strategic deception
Pronunciation: bīng bù yàn zhà Literal meaning: Warfare does not spurn deceit
Origin & Usage
Before the battle of Chengpu, Duke Wen of Jin asked how to fight an enemy with more men. His uncle Fan answered that in matters of ritual one cannot have too much good faith, but between armies one cannot have too much deception — soldiers (兵) are not sated by (不厌) trickery (诈). Han Feizi preserves the exchange, and the two halves matter together: the licence is explicitly bounded to war, not extended to life. It is now used well outside that boundary, in negotiation and competition, and usually as a pre-emptive excuse rather than an observation.
Examples
English: "In negotiations, he often uses clever tactics to outsmart his opponents."
Chinese: 在谈判中，他常常使用巧妙的策略来智胜对手。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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釜底抽薪
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Eliminate root cause of problem
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推波助澜
tuī bō zhù lán
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
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鹬蚌相争
yù bàng xiāng zhēng
Mutual conflict benefits third party
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 兵不厌诈 mean in English?
兵不厌诈 (bīng bù yàn zhà) literally translates to “Warfare does not spurn deceit” and is used to express “Strategic deception”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 兵不厌诈 used?
Situation: In negotiations, he often uses clever tactics to outsmart his opponents.
What is the pinyin for 兵不厌诈?
The pinyin pronunciation for 兵不厌诈 is “bīng bù yàn zhà”.