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
The idiom 兵不厌诈 (bīng bù yàn zhà) originates from the Warring States period, specifically from the text 《韩非子》 (Hán Fēi Zǐ). It recounts a story involving the state of Jin and its ruler, Duke Wen (晋文公), during a conflict with the state of Chu. To honor a past promise, Duke Wen initially retreated, luring the Chu forces into a trap. His advisor suggested using deception (诈, zhà) to outsmart the enemy, leading to a strategic victory at the Battle of Chengpu. The idiom emphasizes the use of cunning and deception in warfare, suggesting that in battle, all tactics, including deceit, are permissible. In modern contexts, it is used to describe situations where strategic deception is employed to achieve success.
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
Learn more →
步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
Learn more →
退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
Learn more →
旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
Learn more →
暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
Learn more →
釜底抽薪
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Eliminate root cause of problem
Learn more →
推波助澜
tuī bō zhù lán
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
Learn more →
鹬蚌相争
yù bàng xiāng zhēng
Mutual conflict benefits third party
Learn more →
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”.