不攻自破
不攻自破 (bù gōng zì pò) literally means “without attack self-collapse” and expresses “collapse without being attacked; self-defeating”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: bu gong zi po, bu gong zi po,不攻自破 meaning, 不攻自破 in english
Collapse without being attacked; self-defeating
Pronunciation: bù gōng zì pò Literal meaning: Without attack self-collapse
Origin & Usage
Broken (破) of itself (自), without (不) being attacked (攻). The military sense is literal, a position so unsound it fails before anybody assaults it, and the transferred sense keeps the crucial detail: nobody had to do anything. That is what makes it useful in argument. To call a claim 不攻自破 is to decline to refute it, on the grounds that stating it plainly is sufficient — and it is said with a certain amount of confidence behind it.
Examples
English: "His flimsy argument fell apart without anyone even challenging it."
Chinese: 他站不住脚的论点不攻自破。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
攻其不备
gōng qí bù bèi
Surprise attack
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围而不攻
wéi ér bù gōng
Strategic patience
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战无不胜
zhàn wú bù shèng
Win every battle; be undefeated
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背水一战
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
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唱空城计
chàng kōng chéng jì
Use bold confidence to mask vulnerability
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无中生有
wú zhōng shēng yǒu
Fabricate something out of nothing
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声东击西
shēng dōng jī xī
Create a diversion; use misdirection
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以退为进
yǐ tuì wéi jìn
Strategic retreat for ultimate victory
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不攻自破 mean in English?
不攻自破 (bù gōng zì pò) literally translates to “Without attack self-collapse” and is used to express “Collapse without being attacked; self-defeating”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 不攻自破 used?
Situation: His flimsy argument fell apart without anyone even challenging it.
What is the pinyin for 不攻自破?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不攻自破 is “bù gōng zì pò”.