承上启下
承上启下 (chéng shàng qǐ xià) literally means “continuing above and opening below” and expresses “serve as a link between preceding and following”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: cheng shang qi xia, cheng shang qi xia,承上启下 meaning, 承上启下 in english
Serve as a link between preceding and following
Pronunciation: chéng shàng qǐ xià Literal meaning: Continuing above and opening below
Origin & Usage
Taking up (承) what is above (上) and opening the way to (启) what is below (下). It began as a term in literary criticism for the transitional sentence — the one that finishes the previous argument and makes the next one possible — and is still used that way about paragraphs and scenes. The transferred sense is organisational: Chinese applies it to middle management, where the same double duty holds, carrying decisions down and information back up. It is a real compliment in both settings, because the joint is where things usually fail.
Examples
English: "Middle management serves as the bridge between executives and staff."
Chinese: 中层管理人员起着承上启下的作用。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
承前启后
chéng qián qǐ hòu
Linking tradition with innovation
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另辟蹊径
lìng pì xī jìng
Find an alternative approach; think outside the box
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一脉相承
yī mài xiāng chéng
Continuity of tradition
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七上八下
qī shàng bā xià
Anxious and unsettled
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不相上下
bù xiāng shàng xià
Evenly matched with neither superior
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上行下效
shàng xíng xià xiào
Influence of leadership
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深入浅出
shēn rù qiǎn chū
Explain profound ideas in simple terms
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一针见血
yī zhēn jiàn xiě
Hit the nail on the head; incisive
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 承上启下 mean in English?
承上启下 (chéng shàng qǐ xià) literally translates to “Continuing above and opening below” and is used to express “Serve as a link between preceding and following”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 承上启下 used?
Situation: Middle management serves as the bridge between executives and staff.
What is the pinyin for 承上启下?
The pinyin pronunciation for 承上启下 is “chéng shàng qǐ xià”.