出奇制胜
出奇制胜 (chū qí zhì shèng) literally means “use surprise to win” and expresses “unexpected strategy”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: chu qi zhi sheng, chu qi zhi sheng,出奇制胜 meaning, 出奇制胜 in english
Unexpected strategy
Pronunciation: chū qí zhì shèng Literal meaning: Use surprise to win
Origin & Usage
The idiom 出奇制胜 (chū qí zhì shèng) originates from the ancient military text 《孙子兵法》 (The Art of War) by Sun Tzu during the Spring and Autumn period. It describes a strategic approach where unexpected tactics (出奇, chū qí) are used to achieve victory (制胜, zhì shèng). A famous historical example is the story of Tian Dan, a military strategist from the Qi state, who used unconventional methods to defeat the Yan army during the Warring States period. By employing creative tactics, such as using fire-carrying cattle to cause chaos, Tian Dan was able to reclaim lost territories. In modern usage, this idiom is employed to describe situations where innovative and surprising strategies lead to success.
Examples
English: "The team's unexpected strategy caught their rivals off guard, leading to a decisive win."
Chinese: 球队出奇制胜，出乎对手的意料，取得了决定性的胜利。
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 出奇制胜 mean in English?
出奇制胜 (chū qí zhì shèng) literally translates to “Use surprise to win” and is used to express “Unexpected strategy”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 出奇制胜 used?
Situation: The team's unexpected strategy caught their rivals off guard, leading to a decisive win.
What is the pinyin for 出奇制胜?
The pinyin pronunciation for 出奇制胜 is “chū qí zhì shèng”.