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
Sun Tzu's formulation is that engagement is made with the orthodox and victory is secured (制胜) by putting out (出) the unorthodox (奇) — 奇 being the force held aside, committed where it is not expected. Tian Dan supplied the illustration a few centuries later at Jimo, tying blades to a thousand oxen, setting their tails alight and driving them into the Yan camp at night. It is worth keeping 奇 distinct from mere surprise: the character means odd in the sense of the leftover, the piece not accounted for in the enemy's arithmetic.
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”.