调虎离山
调虎离山 (diào hǔ lí shān) literally means “lure tiger from mountain” and expresses “divert and conquer”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: diao hu li shan, diao hu li shan,调虎离山 meaning, 调虎离山 in english
Divert and conquer
Pronunciation: diào hǔ lí shān Literal meaning: Lure tiger from mountain
Origin & Usage
The idiom 调虎离山 (diào hǔ lí shān) originates from the classic military text 《三十六计》 (Thirty-Six Stratagems), specifically the strategy of luring the tiger away from its mountain. This tactic was famously employed by Sun Ce during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Sun Ce, facing a strong adversary, Liu Xun, devised a plan to lure Liu Xun away from his fortified position by appealing to his greed. Sun Ce sent gifts and flattery, convincing Liu Xun to attack another target, leaving his base vulnerable. Sun Ce then swiftly captured Liu Xun's territory. The characters 调 (diào, lure), 虎 (hǔ, tiger), 离 (lí, leave), and 山 (shān, mountain) vividly illustrate the strategy of drawing a powerful opponent away from their stronghold. In modern usage, it describes using cunning to weaken a formidable adversary by diverting their attention.
Examples
English: "To distract the competitor, she created a diversion that allowed her team to gain the upper hand."
Chinese: 为了分散竞争对手的注意力，她制造了一个转移，帮助团队占据了上风。
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 调虎离山 mean in English?
调虎离山 (diào hǔ lí shān) literally translates to “Lure tiger from mountain” and is used to express “Divert and conquer”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 调虎离山 used?
Situation: To distract the competitor, she created a diversion that allowed her team to gain the upper hand.
What is the pinyin for 调虎离山?
The pinyin pronunciation for 调虎离山 is “diào hǔ lí shān”.