后发制人
后发制人 (hòu fā zhì rén) literally means “act later to control others” and expresses “strategic patience”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: hou fa zhi ren, hou fa zhi ren,后发制人 meaning, 后发制人 in english
Strategic patience
Pronunciation: hòu fā zhì rén Literal meaning: Act later to control others
Origin & Usage
The idiom 后发制人 (hòu fā zhì rén) originates from the Warring States period text 《荀子·议兵》, attributed to the philosopher Xunzi and his disciples. The phrase means 'to act later to control others' and is rooted in military strategy. The historical context involves the story of the Spring and Autumn period, where the exiled prince Chong'er of Jin, later known as Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), returned to power with strategic patience. During a conflict with the state of Chu, he initially retreated to avoid direct confrontation, allowing the enemy to become overconfident. This strategic withdrawal (后, later) enabled him to launch a decisive counterattack (制, control; 人, others) when conditions were favorable. In modern usage, this idiom describes a strategic approach where one waits for the opportune moment to act, ensuring a tactical advantage.
Examples
English: "After facing criticism, she adapted her strategy and turned the situation around."
Chinese: 在遭遇批评后，她后发制人，调整了策略。
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 后发制人 mean in English?
后发制人 (hòu fā zhì rén) literally translates to “Act later to control others” and is used to express “Strategic patience”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 后发制人 used?
Situation: After facing criticism, she adapted her strategy and turned the situation around.
What is the pinyin for 后发制人?
The pinyin pronunciation for 后发制人 is “hòu fā zhì rén”.