厉兵秣马
厉兵秣马 (lì bīng mò mǎ) literally means “sharpen weapons and feed horses” and expresses “make thorough preparations; get ready for action”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: li bing mo ma, li bing mo ma,厉兵秣马 meaning, 厉兵秣马 in english
Make thorough preparations; get ready for action
Pronunciation: lì bīng mò mǎ Literal meaning: Sharpen weapons and feed horses
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes sharpening (厉) weapons (兵) and feeding (秣) horses (马). It originated from ancient military preparations where armies would ensure weapons were sharp and horses well-fed before battle. The phrase appeared in Zuozhuan describing state preparations for warfare. Modern usage describes thorough preparation for any significant undertaking, emphasizing the importance of readiness before action.
Examples
English: "The team is preparing intensively for the upcoming competition."
Chinese: 球队正在厉兵秣马，为即将到来的比赛做准备。
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mò míng qí miào
Makes no sense
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集腋成裘
jí yè chéng qiú
Small efforts make big results
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胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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举重若轻
jǔ zhòng ruò qīng
Make difficult look easy
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bào xīn jiù huǒ
Make situation worse
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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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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 厉兵秣马 mean in English?
厉兵秣马 (lì bīng mò mǎ) literally translates to “Sharpen weapons and feed horses” and is used to express “Make thorough preparations; get ready for action”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 厉兵秣马 used?
Situation: The team is preparing intensively for the upcoming competition.
What is the pinyin for 厉兵秣马?
The pinyin pronunciation for 厉兵秣马 is “lì bīng mò mǎ”.