连环计

Pronunciation: lián huán jì Literal meaning: Interlocking stratagems

Origin & Usage

The idiom 连环计 (lián huán jì) originates from the classic Chinese military text 《三十六计》 (Thirty-Six Stratagems), specifically the thirty-fifth stratagem. This strategy involves using a series of interconnected tactics (连, interlock; 环, ring; 计, stratagem) to weaken an opponent. A famous historical example is the Battle of Red Cliffs during the Three Kingdoms period, where the strategist Zhou Yu employed multiple strategies in succession, such as the use of deception and fire attacks, to defeat the numerically superior forces of Cao Cao. The idiom emphasizes the importance of using a combination of strategies that are linked together to create a compounded effect, making it difficult for the enemy to respond effectively. In modern contexts, it describes a situation where multiple strategies are used in conjunction to achieve a complex goal.

Examples

English: "The clever strategist devised a series of interconnected plans to outsmart the enemy."

Chinese: 这位聪明的战略家设计了一系列连环计来智取敌人。