声东击西
声东击西 (shēng dōng jī xī) literally means “make noise in east, strike in west” and expresses “create a diversion; use misdirection”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: sheng dong ji xi, sheng dong ji xi,声东击西 meaning, 声东击西 in english
Create a diversion; use misdirection
Pronunciation: shēng dōng jī xī
Literal meaning: Make noise in east, strike in west
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes making noise (声) in the east (东) while striking (击) in the west (西). It is one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, describing tactical deception by creating diversions. The strategy involves drawing enemy attention to one location while attacking another. Modern usage describes any misdirection tactic in business, negotiations, or competition.
Examples
English: "The competitor's marketing campaign was just a diversion from their real strategy."
Chinese: 竞争对手的营销活动只是声东击西的策略。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 声东击西 mean in English?
声东击西 (shēng dōng jī xī) literally translates to “Make noise in east, strike in west” and is used to express “Create a diversion; use misdirection”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 声东击西 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving create a diversion; use misdirection.
What is the pinyin for 声东击西?
The pinyin pronunciation for 声东击西 is “shēng dōng jī xī”.