顺手牵羊
顺手牵羊 (shùn shǒu qiān yáng) literally means “conveniently lead away a sheep” and expresses “exploit small opportunities”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: shun shou qian yang, shun shou qian yang,顺手牵羊 meaning, 顺手牵羊 in english
Exploit small opportunities
Pronunciation: shùn shǒu qiān yáng Literal meaning: Conveniently lead away a sheep
Origin & Usage
The idiom 顺手牵羊 (shùn shǒu qiān yáng) originates from the ancient Chinese military text 《三十六计》 (Thirty-Six Stratagems), specifically the strategy of exploiting small opportunities for gain. The phrase literally means 'to lead away a sheep in passing,' illustrating the tactic of seizing minor advantages when they present themselves. The historical context involves the Spring and Autumn period, where the Qi state minister, 崔杼 (Cui Zhu), cleverly eliminated his rival, 齐庄公 (Duke Zhuang of Qi), by capitalizing on a moment of vulnerability. The characters 顺 (shùn) mean 'smoothly' or 'conveniently,' 手 (shǒu) means 'hand,' 牵 (qiān) means 'to lead,' and 羊 (yáng) means 'sheep.' In modern usage, this idiom often carries a negative connotation, referring to taking advantage of a situation to benefit oneself, sometimes unscrupulously.
Examples
English: "He took advantage of the situation, easily guiding his team to victory."
Chinese: 他顺手牵羊，轻松带领团队取得胜利。
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 顺手牵羊 mean in English?
顺手牵羊 (shùn shǒu qiān yáng) literally translates to “Conveniently lead away a sheep” and is used to express “Exploit small opportunities”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 顺手牵羊 used?
Situation: He took advantage of the situation, easily guiding his team to victory.
What is the pinyin for 顺手牵羊?
The pinyin pronunciation for 顺手牵羊 is “shùn shǒu qiān yáng”.