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 twelfth of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, and the mildest in the list: exploit the smallest gap, take the smallest advantage. To lead away (牵) a sheep (羊) in passing (顺手) is deliberately petty — not a campaign but a hand reaching out because the opportunity happened to be there. In modern Chinese it has drifted almost entirely into the sense of casual pilfering, and it is what you say about the guest who leaves with the towels rather than about a strategist.
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
虎入羊群
hǔ rù yáng qún
Unstoppable force against the defenceless
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牵羊担酒
qiān yáng dān jiǔ
Bring gifts to celebrate or give thanks
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羚羊挂角
líng yáng guà jiǎo
Artistry that leaves no trace
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歧路亡羊
qí lù wáng yáng
Too many choices lead nowhere
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亡羊得牛
wáng yáng dé niú
A small loss that yields a greater gain
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羊质虎皮
yáng zhì hǔ pí
Imposing outside, timid within
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羊肠小道
yáng cháng xiǎo dào
A narrow, winding, difficult road
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挂羊头卖狗肉
guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu
Advertise one thing and deliver another
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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”.
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