推波助澜
推波助澜 (tuī bō zhù lán) literally means “push the waves, raise the billows” and expresses “amplifying existing trends or momentum”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: tui bo zhu lan, tui bo zhu lan,推波助澜 meaning, 推波助澜 in english
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
Pronunciation: tuī bō zhù lán Literal meaning: Push the waves, raise the billows
Origin & Usage
To push (推) the waves (波) and help (助) the swell (澜). Wang Tong uses it alongside a second image, letting the wind loose to stop a fire, and both describe intervening in a way that adds to what is already moving. The phrase says nothing about who started it: the force being amplified was there first, and the person named merely fed it. Media coverage, speculation, and anyone whose contribution made a developing situation worse.
Examples
English: "The celebrity's endorsement accelerated the already growing popularity of the product"
Chinese: 这位名人的代言加速了该产品已经增长的人气
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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力挽狂澜
lì wǎn kuáng lán
Heroically reversing catastrophic situation
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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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推陈出新
tuī chén chū xīn
Create new from old
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推心置腹
tuī xīn zhì fù
Speak from the heart; confide completely
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追本溯源
zhuī běn sù yuán
Trace back to source
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 推波助澜 mean in English?
推波助澜 (tuī bō zhù lán) literally translates to “Push the waves, raise the billows” and is used to express “Amplifying existing trends or momentum”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 推波助澜 used?
Situation: The celebrity's endorsement accelerated the already growing popularity of the product
What is the pinyin for 推波助澜?
The pinyin pronunciation for 推波助澜 is “tuī bō zhù lán”.
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