稳扎稳打
稳扎稳打 (wěn zhā wěn dǎ) literally means “stable camp, stable attack” and expresses “proceed steadily; consolidate before advancing”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: wen zha wen da, wen zha wen da,稳扎稳打 meaning, 稳扎稳打 in english
Proceed steadily; consolidate before advancing
Pronunciation: wěn zhā wěn dǎ Literal meaning: Stable camp, stable attack
Origin & Usage
Pitching camp (扎) firmly (稳) and striking (打) firmly (稳). The doubled 稳 is the whole instruction: both the halting and the advancing are to be done from a secure position, so no ground is taken that could not be held if the next move failed. It is the same thinking as 步步为营 with the emphasis on soundness rather than on pace. Business expansion, study plans, and anybody being told — usually kindly — to stop trying to skip ahead.
Examples
English: "The company grew through careful, steady expansion."
Chinese: 公司稳扎稳打，稳步扩张。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
稳操胜券
wěn cāo shèng quàn
Have victory in the bag; be certain to win
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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与虎谋皮
yǔ hǔ móu pí
Asking someone to sacrifice their core interests
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迎刃而解
yíng rèn ér jiě
Easily solved once properly approached
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随机应变
suí jī yìng biàn
Adapt to circumstances; think on one's feet
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束手无策
shù shǒu wú cè
Completely helpless without options
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滴水不漏
dī shuǐ bù lòu
Absolutely flawless and thorough
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所向无敌
suǒ xiàng wú dí
Be invincible; have no rivals
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 稳扎稳打 mean in English?
稳扎稳打 (wěn zhā wěn dǎ) literally translates to “Stable camp, stable attack” and is used to express “Proceed steadily; consolidate before advancing”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 稳扎稳打 used?
Situation: The company grew through careful, steady expansion.
What is the pinyin for 稳扎稳打?
The pinyin pronunciation for 稳扎稳打 is “wěn zhā wěn dǎ”.