以逸待劳
以逸待劳 (yǐ yì dài láo) literally means “conserve energy, wait for fatigue” and expresses “rested against the exhausted”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: yi yi dai lao, yi yi dai lao,以逸待劳 meaning, 以逸待劳 in english
Rested against the exhausted
Pronunciation: yǐ yì dài láo Literal meaning: Conserve energy, wait for fatigue
Origin & Usage
Sun Tzu's chapter on manoeuvre lists the pairings: meet the distant with the near, the tired with the rested, the hungry with the fed. This is the second of them — using (以) ease (逸) to await (待) exhaustion (劳) — and it is the fourth of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. The essential point is that the advantage is manufactured rather than found. The waiting side is expected to have chosen the ground and forced the other to do the marching, which distinguishes it from simply being patient.
Examples
English: "By preparing thoroughly, he was able to wait for the right moment to act without stress."
Chinese: 他充分准备，以逸待劳，轻松应对挑战。
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 以逸待劳 mean in English?
以逸待劳 (yǐ yì dài láo) literally translates to “Conserve energy, wait for fatigue” and is used to express “Rested against the exhausted”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 以逸待劳 used?
Situation: By preparing thoroughly, he was able to wait for the right moment to act without stress.
What is the pinyin for 以逸待劳?
The pinyin pronunciation for 以逸待劳 is “yǐ yì dài láo”.