以逸待劳

Pronunciation: yǐ yì dài láo Literal meaning: Conserve energy, wait for fatigue

Origin & Usage

The idiom 以逸待劳 (yǐ yì dài láo) originates from the strategic teachings of Sun Tzu in his work 《孙子·军争》 (The Art of War). It describes a military tactic where one conserves energy (逸, yì) and waits for the opponent to become fatigued (劳, láo) before launching an attack. This strategy was famously employed by the Eastern Han general Feng Yi, who used it to defeat the forces of Wei Xiao by securing a strategic location and allowing his troops to rest while the enemy exhausted themselves. The idiom emphasizes the importance of strategic patience and preparation. In modern usage, it suggests waiting for the opportune moment when the opponent is at a disadvantage before taking action.

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。