欲擒故纵
欲擒故纵 (yù qín gù zòng) literally means “wishing to capture, first let go” and expresses “give slack before tightening; let go to catch”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: yu qin gu zong, yu qin gu zong,欲擒故纵 meaning, 欲擒故纵 in english
Give slack before tightening; let go to catch
Pronunciation: yù qín gù zòng
Literal meaning: Wishing to capture, first let go
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes wanting (欲) to capture (擒) but intentionally (故) letting go (纵). It is one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems where releasing a target creates false security before the final capture. Zhuge Liang famously used this strategy, capturing and releasing Meng Huo seven times until he surrendered genuinely. Modern usage describes patience in pursuit and the psychology of capture.
Examples
English: "The detective pretended to drop the case to make the suspect lower his guard."
Chinese: 侦探假装放弃案件，欲擒故纵，让嫌疑人放松警惕。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 欲擒故纵 mean in English?
欲擒故纵 (yù qín gù zòng) literally translates to “Wishing to capture, first let go” and is used to express “Give slack before tightening; let go to catch”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 欲擒故纵 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving give slack before tightening; let go to catch.
What is the pinyin for 欲擒故纵?
The pinyin pronunciation for 欲擒故纵 is “yù qín gù zòng”.