Master Chinese idioms about strategic thinking, decisive action, and tactical wisdom. These chengyu teach the art of effective planning and execution.
53 idioms in this category
wàn wú yī shī
“Ten thousand without one failure”
Absolutely sure; foolproof
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mì bù tòu fēng
“So dense wind cannot penetrate”
Airtight; impenetrable
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tiān luó dì wǎng
“Nets of heaven and earth”
Inescapable net; dragnet
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shì zài bì xíng
“Circumstances demand it must be done”
Be imperative; must be done
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wěn zhā wěn dǎ
“Stable camp, stable attack”
Proceed steadily; consolidate before advancing
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yù qín gù zòng
“Wishing to capture, first let go”
Give slack before tightening; let go to catch
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wéi wèi jiù zhào
“Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao”
Relieve pressure by attacking the source
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yǐ tuì wéi jìn
“Use retreat as advance”
Strategic retreat for ultimate victory
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shēng dōng jī xī
“Make noise in east, strike in west”
Create a diversion; use misdirection
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lì bīng mò mǎ
“Sharpen weapons and feed horses”
Make thorough preparations; get ready for action
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yī jǔ liǎng dé
“One action two gains”
Kill two birds with one stone
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bù gōng zì pò
“Without attack self-collapse”
Collapse without being attacked; self-defeating
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lìng pì xī jìng
“Separately open a side path”
Find an alternative approach; think outside the box
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àn bù jiù bān
“Follow departments and classes”
Follow established procedures; step by step
This idiom describes following (按就) proper departments (部) and classes or sequences (班). It emphasizes methodical procedure following established orde...
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jū ān sī wēi
“Dwelling in peace think of danger”
Be prepared for danger in times of safety
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dāng jī lì duàn
“Face opportunity immediately decide”
Make a prompt decision
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bǎi nián dà jì
“Hundred-year great plan”
Long-term plan; matter of lasting importance
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yī láo yǒng yì
“One labor forever ease”
Solve a problem once and for all
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suí jī yìng biàn
“Follow opportunity respond to change”
Adapt to circumstances; think on one's feet
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chéng shàng qǐ xià
“Continuing above and opening below”
Serve as a link between preceding and following
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yáng cháng bì duǎn
“Promote strengths avoid weaknesses”
Play to one's strengths
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shì rú pò zhú
“Momentum like splitting bamboo”
Irresistible momentum; sweeping advance
This idiom comes from the Jin Dynasty general Du Yu, who compared his army's advance to splitting bamboo (破竹) - once the first section splits, the res...
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wú zhōng shēng yǒu
“Create something from nothing”
Fabricate; create from nothing
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tiě zhèng rú shān
“Iron evidence like a mountain”
Irrefutable evidence; conclusive proof
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yíng rèn ér jiě
“Split apart upon meeting the blade”
Easily solved once properly approached
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luò huā liú shuǐ
“Falling flowers and flowing water”
Utter defeat; scattered in disarray
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shì bù kě dǎng
“Momentum that cannot be blocked”
Unstoppable; irresistible momentum
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zhēng fēn duó miǎo
“Fighting for minutes and seizing seconds”
Race against time; make every second count
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sì tōng bā dá
“Connected in four directions, reaching in eight”
Extending in all directions; well-connected
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hòu gù zhī yōu
“Backward glance's worry”
Concerns about hidden vulnerabilities
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chéng fēng pò làng
“Ride wind break waves”
Boldly forge ahead through adversity
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chàng kōng chéng jì
“Perform empty city strategy”
Use bold confidence to mask vulnerability
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bù yuē ér tóng
“Not arrange yet same”
Arrive at same point without coordination
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xiǎo xīn yì yì
“Small heart wing wing”
Act with extreme caution and care
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qī shǒu bā jiǎo
“Seven hands eight feet”
Many people busily working together in disorder
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shā jī qǔ luǎn
“Kill chicken take eggs”
Sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains
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bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
“Back to water one battle”
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
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àn tú suǒ jì
“Follow map seek fine horse”
Rigidly following outdated methods
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àn jiàn shāng rén
“Hidden arrow wounds person”
Covert attacks avoiding direct confrontation
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zhí dǎo huáng lóng
“Directly attack Yellow Dragon”
Strike directly at the heart of enemy territory
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zhěn gē dài dàn
“Pillow spear await dawn”
Maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge
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zhēn fēng xiāng duì
“Needle points facing each other”
Sharp, direct confrontation in argument
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yuán mù qiú yú
“Climb tree seek fish”
Using completely wrong method for a task
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yǔ hǔ móu pí
“With tiger plot skin”
Asking someone to sacrifice their core interests
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jīn gē tiě mǎ
“Gold spears iron horses”
Magnificent military might and valor
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yù bàng xiāng zhēng
“Snipe clam mutual fight”
Mutual conflict benefits third party
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tuī bō zhù lán
“Push waves, aid ripples”
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
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fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
“Remove firewood under pot”
Eliminate root cause of problem
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àn dù chén cāng
“Secretly cross Chencang”
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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páng qiāo cè jī
“Knock side hit flank”
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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tuì bì sān shè
“Retreat three camps”
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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bù bù wéi yíng
“Each step make camp”
Advance methodically with caution
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xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
“Bamboo ready in heart”
Have clear plan beforehand
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