千方百计

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

Pinyin: qiān fāng bǎi jì
English Translation: By every possible means / To leave no stone unturned
Idiom Composition: 「千」（Thousand; used metaphorically to mean 'many' or 'numerous'.）＋「方」（Method, way, or direction.）＋「百」（Hundred; used metaphorically to mean 'all' or 'various'.）＋「计」（Plan, strategy, or scheme.）
Meaning: To exhaust every conceivable method, strategy, or plan to achieve a specific goal. It implies a high degree of persistence and the use of a vast array of tactics.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「千方百计」 contains the following nuances:

Thoroughness of Methods: As indicated by the numbers 'thousand' and 'hundred,' this idiom emphasizes that one is not just trying one or two things, but is employing a vast multitude of strategies.
Persistence and Determination: Beyond just having many methods, it reflects a strong will and a sense of desperation to succeed regardless of the effort required.

3. Usage

「千方百计」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

Overcoming Difficulties: The most common usage, describing efforts in business, projects, or rescue operations to overcome obstacles and reach a goal.
- Example:「为了按时完成项目，团队成员千方百计地克服了技术难题。」
  （To finish the project on time, the team members tried every possible means to overcome the technical challenges.）
Obstruction or Interference: Used in a negative context to describe someone desperately trying to stop something or plotting with ill intent.
- Example:「竞争对手千方百计阻挠我们的新产品上市。」
  （The competitors are using every trick in the book to prevent our new product from launching.）
Achieving a Strong Desire: Describes rushing about or working hard to fulfill a personal wish, such as finding someone or getting tickets.
- Example:「歌迷们千方百计想要弄到这场演唱会的门票。」
  （Fans are leaving no stone unturned to get tickets for this concert.）

Additional Examples:

医生千方百计地抢救这位重病患者。
（The doctors tried every possible means to save the critically ill patient.）
父母千方百计为孩子创造最好的学习环境。
（Parents do everything in their power to create the best learning environment for their children.）
不管遇到什么困难，我们都要千方百计把损失降到最低。
（No matter what difficulties we face, we must exhaust all means to minimize losses.）
他千方百计地讨好老板，希望能得到晋升。
（He is trying every trick in the book to please his boss in hopes of getting a promotion.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

Origin: This idiom originates from the Classified Conversations of Master Zhu (朱子语类 - Zhū Zǐ Yǔ Lèi) by the Song Dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi (朱熹). He used it to describe the intense effort needed to catch a thief, likening it to the mental focus required for self-cultivation.
Usage: It is a very common idiom used frequently in both formal writing and daily conversation.
Nuance: Compared to 想方设法 (xiǎng fāng shè fǎ), which simply means 'to think of a way,' 千方百计 (qiān fāng bǎi jì) implies a much higher level of intensity and a wider variety of attempts.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

Similar Idioms:
Opposite Idioms:
- 束手无策 (shù shǒu wú cè): To be at one's wits' end; literally 'to have one's hands tied and be without a plan.'
- 无计可施 (wú jì kě shī): To be at the end of one's tether; having no more strategies or plans left to use.
- 一筹莫展 (yī chóu mò zhǎn): Unable to find a solution or plan.link
- 无能为力 (wú néng wéi lì): Unable to do anything or help.link

6. Summary

The idiom 千方百计 (qiān fāng bǎi jì) describes the act of trying every possible means to reach an objective. Using the numbers 'thousand' (千) and 'hundred' (百) to signify a vast quantity, it highlights a relentless and thorough effort. While often used positively to describe overcoming obstacles, it can also be used in a negative sense to describe someone scheming or plotting.