胸有成竹

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
• English Translation: Having a complete bamboo in one's chest (to have a well-thought-out plan)
• Idiom Composition: 「胸」（Chest or mind）＋「有」（To have or possess）＋「成」（Completed, finished, or fully formed）＋「竹」（Bamboo）
• Meaning: To have a clear plan or strategy in mind before taking action. It describes a state of being fully prepared and confident about the outcome of a task.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「胸有成竹」 contains the following nuances:

• Prior Preparation and Planning: The core of this idiom is not just 'confidence,' but a confidence that stems from having a solid 'plan' or 'vision' beforehand. It refers to calculated certainty rather than luck.
• Composure and Poise: Because the person is prepared, the idiom implies they remain calm and do not panic when faced with the task or a sudden change.

3. Usage

「胸有成竹」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Confidence in exams or projects: Used to express that someone is certain of success because they have prepared thoroughly.
  • Example:「对于明天的面试，他已经做了充分准备，显得胸有成竹。」
    （He has prepared thoroughly for tomorrow's interview and appears completely confident of success.）
• Problem-solving situations: Describes remaining calm during a crisis because a solution has already been formulated.
  • Example:「面对突发状况，经理胸有成竹地指挥大家应对。」
    （Facing the sudden situation, the manager directed everyone's response with a clear plan in mind.）
• Artistic or creative activities: The original usage, referring to having the final image in mind before starting a work.
  • Example:「这位画家下笔前胸有成竹，一气呵成。」
    （This painter had the finished image in mind before putting brush to paper, completing the work in one go.）

Additional Examples:

1. 看他那胸有成竹的样子，这次比赛肯定能赢。
   （Judging by his confident manner, he will surely win this competition.）
2. 虽然大家都很慌张，但他却胸有成竹，一点也不着急。
   （Although everyone was panicking, he had a clear plan and wasn't worried at all.）
3. 只要你复习好了，考试时自然会胸有成竹。
   （As long as you review well, you will naturally be full of confidence during the exam.）
4. 他对这个项目的成功早已胸有成竹。
   （He has long been certain of the success of this project.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Source: This idiom comes from the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi (苏轼) in his essay 'Record of Wen Yuke Painting the Yundang Valley Bamboos' (文与可画筼筜谷偃竹记). He was writing about his cousin Wen Tong (文同), who was famous for painting bamboo.
• From Art to Life: Originally, it described an artistic principle: 'To paint bamboo, one must first have the perfected bamboo in one's heart.' Today, it has evolved into a general metaphor for being prepared in business, studies, or any planned action.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 心中有数 (xīn zhōng yǒu shù): To have a clear idea of the situation; a more casual way to say one knows what they are doing.
  • 胜券在握 (shèng quàn zài wò): To have victory within one's grasp; to be certain of winning.
  • 有的放矢 (yǒu dì fàng shǐ): To have a definite object in view.link
  • 运筹帷幄 (yùn chóu wéi wò): To devise strategies within a command tent.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò): To be at a loss; not knowing what to do or how to react.link
  • 束手无策 (shù shǒu wú cè): To be at one's wits' end; to be helpless and have no way to handle a situation.
  • 一筹莫展 (yī chóu mò zhǎn): Unable to find a solution or plan.link

6. Summary

胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú) describes having a complete plan or vision before starting a task, leading to calm confidence. Originating from a story about a painter who visualized a bamboo perfectly before touching the brush, it is now used in business, education, and daily life to describe 'prepared confidence' rather than mere arrogance.