足智多谋

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zú zhì duō móu
• English Translation: Wise and full of stratagems (resourceful)
• Idiom Composition: 「足」（Sufficient or ample）＋「智」（Wisdom or intelligence）＋「多」（Many or abundant）＋「谋」（Strategies, plans, or schemes）
• Meaning: Possessing abundant wisdom and a wealth of clever strategies. It is a positive term used to describe someone who is highly capable of finding solutions even in the most difficult situations.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「足智多谋」 contains the following nuances:

• Practical Problem-Solving: The idiom emphasizes more than just raw intelligence; it highlights the ability to use specific 谋 (móu), or 'schemes,' to solve practical, real-world problems.
• Positive Commendation: Unlike terms for 'cunning,' this is a sincere compliment. It is often reserved for masterminds, military counselors, or visionary leaders who use their wits for the greater good.

3. Usage

「足智多谋」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Professional Evaluation: Used in business or organizational settings to recommend or evaluate a dependable strategist or leader.
  • Example:「我们需要一位足智多谋的经理来处理目前的危机。」
    （We need a resourceful and astute manager to handle the current crisis.）
• Historical or Literary Description: A standard way to describe brilliant military counselors or clever characters in historical narratives.
  • Example:「诸葛亮足智多谋，总是能想出奇策战胜敌人。」
    （Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮) was wise and full of stratagems, always able to devise brilliant plans to defeat the enemy.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他虽然年轻，但足智多谋，深得老板赏识。
   （Although he is young, he is highly resourceful, which has earned him deep appreciation from the boss.）
2. 面对复杂的市场环境，只有足智多谋的企业家才能生存。
   （Facing a complex market environment, only astute and strategic entrepreneurs can survive.）
3. 别看他平时不爱说话，关键时刻却足智多谋。
   （Don't be fooled by his usual silence; at critical moments, he is incredibly resourceful.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In Chinese culture, the personification of 足智多谋 (zú zhì duō móu) is Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮), the legendary strategist from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义). He is often depicted holding a feather fan, calmly outmaneuvering vast armies with his superior intellect.
• While similar idioms like 老谋深算 (lǎo móu shēn suàn) can imply being 'shrewd and calculating' in a negative way, and 诡计多端 (guǐ jì duō duān) means 'full of wicked tricks,' 足智多谋 (zú zhì duō móu) remains a safe and purely positive way to admire someone's strategic mind.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 神机妙算 (shén jī miào suàn): Divine foresight and wonderful calculation; having incredible ingenuity.
  • 运筹帷幄 (yùn chóu wéi wò): To devise strategies within a command tent; to direct a battle or project from the rear.link
  • 深谋远虑 (shēn móu yuǎn lǜ): To plan deeply and consider long-term.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 束手无策 (shù shǒu wú cè): To have one's hands tied; to be at one's wits' end with no way to handle a situation.
  • 一筹莫展 (yī chóu mò zhǎn): Unable to come up with even a single plan; completely stuck.link
  • 不学无术 (bù xué wú shù): Having neither learning nor skill.link

6. Summary

足智多谋 (zú zhì duō móu) is a complimentary idiom used to praise a person's intelligence and strategic depth. It is typically applied to reliable leaders or advisors who can navigate complex challenges with ease. Unlike terms that imply 'slyness' or 'cunning,' this phrase carries a positive connotation of being exceptionally resourceful and astute.