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运筹帷幄

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: yùn chóu wéi wò
  • English Translation: Devising strategies within a command tent (masterminding from the rear)
  • Idiom Composition: To operate, maneuver, or utilize.Tally sticks used for calculation; here referring to strategies or plans.A curtain or hanging screen.A large military tent or canopy.
  • Meaning: To formulate military tactics or operational plans within a command tent (帷幄). Figuratively, it refers to the act of planning and directing strategies from a central or rear position, often implying great foresight and the ability to ensure victory from afar.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

运筹帷幄 contains the following nuances:

  • Strategic Planning: Refers to the act of making calm, macro-level plans from a safe command center rather than engaging in direct combat on the front lines.
  • Certainty of Victory: The idiom implies that the planning is so precise and superior that it guarantees success even in distant locations.
  • Leadership Quality: It is used as a compliment for the intellectual and calm leadership qualities required of top-level executives or advisors.

3. Usage

运筹帷幄 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Business & Management: Used to describe CEOs or executives who formulate long-term strategies from the office to win in market competition.
    • Example:虽然董事长很少露面,但他一直在幕后运筹帷幄,指引公司的发展方向。
      Although the chairman rarely makes public appearances, he has been masterminding from behind the scenes, guiding the company's development.)
  • Politics & Elections: Used when political strategists or candidates devise plans at headquarters to win an election or diplomatic negotiation.
    • Example:这次竞选的成功,归功于竞选团队在总部的运筹帷幄
      The success of this campaign is due to the campaign team's strategic planning at headquarters.)
  • Sports & Competition: Describes a coach or manager directing the team from the sidelines to secure a win.
    • Example:教练在场边运筹帷幄,通过几次换人彻底改变了比赛局势。
      The coach was directing the strategy from the sidelines, completely changing the game's momentum with a few substitutions.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 面对复杂的国际形势,外交官们需要运筹帷幄,维护国家利益。
    Facing complex international situations, diplomats need to devise strategies to protect national interests.
  2. 他在家中运筹帷幄,遥控指挥着千里之外的项目进展。
    He is masterminding from home, remotely controlling the progress of a project thousands of miles away.
  3. 这并不是运气,而是他多年来运筹帷幄的结果。
    This is not luck, but the result of his years of meticulous strategic planning.
  4. 只有懂得运筹帷幄的人,才能在激烈的商战中立于不败之地。
    Only those who know how to devise strategies can remain undefeated in fierce commercial wars.
  5. 与其盲目行动,不如先坐下来运筹帷幄,想好对策。
    Instead of acting blindly, it is better to sit down and plan the strategy first.

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Source: Records of the Grand Historian (史记) by Sima Qian (司马迁). The idiom comes from Emperor Gaozu (高祖), Liu Bang (刘邦), who praised his advisor Zhang Liang (张良), saying: 'In devising strategies within the command tent and determining victory a thousand miles away, I am not as good as Zifang (子房, Zhang Liang's courtesy name).'
  • Zhang Liang (张良) is considered the archetype of the brilliant strategist in Chinese history. This idiom highlights the importance of intellect and planning over brute physical force.
  • In modern contexts, the literal 'tent' (帷幄) has become an abstract concept representing a 'command center,' 'headquarters,' or 'back office' where decisions are made.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

运筹帷幄 (yùn chóu wéi wò) is an idiom used to describe the ability to lead and guide a situation to success through superior strategic planning. It originates from the praise given by the Han Dynasty (汉朝) founder, Liu Bang (刘邦), to his brilliant strategist Zhang Liang (张良). Today, it is frequently used to commend business leaders, politicians, or coaches who demonstrate exceptional foresight and organizational skills.

Idiom Essay

yùn chóu wéi wò
运筹帷幄
Strategic Planning
wǒ men我们zàikàndiàn yǐng电影huò zhě或者lì shǐ历史gù shì故事deshí hòu时候cháng cháng常常huìbèinà xiē那些chōngzàizuìqián miàn前面yǒng gǎn勇敢zhàn dòu战斗deyīng xióng英雄xī yǐn吸引

When we watch movies or read historical stories, we are often drawn to the heroes who charge at the front and fight bravely.

dànqí shí其实hái yǒu还有lìngyī zhǒng一种gèngyǒulì liàng力量dejué sè角色

But in fact, there is another role that is even more powerful.

xiǎng xiàng想象yī xià一下wài miàn外面shìqiān jūn wàn mǎ千军万马zhàn huǒ fēn fēi战火纷飞fēi cháng非常hùn luàn混乱

Imagine that outside there are thousands of troops and horses, the flames of war are flying, and everything is in chaos.

dànzàihòu fāng后方deyí gè一个ān jìng安静dezhàng péng帐篷yǒuyí gè一个rénzhèngzuòzhe

But in a quiet tent in the rear, a person is sitting.

méi yǒu没有wǔ qì武器méi yǒu没有liú hàn流汗zhǐ shì只是kànzhedì tú地图qīng qīng轻轻yí dòng移动shǒu lǐ手里deqí zi棋子

He is not holding a weapon, nor is he sweating; he is just looking at a map and gently moving the pieces in his hand.

suī rán虽然zhàn chǎng战场hěnyuǎndànzhàn jú战局debiàn huà变化qí shí其实quán dōu全都zàidenǎo zi脑子

Although he is far from the battlefield, the changes in the battle situation are actually all in his mind.

zhōng wén中文yǒuyí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种zhuàng tài状态jiàoyùn chóu wéi wò运筹帷幄

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically used to describe this state, called 运筹帷幄.

zhè ge这个dehuà miàn画面gǎnhěnqiáng

This word has a very strong sense of imagery.

wéi wò帷幄jiù shì就是gǔ dài古代jūn duì军队dezhàng péng帐篷yùn chóu运筹jiù shì就是zhì dìng制定cè lüè策略jì suàn计算xià yī bù下一步gāizěn me怎么zǒu

帷幄 refers to the tents in ancient armies; 运筹 means to formulate strategies and calculate the next move.

qǐ lái起来shuōjiù shì就是shēnzàizhàng péng帐篷quènéngjué dìng决定qiān lǐ zhī wài千里之外deshèng fù胜负

Put together, it means being in a tent but being able to decide victory or defeat thousands of miles away.

zàixiàn dài现代shēng huó生活zhōngwǒ men我们yǐ jīng已经hěnshǎodǎ zhàng打仗ledànzhè ge这个yī rán依然hěnyǒu yòng有用

In modern life, we rarely fight wars anymore, but this term is still very useful.

wǒ men我们tōng cháng通常yòngláixíng róng形容nà xiē那些bìngzhí jiē直接dòng shǒu动手dànfù zé负责sī kǎo思考guī huà规划zuòjué dìng决定derén

We usually use it to describe those who do not act directly but are responsible for thinking, planning, and making decisions.

bǐ rú比如yī jiā一家gōng sī公司deguǎn lǐ管理zhězàibàn gōng shì办公室zhì dìng制定wèi lái未来defāng xiàng方向huò zhě或者yī wèi一位zú qiú足球jiào liàn教练zàichǎng biān场边lěng jìng冷静ān pái安排zhàn shù战术

For example, a manager of a large company setting the future direction in an office, or a football coach calmly arranging tactics on the sidelines.

dāngdà jiā大家dōuzàimáng luàn忙乱deshí hòu时候nà ge那个yùn chóu wéi wò运筹帷幄derénwǎng wǎng往往shìzuìlěng jìng冷静de

When everyone is in a rush, the person who is 运筹帷幄 is often the calmest.

zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语qí shí其实zàití xǐng提醒wǒ men我们yī jiàn一件shìzhēn zhèng真正delì liàng力量yǒu shí hòu有时候bìngbiǎo xiàn表现wèimáng lù忙碌ér shì而是biǎo xiàn表现wèiān jìng安静

This idiom actually reminds us of one thing: true power sometimes does not manifest as busyness, but as quietness.

yǒu shí hòu有时候jiě jué解决yí gè一个wèn tí问题kàodebú shì不是máng mù盲目dexíng dòng行动ér shì而是xíng dòng行动zhī qián之前duànshēn sī shú lǜ深思熟虑deshí guāng时光

Sometimes, solving a big problem depends not on blind action, but on the period of deep reflection before the action.

xià cì下次dāngkàn dào看到yí gè一个rénzàihùn luàn混乱zhōngyī rán依然bǎo chí保持lěng jìng冷静fù zá复杂deshì qíng事情ān pái安排jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo井井有条shíjiùkě yǐ可以yòngzhè ge这个láixíng róng形容zhèjiùjiàoyùn chóu wéi wò运筹帷幄

Next time you see someone who remains calm in chaos and organizes complex matters in an orderly fashion, you can use this term to describe them: this is called 运筹帷幄.

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