七擒七纵 Seven captures and seven releases
Explanation
七擒七纵是一个汉语成语，出自《三国志·蜀志·诸葛亮传》，意指三国时，诸葛亮出兵南方，将当地酋长孟获捉住七次，放了七次，使他真正服输，不再为敌。比喻运用策略，使对方心服。
Seven captures and seven releases is a Chinese idiom from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It means that during the Southern Expedition, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of the Shu Han dynasty, captured the local chieftain Meng Huo seven times and released him seven times, finally forcing him to surrender. It is an example of a strategy that convinces the enemy through skillful use of tactics.
Origin Story
三国时期，蜀国丞相诸葛亮为了巩固后方，率领军队南征，正当大功告成撤军时，南方彝族首领孟获纠集残兵余勇来袭击蜀军。双方一交锋就活捉孟获。诸葛亮从大局出发放他回家。孟获先后七次被捉住，最终真心归顺蜀国。
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of the Shu Han dynasty, led his troops on a Southern Expedition to secure the rear. Just as he was about to withdraw triumphantly, Meng Huo, the leader of the southern Yi tribes, attacked the Shu troops with his remaining forces. In the first engagement, Meng Huo was captured. Zhuge Liang released him for strategic reasons. In total, Meng Huo was captured and released seven times until he finally and genuinely joined the Shu Han dynasty.
Usage
七擒七纵，指在战争中采取灵活的策略，使对方最终心服口服地归顺。
Seven captures and seven releases refers to the use of flexible strategies in war to make the enemy surrender willingly.
Examples
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诸葛亮的七擒七纵，最终使孟获心服口服，真正归顺了蜀汉政权。
zhū gě liàng de qī qín qī zòng, zuì zhōng shǐ mèng huò xīn fú kǒu fú, zhēn zhèng guī shùn le shǔ hàn zhèng quán.
Zhuge Liang's seven captures and seven releases finally made Meng Huo convinced and obedient, truly joining the Shu Han regime.
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对于那些顽固不化的人，只有用七擒七纵的策略，才能使他们彻底改变。
duì yú nà xiē wán gǔ bù huà de rén, zhǐ yǒu yòng qī qín qī zòng de cè lüè, cái néng shǐ tā men chè dǐ gǎi biàn.
For those who are stubborn and inflexible, only with the strategy of seven captures and seven releases can they be thoroughly changed.
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这就像七擒七纵一样，需要反复教育，才能真正改变他们的错误观念。
zhè jiù xiàng qī qín qī zòng yī yàng, xū yào fǎn fù jiào yù, cái néng zhēn zhèng gǎi biàn tā men de cuò wù gǎi niàn.
This is like the seven captures and seven releases, it needs repeated education to truly change their wrong ideas.
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七擒七纵，是古代兵法中的一个经典策略，但在现代社会，它仍然具有很强的指导意义。
qī qín qī zòng, shì gǔ dài bīng fǎ zhōng de yī gè jīng diǎn cè lüè, dàn zài xiàn dài shè huì, tā réng rán jù yǒu hěn qiáng de zhǐ dǎo yì yì.
The seven captures and seven releases is a classic strategy in ancient military tactics, but it still has great guiding significance in modern society.
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在与人交往中，七擒七纵的策略可以帮助我们更好地理解对方，化解矛盾。
zài yǔ rén jiāo wǎng zhōng, qī qín qī zòng de cè lüè kě yǐ bāng zhù wǒ men gèng hǎo de lǐ jiě duì fāng, huà jiě máo dùn.
In interacting with people, the strategy of seven captures and seven releases can help us better understand each other and resolve conflicts.