以柔克刚 yǐ róu kè gāng Overcome strength with softness

Explanation

比喻以灵活的方法、温柔的态度战胜强硬的对手或事物。

A metaphor for overcoming strong opponents or things with flexible methods and a gentle attitude.

Origin Story

话说春秋战国时期，有一个小国名叫弱水国，国土面积狭小，资源贫瘠，常年受邻国强秦的欺压。弱水国国君名叫齐王，他是一位英明的君主，他不主张与强秦硬碰硬，而是采取了以柔克刚的策略。齐王广施仁政，爱护百姓，把国家治理得井井有条，并且还积极发展文化教育，使得弱水国的文化日益繁荣。他还主动向强秦示好，向强秦进献珍贵的宝物，以此来缓和与强秦之间的关系。齐王的做法起到了很好的效果，强秦慑于弱水国的文化软实力和齐王的仁义之名，逐渐减少了对弱水国的侵略和掠夺。就这样，弱水国在齐王的领导下，逐渐强大起来，最终摆脱了强秦的欺压，成为一个和平繁荣的国家。

huà shuō chūn qiū zhàn guó shí qī, yǒu yīgè xiǎo guó míng jiào ruò shuǐ guó, guó tǔ miàn jī xiá xiǎo, zīyuán pín jí, cháng nián shòu lín guó qiáng qín de qī yā. ruò shuǐ guó guó jūn míng jiào qí wáng, tā shì yī wèi yīng míng de jūn zhǔ, tā bù zhǔ zhāng yǔ qiáng qín yìng pèng yìng, ér shì cáiqǔ le yǐ róu kè gāng de cèlüè. qí wáng guǎng shī rén zhèng, ài hù bǎi xìng, bǎ guó jiā zhì lǐ de jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo, bìng qiě hái jī jí fā zhǎn wénhuà jiàoyù, shǐ de ruò shuǐ guó de wénhuà rì yì fán róng. tā hái zhǔ dòng xiàng qiáng qín shì hǎo, xiàng qiáng qín jìn xiàn zhēn guì de bǎo wù, yǐ cǐ lái huǎn hé yǔ qiáng qín zhī jiān de guān xì. qí wáng de zuò fǎ qǐ dào le hěn hǎo de xiào guǒ, qiáng qín shè yú ruò shuǐ guó de wénhuà ruǎn shí lì hé qí wáng de rén yì zhī míng, zhú jiàn jiǎn shǎo le duì ruò shuǐ guó de qīn luè hé lüè duō. jiù zhè yàng, ruò shuǐ guó zài qí wáng de lǐng dǎo xià, zhú jiàn qiáng dà qǐ lái, zuì zhōng bǎi tuō le qiáng qín de qī yā, chéng wéi yīgè hépíng fán róng de guó jiā.

During the Warring States period, there was a small country called Ruoshuiguo. Its land was small and resources were scarce, and it was constantly oppressed by the neighboring strong Qin. The ruler of Ruoshuiguo was King Qi, a wise monarch. Instead of clashing head-on with Qin, he adopted a strategy of overcoming strength with softness. King Qi implemented benevolent governance, cared for his people, and governed his state well. He also actively developed culture and education, leading to the flourishing of Ruoshuiguo's culture. He also proactively sought friendship with Qin, offering precious treasures as gifts to ease the tension between the two states. King Qi’s approach proved effective. Qin, impressed by Ruoshuiguo’s cultural soft power and King Qi’s benevolence, gradually reduced its aggression and plunder. Under King Qi’s leadership, Ruoshuiguo gradually grew stronger, eventually escaping Qin’s oppression and becoming a peaceful and prosperous nation.

Usage

形容以柔顺克制强硬，多用于处理人际关系或解决冲突。

xióngróng yǐ róushùn kèzhì qiángyìng, duō yòng yú chǔlǐ rénjì guānxì huò jiějué chōngtū

Describes overcoming hardness with gentleness, often used in dealing with interpersonal relationships or resolving conflicts.

Examples

• 面对强敌，他采取了以柔克刚的策略，最终取得了胜利。

  miàn duì qiáng dí,tā cáiqǔ le yǐ róu kè gāng de cèlüè, zuìzhōng qǔdé le shènglì. zài tánpàn zhōng, tā yǐ róu kè gāng, zuìzhōng shuō fú le duìfāng

  Faced with a strong enemy, he adopted a strategy of overcoming strength with softness, and ultimately achieved victory.

• 在谈判中，她以柔克刚，最终说服了对方。

  In the negotiation, she used soft power to persuade the other party..

Related Idioms

• 柔韧

• 克制

Opposite Idioms

• 以暴制暴

• 硬碰硬