坐山观虎斗 zuò shān guān hǔ dòu Watching tigers fight from a mountain

Explanation

比喻对双方的斗争采取旁观的态度，等到双方都受到损伤，再从中捞取好处。

A metaphor for adopting an attitude of watching a fight between two sides, waiting until both sides are damaged, and then taking advantage of it.

Origin Story

战国时期，韩国和魏国长期交战，两败俱伤。秦国想趁机灭掉他们，但担心两国联合起来对抗。这时，楚国使臣陈轸建议秦王采取"坐山观虎斗"之计。他向秦王讲述了卞庄子利用两虎相斗，最后将其一举歼灭的故事。秦王听后，决定先观望韩魏两国的战争结果，待其两败俱伤后，再出兵攻打，最终成功吞并了韩魏两国。这个故事告诉我们，在处理复杂问题时，有时需要冷静观察，等待最佳时机再采取行动。

zhànguó shíqī, hán hé wèi guó chángqí jiāo zhàn, liǎng bài jù shāng. qín guó xiǎng chèn jī miè diào tāmen, dàn dānxīn liǎng guó liánhé qǐlái duìkàng. zhè shí, chǔ guó shǐ chén chén zhěn jiànyì qín wáng cǎiqǔ zuòshān guānhǔ dòu zhī jì. tā xiàng qín wáng jiǎngshù le biàn zhuāng zǐ lìyòng liǎng hǔ xiāng dòu, zuìhòu jiāng qí yī jǔ jiāmiè de gùshì. qín wáng tīng hòu, juédìng xiān guānwàng hán wèi liǎng guó de zhànzhēng jiéguǒ, dài qí liǎng bài jù shāng hòu, zài chūbīng gōng dǎ, zuìzhōng chénggōng tūn bìng le hán wèi liǎng guó. zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, zài chǔlǐ fùzá wèntí shí, yǒushí xūyào lěngjìng guānchá, děngdài zuì jiā shíjī zài cǎiqǔ xíngdòng

During the Warring States period, Han and Wei were engaged in a protracted war, both suffering heavy losses. Qin wanted to take the opportunity to destroy them but was worried about the two countries uniting against them. At this time, Chen Zhen, an envoy from Chu, suggested to the King of Qin to adopt the strategy of "watching tigers fight from a mountain". He told the King of Qin the story of Bian Zhuangzi, who took advantage of the fight between two tigers and finally annihilated them. After hearing this, the King of Qin decided to wait and see the outcome of the war between Han and Wei and then send troops to attack them. In the end, he successfully annexed Han and Wei. This story teaches us that when dealing with complex problems, sometimes we need to observe calmly and wait for the best time to act.

Usage

多用于形容在斗争中采取观望的态度。

duō yòng yú xíngróng zài dòuzhēng zhōng cǎiqǔ guānwàng de tàidu

Often used to describe the attitude of waiting in a struggle.

Examples

• 面对竞争对手的激烈竞争，我们应该静观其变，不必急于求成，采取坐山观虎斗的策略。

  miàn duì jìngzhēng duìshǒu de jīliè jìngzhēng, wǒmen yīnggāi jìngguān qíbiàn, bù bì jí yú qiúchéng, cǎiqǔ zuòshān guānhǔ dòu de cèlüè

  When faced with fierce competition from competitors, we should wait and see and not rush for success, adopting a strategy of watching tigers fight from a mountain.

• 公司内部出现了派系斗争，领导决定采取坐山观虎斗的策略，观察局势发展，再做决定。

  gōngsī nèibù chūxiànle pàixì dòuzhēng, lǐngdǎo juédìng cǎiqǔ zuòshān guānhǔ dòu de cèlüè, guāncchá júshì fāzhǎn, zài zuò juédìng

  Faced with factional struggles within the company, the leaders decided to adopt a strategy of watching the tigers fight from the mountain, observing the development of the situation before making a decision.

Related Idioms

• 静观其变

• 渔翁得利

Opposite Idioms

• 火中取栗

• 积极参与