处心积虑, Plot and scheme, English

Explanation

处心积虑，意思是存心经过长时间的考虑。形容蓄谋已久。这个成语一般用来形容那些想方设法要达到目的的人，往往带有贬义。

Chǔ xīn jī lǜ, literally means to

Origin Story

战国时期，齐国有一个名叫田忌的将军，他非常喜欢赛马，而且还特别擅长赛马。有一次，齐王要和田忌进行一场赛马比赛，田忌的马匹虽然不如齐王，但是他却想出了一个妙计。他将自己的马匹分成了三组，分别命名为上、中、下。齐王的马匹也分成了三组，同样命名为上、中、下。比赛开始后，田忌先派上等马去挑战齐王的下等马，齐王的下等马当然不是田忌的上等马的对手，于是田忌赢得了第一局。第二局，田忌派中等马去挑战齐王的上等马，齐王的上等马果然胜过了田忌的中等马，齐王赢得了第二局。最后，田忌派下等马去挑战齐王的中等马，齐王的中等马自然赢得了第三局。最后的结果是田忌赢得了比赛。齐王十分疑惑，询问田忌为什么能战胜他，田忌解释道：“我早就处心积虑地想好了策略，才能够战胜您。”

zhàn guó shí qī, qí guó yǒu yī ge jìng míng tián jì de jiāng jūn, tā fēi cháng xǐ huan sài mǎ, ér qiě hái tè bié shàn cháng sài mǎ. yǒu yī cì, qí wáng yào hé tián jì jìn xíng yī chǎng sài mǎ bǐ sài, tián jì de mǎ pǐ suīrán bù rú qí wáng, dàn shì tā què xiǎng chū le yī ge miào jì. tā jiāng zì jǐ de mǎ pǐ fēn chéng le sān zǔ, fēn bié mìng míng wéi shàng, zhōng, xià. qí wáng de mǎ pǐ yě fēn chéng le sān zǔ, tóng yàng mìng míng wéi shàng, zhōng, xià. bǐ sài kāi shǐ hòu, tián jì xiān pài shàng děng mǎ qù tiǎo zhàn qí wáng de xià děng mǎ, qí wáng de xià děng mǎ dāngrán bù shì tián jì de shàng děng mǎ de duì shǒu, yú shì tián jì yíng dé le dì yī jú. dì èr jú, tián jì pài zhōng děng mǎ qù tiǎo zhàn qí wáng de shàng děng mǎ, qí wáng de shàng děng mǎ guǒrán shèng guò le tián jì de zhōng děng mǎ, qí wáng yíng dé le dì èr jú. zuì hòu, tián jì pài xià děng mǎ qù tiǎo zhàn qí wáng de zhōng děng mǎ, qí wáng de zhōng děng mǎ zìrán yíng dé le dì sān jú. zuì hòu de jié guǒ shì tián jì yíng dé le bǐ sài. qí wáng shí fēn yí huò, xún wèn tián jì wèi shén me néng zhàn shèng tā, tián jì jiě shì dào：“wǒ zǎo jiù chǔ xīn jī lǜ de xiǎng hǎo le cè lüè, cái néng gòu zhàn shèng nín.”

During the Warring States period, there was a general in Qi named Tian Ji, who loved horse racing and was particularly good at it. Once, the King of Qi wanted to have a horse race with Tian Ji. Tian Ji's horses were not as good as the King of Qi's, but he came up with a brilliant strategy. He divided his horses into three groups and named them upper, middle, and lower. The King of Qi's horses were also divided into three groups, also named upper, middle, and lower. When the competition began, Tian Ji first sent his best horses to challenge the worst horses of the King of Qi. The worst horses of the King of Qi were naturally no match for the best horses of Tian Ji, so Tian Ji won the first round. In the second round, Tian Ji sent his average horses to challenge the best horses of the King of Qi, who naturally surpassed the average horses of Tian Ji, so the King of Qi won the second round. Finally, Tian Ji sent his worst horses to challenge the average horses of the King of Qi, who naturally won the third round. In the end, Tian Ji won the competition. The King of Qi was very puzzled and asked Tian Ji why he was able to defeat him. Tian Ji explained, “I have been plotting and scheming for a long time to come up with a strategy to defeat you.”

Usage

这个成语通常用来形容一个人为了达到某种目的而长期筹划，往往是阴险的。

zhè ge chéng yǔ tóng cháng yòng lái xíng róng yī ge rén wèi le dá dá mǒu zhǒng mù dì ér cháng qī chóu huà, wǎng wǎng shì yīn xiǎn de.

This idiom is usually used to describe a person who plans for a long time to achieve a certain goal, often with insidious motives.

Examples

他处心积虑地想把公司搞垮。

tā chǔ xīn jī lǜ de xiǎng bǎ gōng sī gǎo kuǎ.

He was plotting to ruin the company.
这个阴险的家伙处心积虑地想害我。

zhè ge yīn xiǎn de jiā huǒ chǔ xīn jī lǜ de xiǎng hài wǒ.

This insidious fellow was plotting to harm me.
他处心积虑地想把财产都留给儿子。

tā chǔ xīn jī lǜ de xiǎng bǎ cái chǎn dōu liú gěi ér zi.

He was plotting to leave all his property to his son.

Explanation

Origin Story

Usage

Examples

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Opposite Idioms