居高临下 jū gāo lín xià commanding heights

Explanation

占据高处，俯视下方。形容占据的地势非常有利，也比喻处于有利的地位。

Occupying a high position and overlooking the lower area. It describes a very advantageous geographical position and also refers to an advantageous position.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀汉名将诸葛亮率领大军北伐曹魏。蜀军在五丈原与魏军对峙，诸葛亮充分利用五丈原的地势优势，居高临下，指挥若定，魏军屡次进攻均被击退。一次，魏军大将司马懿率领大军前来挑战，诸葛亮稳坐中军帐，运筹帷幄之中，决胜千里之外，指挥若定。司马懿见蜀军居高临下，防线稳固，一时难以攻破，只好退兵。后来，司马懿又多次尝试进攻，但都被诸葛亮利用地势优势，成功化解。最终，诸葛亮凭借着居高临下的战略优势，迫使魏军退兵，取得了北伐战争的阶段性胜利。这段历史充分体现了居高临下在军事战略中的重要性。

huì shuō sānguó shíqī, shǔ hàn míng jiàng zhū gě liàng shuài lǐng dà jūn běi fá cáo wèi. shǔ jūn zài wǔ zhàng yuán yǔ wèi jūn duì zhì, zhū gě liàng chōng fēn lì yòng wǔ zhàng yuán de dì shì yōu shì, jū gāo lín xià, zhǐ huī ruò dìng, wèi jūn lǚ cì gōng jī jūn bèi jī tuì. yī cì, wèi jūn dà jiàng sī mǎ yì shuài lǐng dà jūn lái qǐn tiǎo, zhū gě liàng wěn zuò zhōng jūn zhàng, yùn chóu wéi wò zhī zhōng, jué shèng qiānlǐ zhī wài, zhǐ huī ruò dìng. sī mǎ yì jiàn shǔ jūn jū gāo lín xià, fáng xiàn wěn gù, yī shí nán yǐ gōng pò, zhǐ hǎo tuì bīng. hòu lái, sī mǎ yì yòu duō cì shì yàn gōng jī, dàn dōu bèi zhū gě liàng lì yòng dì shì yōu shì, chéng gōng huà jiě. zuì zhōng, zhū gě liàng píng jiè zhe jū gāo lín xià de zhàn lǜ yōu shì, pò shǐ wèi jūn tuì bīng, qǔ dé le běi fá zhàn zhēng de jiē duàn xìng shèng lì. zhè duàn lì shǐ chōng fēn tǐ xiàn le jū gāo lín xià zài jūnshì zhàn lǜ zhōng de zhòng yào xìng.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the famous Shu Han general, led his troops to launch a northern expedition against Cao Wei. The Shu army faced off against the Wei army at Wuzhangyuan. Zhuge Liang made full use of the advantageous terrain at Wuzhangyuan, commanding from a position of height and superiority. The Wei army's repeated attacks were repelled. Once, Sima Yi, the Wei general, led his troops to challenge Zhuge Liang. From his central command tent, Zhuge Liang calmly orchestrated the victory, directing operations from afar. Seeing that the Shu army held the high ground, boasting a strong defensive line that was difficult to break, Sima Yi had to withdraw his forces. Later, Sima Yi tried to attack many more times, but Zhuge Liang successfully countered each time using his advantageous position. In the end, Zhuge Liang’s strategic high ground forced the Wei army’s retreat, securing a partial victory in the Northern Expedition. This historical episode perfectly illustrates the importance of a commanding position in military strategy.

Usage

多用于军事或政治领域，形容占据有利地位。

duō yòng yú jūnshì huò zhèngzhì lǐngyù, xiáoróng zhànjù yǒulì dìwèi

Mostly used in the military or political fields to describe an advantageous position.

Examples

• 居高临下，气焰嚣张

  jū gāo lín xià qì yàn xiāo zhāng

  Arrogant and overbearing from a high position

• 从山顶居高临下，可以俯瞰整个城市

  cóng shān dǐng jū gāo lín xià kě yǐ fǔ kàn zhěng gè chéng shì

  From the mountain top, one can overlook the whole city

Related Idioms

• 高高在上

• 俯瞰全局

Opposite Idioms

• 卑躬屈膝

• 低声下气