机关算尽 Every trick in the book
Explanation
形容用尽各种巧妙的计谋。
Describes using all kinds of clever schemes.
Origin Story
话说古代有个名叫张良的谋士，他辅佐刘邦，在楚汉相争中立下赫赫战功。张良深谋远虑，足智多谋，常常能料敌机先，出奇制胜。有一次，项羽率领大军攻打汉军，张良运筹帷幄，巧妙地利用地形和计策，使得项羽的军队陷入重围，损失惨重。项羽虽然武力超群，但也无奈张良的机关算尽，最终只能落得个自刎乌江的下场。张良的成功，固然有其卓越的军事才能，更重要的是他善于思考，能够周密地策划，用尽心思去完成每一个战略目标，这便是机关算尽的最好体现。然而，机关算尽也并非总是能够取得成功，有时过于精于算计反而会适得其反，因此我们应该在谋略与道义之间找到平衡。
It is said that in ancient times there was a strategist named Zhang Liang, who assisted Liu Bang and made great contributions in the Chu-Han contention. Zhang Liang was far-sighted and resourceful, and often able to anticipate the enemy's moves and achieve surprise victories. Once, Xiang Yu led a large army to attack the Han army, and Zhang Liang masterminded the campaign, cleverly using terrain and tactics to encircle Xiang Yu's army, inflicting heavy losses. Although Xiang Yu was exceptionally skilled in warfare, he was helpless against Zhang Liang's cunning plans, and ultimately met his end by committing suicide at the Wu Jiang River. Zhang Liang's success was due to his extraordinary military talent, but more importantly, to his ability to think carefully, to plan thoroughly, and to use all his ingenuity to achieve every strategic goal, this is the best embodiment of "ji guan suan jin". However, scheming is not always successful, sometimes being too clever can backfire, so we should find a balance between strategy and morality.
Usage
通常作谓语、宾语。
Usually used as a predicate or object.
Examples
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他机关算尽，想方设法地陷害竞争对手，结果却害人害己。
tā jīguān suànjìn, xiǎngfāng shèfă de xiàn hài jìngzhēng duìshǒu, jiéguǒ què hài rén hài jǐ
He schemed and plotted to harm his competitors, but in the end he harmed himself.
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这场战争，双方都机关算尽，最终谁也讨不到好。
zhè chǎng zhànzhēng, shuāngfāng dōu jīguān suànjìn, zuìzhōng shuí yě tǎo bù dào hǎo
In this war, both sides used every trick in the book, and in the end, neither side won