步步为营 bù bù wéi yíng To set up camp at every step

Explanation

步步为营，指军队每向前推进一步，就设下一道营垒，形容防守严密，行动谨慎。比喻做事稳扎稳打，小心谨慎，不冒进。

"To set up camp at every step" means that an army sets up a camp every time it moves forward. It describes a strict defense and cautious advance. Figuratively, it means to do things step by step, carefully and not recklessly.

Origin Story

春秋战国时期，诸侯国之间战火不断，各个国家都在想方设法增强实力，以求在战争中取得胜利。其中，有一位著名的将军名叫孙武，他精通兵法，善于运筹帷幄。一次，孙武率领军队进攻敌国，敌人也摆开阵势准备迎战。孙武命令士兵在行军途中，每走一段距离就设下一道营垒，并派兵把守。敌人见孙武军队如此谨慎，便认为孙武胆小怕事，开始放松警惕。孙武料敌机先，故意放慢行军速度，让敌人更加轻敌。敌人见孙武军队行动迟缓，便认为孙武已经疲惫不堪，于是发动了进攻。孙武早就料到敌人会如此，早已布下天罗地网，敌人刚一发动进攻就被孙武军队击溃，取得了胜利。孙武的步步为营战术，充分体现了谨慎周密的作战风格，也为后世留下了宝贵的经验。

chūn qiū zhàn guó shí qī, zhū hóu guó zhī jiān zhàn huǒ bù duàn, gè gè guó jiā dōu zài xiǎng fāng shè fǎ zēng qiáng shí lì, yǐ qiú zài zhàn zhēng zhōng qǔ dé shèng lì. qí zhōng, yǒu yī wèi zhù míng de jiāng jūn jiào sūn wǔ, tā jīng tōng bīng fǎ, shàn yú yùn chóu wéi wò. yī cì, sūn wǔ shuài lǐng jūn duì jìn gōng dí guó, dí rén yě bǎi kāi zhèn shì zhǔn bèi yíng zhàn. sūn wǔ mìng lìng shì bīng zài xíng jūn tú zhōng, měi zǒu yī duàn jù lí jiù shè xià yī dào yíng lěi, bìng pài bīng bǎ shǒu. dí rén jiàn sūn wǔ jūn duì rú cǐ jǐn shèn, biàn rèn wéi sūn wǔ dǎn xiǎo pà shì, kāi shǐ fàng sōng jǐng tì. sūn wǔ liào dí jī xiān, gù yì fàng màn xíng jūn sù dù, ràng dí rén gèng jiā qīng dí. dí rén jiàn sūn wǔ jūn duì xíng dòng chí huǎn, biàn rèn wéi sūn wǔ yǐ jīng pí bèi bù kān, yú shì fā dòng le jìn gōng. sūn wǔ zǎo jiù liào dào dí rén huì rú cǐ, yǐ jiù bù xià tiān luó dì wǎng, dí rén gāng yī fā dòng jìn gōng jiù bèi sūn wǔ jūn duì jī kuì, qǔ dé le shèng lì. sūn wǔ de bù bù wéi yíng zhàn shù, chōng fèn tiǎn xǐn le jǐn shèn zhōu mì de zhàn zhēng fēng gé, yě wèi hòu shì liú xià le bǎo guì de jīng yàn.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in China, the various feudal states were constantly at war. Each country was trying to find ways to strengthen its forces in order to win in war. Among them was a famous general named Sun Wu, who was proficient in military strategy and adept at planning and scheming. Once, Sun Wu led his army to attack an enemy country, and the enemy also lined up their forces to meet the challenge. Sun Wu ordered his soldiers to set up a camp every time they marched a certain distance, and to send troops to guard it. The enemy, seeing how cautious Sun Wu's army was, thought that Sun Wu was cowardly and fearful, and began to relax their vigilance. Sun Wu anticipated the enemy's move, intentionally slowing down his march to make the enemy even more careless. Seeing that Sun Wu's army was moving slowly, the enemy thought that Sun Wu was already exhausted, so they launched an attack. Sun Wu had long anticipated this, and had already laid out a net of traps. As soon as the enemy launched their attack, they were defeated by Sun Wu's army and they won the victory. Sun Wu's step-by-step encampment tactics fully embody a cautious and thorough combat style, and also left valuable experience for posterity.

Usage

步步为营这个成语，形容做事谨慎小心，稳扎稳打，不轻易冒险。

bù bù wéi yíng zhè ge chéng yǔ, xíng róng zuò shì jǐn shèn xiǎo xīn, wěn zhā wěn dǎ, bù qīng yì mào xiǎn.

The idiom "To set up camp at every step" describes someone who is cautious, plans things carefully, and does not take unnecessary risks.

Examples

• 创业初期，他们步步为营，谨慎经营，终于打开了市场。

  chuàng yè chū qī, tā men bù bù wéi yíng, jǐn shèn jīng yíng, zhōng yú dǎ kāi le shì chǎng.

  In the early days of their business, they proceeded cautiously, step by step, and eventually opened up the market.

• 在竞争激烈的市场环境中，企业要步步为营，才能立于不败之地。

  zài jìng zhēng jī liè de shì chǎng huán jìng zhōng, qǐ yè yào bù bù wéi yíng, cái néng lì yú bù bài zhī dì.

  In a competitive market environment, businesses must proceed cautiously to remain invincible.

• 登山时要步步为营，注意安全。

  dēng shān shí yào bù bù wéi yíng, zhù yì ān quán.

  When climbing, you should proceed step by step and pay attention to safety.

Related Idioms

• 稳扎稳打

• 小心谨慎

• 步步为营

Opposite Idioms

• 轻敌冒进

• 鲁莽冲动

• 草率行事