知雄守雌 zhī xióng shǒu cí Know the strong, keep the weak

Explanation

出自老子《道德经》。指知道自身的强势，却能保持谦逊低调，不张扬，不锋芒毕露。体现了一种以柔克刚，不争而胜的处世智慧。

From Laozi's "Tao Te Ching". It means knowing one's own strengths but maintaining humility and low profile, not showing off, not being sharp and prominent. It reflects a life wisdom of overcoming strength with softness, and winning without fighting.

Origin Story

春秋时期，吴王阖闾派伍子胥前往楚国，途中遭遇楚国军队。伍子胥深知楚国兵力强大，自己兵力不足，硬碰硬只会自取灭亡。他决定采用“知雄守雌”的策略，避免正面冲突。伍子胥一行人乔装打扮成商队，偷偷绕过楚国军队，顺利到达楚国完成任务，最终帮助吴国战胜楚国。此后，“知雄守雌”的策略被广泛应用于军事和政治斗争中，成为一种重要的战略思想。

chūn qiū shí qī, wú wáng hé lǘ pài wǔ zǐ xū qián wǎng chǔ guó, tú zhōng zāo yù chǔ guó jūn duì. wǔ zǐ xū shēn zhī chǔ guó bīng lì qiáng dà, zì jūn bīng lì bù zú, yìng pèng yìng zhǐ huì zì qǔ miè wáng. tā jué dìng cǎi yòng zhī xióng shǒu cí de cè lüè, bì miǎn zhèng miàn chōng tū. wǔ zǐ xū yī xíng rén qiáo zhuāng dǎ bàn chéng shāng duì, tōu tōu rào guò chǔ guó jūn duì, shù lì dào dá chǔ guó wán chéng rèn wù, zuì zhōng bāng zhù wú guó zhàn shèng chǔ guó. cǐ hòu, zhī xióng shǒu cí de cè lüè bèi guǎng fàn yìng yòng yú jūnshì hé zhèng zhì dòuzhēng zhōng, chéng wéi yī zhǒng zhòng yào de zhàn lüè sī xiǎng

During the Spring and Autumn Period, King Helü of Wu sent Wu Zixu to Chu. On the way, he encountered the Chu army. Wu Zixu knew that the Chu army was strong while his own troops were weak. A direct confrontation would only lead to his own demise. He decided to adopt the strategy of "Zhixiong Shouci", avoiding direct conflict. Wu Zixu and his men disguised themselves as a merchant caravan, secretly bypassing the Chu army, and successfully reaching Chu to complete their mission, ultimately helping Wu defeat Chu. Thereafter, the strategy of "Zhixiong Shouci" was widely applied in military and political struggles, becoming an important strategic thought.

Usage

形容人处世为人谦逊低调，不锋芒毕露的处世态度。

xíng róng rén chǔ shì wéi rén qiān xùn diāo diào, bù fēng máng bì lù de chǔ shì tài du

Describes a humble and low-key attitude in life, without showing off.

Examples

• 商场如战场，商场竞争激烈，知雄守雌，才能立于不败之地。

  shāng chǎng rú zhàn chǎng, shāng chǎng jìng zhēng jī liè, zhī xióng shǒu cí, cái néng lì yú bù bài zhī dì.

  The mall is like a battlefield; in the fierce competition, only by knowing the enemy's strengths and keeping one's own low profile can one remain undefeated.

• 为人处世要学会知雄守雌，不锋芒毕露，才能走得更远。

  wéi rén chǔ shì yào xué huì zhī xióng shǒu cí, bù fēng máng bì lù, cái néng zǒu de gèng yuǎn

  In life, one should know how to use strength and weakness appropriately. Only by not showing one's full strength can one go further.

Related Idioms

• 以柔克刚

• 不争而胜

Opposite Idioms

• 锋芒毕露

• 强硬对抗