设心积虑 shè xīn jī lǜ to plot

Explanation

形容费尽心思，精心策划，多指做坏事。

describes someone who plans something with great effort and cunning, often something bad.

Origin Story

战国时期，秦国丞相范雎为了铲除魏国势力，设心积虑地策划了一场阴谋。他先派人散布谣言，离间魏王与魏国重臣之间的关系。然后，他又暗中贿赂魏国的一些官员，让他们在关键时刻做出对自己有利的决定。最后，他利用魏国的内乱，一举吞并了魏国的大片土地。范雎的成功，一方面是他才智过人，另一方面也是因为他设心积虑，步步为营。

zhànguó shíqī, qín guó chéngxiàng fàn jū wèile chǎnchú wèi guó shìlì, shè xīn jī lǜ de cèhuà le yī chǎng yīnmóu. tā xiān pài rén sànbù yáoyán, líjiān wèi wáng yǔ wèi guó chóngchén zhī jiān de guānxi. ránhòu, tā yòu ànzhōng huìlù wèi guó de yīxiē guān yuán, ràng tāmen zài guānjiàn shí kè zuò chū duì zìjǐ yǒulì de juédìng. zuìhòu, tā lìyòng wèi guó de nèiluàn, yī jǔ tūn bìng le wèi guó de dà piàn tǔdì. fàn jū de chénggōng, yī fāngmiàn shì tā cáizhì guòrén, lìng yī fāngmiàn yě shì yīnwèi tā shè xīn jī lǜ, bùbù wéiyíng.

During the Warring States period, Fan Ju, the prime minister of the Qin state, meticulously plotted a conspiracy to eliminate the Wei state's power. He first sent people to spread rumors to alienate the Wei king from the important officials of the Wei state. Then he secretly bribed some Wei officials to make decisions favorable to him at critical moments. Finally, he took advantage of the internal strife in the Wei state and annexed a large area of its land. Fan Ju's success was partly due to his extraordinary talent, and partly due to his careful planning and gradual maneuvers.

Usage

作谓语、宾语、状语；多指费尽心思做坏事。

zuò wèiyǔ, bǐnyǔ, zhuàngyǔ；duō zhǐ fèi jìn xīnsī zuò huài shì。

as predicate, object, adverbial; often refers to planning harmful deeds.

Examples

• 他为了达到目的，真是设心积虑。

  tā wèile dá dào mùde，zhēnshi shè xīn jī lǜ。

  He has been scheming to achieve his goal.

• 他们设心积虑地陷害他。

  tāmen shè xīn jī lǜ de xiàn hài tā。

  They plotted against him viciously..

Related Idioms

• 处心积虑

• 费尽心思

Opposite Idioms

• 临时起意

• 随心所欲