use deception to act secretly; 36 Stratagems
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to achieve one's aims by deceiving others and acting in secret; to cross the sea by a trick
literaryOriginally one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计), describing the tactic of hiding one's true intentions while secretly preparing for action. Often used in formal, literary, or strategic contexts.
Tā他
men们
shǐ使
yòng用
mán瞒
tiān天
guò过
hǎi海
de的
cè策
lüè略
，
tōu偷
tōu偷
bǎ把
huò货
wù物
yùn运
jìn进
le了
chéng城
。
They used the strategy of deception to secretly transport the goods into the city.
Dí敌
rén人
qǐ企
tú图
mán瞒
tiān天
guò过
hǎi海
，
dàn但
hái还
shì是
bèi被
wǒ我
men们
de的
zhēn侦
chá察
bīng兵
fā发
xiàn现
le了
。
The enemy attempted to act under cover of deception, but was still discovered by our scouts.
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Zhè这
shì是
diǎn典
xíng型
de的
mán瞒
tiān天
guò过
hǎi海
zhī之
jì计
，
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
àn按
bīng兵
bù不
dòng动
，
shí实
jì际
shàng上
àn暗
zhōng中
diào调
bīng兵
qiǎn遣
jiàng将
。
This is a classic example of the 'crossing the sea by a trick' strategy: appearing to hold still while secretly deploying troops.