to loosen the reins only to grasp better; play hard to get
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to capture by deliberately letting go; to play hard to get in order to gain better control
Originally a military strategy from ancient Chinese warfare. Now commonly used in romantic contexts (playing hard to get), business negotiations, and interpersonal tactics to describe strategic patience or calculated leniency.
Jǐng警
chá方
jué决
dìng定
yù欲
qín擒
gù故
zòng纵
，
ràng让
xiǎo小
tōu偷
fàng放
sōng松
jǐng警
tì惕
hòu后
zài再
shí实
shī施
zhuā抓
bǔ捕
。
The police decided to play hard to get, letting the thief lower his guard before making the arrest.
Tā她
duì对
zhuī追
qiú求
zhě者
yù欲
qín擒
gù故
zòng纵
，
qí其
shí实
xīn心
lǐ里
hěn很
xǐ喜
huan欢
duì对
fāng方
。
She played hard to get with her suitors, but actually liked them very much.
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Zhū诸
gě葛
liàng亮
yù欲
qín擒
gù故
zòng纵
，
qī七
qín擒
mèng孟
huò获
shǐ使
qí其
xīn心
yuè悦
chéng诚
fú服
。
Zhuge Liang captured Meng Huo seven times by deliberately letting him go each time, until Meng Huo submitted wholeheartedly.
Zài在
zhè这
chǎng场
shāng商
yè业
tán谈
pàn判
zhōng中
，
tā他
men们
cǎi采
qǔ取
le了
yù欲
qín擒
gù故
zòng纵
de的
cè策
lüè略
，
xiān先
ràng让
bù步
zài再
zhēng争
qǔ取
gèng更
dà大
lì利
yì益
。
In these business negotiations, they adopted a strategy of playing hard to get, making concessions first to gain greater benefits later.