know yourself and your enemy
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to know yourself and know your enemy; to have a thorough understanding of both sides
literaryOriginated from Sun Tzu's Art of War (《孙子·谋攻》): '知彼知己，百战不殆。' Though the original text places '知彼' (know the enemy) first, modern usage typically reverses the order to '知己知彼'. The idiom emphasizes that strategic success requires understanding both your own strengths and weaknesses and those of your opponent.
Zhī知
jǐ己
zhī知
bǐ彼
，
bǎi百
zhàn战
bù不
dài殆
。
If you know yourself and know your enemy, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
Zài在
shāng商
yè业
jìng竞
zhēng争
zhōng中
，
zhǐ只
yǒu有
zhī知
jǐ己
zhī知
bǐ彼
cái才
néng能
lì立
yú于
bù不
bài败
zhī之
dì地
。
In business competition, only by knowing yourself and your rival can you remain invincible.
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Tán谈
pàn判
zhī之
qián前
，
shuāng双
fāng方
dōu都
yīng应
zuò做
dào到
zhī知
jǐ己
zhī知
bǐ彼
。
Before negotiations, both sides should thoroughly understand each other's positions.