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养精蓄锐 (yǎng jīng xù ruì) — to conserve one's strength and energy (for a future challenge)

Definition

A chengyu meaning to rest and build up energy before a big effort — like 'conserving strength for a challenge'. Used for athletes, exams, or any preparation phase.

idiom
to conserve one's strength and energy (for a future challenge)

Examples

  • 养精蓄锐，。
    Yùn dòng yuán men zài bǐ sài qián xū yào yǎng jīng xù ruì, yǐ zuì jiā zhuàng tài cān sài.
    Athletes need to conserve their energy before the competition to compete in the best condition.
  • ，养精蓄锐。
    Wèi le yíng jiē gāo kǎo, tā jué dìng zài jiā yǎng jīng xù ruì yí gè yuè.
    To prepare for the college entrance exam, he decided to stay home and conserve his energy for a month.
  • 养精蓄锐，。
    Gōng sī zhèng zài yǎng jīng xù ruì, zhǔn bèi tuī chū xīn chǎn pǐn.
    The company is conserving its resources, preparing to launch a new product.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

养精nurture essence
养yǎngnurture精jīngessence/energy
动宾Verb + object
蓄锐store keenness
蓄xùstore锐ruìkeenness/strength
动宾Verb + object

“养精” (nurture essence) and “蓄锐” (store keenness) combine to mean conserving energy.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 養; 养 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 養 uses 羊 as a sound part and 食 as a meaning part.

Open 养 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss, plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
畜
畜chù蓄xù
Same sound today

The top 艹 shows plants, and the lower 畜 gives the sound; the character is about cultivating plants and storing grain.

Open 蓄 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 銳; 锐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒釒jīngold
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì銳ruì
Same sound today

The traditional form 銳 pairs 釒, a gold sign, with 兌 as the sound part; the simplified 锐 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 锐 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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