天时地利 (tiān shí dì lì) — (idiom) favorable conditions; perfect alignment of timing and environment

Definition

Literally 'heaven's timing, earth's advantage': ideal external conditions — right moment and right place. Usually paired with 人和 (people's support) to mean a winning combination.

idiom
favorable conditionsperfect alignment of timing and environment

Examples

  • 天时地利，。
    Zhè cì chuàng yè wǒ men yǒu tiān shí dì lì, yí dìng néng chéng gōng.
    We have favorable conditions for this startup; it will surely succeed.
  • 天时地利，。
    Dǎ zhàng jiǎng jiu tiān shí dì lì, bú shì kào rén shù duō jiù xíng.
    Warfare requires favorable timing and geography; it's not just about having more men.
  • ，天时地利。
    Tā xuǎn zài zhè ge shí jī tuī chū chǎn pǐn, zhēn shì zhàn jìn tiān shí dì lì.
    He launched the product at just the right time and place — truly maximizing favorable conditions.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

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 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

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

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →

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