出奇制胜 (chū qí zhì shèng) — to defeat one's opponent by a surprise move; to win through an unexpected strategy

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning to win by using an unexpected or unconventional strategy. The 'surprise' (奇) is the key — it implies breaking from routine, not just doing something clever.

idiom
to defeat one's opponent by a surprise moveto win through an unexpected strategy

Examples

  • 出奇制胜，。
    Zhè cì bǐ sài tā men yòng le chū qí zhì shèng de cè lüè, zuì zhōng huò shèng.
    In this competition, they used a surprise strategy and ultimately won.
  • ，出奇制胜。
    Zài shāng yè jìng zhēng zhōng, chū qí zhì shèng wǎng wǎng bǐ cháng guī fāng fǎ gèng yǒu xiào.
    In business competition, winning by a surprise move is often more effective than conventional methods.
  • 出奇制胜，。
    Yào xiǎng chū qí zhì shèng, jiù bì xū dǎ pò cháng guī sī wéi.
    If you want to win by a surprise move, you must break conventional thinking.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

出奇bring out surprise
出chūbring out奇qísurprise
动宾Verb + object
制胜win victory
制zhìwin胜shèngvictory
动宾Verb + object

出奇 (“bring out surprise”) and 制胜 (“win victory”) together mean defeating an opponent by an unexpected move.

Characters in this word

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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dàbig; great
Sound part声符shēngfú
可
可kě奇
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

奇 pairs 大 (big; great) with 可, a sound part.

Open 奇 →

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

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng胜shèng
Same sound today

The simplified 胜 changes the traditional 勝 by replacing part of its sound side with 生; the left 肉 relates to meat.

Open 胜 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.