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出谋划策 (chū móu huà cè) — to devise a strategy; to come up with a plan (often for someone else)

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning to offer strategies and plans, often for someone else (e.g. a leader or team). Carries a slightly formal, advisory tone.

idiom
to devise a strategyto come up with a plan (often for someone else)

Examples

  • 出谋划策。
    Tā jīng cháng wèi lǐng dǎo chū móu huà cè.
    He often devises strategies for the leaders.
  • 出谋划策，。
    Zhè ge tuán duì xū yào yǒu rén lái chū móu huà cè, cái néng yíng dé bǐ sài.
    This team needs someone to come up with a plan in order to win the competition.
  • ，出谋划策。
    Lì shǐ shàng, hěn duō móu shì wèi jūn wáng chū móu huà cè.
    In history, many strategists devised schemes for monarchs.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

出谋bring forth plans
出chūbring forth谋móuplan
动宾Verb + object
划策devise strategies
划huàdevise策cèstrategy
动宾Verb + object

出谋 'bring forth plans' with 划策 'devise strategies' gives masterminding a plan.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 謀; 谋 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
某
某mǒu謀móu
Same sound today

The traditional form 謀 uses 言 to show it relates to speech and 某 to show its sound; the simplified 谋 is a later shorthand.

Open 谋 →

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
刀刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
戈
戈gē划huá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

划 is made of 刀, a knife, and 戈, a weapon. The 戈 part gives the sound.

Open 划 →

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
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì策cè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

策 pairs 竹 (bamboo) with 朿 as a sound part.

Open 策 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesThinking & Cognition

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