审时度势 (shěn shí duó shì) — to study the situation and act accordingly

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning to read the situation carefully before acting — judge the timing and the balance of power, then adapt. Used in writing or high-stakes contexts (leadership, strategy, business), not everyday speech.

idiom
to study the situation and act accordingly

Examples

  • ，审时度势。
    Zài jué dìng tóu zī zhī qián, wǒ men bì xū shěn shí duó shì.
    Before making an investment decision, we must assess the situation.
  • 审时度势。
    Yí wèi yōu xiù de lǐng dǎo zhě dǒng de shěn shí duó shì.
    An excellent leader knows how to gauge the situation.
  • ，审时度势，。
    Zài zhàn chǎng shàng, zhǔ shuài bì xū shěn shí duó shì, líng huó yìng duì.
    On the battlefield, the commander must assess the situation and adapt flexibly.

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.

审时examine the time
审shěnexamine时shítime
动宾Verb + object
度势weigh the situation
度dùweigh势shìsituation
动宾Verb + object

审时 means examine the time, and 度势 means weigh the situation, together meaning to study conditions.

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 審; 审 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 釆釆biànto distinguish
  • 田田tián

The simplified 审 abbreviates the traditional 審, which is built from 宀 (roof) and 釆 (to distinguish); the lower 田 is uncertain.

Open 审 →

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →

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 勢; 势 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì勢shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 勢 combines 力, meaning power, with 埶 for the sound. The simplified 势 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 势 →

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