成竹在胸 (chéng zhú zài xiōng) — to have a well‑thought‑out plan; to be fully prepared and therefore confident

Definition

A chengyu meaning to already have a clear, confident plan in mind before acting — the image is of a bamboo shoot grown fully formed in the painter's chest.

idiom
to have a well‑thought‑out planto be fully prepared and therefore confident

Examples

  • 成竹在胸
    Zhè cì tán pàn tā zǎo yǐ chéng zhú zài xiōng, suǒ yǐ yì diǎn yě bù jǐn zhāng.
    He already had a well-thought-out plan for this negotiation, so he wasn't nervous at all.
  • 成竹在胸
    Miàn duì kǎo shì, wǒ chéng zhú zài xiōng, yīn wèi fù xí le hǎo jǐ biàn.
    Facing the exam, I was fully prepared and confident because I had reviewed it several times.
  • 成竹在胸
    Jiào liàn chéng zhú zài xiōng, suǒ yǐ zài bǐ sài zhōng fēi cháng chén zhuó.
    The coach had a well-thought-out plan, so he remained very calm during the competition.

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