指挥棒 (zhǐ huī bàng) — (conductor's) baton; (figurative) baton; guiding principle or directive that sets direction
Definition
Literally 'conducting stick': a conductor's baton, and by extension an invisible 'baton' held by whoever steers a group (government, market). Pairs with 挥 to mean 'wave the baton'.
noun
(conductor's) baton(figurative) batonguiding principle or directive that sets direction
Measure word · 根
Examples
- 指挥棒，。Zhǐ huī jiā ná qǐ zhǐ huī bàng, yīn yuè huì kāi shǐ le.The conductor picked up the baton, and the concert began.
- 指挥棒。Jīng jì fā zhǎn bù néng zhī kào zhèng fǔ de zhǐ huī bàng.Economic development cannot rely solely on the government's baton.
- 指挥棒。Shì chǎng de zhǐ huī bàng jué dìng le zī yuán de fēn pèi.The baton of the market determines resource allocation.
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