Definition
This four-character idiom (成语) comes from Sun Tzu's Art of War: '知己知彼，百战不殆' — know yourself and know your opponent, and you'll win a hundred battles. It's used in both military and everyday competitive contexts (business, sports, exams) to stress the importance of understanding both your own strengths/weaknesses and those of the other side. The full saying is often implied even when only the first four characters are used.
f.e.
to know oneself and know one's opponent (idiom)to be well-informed about both sides
Examples
- 知己知彼，。Zuò shēngyi yào zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, cáinéng chénggōng.In business you need to know yourself and know your opponent to succeed.
- 知己知彼，，。zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, bǎi zhàn bú dài, zhè shì bīngfǎ de zhòngyào yuánzé.Know yourself and know your opponent, and you'll win a hundred battles — this is an important principle of military strategy.
- 知己知彼，。Kǎoshì qián yào zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, liǎojiě zìjǐ de ruòdiǎn hé kǎoshì fànwéi.Before an exam you should know yourself and know the exam — understand your weaknesses and the exam scope.
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