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知彼知己百戰不殆 is from Sun Tzu's (Sunzi's) Art of War. It means that if you know and understand the enemy, you also know yourself, and thus with this complete understanding, you cannot lose.
This proverb is often somewhat directly translated as “Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.”
It can also be translated as “If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can come out of hundreds of battles without danger,” or “Know your enemy, know yourself, and your victory will not be threatened.”
敵を知り己を知れば百戦危うからず is the longer/full Japanese version of this proverb. This means “Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will not fear a hundred battles.”
Others will translate this as “Know thy enemy, know thyself, yields victory in one hundred battles.”
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
If you cannot fight, don't start one
不能咬人就别龇牙 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: [if you] can't bite people, don't bare [your] teeth.
Figuratively, this means: Don't show your anger if you can't do anything about the situation.
Some will also say this means “Don't start a fight that you cannot win.” Others will say it means that you must be willing to back up your words (perhaps with your fists).
Perhaps a pacifist view or perhaps the best kind of victory; 兵不血刃 reflect this idea:
The edges of the swords not being stained with blood.
You could also translate it as: Win victory without firing a shot.
The first character means army or force. The second character means without or none. The last two characters mean bloodstained knives. So it represents a returning victorious army without bloodstained knives. 兵不血刃 is the very literal sense of this Chinese proverb. The title definition is more accurate to the way this proverb is understood.
Asking yourself why the direct or literal translation is different?
...Think of compound words in English such as “nevertheless” if we break it apart to “never the less,” we will have trouble getting the real definition of “in spite of that.” Similar things happen when multiple characters create a compounded word in Chinese.
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
In 632 BC, Duke Wen of the Kingdom of Jin was about to lead an army against the forces of the Kingdom of Chu.
The Duke asked one of his advisers, Jiu Fan, how they could win the impending battle, as they were drastically outnumbered.
Jiu Fan said, “All is fair in war,” and suggested a plan of dishonorable tactics (cheating).
The Duke was unsure of this advice, so he asked another adviser, Yong Ji, who replied, “If you catch fish by draining the pond, you can certainly get all the fish. But there will be no fish the following year. You can cheat this one time in battle, but such tactics can only be used once, as the enemy will be wise in future encounters.”
The Duke heard the words of his wiser adviser but cheated to gain victory in the battle. However, he rewarded Yong Ji more than Jiu Fan at the victory celebration, stating that while Jiu Fan's advice gained one victory, the wise words of Yong Ji would last forever.
This Chinese idiom/proverb is still used, over 2600 years later to remind people not to burn bridges, cheat, or dishonor themselves in exchange for a short-term gain while sacrificing the future.
竭澤而漁 is very similar to the meaning of the English phrase, “Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
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Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your i will win search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
勝 胜 see styles |
shèng sheng4 sheng shou / sho しょう |
More info & calligraphy: Win / Victory(1) win; victory; (2) beautiful scenery; scenic spot; (suf,ctr) (3) (ant: 敗・2) counter for wins; (surname, female given name) Masaru jina, victorious, from ji, to overcome, surpass. |
博 see styles |
bó bo2 po haku(p); baku はく(P); ばく |
More info & calligraphy: Bo(suffix noun) (1) doctor; PhD; (suffix noun) (2) exposition; fair; exhibition; (given name) Hiromu Wide, universal; widely read, versed in; to cause; gamble; barter. |
金星 see styles |
jīn xīng jin1 xing1 chin hsing kinboshi きんぼし |
More info & calligraphy: Venus / Gold Star(1) dazzling victory; (2) {sumo} win of a rank-and-file wrestler over the grand champion; (surname) Kinboshi Śukra, the planet Venus. |
中 see styles |
zhòng zhong4 chung chun チュン |
to hit (the mark); to be hit by; to suffer; to win (a prize, a lottery) (1) (abbreviation) {mahj} (See 紅中) red dragon tile; (2) {mahj} winning hand with a pung (or kong) of red dragon tiles; (surname, given name) Mitsuru madhya. Middle, central, medium, the mean, within; to hit the centre. v. also 三諦. |
単 see styles |
dān dan1 tan tan たん |
Japanese variant of 單|单 (prefix) (1) single; simple; (2) (abbreviation) (See 単試合) singles (tennis, badminton, etc.); (3) (abbreviation) (See 単勝式) win bet (bet which predicts the winner of a race); (surname) Tan |
嬴 see styles |
yíng ying2 ying |
old variant of 贏|赢[ying2], to win, to profit; old variant of 盈[ying2], full |
獲 获 see styles |
huò huo4 huo gyaku |
(literary) to catch; to capture; (literary) to get; to obtain; to win To catch, seize, obtain, recover. 獲得. |
贏 赢 see styles |
yíng ying2 ying |
to beat; to win; to profit |
頂 顶 see styles |
dǐng ding3 ting tei / te てい |
apex; crown of the head; top; roof; most; to carry on the head; to push to the top; to go against; to replace; to substitute; to be subjected to (an aerial bombing, hailstorm etc); (slang) to "bump" a forum thread to raise its profile; classifier for headwear, hats, veils etc (1) crown (of head); summit (of mountain); spire; (2) easy win for one; (3) something received; (personal name) Tei Top of the head, crown, summit, apex, zenith; highest; to rise; oppose; an official's 'button'. |
一勝 see styles |
kazuyoshi かずよし |
one win; one victory; (personal name) Kazuyoshi |
上る see styles |
agaru あがる |
(v5r,vi) (1) to ascend; to go up; to climb; (2) to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the sun); to rise; (3) to go to (the capital); (4) to be promoted; (5) to add up to; (6) to advance (in price); (7) to swim up (a river); to sail up; (8) to come up (on the agenda); (irregular okurigana usage) (v5r,vi) (1) to rise; to go up; to come up; to ascend; to be raised; (2) to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to go in; (3) to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade; (4) to get out (of water); to come ashore; (5) to increase; (6) to improve; to make progress; (7) to be promoted; to advance; (8) to be made (of profit, etc.); (9) to occur (esp. of a favourable result); (10) to be adequate (to cover expenses, etc.); (11) to be finished; to be done; to be over; (12) (of rain) to stop; to lift; (13) to stop (working properly); to cut out; to give out; to die; (14) to win (in a card game, etc.); (15) to be spoken loudly; (16) to get stage fright; (17) to be offered (to the gods, etc.); (18) (humble language) to go; to visit; (19) (honorific or respectful language) to eat; to drink; (20) to be listed (as a candidate); (21) to serve (in one's master's home); (22) to go north; (suf,v5r) (23) indicates completion; (place-name) Agaru |
上供 see styles |
shàng gòng shang4 gong4 shang kung jōgu |
to make offerings (to gods or ancestors); to offer gifts to superiors in order to win their favor To offer up an offering to Buddha, or to ancestors. |
中彩 see styles |
zhòng cǎi zhong4 cai3 chung ts`ai chung tsai |
to win a prize at a lottery |
中標 中标 see styles |
zhòng biāo zhong4 biao1 chung piao |
to win a tender; to win a bid |
中獎 中奖 see styles |
zhòng jiǎng zhong4 jiang3 chung chiang |
to win a prize (in a lottery etc) |
中簽 中签 see styles |
zhòng qiān zhong4 qian1 chung ch`ien chung chien |
to win a ballot; to draw a lucky number |
倍満 see styles |
baiman ばいマン |
{mahj} win worth 16000 points (or, if dealer, 24000 points) |
做臉 做脸 see styles |
zuò liǎn zuo4 lian3 tso lien |
to win honor; to put on a stern face; to have a facial (beauty treatment) |
克つ see styles |
katsu かつ |
(v5t,vi) to win; to gain victory |
共贏 共赢 see styles |
gòng yíng gong4 ying2 kung ying |
mutually profitable; win-win |
制勝 制胜 see styles |
zhì shèng zhi4 sheng4 chih sheng seishou / sesho せいしょう |
to win; to prevail; to come out on top (noun/participle) victory; championship; (given name) Seikatsu |
力挫 see styles |
lì cuò li4 cuo4 li ts`o li tso |
to win as a result of tenacious effort; to fight off tough competition |
勝つ see styles |
katsu かつ |
(v5t,vi) to win; to gain victory |
勝出 胜出 see styles |
shèng chū sheng4 chu1 sheng ch`u sheng chu |
to come out on top; to win (in an election, contest etc); success; victory |
勝利 胜利 see styles |
shèng lì sheng4 li4 sheng li masatoshi まさとし |
victory; CL:個|个[ge4] (noun/participle) victory; triumph; conquest; success; win; (male given name) Masatoshi excellent benefit |
勝機 see styles |
shouki / shoki しょうき |
chance to win; opportunity to win; chance of victory |
勝率 胜率 see styles |
shèng lǜ sheng4 lu:4 sheng lü shouritsu / shoritsu しょうりつ |
(sports) win rate; winning percentage; probability of winning winning percentage |
勝訴 胜诉 see styles |
shèng sù sheng4 su4 sheng su shouso / shoso しょうそ |
to win a court case (n,vs,vi) (ant: 敗訴) winning a (legal) case; victory (in a legal case) |
勝選 胜选 see styles |
shèng xuǎn sheng4 xuan3 sheng hsüan |
to win an election |
勸服 劝服 see styles |
quàn fú quan4 fu2 ch`üan fu chüan fu |
to persuade; to convince; to win (sb) over |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself, and You Cannot Lose | 知彼知己百戰不殆 知彼知己百战不殆 | zhí bǐ zhí jī bǎi zhàn bú dài zhi2 bi3 zhi2 ji1 bai3 zhan4 bu2 dai4 zhi bi zhi ji bai zhan bu dai zhibizhijibaizhanbudai | chih pi chih chi pai chan pu tai | |
Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself, and Win 100 Battles | 敵を知り己を知れば百戦危うからず | teki o shi ri o no o shi re ba hya ku sen aya u ka ra zu | ||
If you cannot bite, do not show your teeth | 不能咬人就別齜牙 不能咬人就别龇牙 | bù néng yǎo rén jiù bié zī yá bu4 neng2 yao3 ren2 jiu4 bie2 zi1 ya2 bu neng yao ren jiu bie zi ya bunengyaorenjiubieziya | pu neng yao jen chiu pieh tzu ya | |
Bloodless Victory | 兵不血刃 | bīng bù xuè rèn bing1 bu4 xue4 ren4 bing bu xue ren bingbuxueren | ping pu hsüeh jen pingpuhsüehjen |
|
Drain the pond to get all the fish | 竭澤而漁 竭泽而渔 | jié zé ér yú jie2 ze2 er2 yu2 jie ze er yu jiezeeryu | chieh tse erh yü chiehtseerhyü |
|
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...
All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as I Will Win Kanji, I Will Win Characters, I Will Win in Mandarin Chinese, I Will Win Characters, I Will Win in Chinese Writing, I Will Win in Japanese Writing, I Will Win in Asian Writing, I Will Win Ideograms, Chinese I Will Win symbols, I Will Win Hieroglyphics, I Will Win Glyphs, I Will Win in Chinese Letters, I Will Win Hanzi, I Will Win in Japanese Kanji, I Will Win Pictograms, I Will Win in the Chinese Written-Language, or I Will Win in the Japanese Written-Language.