CHENGYU
千方百计(qiān fāng bǎi jì)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 《朱子语类·论语十七》
MEANING
- Literal
- a thousand ways and a hundred plans
- Figurative meaning
- by every possible means
ORIGIN STORY
Zhu Xi wrote: "Like catching a thief, you must summon all your strength and spirit, and pursue him by a thousand ways and a hundred plans." The counting words leave no method untried.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“by hook or by crook”
EXAMPLES
医生们千方百计挽救他的生命。Yīshēngmen qiān fāng bǎi jì wǎnjiù tā de shēngmìng.HSK6
The doctors tried every possible means to save his life.
他千方百计想说服我，可我不为所动。Tā qiān fāng bǎi jì xiǎng shuōfú wǒ, kě wǒ bù wéi suǒ dòng.HSK6
He tried a hundred plans to persuade me, but I would not move.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is about exhausting all methods — not about being clever or dishonest in itself.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01