CHENGYU
韬光养晦(tāo guāng yǎng huì)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- formal
- Source:
- 《旧唐书·宣宗纪》
MEANING
- Literal
- to hide one's light and nurse obscurity
- Figurative meaning
- to keep a low profile while building strength
ORIGIN STORY
From the Old Tang History: the future Emperor Xuanzong spent years "nursing obscurity", staying silent in gatherings and revealing nothing — until the moment came to act.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to keep one's powder dry”
EXAMPLES
前几年他韬光养晦，今年一举成名。Qián jǐ nián tā tāo guāng yǎng huì, jīnnián yì jǔ chéngmíng.HSK6
He hid his light for years, then burst into fame this year.
公司选择韬光养晦，专心研发新产品。Gōngsī xuǎnzé tāo guāng yǎng huì, zhuānxīn yánfā xīn chǎnpǐn.HSK6
The company kept a low profile and focused on developing new products.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is a deliberate, strategic low profile — not shyness or passivity.
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01