| Chinese Text Project | |
| Simplified Chinese version |
| 故善用兵者， | Therefore the skillful leader |
| 屈人之兵，而非战也； | subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; |
| 拔人之城，而非攻也； | he captures their cities without laying siege to them; |
| 毁人之国，而非久也。 | he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field. |
| 必以全争于天下， | With his forces intact he will dispute the mastery of the Empire, |
| 故兵不顿， | and thus, without losing a man, |
| 利可全， | his triumph will be complete. |
| 此谋攻之法也。 | This is the method of attacking by stratagem. |
| 故用兵之法， | It is the rule in war, |
| 十则围之， | if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; |
| 五则攻之， | if five to one, to attack him; |
| 倍则分之， | if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two. |
| 敌则能战之， | If equally matched, we can offer battle; |
| 少则能守之， | if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; |
| 不若则能避之。 | if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him. |
| 故小敌之坚， | Hence, though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, |
| 大敌之擒也。 | in the end it must be captured by the larger force. |
| Character | Composition | Variants | Reading | Meaning | Hanyu | Kangxi | Cihai |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 故 | 攴+5 | gù ㄍㄨˋ | Cause. / State of affairs. / Event, incident. / Plot. / Old. / Past, original. / Death. / On purpose. / Originally. / Hence, thus. | v2,p1453#05 | p.469#25 | p.601r5c01 | |
| 善 | 口+9 | 譱 𦎍 𠾄 𧮟 | shàn ㄕㄢˋ | Good. / Take to be good, like. / Good person. / Strong point, merit. / Perfect. / Gentle, kind. / Friendly. / Good at doing. / Improve, make good. / Control, regulate. / Food. | v1,p0660#02 | p.197#18 | p.282r3c04 |
| 用 | 用+0 | 𤰆 𠛁 | yòng ㄩㄥˋ | use, employ, apply, operate; use | v1,p0097#05 | p.755#24 | p.908r6c02 |
| 兵 | 八+5 | 𠈯 𠡿 | bīng ㄅㄧㄥ | soldier, troops | v1,p0244#04 | p.127#10 | p.162r1c02 |
| 者 | 老+4 | zhě ㄓㄜˇ | Pronoun used after verbs, adjectives, etc. in place of a person or thing. / Pronoun used after numbers in place of a thing. / Pronoun used after time or negation to express "when" or "if". / Expressive particle used in a declarative sentence after the subject. / Expressive particle used in a sentence after the subject to express cause or explanation. | v4,p2780#05 | p.961#01 | p.1080r1c01 | |
| zhuó ㄓㄨㄛˊ | In, located in. | ||||||
| 屈 | 尸+5 | 𡕜 𡲶 𡲗 | qū ㄑㄩ | bend, flex; bent, crooked; crouch | v2,p0970#11 | p.301#07 | p.448r5c02 |
| 人 | 人+0 | 𠔽 亻 | rén ㄖㄣˊ | Man, person. / Others, other people. / The people, ordinary men. / Talent, material. / [A man's] character. / Affairs of men, world of man. / Benevolence. | v1,p0101#10 | p.91#01 | p.80r2c01 |
| 之 | 丿+3 | 㞢 | zhī ㄓ | Towards; go to. / Demonstrative pronoun: this, these. / Third person pronoun: him, her, it. / Auxiliary word: of. / Auxiliary word: used between subject and predicate, cancels independence of a clause. / Auxiliary word: used in a sentence for aesthetic purpose only, no meaning. | v1,p0043#01 | p.82#04 | p.47r2c02 |
| 而 | 而+0 | ér ㄦˊ | Whiskers. / Like, similar to. / Pronoun: you. / Pronoun: this, like this. / Connective: and, with. / Connective: and, then. / Connective: if, supposing. / Connective: yet, however. / Connective: therefore, hence. / Connective: expresses method or state. / Particle: of. / Expressive particle. | v4,p2810#01 | p.961#18 | p.1080r2c03 | |
| néng ㄋㄥˊ | Same as “能(3)” néng ㄋㄥˊ: Able to, competent. / Same as “能(2.1)” néng ㄋㄥˊ: Ability, talent. | ||||||
| 非 | 非+0 | fēi ㄈㄟ | Violate, go against (a rule). / Wrong, bad. / Not real, untrue. / Oppose, object to. / Slander, condemn. / Sarcasm, irony. / Absence of, not have. / Adverb: not, is not. | v6,p4086#01 | p.1382#11 | p.1463r6c02 | |
| fěi ㄈㄟˇ | Same as “诽(2)” fěi ㄈㄟˇ: Slander. | ||||||
| 战 | 戈+12 | 戦 战 | zhàn ㄓㄢˋ | war, fighting, battle | v2,p1412#12 | p.414#11 | p.553r5c01 |
| 也 | 乙+2 | 𠃟 匜 | yě ㄧㄝˇ | Modal particle used at the end of a sentence, expressing assertion and affirmation. / Modal particle used at the end of a question for emphasis. / Modal particle used at the end of a cause-effect sentence to express explanation. / Modal particle used in the middle of a sentence to express a pause. | v1,p0050#05 | p.84#04 | p.55r1c01 |
| 拔 | 手+5 | 抜 | bá bèi ㄅㄚˊ ㄅㄟˋ | uproot, pull out | v3,p1850#03 | p.426#01 | p.570r1c01 |
| 城 | 土+6 | chéng ㄔㄥˊ | castle; city, town; municipality | v1,p0438#07 | p.229#32 | p.320r1c02 | |
| 攻 | 攴+3 | gōng ㄍㄨㄥ | attack, assault; criticize | v2,p1449#06 | p.468#16 | p.600r1c01 | |
| 毁 | 殳+9 | 𢾌 𣪷 毁 | huǐ huì ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄟˋ | destroy, ruin, injure; slander | v3,p2162#04 | p.586#12 | p.744r4c01 |
| 国 | 囗+8 | 圀 国 囗 囶 𢧌 䆐 囯 国 | guó ㄍㄨㄛˊ | nation, country, nation-state | v1,p0720#09 | p.219#16 | p.303r4c02 |
| 久 | 丿+2 | 乆 | jiǔ ㄐㄧㄡˇ | long time (ago); time passage, grow late | v1,p0033#03 | p.81#19 | p.47r1c02 |
| 必 | 心+1 | bì ㄅㄧˋ | surely, most certainly; must | v4,p2267#02 | p.375#02 | p.522r5c01 | |
| 以 | 人+3 | 㠯 | yǐ ㄧˇ | Use. / Believe. / Command. / Lead. / Connect, implicate. / Have. / Cause, reason. / Preposition: because. / Preposition: from, in. / Preposition: at [some time]. / Preposition: using. / Preposition: in accordance with. / Preposition: relying upon. / Preposition: in the capacity of. / Preposition: with, together with. / Connective: indicates the following action is the objective of the preceding one. / Connective: used between adverbial clause and verb to express modification. / Connective: and. / Connective: but. / Connective: and so, thus. / Particle: used together with some words expressing direction and time. / Modal particle. / Same as “已(1)” yǐ ㄧˇ: Stop, discontinue. / Same as “已(7.2)” yǐ ㄧˇ: Adverb: already. / Same as “已(7.3)” yǐ ㄧˇ: Adverb: extremely. | v1,p0105#07 | p.94#01 | p.87r6c01 |
| 全 | 入+4 | 𠓴 㒰 | quán ㄑㄩㄢˊ | maintain, keep whole or intact | v1,p0115#08 | p.126#05 | p.144r6c01 |
| 争 | 爪+4 | 争 𠫩 𠄙 | zhēng zhèng ㄓㄥ ㄓㄥˋ | to dispute, fight, contend, strive | v3,p2031#03 | p.688#33 | p.863r1c01 |
| 于 | 二+1 | 扵 于 | yú ㄩˊ | Go to, go towards. / Take. / Rim of the mouth of a bell. / A type of plant. / [Onomatopoeia] / Same as “于(3.1)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: in. / Same as “于(3.2)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: from or to. / Same as “于(3.3)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: compared to. / Same as “于(3.4)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: to, for, towards. / Same as “于(3.5)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: by (indicating passive tense). / Same as “于(3.6)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: with, using. / Same as “于(3.7)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: due to, because of. / Same as “于(3.8)” yú ㄩˊ: Preposition: by, according to. / Preposition: for, in place of. / Connective: and. / Auxiliary word: used in a sentence for aesthetic purpose only, no meaning. / Auxiliary word: used in at the end of a sentence to express questioning. | v1,p0004#05 | p.86#06 | p.63r3c02 |
| 天下 | 大+1 一+2 | 𠀡 𠀘 𦴞 兲 靝 𠕹 丅 厥 𠄟 | tiān xià ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ | 世界。 "All under heaven", the world. | v1,p0522#01 v1,p0007#01 | p.248#04 p.76#10 | p.358r4c01 p.28r1c01 |
| 不 | 一+3 | 不 𠀚 𠙐 | bù ㄅㄨˋ | Not have. / To not be. / Negational adverb, used before verbs, adjectives, etc. to indicate negation. / Negational adverb expressing prohibition: do not. / Negational adverb expressing rhetorical question: is not...? | v1,p0011#06 | p.76#15 | p.30r1c01 |
| fǒu ㄈㄡˇ | Same as “否(1.2)” fǒu ㄈㄡˇ: Adverb used together with an affirmative word, expressing its negative or opposite. / Same as “否(1.3)” fǒu ㄈㄡˇ: Adverb used at the end of a question to form a yes-no question. | ||||||
| fū ㄈㄨ | Sepal of a flower. | ||||||
| pī ㄆㄧ | Same as “丕(1)” pī ㄆㄧ: Large. | ||||||
| bǐ ㄅㄧˇ | Show disdain for. | ||||||
| 顿 | 页+4 | 顿 | dùn dú zhūn ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄣ | pause, stop; bow, kowtow; arrange | v7,p4360#05 | p.1401#11 | p.1476r4c03 |
| 利 | 刀+5 | 利 𥝢 𥝤 | lì ㄌㄧˋ | Sharp. / Fast, speedy. / Favourable, lucky. / Convenient, useful. / Profits, benefits. / Beneficial to, good for. / Profit, interest. / Diarrhea. | v1,p0329#02 | p.138#19 | p.180r2c02 |
| 可 | 口+2 | 歌 厥 | kě kè ㄎㄜˇ ㄎㄜˋ | may, can, -able; possibly | v1,p0567#07 | p.172#12 | p.244r1c02 |
| 此 | 止+2 | cǐ ㄘˇ | This. / Like this. / Here. / Adverb: then. | v2,p1438#03 | p.574#10 | p.735r4c01 | |
| 谋 | 言+9 | 𠰔 𧦥 谋 | móu ㄇㄡˊ | plan, scheme; strategem | v6,p3993#19 | p.1173#07 | p.1251r5c01 |
| 法 | 水+5 | 佱 灋 𣳴 | fǎ ㄈㄚˇ | Law, penal code. / Principle, system. / Standard. / Method, way of doing. / Follow, imitate. / Adhere to the rules. / The Legalist school. | v3,p1579#04 | p.616#11 | p.778r4c01 |
| 十 | 十+0 | 拾 拾 | shí ㄕˊ | ten, tenth; complete; perfect | v1,p0058#09 | p.155#17 | p.207r5c02 |
| 则 | 刀+7 | 𠟻 𠟭 𠞋 𠟔 则 | zé ㄗㄜˊ | Method, rule. / Mimic, emulate. / Level, grade. / Adverb used to emphasize an assertion. / Adverb used to express scope: only. / Connective expressing continuation: then, and then. / Connective emphasizing comparison. / Connective expressing contrast. / Connective expressing allowance: yet, even so. / Connective expressing unexpected turn of events. / Connective expressing suppostion: if. | v1,p0340#06 | p.139#31 | p.183r5c05 |
| 围 | 囗+9 | 囲 囗 围 | wéi ㄨㄟˊ | surround, encircle, corral | v1,p0722#14 | p.220#01 | p.306r6c03 |
| 五 | 二+2 | 伍 𠄡 㐅 | wǔ ㄨˇ | five; surname | v1,p0011#03 | p.86#11 | p.64r3c01 |
| 倍 | 人+8 | 俖 | bèi ㄅㄟˋ | times, fold, multiple times | v1,p0183#04 | p.107#19 | p.112r2c02 |
| 分 | 刀+2 | 份 | fēn ㄈㄣ | Separate, split. / Distribute, divide among. / Distinguish, tell apart. / Difference. / Clear, evident. / Share. / Half. / Gist, general point. / Equinox (in the Chinese unisolar calendar). / Measure word: unit of length equivalent to a tenth of one cun. / Measure word: unit of area equivalent to a tenth of one mu. / Measure word: unit of weight equivalent to a tenth of one qian. | v1,p0321#03 | p.136#04 | p.174r1c04 |
| fèn ㄈㄣˋ | Rank, position occupied. / Work, office. / Guess, speculate. / Happy, content. | ||||||
| 敌 | 攴+11 | 敌 | dí ㄉㄧˊ | enemy, foe, rival; resist | v2,p1475#04 | p.474#48 | p.607r1c02 |
| 能 | 肉+6 | néng ㄋㄥˊ | A type of bear. / Ability, talent. / Man of ability, man of talent. / Able to, competent. / Comply with, be friendly towards. / Encompass, obtain. / To, arrive at. / Then, thus. / Same as “而(4.3)” ér ㄦˊ: Connective: if, supposing. / Only, merely. / Even if. / Thus, in this way. / Three-legged turtle. | v3,p2074#01 | p.981#16 | p.1095r5c02 | |
| nài ㄋㄞˋ | Withstand, endure. | ||||||
| tái ㄊㄞˊ | Same as “台(1.1)” tái ㄊㄞˊ: Name of a celestial body. | ||||||
| tài ㄊㄞˋ | State, form. | ||||||
| 少 | 小+1 | shǎo shào ㄕㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ | few, less, inadequate | v1,p0561#02 | p.296#20 | p.442r4c01 | |
| 守 | 宀+3 | 𡬮 𡬴 | shǒu shòu ㄕㄡˇ ㄕㄡˋ | defend, protect, guard, conserve | v2,p0912#03 | p.282#05 | p.405r4c01 |
| 若 | 草+5 | 若 𦱡 𦱶 𧁇 | ruò ㄖㄨㄛˋ | Iris. / Same as “北海若” běi hǎi ruò ㄅㄟˇ ㄏㄞˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ: Ruo, a god of the Northern Sea. / Go by, accord with. / Choose. / Like, similar to. / Identical, the same. / As good as, comparable to. / To, arrive at. / You, your. / This way, like this. / Regarding, as regards. / If, should it be the case. / Or, alternatively. / But, yet. / Adjectival suffix. | v5,p3187#07 | p.1023#12 | p.1130r1c03 |
| 避 | 辵+13 | 辟 𨓶 𢕾 | bì ㄅㄧˋ | avoid; turn aside; escape; hide | v6,p3891#05 | p.1266#09 | p.1333r6c05 |
| 小 | 小+0 | xiǎo ㄒㄧㄠˇ | Small. / Make small. / View as small. / Thin. / Insufficient. / Short (time), fleeting. / Young. / Slightly, somewhat. / Low level. / A person of low rank. / A person of bad moral character. / Humble term for oneself. | v1,p0560#12 | p.296#18 | p.438r2c01 | |
| 坚 | 土+8 | 坚 | jiān ㄐㄧㄢ | hard, strong, firm; resolute | v1,p0451#04 | p.232#03 | p.323r3c01 |
| 大 | 大+0 | 𠘲 | dà ㄉㄚˋ | Large, great. / Exceed, be greater than. / Venerate, treat as being great. / Many. / Thick, coarse. / Elder. / Respectful term of address. / Adverb expressing high level or broad range. | v1,p0520#01 | p.248#01 | p.342r3c03 |
| tài ㄊㄞˋ | Most (superlative). / Too much. / Peaceful, tranquil. | ||||||
| 擒 | 手+13 | 捦 | qín ㄑㄧㄣˊ | catch, capture, seize, arrest | v3,p1961#02 | p.458#25 | p.595r3c03 |
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