计

• Pinyin: jì
• Hanzi breakdown: 计 = 讠+ 十 (speech radical + ten — to reckon by words; a stratagem or plan)

Meaning

A plan; scheme; stratagem; to count or calculate; to plan or devise. Encompasses both the act of calculation and the broader notion of strategic planning.

In classical Chinese, 计 is a rich term covering military stratagems (三十六计 — the Thirty-Six Stratagems), political schemes, and practical plans. In modern usage it appears in compounds such as 计划 (plan), 计算 (calculate), 生计 (livelihood), and 设计 (design). The standalone 计 retains a literary or formal flavour.

Examples

1. 他临危不乱，迅速想出了一个应对危机的妙计，令众人折服。 He stayed calm in the crisis and quickly came up with a brilliant plan, earning everyone’s admiration.
2. 三十六计，走为上计，面对如此悬殊的实力对比，撤退是最为明智的选择。 Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, retreat is the best—when the gap in strength is this great, pulling back is the wisest choice.
3. 我们需要提前做好详尽的计，以应对谈判中可能出现的各种突发状况。 We need to make detailed plans in advance to deal with any surprises that may come up during the negotiations.

Usage Guide

Context: strategy, classical idioms, planning, military

Tone: strategic

Do Say

• 面对强敌，将领当机立断，采用声东击西之计，成功迷惑了对方的主力部队。(Faced with a powerful enemy, the commander made an instant decision and employed the stratagem of feinting in the east while striking in the west, successfully deceiving the main force of the opposing side.)
• 长远之计在于人才培养，短视地依赖外部引进只能是权宜之策，无法实现可持续发展。(The long-term plan lies in cultivating talent; short-sightedly relying on external recruitment can only be an expedient measure and cannot achieve sustainable development.)

Don't Say

• 没有计可使 — this phrasing is awkward in modern Chinese; use 没有办法 or 束手无策 for 'no plan/option available'

Origin & History

计 = 讠+ 十 (speech/words + ten — to count words/items; to plan through speech)

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal