计策

• Pinyin: jì cè
• Hanzi breakdown: 计 = 讠+ 十 (speech + ten — to count/plan); 策 = 竹 + 朿 (bamboo + thorn — bamboo rod used for writing strategies)

Meaning

A stratagem; a plan; a tactic. Refers to a deliberate scheme devised to achieve a particular objective, often with an element of cleverness or cunning.

Common in historical, military, and political contexts. Can be positive (a clever plan) or negative (a scheme). Derived from classical strategic texts and historical narratives.

Examples

1. 他想出了一个绝妙的计策，成功化解了危机。 He came up with a brilliant plan and successfully defused the crisis.
2. 敌方的计策已被我方情报人员提前识破。 The enemy’s strategy was spotted in advance by our intelligence personnel.
3. 谈判桌上双方都在暗中施展各自的计策。 At the negotiating table, both sides were secretly using their own tactics.

Usage Guide

Context: history, military, politics, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 三国时期的诸葛亮以善用计策著称于世，其展现出的心理博弈艺术至今仍被军事学者反复引用和研究。(Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms period was renowned for his mastery of stratagems; the psychological game theory he demonstrated continues to be cited and studied by military scholars to this day.)
• 在商业谈判中，一味依赖强硬的计策往往弄巧成拙，反而会损害双方长期合作的信任基础。(In commercial negotiations, relying solely on aggressive stratagems often backfires and ends up undermining the foundation of mutual trust necessary for long-term cooperation.)

Don't Say

• 计策 implies deliberate scheming; for a general 'plan' use 计划 or 方案 rather than 计策 in neutral contexts to avoid unintended connotations of cunning

Origin & History

计 (plan/scheme) + 策 (strategy/tactic)

Cultural Context

Era: Historical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal