知己知彼，百戰不殆

Chinese
to know yourself and know the enemy to fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat; to win every battle
trad. (知己知彼，百戰不殆) 知己知彼 ， 百戰不殆
simp. (知己知彼，百战不殆) 知己知彼 ， 百战不殆

Etymology

From The Art of War:

知彼知己，百戰不殆；不知彼而知己，一勝一負；不知彼，不知己，每戰必敗。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
知彼知己，百战不殆；不知彼而知己，一胜一负；不知彼，不知己，每战必败。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Art of War, circa 5th century BCE, translated based on Lionel Giles's version
Zhī bǐ zhī jǐ, bǎi zhàn bù dài; bù zhī bǐ ér zhī jǐ, yī shèng yī fù; bù zhī bǐ, bù zhī jǐ, měi zhàn bì bài. [Pinyin]
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Pronunciation
  • Mandarin
    (Pinyin): zhījǐzhībǐ, bǎizhànbùdài
    (Zhuyin): ㄓ ㄐㄧˇ ㄓ ㄅㄧˇ, ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄞˋ
  • Cantonese (Jyutping): zi1 gei2 zi1 bei2, baak3 zin3 bat1 toi5
  • Mandarin
    • (Standard Chinese)+
      • Pinyin: zhījǐzhībǐ, bǎizhànbùdài [Phonetic: zhījǐzhībǐ, bǎizhànbúdài]
      • Zhuyin: ㄓ ㄐㄧˇ ㄓ ㄅㄧˇ, ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄞˋ
      • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jyjiijybii, baejannbuday
      • IPA (key): /ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/
  • Cantonese

Idiom

知己知彼，百戰不殆

  1. Know yourself and know the enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.

Synonyms
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