In leading troops there is a saying: 'I dare not take offensive, but t

玄用 · Xuán Yòng

Classical Chinese Text

用兵有言："吾不敢为主，而为客；不敢进寸，而退尺。"是谓行无行；攘无臂；扔无敌；执无兵。祸莫大于轻敌，轻敌几丧吾宝。故抗兵相若，哀者胜矣。

Translation & Meaning

In leading troops there is a saying: 'I dare not take offensive, but take defensive; dare not advance one inch, but setback one foot.' This is called move as if no move; raise (arm) as if no arm; engage (enemy) as if no enemy; hold (weapon) as if no weapon. There is no bigger misfortune than underestimating the enemy, underestimating the enemy nearly cost my three treasures. Thus of the conflicting armies equivalent in strength, the solemn one wins.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 用 (yòng): use / function / apply
  • 兵 (bīng): classical character (bīng)
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 言 (yán): words / speech
  • 吾 (wú): I / myself
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 敢 (gǎn): dare / venture forward
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 主 (zhǔ): classical character (zhǔ)
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 客 (kè): classical character (kè)
  • 进 (jìn): classical character (jìn)
  • 寸 (cùn): classical character (cùn)
  • 退 (tuì): classical character (tuì)
  • 尺 (chǐ): classical character (chǐ)
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 行 (xíng): practice / teach / walk
  • 无 (wú): formless void / non-being / without
  • 攘 (rǎng): classical character (rǎng)
  • 臂 (bì): classical character (bì)
  • 扔 (rēng): classical character (rēng)
  • 敌 (dí): classical character (dí)
  • 执 (zhí): classical character (zhí)
  • 祸 (huò): classical character (huò)
  • 莫 (mò): classical character (mò)
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 轻 (qīng): classical character (qīng)
  • 几 (jǐ): resembles / close to
  • 丧 (sàng): classical character (sàng)
  • 宝 (bǎo): classical character (bǎo)
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 抗 (kàng): classical character (kàng)
  • 相 (xiāng): mutually / each other
  • 若 (ruò): classical character (ruò)
  • 哀 (āi): classical character (āi)
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 胜 (shèng): classical character (shèng)
  • 矣 (yǐ): [modal particle of realization]