zi1 bei2 zi1 gei2 baak3 zin3 baak3 sing3知彼知己，百戰百勝知彼知己，百战百胜

Jyutpingzi1 bei2 zi1 gei2 baak3 zin3 baak3 sing3

Yalejī béi jī géi baak jin baak sing

Definition

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.

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How it's used

Originating from The Art of War, this idiom is frequently invoked in business and competitive sports contexts in Hong Kong. It carries a sense of strategic wisdom and calculated preparation rather than just blind confidence. While it is a formal idiom, it is often dropped into casual conversation to emphasize the importance of research or situational awareness.

Examples

daa2打zoeng3仗jiu1要zi1知bei2彼zi1知gei2己，baak3百zin3戰baak3百sing1勝sin1先jau5有gei1機wui2會。

You need to know yourself and your enemy to have a chance at winning.

nei5你lin4連deoi3對sau2手dou1都m4唔liu5了gaai2解，dim2點joeng2樣zou6做dou3到zi1知bei2彼zi1知gei2己，baak3百zin3戰baak3百sing3勝aa4呀？

You don't even understand your opponent, how can you expect to win every battle?

Related words

see alsowan6 cau4 wai4 ak1運籌帷幄wanh chàuh wàih āksynonymzi1 gei2 zi1 bei2知己知彼jī géi jī béi

Common phrases

zou6做dou3到zi1知bei2彼zi1知gei2己

to achieve knowing the enemy and oneself

Grammar color guide

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More words

To move to another classroom for the next class, or for a teacher to change classes.

To surrender oneself to the police and confess to a crime.

Symbol; token; a concrete sign representing an abstract concept.

Poisoned wine, traditionally prepared by dipping the feathers of the mythical zhen bird in sake.

zi2 jyut6 si1 wan4

子曰詩云子曰诗云

Quotes from classic works of literature or Confucian scriptures, often used to describe pedantic or clichéd speech.

To undergo intensive collective training at a single location.

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