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
You need to know yourself and your enemy to have a chance at winning.
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
