战略

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zhànlüè: 战略 - Strategy

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: zhànlüè, 战略, Chinese strategy, strategy in Chinese, business strategy, military strategy, long-term plan, strategic planning, China strategy, The Art of War, Sun Tzu
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 战略 (zhànlüè), the Chinese word for strategy. This page breaks down its military origins, its deep cultural roots in works like *The Art of War*, and its modern usage in business, politics, and even personal planning. Learn the crucial difference between 战略 (zhànlüè) and 战术 (zhànshù) (tactics) to understand the high-level, long-term thinking that is central to Chinese culture and decision-making.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): zhànlüè
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: A long-term, high-level plan designed to achieve a major or overall aim.
  • In a Nutshell: 战略 (zhànlüè) is more than just a “plan.” It's a grand design, a comprehensive roadmap for achieving a significant, long-term goal. Think of it as the CEO's 10-year vision for a company or a general's master plan to win a war, not just a single battle. It implies foresight, a holistic view, and a deep understanding of the entire situation.

Character Breakdown

  • 战 (zhàn): This character's core meaning is “war,” “battle,” or “to fight.” Its ancient form depicts a halberd (戈), a type of pole weapon, signifying conflict.
  • 略 (lüè): This character means “plan,” “outline,” or “summary.” It suggests a process of simplification and identifying the most critical points.
  • When combined, 战略 (zhànlüè) literally means “war plan” or “battle outline.” This points directly to its military origins, describing the overarching plan for winning a conflict. Over time, its meaning has expanded to encompass any field that requires long-term, high-level planning.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Art of War (孙子兵法 - Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ): The concept of 战略 (zhànlüè) is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, largely thanks to Sun Tzu's *The Art of War*. This ancient text is not just a military manual; it's a philosophical guide to strategy that is studied by business leaders, politicians, and scholars worldwide. It emphasizes principles like winning without fighting, knowing your enemy and yourself, and using deception and foresight. Understanding 战略 (zhànlüè) is impossible without acknowledging the profound influence of this book on the Chinese mindset.
  • Comparison to Western “Strategy”: While the English word “strategy” is a direct translation, the cultural weight is different. In Western contexts, “strategy” can sometimes be used more flexibly or refer to shorter-term goals. Chinese 战略 (zhànlüè) almost always implies a longer time horizon and a more holistic scope. It's less about a single decisive action and more about creating a favorable environment (势, shì) where victory becomes the natural outcome. It's the difference between planning a single chess move and designing a game-winning philosophy that anticipates the opponent's entire style of play.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • In Business: This is one of the most common contexts. Companies have a 发展战略 (fāzhǎn zhànlüè), or “development strategy,” and a 市场战略 (shìchǎng zhànlüè), or “market strategy.” A company might seek a 战略合作伙伴 (zhànlüè hézuò huǒbàn), a “strategic partner,” for a long-term collaboration.
  • In Politics and Government: National policies are often framed as 战略. For example, the “Go Out” policy encouraging Chinese investment abroad is a national 战略. This usage elevates a policy from a simple plan to a matter of long-term national importance.
  • In Personal Life: While slightly formal, it's not uncommon to hear people discuss their 人生战略 (rénshēng zhànlüè), or “life strategy,” or their 职业发展战略 (zhíyè fāzhǎn zhànlüè), “career development strategy.” This implies a very serious and thoughtful approach to personal planning.
  • Connotation: The term is overwhelmingly positive and formal. It suggests intelligence, foresight, and seriousness. Describing a plan as a 战略 lends it weight and importance.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我们需要为公司制定一个新的战略。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào wèi gōngsī zhìdìng yī ge xīn de zhànlüè.
    • English: We need to formulate a new strategy for the company.
    • Analysis: A classic business usage. 制定 (zhìdìng) is a common verb that collocates with 战略, meaning “to formulate” or “to lay down.”
  • Example 2:
    • 将军的战略是先切断敌人的补给线。
    • Pinyin: Jiāngjūn de zhànlüè shì xiān qiēduàn dírén de bǔjǐ xiàn.
    • English: The general's strategy was to first cut off the enemy's supply lines.
    • Analysis: This example shows the term's original military context. It refers to a high-level plan, not the specific actions (tactics) of a single unit.
  • Example 3:
    • 这是我们国家重要的经济发展战略。
    • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen guójiā zhòngyào de jīngjì fāzhǎn zhànlüè.
    • English: This is our country's important economic development strategy.
    • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates its use in a political or national context, highlighting the long-term importance of a plan.
  • Example 4:
    • 他们的营销战略非常成功，市场份额增加了一倍。
    • Pinyin: Tāmen de yíngxiāo zhànlüè fēicháng chénggōng, shìchǎng fèn'é zēngjiā le yī bèi.
    • English: Their marketing strategy was very successful; their market share doubled.
    • Analysis: Here, 战略 is part of a more specific compound noun, 营销战略 (yíngxiāo zhànlüè), or “marketing strategy.”
  • Example 5:
    • 从战略角度来看，这个决定是正确的。
    • Pinyin: Cóng zhànlüè jiǎodù láikàn, zhège juédìng shì zhèngquè de.
    • English: From a strategic perspective, this decision is correct.
    • Analysis: The phrase 从战略角度来看 (cóng zhànlüè jiǎodù láikàn) is a very useful set phrase meaning “from a strategic point of view.”
  • Example 6:
    • 苹果公司和谷歌是竞争对手，但也是战略合作伙伴。
    • Pinyin: Píngguǒ gōngsī hé Gǔgē shì jìngzhēng duìshǒu, dàn yě shì zhànlüè hézuò huǒbàn.
    • English: Apple and Google are competitors, but they are also strategic partners.
    • Analysis: Here, 战略 acts as an adjective modifying 合作伙伴 (hézuò huǒbàn), or “partners,” to indicate a deep, long-term, and mutually beneficial relationship.
  • Example 7:
    • 你对未来的职业生涯有什么战略规划吗？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ duì wèilái de zhíyè shēngyá yǒu shénme zhànlüè guīhuà ma?
    • English: Do you have any strategic plans for your future career?
    • Analysis: This shows a personal, though still formal, application of the term. 战略规划 (zhànlüè guīhuà) means “strategic planning.”
  • Example 8:
    • 这次收购具有重大的战略意义。
    • Pinyin: Zhè cì shōugòu jùyǒu zhòngdà de zhànlüè yìyì.
    • English: This acquisition has major strategic significance.
    • Analysis: The phrase 战略意义 (zhànlüè yìyì) is common in business and political news to describe the long-term importance of an event.
  • Example 9:
    • 缺乏清晰的战略是他们失败的主要原因。
    • Pinyin: Quēfá qīngxī de zhànlüè shì tāmen shībài de zhǔyào yuányīn.
    • English: The lack of a clear strategy was the main reason for their failure.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights the importance of having a 战略, framing it as a prerequisite for success.
  • Example 10:
    • 《孙子兵法》强调了战略在战争中的核心作用。
    • Pinyin: “Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ” qiángdiào le zhànlüè zài zhànzhēng zhōng de héxīn zuòyòng.
    • English: *The Art of War* emphasizes the core role of strategy in warfare.
    • Analysis: This sentence directly links the term to its key cultural source, which is great for contextual understanding.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 战略 (zhànlüè) vs. 战术 (zhànshù) - Strategy vs. Tactics: This is the most critical distinction. 战略 is the “what” and “why”—the overall goal and grand plan. 战术 (zhànshù) is the “how”—the specific methods and actions used to achieve parts of that plan.
    • Analogy: Your 战略 is to win the war. Your 战术 might be to ambush an enemy patrol.
    • Incorrect: ~~我的战略是每天学习十个汉字。~~ (Wǒ de zhànlüè shì měitiān xuéxí shí ge Hànzì.) - My strategy is to study 10 characters a day.
    • Correct: 我的计划是每天学习十个汉字。 (Wǒ de jìhuà shì měitiān xuéxí shí ge Hànzì.) - My plan is to study 10 characters a day. (This is a plan/method, not a grand strategy).
  • 战略 (zhànlüè) vs. 计划 (jìhuà) - Strategy vs. Plan: A 战略 is a type of 计划 (jìhuà), but not all plans are strategies. 计划 is a general-purpose word for any “plan.” 战略 is reserved for plans that are high-level, long-term, and of great importance. Using 战略 for a simple, everyday plan sounds overly dramatic and strange.
  • False Friend Alert: While “strategy” in English can be used casually (e.g., “What's your strategy for getting concert tickets?”), 战略 is almost never used this way. For such situations, you would use 办法 (bànfǎ) (method, solution) or 方法 (fāngfǎ) (method, way).

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 战术 (zhànshù) - Tactics. The specific actions and maneuvers used to implement a strategy. It's the micro-level counterpart to the macro-level 战略.
  • 策略 (cèlüè) - Stratagem, policy. A very close synonym to 战略, often used interchangeably. However, 策略 can sometimes imply a more specific, clever ploy or scheme within an overall strategy.
  • 计划 (jìhuà) - Plan. The general, all-purpose word for a plan of any size or importance. 战略 is a specific, high-level type of 计划.
  • 方针 (fāngzhēn) - Guiding principle, policy. Refers to the set of principles or general direction that informs a 战略. A 方针 guides the creation of a 战略.
  • 孙子兵法 (Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ) - *The Art of War*. The classical text that is the philosophical foundation of Chinese strategic thought.
  • 布局 (bùjú) - Layout, composition, deployment. Often used in a strategic sense, referring to how resources (like chess pieces, stores in a market, or military assets) are arranged to gain an advantage.
  • 谋略 (móulüè) - Stratagem, resourcefulness. Similar to 策略, but emphasizes the wisdom, cunning, and scheming involved in planning.
  • 远见 (yuǎnjiàn) - Foresight, vision. A personal quality essential for creating a good 战略.