guǐjì: 诡计 - Trick, Scheme, Stratagem

Keywords: 诡计, guiji, Chinese trick, Chinese scheme, cunning plan in Chinese, stratagem, deception, Chinese word for plot, guile, ruse, Sun Tzu, Thirty-Six Stratagems.

Summary: Discover the meaning of 诡计 (guǐjì), a powerful Chinese word for a cunning trick, scheme, or stratagem. This comprehensive guide explores its use in everything from ancient military tactics described by Sun Tzu to modern business negotiations and personal relationships. Learn what separates a 诡计 from a simple lie, understand its deeply negative connotations, and see how this concept of clever deception is woven into Chinese culture.

Pinyin (with tone marks): guǐjì

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 6

Concise Definition: A cunning plan or clever stratagem, almost always involving deception, used to gain an advantage.

In a Nutshell: Think of 诡计 as a “sly plan.” It's not just a lie; it's an entire, well-thought-out scheme designed to mislead or trap someone. The word carries a strong sense of intelligence and cleverness, but this intelligence is used for selfish, malicious, or unethical purposes. It’s the kind of master plan a movie villain, a corrupt official, or a desperate military general would devise. You would use it to describe a complex plot, never a simple prank.

诡 (guǐ): This character means “sly,” “crafty,” or “deceitful.” It's composed of the radical 言 (yán), meaning “speech,” on the left, and 危 (wēi), meaning “danger,” on the right. This brilliantly combines the ideas of using deceitful words that lead to a dangerous situation.

计 (jì): This character means “plan,” “strategy,” or “to calculate.” It also contains the “speech” radical 言 (yán), alongside 十 (shí), meaning “ten,” which can imply completeness or many calculations. A plan often involves discussion and thorough calculation.

Together, 诡计 (guǐjì) literally translates to a “sly plan” or “deceitful strategy.” The combination emphasizes that the plan is not just clever but is fundamentally based on trickery and has a harmful or self-serving intent.

诡计 is a concept deeply embedded in Chinese strategic thought, literature, and history. Its most famous cultural touchstone is Sun Tzu's “The Art of War” (孙子兵法), which famously states, “All warfare is based on deception” (兵者，诡道也 - bīng zhě, guǐ dào yě). In this context, using 诡计 is not just a tactic but a core principle for winning when the stakes are high.

The term is also the essence of the “Thirty-Six Stratagems” (三十六计 - sānshíliù jì), a classic collection of proverbs describing complex schemes used in politics, warfare, and civil interactions. Stratagems like “Deceive the heavens to cross the sea” (瞒天过海 - mán tiān guò hǎi) are perfect examples of sophisticated 诡计.

Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, “strategy” is a neutral or positive word (e.g., a “business strategy”). 诡计 (guǐjì) is almost never positive. It's much closer to “scheme,” “ruse,” or “machination.” However, unlike a simple “trick,” which can be harmless or even playful (a magic trick), a 诡计 is always serious, elaborate, and carries a negative moral judgment. It implies a level of intellectual effort that a simple lie lacks.

In modern China, 诡计 is a formal and literary word with a strong negative connotation. You would almost never proudly announce your own 诡计. It is almost always used to accuse, describe, or expose the manipulative plans of others.

Business and Politics: It's often used to describe a competitor's unethical tactics or a politician's plot. For example, “They used a scheme to steal our client list.” (他们用诡计盗取了我们的客户名单。)

Social and Personal Life: It can be used to describe a manipulative person in a relationship or a complex scam. For example, “He fell for her elaborate scheme.” (他中了她精心设计的诡计。)

Media and Literature: The word is extremely common in movies, TV shows, and novels to describe the villain's “evil plan.”

Formality: In very casual conversation, a speaker might opt for a simpler term like 耍花招 (shuǎ huāzhāo) - to play tricks, or just 骗人 (piàn rén) - to lie/deceive someone. 诡计 implies a higher level of complexity and seriousness.

计谋 (jìmóu) - A stratagem or scheme. More neutral than `诡计` and can be used to describe brilliant military or business plans without a negative moral judgment.

阴谋 (yīnmóu) - A conspiracy, plot, or intrigue. Even more negative and serious than `诡计`, often implying a secret plot by a group to cause great harm.

策略 (cèlüè) - Strategy. A formal and completely neutral-to-positive word used for business, game, or military strategy. This is the word you use for a legitimate plan.

骗局 (piànjú) - A scam, swindle, or hoax. Focuses on the outcome of being deceived, usually for money or property. A `骗局` is a type of `诡计`.

花招 (huāzhāo) - A gimmick, trick, or shenanigan. A much more colloquial and less serious word for a minor trick, often one that is flashy but lacks substance.

三十六计 (sānshíliù jì) - The Thirty-Six Stratagems. A famous essay detailing a collection of `诡计` and `计谋` used to gain an advantage.

孙子兵法 (Sūnzǐ bīngfǎ) - “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. The philosophical classic that establishes deception (`诡道`) as a cornerstone of strategy.

耍小聪明 (shuǎ xiǎo cōngmíng) - “To play at being clever.” A derogatory phrase for someone who uses petty tricks or schemes, thinking they are smart but are actually just being crafty in a small-minded way.