攻其無備，出其不意
See also: 攻其无备，出其不意
Chinese
| to attack when the enemy is unprepared | to take somebody by surprise; to catch somebody unawares | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (攻其無備，出其不意) | 攻其無備 | ， | 出其不意 | |
| simp. (攻其无备，出其不意) | 攻其无备 | ， | 出其不意 | |
Alternative forms
- 出其不意，攻其不備／出其不意，攻其不备 (chū qí bù yì, gōng qí bù bèi)
- 出其不意，攻其無備／出其不意，攻其无备 (chū qí bù yì, gōng qí wú bèi)
Etymology
From: The Art of War, by Sunzi ("Laying Plans, Number 24")
- Literally: Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: gōng qí wú bèi, chū qí bù yì [Phonetic: gōng qí wú bèi, chū qí bú yì]
- Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄧˊ ㄨˊ ㄅㄟˋ , ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ
- Tongyong Pinyin: gong cí wú bèi, chu cí bù yì
- Wade–Giles: kung1 chʻi2 wu2 pei4, chʻu1 chʻi2 pu4 i4
- Yale: gūng chí wú bèi-, chū chí bù yì
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: gong chyi wu bey, chu chyi bu yih
- Palladius: гун ци у бэй, чу ци бу и (gun ci u bɛj, ču ci bu i)
- Sinological IPA (key): /kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ u³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/
- (Standard Chinese)+
Idiom
攻其無備，出其不意
- to catch somebody unprepared; to take somebody by surprise