养精蓄锐

養精蓄銳

yǎngjīngxùruì

idiom #33,583

Meanings

1 to conserve energy and store up strength
2 to rest up and gather strength for the big push

Characters

to nurture; to maintain

spirit; essence; vitality

to store up; to accumulate

sharp; keen edge

Examples

比赛前一天，运动员都在养精蓄锐。

Bǐsài qián yī tiān, yùndòngyuán dōu zài yǎngjīngxùruì.

The day before the competition, the athletes were all resting up and conserving their strength.

我们先养精蓄锐，明天再发起进攻。

Wǒmen xiān yǎngjīngxùruì, míngtiān zài fāqǐ jìngōng.

Let's rest up first and launch the attack tomorrow.

Tips

history

Recorded in 《三国演义》 (Romance of the Three Kingdoms), chapter 34 — Liu Bei's strategist counsels: '且待半年，养精蓄锐，刘表，孙权可一鼓而下也' ('Wait half a year, conserve our strength, and Liu Biao and Sun Quan can be taken in one stroke'). 养 'nurture' the 精 'spirit/vitality', 蓄 'store up' the 锐 'sharpness/edge'.

Stroke Order

养 yǎng

精 jīng

蓄 xù

锐 ruì