天时地利人和

天時地利人和
tiānshídìlìrénhé
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 favorable timing, geography, and human support
  2. 2 the right moment, the right place, and the right people
  3. 3 all the stars aligned for success

Examples

HSK 3
Zuò shēngyì yào kàn tiānshídìlìrénhé.
In business, you have to consider timing, location, and the people involved.
HSK 6
Quē le yīyàng, jiùsuàn bùshàng tiānshídìlìrénhé.
If even one of the three is missing, you can't really call it the perfect alignment.
HSK 7-9
Zhè cì xiàngmù chénggōng, kěwèi tiānshídìlìrénhé.
The project's success truly had the right timing, place, and team behind it.

Tips

history
From 《孟子·公孙丑下》: 天时不如地利,地利不如人和 - the right timing matters less than terrain, and terrain matters less than human unity. Mencius argued that human harmony outweighs the other two. 孙膑's 《孙膑兵法·月战》 treats all three as prerequisites for victory.
usage
Classically a six-character phrase (the 三才 concept), used for military, business, and political success. Often introduced by 占尽 (to have all of) or 可谓 (one can say). Mencius's ordering implies 人和 is the most decisive.

Stroke Order

tiān
shí
rén