宜将剩勇追穷寇

宜將剩勇追窮寇

yíjiāngshèngyǒngzhuīqióngkòu

phrase

Meanings

1 we should use our remaining strength to pursue the beaten foe
2 press on with remaining vigor to chase down the desperate enemy

Characters

should / proper

to take (classical object marker)

courage / vigor

desperate / cornered

Examples

宜将剩勇追穷寇，不可沽名学霸王。

Yí jiāng shèng yǒng zhuī qióngkòu, bù kě gū míng xué Bàwáng.

We should use our remaining strength to pursue the beaten foe — not court a reputation by imitating the Conqueror.

项目已经初见成效，宜将剩勇追穷寇，一鼓作气完成。

Xiàngmù yǐjīng chū jiàn chéngxiào, yí jiāng shèng yǒng zhuī qióngkòu, yī gǔ zuò qì wánchéng.

The project is beginning to show results — we should press on with remaining vigor and finish it in one push.

Tips

history

From Mao Zedong's 《七律·人民解放军占领南京》 (April 1949), written after the PLA crossed the Yangtze and took the Nationalist capital: 宜将剩勇追穷寇，不可沽名学霸王。 'Bawang' is Xiang Yu, who in 203 BC spared his beaten rival Liu Bang and soon lost everything — Mao's line rejects that magnanimity in favor of total pursuit.

usage

宜 is yí (should, proper), not yì. Often paired with the following line 不可沽名学霸王. Quoted when urging someone not to let up on a nearly-won effort.

Stroke Order

宜 yí

将 jiāng

剩 shèng

勇 yǒng

追 zhuī

穷 qióng

寇 kòu