This elder statesman has been planning state affairs for decades.
Tips
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擘划 is a literary, formal word — common in editorials, government writing, and biographical prose. In everyday speech, 策划 (cèhuà, plan / scheme) or 规划 (guīhuà, plan / lay out) are far more natural.
mistakes
擘 has two readings: bò (the formal 'thumb / great') and bāi (colloquial 'to break apart with the hands'). In 擘划 the reading is bò — never bāi.
