Powerful countries bullying small ones is exactly 'picking the soft persimmons to squeeze.'
Tips
culture
Pairs with the noun phrase 软柿子 (ruǎn shìzi, 'soft persimmon') = an easy target, a pushover. The full saying spells out the bully's logic: when faced with a fruit stand, you reach for the ones that give way under your fingers.
usage
Used to criticize cowardly or selective bullying — at school, in the office, or in geopolitics. Often delivered with a sigh of disapproval rather than as praise of cunning.
