He chose to hide his talent and bide his time, waiting for the right moment.
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韬 originally meant a bow case or scabbard, then "to sheathe / conceal", then military strategy. It survives in 韬略 (strategy) and 韬光养晦 (to hide one's light and bide one's time).
Left side 韦 (treated leather) is the radical, pointing to the original meaning of a leather bow case or scabbard, the thing that hides a weapon, which became "to conceal" and then "strategy".
