中策

zhōngcè
noun

Meanings

  1. 1 the middle course
  2. 2 the second-best plan

Examples

HSK 7-9
Shàngcè shì tánpàn, zhōngcè shì děngdài, xiàcè cái shì dǎzhàng.
The best plan is to negotiate, the middle plan is to wait, and fighting is the worst.
HSK 7-9
Zhège bànfǎ suànbushàng shàngcè, zhǐnéng suànshì zhōngcè.
This method can't be called the best plan; it only counts as a middling one.

Tips

usage
中策 rarely appears alone: it fills the middle of the three-step scale 上策 'best plan', 中策 'middling plan', 下策 'worst plan', used when someone ranks options. In everyday speech people mostly use the two ends.

Stroke Order

中 zhōng
策 cè