养精蓄锐

養精蓄銳

yǎngjīng-xùruì

idiom #33,583

Meanings

1 to conserve energy and store up strength
2 to rest up and gather strength for the big push

Characters

to nurture; to maintain

spirit; essence; vitality

to store up; to accumulate

sharp; keen edge

Examples

HSK 3

比赛前一天，运动员都在养精蓄锐。

Bǐsài qián yī tiān, yùndòngyuán dōu zài yǎngjīng-xùruì.

The day before the competition, the athletes were all resting up and conserving their strength.

HSK 7-9

我们先养精蓄锐，明天再发起进攻。

Wǒmen xiān yǎngjīng-xùruì, míngtiān zài fāqǐ jìngōng.

Let's rest up first and launch the attack tomorrow.

Tips

history

Recorded in 《三国演义》 (Romance of the Three Kingdoms), chapter 34 - Liu Bei's strategist counsels: '且待半年，养精蓄锐，刘表，孙权可一鼓而下也' ('Wait half a year, conserve our strength, and Liu Biao and Sun Quan can be taken in one stroke'). 养 'nurture' the 精 'spirit/vitality', 蓄 'store up' the 锐 'sharpness/edge'.

Stroke Order

养 yǎng

精 jīng

蓄 xù

锐 ruì