决胜千里之外

決勝千里之外

juéshèngqiānlǐzhīwài

idiom

Meanings

1 to decide victory a thousand li away
2 to settle the outcome from afar (through strategy)
3 decide victory beyond a thousand li

Characters

(classical possessive)

outside / beyond

Examples

HSK 6

总部下的一张图，就决胜千里之外。

Zǒngbù xià de yī zhāng tú, jiù juéshèngqiānlǐzhīwài.

A single chart from headquarters can decide the outcome a thousand miles distant.

HSK 7-9

优秀的军师能运筹帷幄，决胜千里之外。

Yōuxiù de jūnshī néng yùnchóuwéiwò, juéshèngqiānlǐzhīwài.

A great strategist plans from the command tent and settles battles a thousand li away.

Tips

history

From Sima Qian's 《史记·高祖本纪》 (Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Gao Zu). After founding the Han dynasty, Liu Bang credits Zhang Liang 张良: planning strategy within the command tent and deciding victory a thousand li away - here I am no match for Zifang. Paired with the chengyu 运筹帷幄.

usage

Applied to anyone who wins contests through distant, off-site strategy - military, corporate, geopolitical. Almost always pairs with 运筹帷幄之中.

Stroke Order

决 jué

胜 shèng

千 qiān

里 lǐ

之 zhī

外 wài