出奇制胜

出奇制勝

chūqí-zhìshèng

idiom #34,658

Meanings

1 to win by a surprise move
2 to prevail through an unexpected tactic

Characters

unusual / surprise

Examples

HSK 6

那场比赛他出奇制胜，夺得冠军。

Nà chǎng bǐsài tā chūqí-zhìshèng, duódé guànjūn.

In that match, he pulled off an unexpected move and took the title.

HSK 7-9

我们要以创新出奇制胜。

Wǒmen yào yǐ chuàngxīn chūqí-zhìshèng.

We have to win through surprising innovation.

Tips

history

From 《孙子兵法·势篇》: "in battle, engage with the regular force and win with the unexpected" (以正合，以奇胜). 奇 here is a tactical term for unconventional troops.

mistakes

奇 is read qí (unusual / unexpected), not jī (odd number), despite being the same character.

Stroke Order

出 chū

奇 qí

制 zhì

胜 shèng