An arrogant army is sure to lose; underestimating the enemy means certain defeat.
Tips
usage
轻敌 is military and sports vocabulary — the cardinal sin in《孙子兵法》(Sun Tzu's Art of War). It pairs naturally with 骄傲 (arrogant) and contrasts with 重视对手 (to take an opponent seriously). Often heard in coaches' interviews after upset losses.
memory
轻 (light, take lightly) + 敌 (enemy) — 'to make the enemy light.' 轻 (light/slight) carries this 'underestimate' sense in many compounds: 轻视 qīngshì (despise), 轻看 qīngkàn (look down on), 轻信 qīngxìn (be too trusting).
