韬光养晦

韜光養晦

tāoguāng-yǎnghuì

idiom #75,952

Meanings

1 to hide one's talents and bide one's time
2 to keep a low profile; to conceal strengths and wait for the right moment

Characters

to sheathe; conceal

light; brilliance

to nurture; cultivate

darkness; obscurity

Examples

他这几年韬光养晦，只为等一个机会。

Tā zhè jǐ nián tāoguāng-yǎnghuì, zhǐ wèi děng yīgè jīhuì.

He's kept a low profile these past years, just waiting for the right chance.

新公司成立之初，最好先韬光养晦。

Xīn gōngsī chénglì zhī chū, zuìhǎo xiān tāoguāng-yǎnghuì.

A newly founded company should stay under the radar at first.

他懂得韬光养晦，从不轻易暴露实力。

Tā dǒngde tāoguāng-yǎnghuì, cóngbù qīngyì bàolù shílì.

He knows how to bide his time and never casually reveals his real strength.

Tips

history

From 《旧唐书·宣宗记》: 愈事韬晦，群居游处，未尝有言 - the future Emperor Xuanzong concealed his abilities before taking the throne, living quietly and speaking little. 韬 = 'sheathe,' 晦 = 'darken' - to sheathe one's light.

culture

Famously associated with Deng Xiaoping's (邓小平) 1990s foreign-policy guideline 韬光养晦，有所作为 - 'keep a low profile; accomplish something.' For years it shaped China's measured international posture; the phrase still appears in policy commentary.

Stroke Order

韬 tāo

光 guāng

养 yǎng

晦 huì