Chinese Idiom: 百战百胜 (Bai Zhan Bai Sheng)
English Translation: A hundred battles, a hundred victories
pīn yīn: bǎi zhàn bǎi shèng
Idiom Meaning: This idiom originally means to win a hundred battles and achieve victory each time. It is often used to describe someone who is invincible or consistently victorious.
Historical Source: 《孙子兵法 · 谋攻篇》 (The Art of War · Strategic Attack) by Sun Tzu (孙子), an ancient Chinese military strategist and philosopher.
Idiom Story:
《孙子兵法》 is a seminal work on strategy and military tactics. In the third chapter, “谋攻篇” (Strategic Attack), Sun Tzu discusses the principles of warfare and strategy.
Sun Tzu begins this chapter with a notable statement:
“凡用兵之法，全国为上，破国次之；全军为上，破军次之；全旅为上，破旅次之；全卒为上，破卒次之；全伍为上，破伍次之。是故百战百胜，非善之善者也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。”
Translation: “In military strategy, making the entire nation submit is the best; defeating the nation is second best. Making the entire army submit is the best; defeating the army is second best. Making the entire division submit is the best; defeating the division is second best. Making the entire squad submit is the best; defeating the squad is second best. Thus, achieving a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest form of skill; the highest form of skill is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
Explanation:
Sun Tzu emphasizes that while winning every battle is an impressive feat, it is not the most strategic or skillful approach. The highest form of military strategy is to win without engaging in direct conflict. Therefore, “百战百胜” is used to signify an undefeated record, but Sun Tzu suggests that the ultimate achievement lies in achieving victory through strategy and diplomacy rather than brute force.
