攻其無備，出其不意

See also: 攻其无备，出其不意

Chinese

		to attack when the enemy is unprepared		to take somebody by surprise; to catch somebody unawares
trad. (攻其無備，出其不意)		攻其無備	，	出其不意
simp. (攻其无备，出其不意)		攻其无备	，	出其不意

Alternative forms

• 出其不意，攻其不備／出其不意，攻其不备 (chū qí bù yì, gōng qí bù bèi)
• 出其不意，攻其無備／出其不意，攻其无备 (chū qí bù yì, gōng qí wú bèi)

Etymology

From: The Art of War, by Sunzi ("Laying Plans, Number 24")

Literally: Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): gōng qí wú bèi, chū qí bù yì

  (Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄧˊ ㄨˊ ㄅㄟˋ , ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: gōng qí wú bèi, chū qí bù yì [Phonetic: gōng qí wú bèi, chū qí bú yì]
    • Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄧˊ ㄨˊ ㄅㄟˋ , ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: gong cí wú bèi, chu cí bù yì
    • Wade–Giles: kung¹ chʻi² wu² pei⁴, chʻu¹ chʻi² pu⁴ i⁴
    • Yale: gūng chí wú bèi-, chū chí bù yì
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: gong chyi wu bey, chu chyi bu yih
    • Palladius: гун ци у бэй, чу ци бу и (gun ci u bɛj, ču ci bu i)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ u³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

Idiom

攻其無備，出其不意

1. to catch somebody unprepared; to take somebody by surprise