劍走偏鋒 jiàn zǒu piān fēng

DEFINITIONS

  1. Jian Zoupianfeng, pseudonym of prolific modern novelist
  2. the sword moves with side stroke (modern idiom)
  3. fig. unexpected winning move
  4. unconventional gambit

CHARACTERS

劍 jiàn sword, dagger, saber
走 zǒu walk, go on foot; run; leave
偏 piān inclined one side; slanting
鋒 fēng point of spear, sharp point