師夷長技以制夷 shī yí cháng jì yǐ zhì yí

learn foreign skills to control foreigners

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. "learn from the foreigners in order to gain command of them", idea advocated by Wei Yuan 魏源wèi yuán

Characters

Character Meaning
師 shī
teacher; master; expert
夷 yí
non-Han people, esp. to the East of China; to raze
長 cháng
to grow; to develop; to increase
技 jì HSK 4
skill
以 yǐ HSK 2
to use; by means of; according to
制 zhì HSK 5
system; to control; to regulate
夷 yí
non-Han people, esp. to the East of China; to raze