三十六計

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 三十六計. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word 三十六計, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say 三十六計 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word 三十六計 you have here. The definition of the word 三十六計 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of三十六計, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Chinese

thirty-six; 36
to calculate; to compute; to count
to calculate; to compute; to count; reckon; ruse; to plan
 
trad. (三十六計) 三十六
simp. (三十六计) 三十六
Wikipedia has an article on:

Etymology

The first mention is found in the Book of Southern Qi:

:「三十六策上計父子。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
:「三十六策上计父子。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Southern Qi, by Xiao Zixian, 6th century CE
Jìngzé yuē: “Tán Gōng sānshíliùcè, zǒu shì shàngjì. Rǔ fùzǐ wéi yìng jí zǒu ěr.”
Jingze said, "Among the thirty-six stratagems of Duke Tan, fleeing is the best stratagem. You and your father should quickly flee."

The number thirty-six here is likely a figure of speech meant to denote "numerous stratagems" instead of any specific number.

On the other hand, the current Thirty-Six Stratagems is based on a book with the same title published in 1941 that claims to be a reprint of a book discovered at a bookstall in Bin County (邠縣邠县), Shaanxi that contains the thirty-six stratagems.

Pronunciation


Proper noun

三十六計

  1. Thirty-Six Stratagems
    Synonyms: 三十六策, 三十六著

Derived terms

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (三十六計):
  • Vietnamese: Ba mươi sáu kế (calque)
  • Japanese

    Kanji in this term
    さん
    Grade: 1
    じゅう
    Grade: 1
    ろく > ろっ
    Grade: 1
    けい
    Grade: 2
    goon kan'on
     兵法三十六計 on Japanese Wikipedia

    Etymology

    From Chinese 三十六計 / 三十六计 (Sānshíliù Jì).

    Pronunciation

    Proper noun

    (さん)(じゅう)(ろっ)(けい) (Sanjūrokkeiさんじふろくけい (Sanzifurokukei)?

    1. the Thirty-Six Stratagems

    See also

    Korean

    Hanja in this term

    Proper noun

    三十六計 (Samsibyukgye) (hangeul 삼십육계)

    1. hanja form? of 삼십육계 (Thirty-Six Stratagems)

    Vietnamese

    chữ Hán Nôm in this term

    Proper noun

    三十六計

    1. chữ Hán form of Tam thập lục kế (Thirty-Six Stratagems).