Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 策略 | cèlüè |
| 戰略 / 战略 | zhànlüè |
策略 is the general word for a strategy or method used to reach a particular goal, from business plans to game tactics. For large-scale, long-term strategy, such as military or national strategy, Chinese uses 戰略 / 战略 (zhànlüè).
What does it mean word for word?
策略 is made of 策 (cè), meaning a plan or scheme and 略 (lüè), meaning a strategy or outline.
Which one should you use?
Use 战略 for high-level, large-scale or long-term strategies, such as military or national ones. Use 策略 for more specific, tactical or interpersonal strategies and methods. For the video game genre both appear: mainland usage often says 实时战略游戏, while the second example below uses 策略.
Is it said differently in some regions?
戰略 is the traditional character form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, while 战略 is the simplified form used in mainland China.
How do you pronounce it?
策略 is pronounced cèlüè, with a falling tone on both syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 策略 for grand military or national strategy. That sense calls for 战略.
Did you know?
- The character 策 (cè) originally referred to a bamboo slip used for writing. In ancient China, a 'strategy' was literally a set of written bamboo tablets containing a plan.
- The phrase 三十六計 (sānshíliù jì), or 'Thirty-Six Stratagems', is a famous collection of ancient Chinese military tactics used as a guide for both war and business today.
- While 策略 (cèlüè) is used for general strategy, the word 計謀 (jìmóu) is often used when the 'strategy' involves a trick or a cunning plot to deceive an opponent.
Examples in context
- 外行谈策略，内行谈后勤。Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics.This saying contrasts talking about 策略 with talking about logistics.Tatoeba #13204746 by maina, translation #11191494 by sacredceltic
- 即時策略遊戲通常會融入街機元素。Real-time strategy games usually include arcade elements.Here 策略 appears in the name of a video game genre.Tatoeba #13958988 by LeviHighway, translation #10764825 by SSibelty
- 我們目前人數不多，但只要政治策略得當，幾年後或許能達到數萬人。Today our numbers are few, but with the right political strategy, in a couple years we may number in the tens of thousands.In this sentence 政治策略 means political strategy.Tatoeba #13840849 by LeviHighway, translation #13405706 by frpzzd
- 我们需要制定一个有效的市场营销策略。We need to develop an effective marketing strategy.
- 我们需要采取一项新的战略来保护我们的边境。We need to adopt a new strategy to protect our borders.
- 你需要想一个好的手段来解决这个问题。You need to come up with a good strategy to solve this problem.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing how to win a new client.
- 浩然 Haoran我们得想个新策略来吸引客户。Wǒmen děi xiǎng gè xīn cèlüè lái xīyǐn kèhù.We need to think of a new strategy to attract clients.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你有什么好的建议吗，浩然？Nǐ yǒu shéme hǎo de jiànyì ma, Hàorán?Do you have any good suggestions, Haoran?
- 浩然 Haoran我们可以尝试降低价格这个策略。Wǒmen kěyǐ chángshì jiàngdī jiàgé zhège cèlüè.We could try the strategy of lowering the price.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我觉得这个策略可行，晓雯同意。Wǒ juédé zhège cèlüè kěxíng, Xiǎowén tóngyì.I think this strategy is feasible, Xiaowen agrees.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “strategy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
