Chinese characters and pinyin
Simplified: 知己知彼，百战不殆
Traditional: 知己知彼，百戰不殆
Pinyin: zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, bǎi zhàn bù dài
Literal translation
Know yourself and know the other; in a hundred battles you will not be imperiled.
Natural English meaning
Sound strategy begins with a realistic understanding of both sides.
Closest English equivalent
Know your enemy and know yourself.
The English line is a direct rendering; in modern use, ‘the other side’ need not be an enemy.
When to use it
Use it in planning, negotiation, competition, or self-assessment.
When not to use it
Do not force military language onto relationships that call for cooperation.
Example sentence
谈判前先研究双方需求，知己知彼，百战不殆。
Before negotiating, understand both sides’ needs and constraints.
Origin and cultural context
A famous strategic principle from Sunzi’s Art of War.
Classification: classical quotation. This label distinguishes a complete proverb or popular saying from a compact idiom or a quotation preserved from a classical text.
