Chinese word

千方百计

Pronunciation

Pinyinqiān fāng bǎi jì

Meaning

idiomuse every possible means

Example

为了给孩子看病，千方百计地筹钱。wèi le gěi hái zi kàn bìng qiān fāng bǎi jì dì chóu qián

They used every possible means to raise money for the child's medical treatment.

Illustration for 千方百计 (use every possible means)

More examples

工程遇到困难，团队千方百计地解决问题。gōng chéng yù dào kùn nán tuán duì qiān fāng bǎi jì dì jiě jué wèn tí

When the project ran into difficulties, the team used every possible means to solve the problem.

Core concept

It centers on drawing from a deep toolbox of methods in pursuit of a single result.

Common phrases

千方百计地筹钱qiān fāng bǎi jì dì chóu qián
use every possible means to raise money
千方百计地设法qiān fāng bǎi jì dì shè fǎ
do everything possible to find a way
千方百计地想办法qiān fāng bǎi jì dì xiǎng bàn fǎ
think of every possible way

Similar words

想方设法xiǎng fāng shè fǎ: Finding and trying different ways to deal with a problem.
绞尽脑汁jiǎo jìn nǎo zhī: Using intense mental effort to work out a solution.
不遗余力bù yí yú lì: Giving all available effort to accomplish something.

Definition in Chinese

为了实现目标而尽力采用各种办法或计策。wèi le shí xiàn mù biāo ér jìn lì cǎi yòng gè zhǒng bàn fǎ huò jì cè

Word origin

The four-character form sets 方 (fāng, "method") beside 计 (jì, "plan") and surrounds them with 千 (qiān, "a thousand") and 百 (bǎi, "a hundred") to suggest an abundance of possible approaches.

Usage tips

Its strong tone suits a difficult objective that demands ingenuity; applied to a minor choice, it can sound overdramatic.

Other meanings

try all sorts of waysidiom

Opposites

束手无策shù shǒu wú cèbe helplessidiom
无计可施wú jì kě shīhave no way to actidiom

Related words

千方百计地qiān fāng bǎi jì dìby every possible meansadverb