将欲取之，必先与之 — “To give something in advance as a strategic concession or enticement”
将欲取之，必先与之 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to give something in advance as a strategic concession or enticement”. Intending to gain something greater in return or achieve a larger objective later. Literally, “If one desires to take, one must first give”.
将欲取之，必先与之 Pronunciation and Pinyin
将欲取之，必先与之 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 将欲取之，必先与之
Origin and Story of 将欲取之，必先与之
During the Spring and Autumn period, Zhi Bo, a powerful noble in the Jin state, relied on his authority to forcibly demand land from Wei Huanzi.
Wei Huanzi's strategist advised him to agree to give the land, predicting that this would make Zhi Bo even more greedy and prompt him to demand land from other nobles. This, in turn, would cause the other nobles to unite against him. This strategy was known as '将欲取之，必姑与之' (If you wish to take something, you must first provisionally give something).
Later, Zhi Bo was defeated by the united nobles, and Wei Huanzi obtained even more land.
Idioms Related to 将欲取之，必先与之
Synonyms of 将欲取之，必先与之
More idioms starting with 将
- qiāng将bó伯zhī之zhù助seek help from an elder
- qiāng将bó伯zhī之hū呼appeal for help
- jiāng将xìn信jiāng将yí疑half-believing, half-doubting
- jiāng将gōng功zhé折zuì罪atone for misdeeds with meritorious service
- jiāng将gōng功shé折guò过atone for faults with good deeds
- jiāng将gōng功dǐ抵zuì罪atone for a crime by rendering meritorious service
- jiāng将gōng功bǔ补guò过atone for mistakes with good deeds
- jiāng将gōng功shú赎zuì罪atone for sins by good deeds
- jiāng将yǒng勇bīng兵qiáng强brave generals and strong soldiers
- jiāng将yǒng勇bīng兵xióng雄brave commanders and mighty soldiers
- jiāng将qín勤bǔ补zhuō拙compensate for lack of talent with diligence
- jiāng将qǔ取gù固yǔ予Give first to receive
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Open the tool →Questions about 将欲取之，必先与之
What does 将欲取之，必先与之 mean?
将欲取之，必先与之 (jiāng yù qǔ zhī ， bì xiān yǔ zhī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to give something in advance as a strategic concession or enticement”.
How do you pronounce 将欲取之，必先与之?
将欲取之，必先与之 is pronounced jiāng yù qǔ zhī ， bì xiān yǔ zhī in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 将欲取之，必先与之 literally mean?
Literally, 将欲取之，必先与之 means “If one desires to take, one must first give”. It is used to mean “to give something in advance as a strategic concession or enticement”.
Where does 将欲取之，必先与之 come from?
将欲取之，必先与之 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 将欲取之，必先与之?
要想夺取些什么，得暂且先给些什么。指先付出代价以诱使对方放忪警惕，然后找机会夺取。