聚米为谷 — “To strategize by mapping out terrain with grains of rice”

Q: What is the Chinese definition of 聚米为谷?

比喻指划形势，运筹决策。

聚米为谷 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to strategize by mapping out terrain with grains of rice”. Metaphorically, to plan and deliberate on a course of action or analyze a situation meticulously for decision-making. Literally, “Pile rice to form valleys”.

Frequency

聚米为谷 Pronunciation and Pinyin

聚米为谷 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
聚	jù	14	gather, assemble, collect
米	mǐ	6	rice or meter
为	wéi	4	to be or to do
谷	gǔ	7	valley, grain, dilemma

Example Sentence with 聚米为谷

项目经理在会议室里，聚米为谷般地分析着市场趋势，为团队制定了下一步的行动计划。

The project manager, meticulously strategizing as if piling rice to form valleys, analyzed the market trends in the meeting room and laid out the next action plan for the team.

Origin and Story of 聚米为谷

During the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, had largely unified the Central Plains. However, in the western frontier, a warlord named Wei Xiao commanded a strong army and remained a significant challenge, standing in direct opposition to Liu Xiu.

Liu Xiu was contemplating an expedition to subdue Wei Xiao but was still somewhat indecisive. His trusted general, Ma Yuan, argued that Wei Xiao's command was disunited and that an attack would surely be victorious.

To further convince the emperor and illustrate his strategic plan, Ma Yuan ingeniously used grains of rice to construct a miniature topographical map of the western region. On this rice-made landscape, he precisely pointed out the routes for the army's advance and the key strategic points.

Upon witnessing Ma Yuan's detailed and vivid strategic demonstration, Liu Xiu's doubts vanished, and he immediately felt assured of impending victory.