📖 Meaning
To take advantage of a victory to pursue and attack the fleeing, defeated enemy. It describes pressing one's advantage after winning in order to completely crush retreating forces.
📜 Origin Story
From the Western Han work 'Strategies of the Warring States' (战国策·中山策), compiled by Liu Xiang. The passage recounts a battle in which, after the Wei army was defeated, the Han army collapsed on its own. The victorious side seized the momentum and pursued the fleeing enemy, thereby achieving great merit. The phrase underscores the strategic importance of capitalizing on battlefield momentum to secure a decisive outcome.
💡 Example Usage
我也想乘胜逐北，但力不从心。
I too wanted to press the advantage and pursue the fleeing enemy, but I lacked the strength to do so.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 乘胜逐北
- Pinyin: chéng shèng zhú běi
- Literal Translation: ride victory, pursue the defeated
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4