📖 Meaning
A metaphor for adapting nimbly to circumstances and acting according to how the situation unfolds. It describes someone who reads subtle cues in a social or political environment and adjusts their stance or behavior accordingly to stay safe or gain advantage.
📜 Origin Story
From Chapter 8 of "Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan" (醒世姻缘传), a satirical novel of the late Ming to early Qing dynasty by Xi Zhou Sheng. The original line describes a character who "watches others' brows rise and eyes dart, gauging the wind and trimming the sail" — painting a vivid picture of a person who reads others' expressions and adjusts his own behavior to suit the shifting currents of social dynamics.
💡 Example Usage
他这个人很会占风使帆，在复杂的职场中游刃有余。
He is very good at gauging the wind and trimming the sail, navigating the complexities of the workplace with ease.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 占风使帆
- Pinyin: zhān fēng shǐ fān
- Literal Translation: gauge, wind, use, sail
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4