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因時制宜

简因时制宜 · 繁因時制宜

Mandarin · pinyin yīn shí zhì yí

(idiom) to use methods appropriate to the current situation

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Characters in this entry

因: yīn · cause, reason; by; because (of)
時: shí · time, season; era, age, period
制: zhì · system; establish; overpower
宜: yí · suitable, right, fitting, proper
时: shí · time, season; era, age, period

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–2–4–2 · yin1 shi2 zhi4 yi2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

因時制宜 · find source passages ↗ · 因时制宜 · find source passages ↗

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to use methods appropriate to the current situation

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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