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通權達變

简通权达变 · 繁通權達變

Mandarin · pinyin tōng quán dá biàn

to adapt to circumstances

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Characters in this entry

通: tōng · pass through; common; communicate
權: Look up this written character
達: Look up this written character
變: Look up this written character
权: quán · power, right, authority
达: dá · arrive at, reach; intelligent; smooth, slippery
变: biàn · change, transform, alter; rebel

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

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Mandarin tones

1–2–2–4 · tong1 quan2 da2 bian4

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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.

通權達變 · find source passages ↗ · 通权达变 · 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 adapt to circumstances; to be adaptable to changing circumstances to act as the occasion requires

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

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