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顺水推舟

shùn shuǐ tuī zhōu
Push the boat along with the current.

With the water, push the boat.

This means to take advantage of a favorable situation or to ...

This means to take advantage of a favorable situation or to go along with the flow to achieve a goal with minimal effort. It's about using momentum or circumstances to your benefit rather than resisting them.

This is a common idiom in Chinese, often used in business or negotiation contexts. It reflects a pragmatic approach: if the conditions are right, act; don't create unnecessary resistance.

Someone might say this when a manager agrees to a proposal that was already gaining support, or when a person uses a popular trend to promote their own idea.

It highlights strategic flexibility and efficiency. Chinese culture often values harmony and working with the situation rather than against it, which this saying encapsulates.

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