Chengyu in business communication

In meetings, emails, and slides, **chengyu (成语)** can sharpen tone, compress key ideas, and show cultural fluency—if chosen sparingly and paired with concrete actions or data.

  • Chengyu Idioms
  • 2 min read
Article 3 of 5 in Chengyu-in-Modern-Context/

High-Impact Chengyu for Workplace Scenarios

  • 推进与节奏(Execution & Cadence)
    稳扎稳打 — proceed steadily; phase by phase.
    循序渐进 — stepwise rollout.
    齐头并进 — parallel tracks advance together.
    Email: “二期将稳扎稳打推进;本周完成接口联调。”

  • 计划与准备(Planning & Risk)
    未雨绸缪 — prepare in advance.
    居安思危 — plan for contingencies.
    因地制宜 — adapt to local conditions.
    Slide note: “华东市场因地制宜:渠道改线+本地化促销。”

  • 协作与治理(Collaboration & Governance)
    同舟共济 — pull together in adversity.
    各司其职 — clear roles & responsibilities.
    名正言顺 — legitimate mandate/role clarity.
    Meeting: “为提效,先各司其职:产品定PRD,研发定排期。”

  • 质量与成果(Quality & Outcomes)
    一锤定音 — finalize decision.
    水到渠成 — success when conditions are ready.
    实至名归 / 名副其实 — credit matches results.
    Report: “验收标准达成,发布一锤定音定在周五。”

  • 纠偏与批评(Course-Correct with Tact)
    纸上谈兵 — all talk, no practice.
    画蛇添足 — overdoing makes it worse.
    一厢情愿 — wishful thinking.
    1:1 feedback: “当前方案偏纸上谈兵,建议先做POC。”

Email & Chat Snippets You Can Reuse

  • Request clarity: “为避免误解,关键指标准确到位后即可一锤定音。”
  • Negotiate scope: “本次先循序渐进覆盖核心用户;外围功能下期。”
  • Risk flag: “旺季将至,需未雨绸缪补充安全库存。”
  • Praise: “这次交付名副其实,数据与口碑都对得上。”
  • Course-correct: “样式改动略有画蛇添足之嫌,建议回到简洁版。”

Slide & Briefing Patterns(Chengyu + 白话 + 指标)

  • 同舟共济 → “多部门联动(采供/仓配/门店),24h内恢复服务率≥95%。”
  • 稳扎稳打 → “三阶段:试点—扩面—全国;里程碑M0/M1/M3。”
  • 因地制宜 → “华南走线上私域,西北强化线下团购。”

Meeting Language by Agenda Item

  • Kickoff:定目标与分工 → 各司其职 / 统筹兼顾
  • Risk review:识别与缓解 → 居安思危 / 未雨绸缪
  • Decision:定案与责任人 → 一锤定音 / 名正言顺
  • Retrospective:复盘与迭代 → 温故知新 / 举一反三

Register & Tone: Practical Rules

  • 一条/段:避免堆砌;每段最多1–2条。
  • 配数据:成语定调,指标定量(例:有条不紊推进,迭代周期14天)。
  • 避生僻:优先高频、无歧义成语;跨文化邮件可在括号内给英文释义。
  • 慎用贬义:批评成语(如纸上谈兵)用于文档或私聊,公开场合以建设性表达为主。

Mini Dialogue Drills(Role-Play)

  • Scope control
    A:要不要再加两个功能?
    B:当前版本先稳扎稳打,避免画蛇添足

  • Crisis response
    A:仓库爆单了。
    B:先各司其职;门店调拨与客服同舟共济,今晚清零积压。

  • Decision close
    A:两套方案怎么选?
    B:以成本与风险评估为准,今晚一锤定音

Quick Practice(Choose the Best Chengyu)

  1. 多团队并行推进 → 齐头并进
  2. 上线前补齐预案与回滚 → 未雨绸缪
  3. 增加无用装饰导致延误 → 画蛇添足
  4. 角色清晰、分工明确 → 各司其职
  5. 条件成熟后自然落地 → 水到渠成

Takeaway for Professionals

把成语当作**“商务压缩语”:选稳扎稳打、未雨绸缪、各司其职、同舟共济、水到渠成**等高频表达,和具体措施/数据并列,既显专业又高效得体。

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Chengyu Idioms

Written by : Chengyu Idioms

A lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Chinese culture and language.

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