| 欲擒故纵 |
yù qín gù zòng |
In order to capture, one must let loose. / to loosen the reins only to grasp them better |
| 欲 |
yù |
desire / appetite / passion / lust / greed |
| 欲 |
yù |
to wish for / to desire / variant of 欲 |
| 擒 |
qín |
to capture |
| 故 |
gù |
happening / instance / reason / cause / intentional / former / old / friend / therefore / hence / (of people) to die, dead |
| 纵 |
zòng |
vertical; north-south (Taiwan pr. [zong1]) / from front to back; longitudinal; lengthwise (Taiwan pr. [zong1]) / military unit corresponding to an army corps (Taiwan pr. [zong1]) / (bound form) to release (a captive) / to indulge / to leap up / (literary) even if |