天の時は地の利に如かず、地の利は人の和に如かず

Japanese

Kanji in this term
天	時	地	利	如	地	利	人	和	如
てん Grade: 1	とき Grade: 2	ち Grade: 2	り Grade: 4	し Grade: S	ち Grade: 2	り Grade: 4	ひと Grade: 1	わ Grade: 3	し Grade: S
on’yomi	kun’yomi	kan’on	on’yomi	kun’yomi	kan’on	on’yomi	kun’yomi	goon	kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
天の時は地の利に如かず地の利は人の和に如かず

Etymology

Calque of Literary Chinese 天時不如地利，地利不如人和, from the chapter 公孫丑下／公孙丑下 (“Gongsun Chou 2”) of Mencius. See also Chinese 天時地利人和／天时地利人和 (tiānshí dìlì rénhé).

Phrase

天(てん)の時(とき)は地(ち)の利(り)に如(し)かず、地(ち)の利(り)は人(ひと)の和(わ)に如(し)かず • (ten no toki wa chi no ri ni shikazu, chi no ri wa hito no wa ni shikazu) 

1. (literally) earthly advantage is more important than heavenly time, man's harmony is more important than earthly advantage
2. (figuratively) in order of worthiness of consideration when planning an operation, from least to most, are weather, geography, and man's unity