Chinese

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thirty-six; 36
to calculate; to compute; to count
to calculate; to compute; to count; reckon; ruse; to plan
 
trad. (三十六計) 三十六
simp. (三十六计) 三十六
 
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Etymology

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The first mention is found in the Book of Southern Qi:

:「三十六策上計父子。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
:「三十六策上计父子。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Southern Qi, by Xiao Zixian, 6th century CE
Jìngzé yuē: “Tán Gōng sānshíliùcè, zǒu shì shàngjì. Rǔ fùzǐ wéi yìng jí zǒu ěr.” [Pinyin]
Jingze said, "Among the thirty-six stratagems of Duke Tan, fleeing is the best stratagem. You and your father should quickly flee."

The number thirty-six here is likely a figure of speech meant to denote "numerous stratagems" instead of any specific number.

On the other hand, the current Thirty-Six Stratagems is based on a book with the same title published in 1941 that claims to be a reprint of a book discovered at a bookstall in Bin County (邠縣邠县), Shaanxi that contains the thirty-six stratagems.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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三十六計

  1. Thirty-Six Stratagems
    Synonyms: 三十六策, 三十六著

Derived terms

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Descendants

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Sino-Xenic (三十六計):
  • Vietnamese: Ba mươi sáu kế (calque)
  • Japanese

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    Kanji in this term
    さん
    Grade: 1
    じゅう
    Grade: 1
    ろく > ろっ
    Grade: 1
    けい
    Grade: 2
    goon kan'on
     兵法三十六計 on Japanese Wikipedia

    Etymology

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    From Chinese 三十六計三十六计 (Sānshíliù Jì).

    Pronunciation

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    • (Tokyo) んじゅうろっけー [sáꜜǹjùùròkkèè] (Atamadaka – [1])
    • IPA(key): [sã̠ɲ̟d͡ʑɨːɾo̞k̚ke̞ː]

    Proper noun

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    (さん)(じゅう)(ろっ)(けい) (Sanjūrokkeiさんじふろくけい (Sanzifurokukei)?

    1. the Thirty-Six Stratagems

    See also

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    Korean

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    Hanja in this term

    Proper noun

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    三十六計 (Samsibyukgye) (hangeul 삼십육계)

    1. hanja form? of 삼십육계 (Thirty-Six Stratagems)

    Vietnamese

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    chữ Hán Nôm in this term

    Proper noun

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    三十六計

    1. chữ Hán form of Tam thập lục kế (Thirty-Six Stratagems).