# 长袖善舞

cháng xiù shàn wǔ

Use favorable resources or connections skillfully

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Long sleeves make dancing easier

**Traditional Chinese:** 長袖善舞

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe adept maneuvering supported by resources.

Often suggests social calculation rather than artistic skill.

## Understanding the expression

Long sleeves give a dancer more material to move gracefully. The image suggests that resources, position, or connections make successful maneuvering easier. Modern usage often describes someone skilled at navigating social and professional networks. It can sound admiring or skeptical, especially if influence matters more than merit. The expression therefore concerns the combination of favorable conditions and skillful handling, not simply friendliness or genuine competence in a craft.

## Examples

他在商界长袖善舞。

### Traditional Chinese

他在商界長袖善舞。

tā zài shāng jiè cháng xiù shàn wǔ 。

He maneuvers skillfully in business circles.

她长袖善舞，协调各方关系。

### Traditional Chinese

她長袖善舞，協調各方關係。

tā cháng xiù shàn wǔ ， xié tiáo gè fāng guān xì 。

She deftly manages relationships among the different parties.

资金充足，让这家公司更能长袖善舞。

### Traditional Chinese

資金充足，讓這家公司更能長袖善舞。

zī jīn chōng zú ， ràng zhè jiā gōng sī gèng néng cháng xiù shàn wǔ 。

Ample funding lets this company maneuver more effectively.

他虽长袖善舞，却缺乏专业能力。

### Traditional Chinese

他雖長袖善舞，卻缺乏專業能力。

tā suī cháng xiù shàn wǔ ， què quē fá zhuān yè néng lì 。

Although adept at using connections, he lacks professional ability.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%95%B7%E8%A2%96%E5%96%84%E8%88%9E)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=731&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [嗤之以鼻 chī zhī yǐ bí Dismiss something with contempt ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chi-zhi-yi-bi)

- [赤子之心 chì zǐ zhī xīn Sincere, innocent goodwill ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chi-zi-zhi-xin)

- [充耳不闻 chōng ěr bù wén Refuse to listen ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chong-er-bu-wen)

- [出尔反尔 chū ěr fǎn ěr Go back on one's word ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-er-fan-er)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 差强人意 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cha-qiang-ren-yi) [Next idiom 超群绝伦 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chao-qun-jue-lun)