# 千方百计

qiān fāng bǎi jì

Try every possible method

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A thousand ways and a hundred plans

**Traditional Chinese:** 千方百計

**Register:** Emphatic · general

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe persistent efforts to achieve a goal.

Can serve good or bad aims; persistence itself is neutral.

## Understanding the expression

Large numbers of ways and plans suggest that a person keeps searching rather than stopping at the first obstacle. The expression describes determination to reach a particular result by varied means. A parent may seek treatment, while a fraudster may seek access to money. The goal decides the moral tone. The numbers are not literal, and the sentence usually identifies the desired outcome so the effort has a clear direction.

## Examples

她千方百计地寻找合适的医生。

### Traditional Chinese

她千方百計地尋找合適的醫生。

tā qiān fāng bǎi jì dì xún zhǎo hé shì de yī shēng 。

She tried every way to find a suitable doctor.

骗子千方百计骗取信任。

### Traditional Chinese

騙子千方百計騙取信任。

piàn zi qiān fāng bǎi jì piàn qǔ xìn rèn 。

The scammer tried every method to gain trust.

我们千方百计保住了古树。

### Traditional Chinese

我們千方百計保住了古樹。

wǒ men qiān fāng bǎi jì bǎo zhù le gǔ shù 。

We used every possible means to save the old tree.

他千方百计地节约成本。

### Traditional Chinese

他千方百計地節約成本。

tā qiān fāng bǎi jì dì jié yuē chéng běn 。

He explored every way to reduce costs.

## 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=%E5%8D%83%E6%96%B9%E7%99%BE%E8%A8%88)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=568&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [前功尽弃 qián gōng jìn qì Lose the value of all previous effort ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qian-gong-jin-qi)

- [千头万绪 qiān tóu wàn xù Face many tangled matters to organize ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qian-tou-wan-xu)

- [切磋琢磨 qiē cuō zhuó mó Improve understanding through exchange and refinement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qie-cuo-zhuo-mo)

- [锲而不舍 qiè ér bù shě Persevere without giving up ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qie-er-bu-she)

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