# 因势利导

yīn shì lì dǎo

Guide development by working with circumstances

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Use the momentum to guide toward benefit

**Traditional Chinese:** 因勢利導

**Register:** Practical · formal

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Describe adapting guidance to an existing tendency.

Requires active direction, not merely accepting events.

## Understanding the expression

A moving situation already has energy and direction. Instead of resisting it blindly, someone uses that tendency to guide events toward a useful result. Modern use suits teaching, management, public work, and planning. The approach begins with understanding what people or conditions are already doing. It still requires judgment and action. Simply letting everything happen without a purpose is different from shaping the available momentum toward a beneficial outcome.

## Examples

老师因势利导，把兴趣转成学习动力。

### Traditional Chinese

老師因勢利導，把興趣轉成學習動力。

lǎo shī yīn shì lì dǎo ， bǎ xìng qù zhuǎn chéng xué xí dòng lì 。

The teacher turned the interest into motivation to learn.

社区因势利导，发展步行路线。

### Traditional Chinese

社區因勢利導，發展步行路線。

shè qū yīn shì lì dǎo ， fā zhǎn bù xíng lù xiàn 。

The community used existing conditions to develop walking routes.

她因势利导，引导讨论回到重点。

### Traditional Chinese

她因勢利導，引導討論回到重點。

tā yīn shì lì dǎo ， yǐn dǎo tǎo lùn huí dào zhòng diǎn 。

She used the discussion's momentum to return to the main issue.

经理因势利导，调整了服务方向。

### Traditional Chinese

經理因勢利導，調整了服務方向。

jīng lǐ yīn shì lì dǎo ， tiáo zhěng le fú wù fāng xiàng 。

The manager adapted the service to the changing situation.

## 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%9B%A0%E5%8B%A2%E5%88%A9%E5%B0%8E)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=183&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [因时制宜 yīn shí zhì yí Adapt arrangements to the circumstances of the time ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yin-shi-zhi-yi)

- [因小失大 yīn xiǎo shī dà Lose a greater benefit for a smaller one ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yin-xiao-shi-da)

- [因噎废食 yīn yē fèi shí Abandon something useful because of a risk ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yin-ye-fei-shi)

- [有备无患 yǒu bèi wú huàn Preparation prevents trouble ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/you-bei-wu-huan)

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