Pinyin:
kōngchéngjì
Meaning:
掩饰自己的力量空虚而骗过对方的策略。
the stratagem of the empty city – presenting a bold front to conceal a weak defense
Character breakdown and explanation:
空：empty
城：city
计：stratagem
"空城计" is a tactic told in the Chinese masterpiece The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
During the battle for Xicheng in the Three Kingdoms period, the superior forces of Kingdom Wei, led by General Sima Yi, was about to invade the outnumbered Kingdom Shu, led by General Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang knew that General Sima Yi is suspicious in nature; therefore Zhuge Liang devised a scheme to trick Sima Yi by opening the gate of the city and sitting leisurely on top of the city wall playing his zither. As predicted, Sima Yi became extremely suspicious of what he has seen and ordered his troops to retreat fearing a trap by Zhuge Liang.
Because the story of "空城计" was later performed in traditional Chinese opera, the verb and measure word often used with the phrase are "唱" and "出" respectively.
However, it is important to know that colloquially, the usage of "空城计" today often indicates a place that should be packed with people but is not, rather than its original stratagem allusion; while the phrase "肚子唱空城计" means the stomach is growling from hunger.
Example sentences:
他知道过几天肯定有人来讨债，就干脆搬到朋友家，唱了一出空城计。
Tā zhīdào guò jǐ tiān kěndìng yǒu rén lái tǎo zhài, jiù gāncuì bān dào péngyou jiā, chàng le yì chū kōngchéngjì.
He knew in a few days debt collectors will come and visit him, so he pulled an "empty city scheme" and moved to his friend's house.
先去吃饭吧，要不大家的肚子都要唱空城计了。
Xiān qù chīfàn ba, yàobù dàjiā de dǔzi dōu yào chàng kōngchéngjì le.
Let's eat first, otherwise everyones' stomach will sing the tune of "The Empty City."
