1.瞒天过海　Cross the sea under camouflage¹.
2.围魏救赵　Relieve the state of Zhao by besieging² the state of Wei. 3.借刀杀人　Kill someone with a borrowed knife.
4.以逸待劳　Wait for the exhausted³ enemy at one's ease.
5.趁火打劫　Loot a burning house.
6.声东击西　Clamour in the east, attack in the west.
7.无中生有　Create something out of nothing.
8.暗渡陈仓　Pretend to take one path while sneaking⁴ down the other.
9.隔岸观火　Watch a fire burning from the other side of the river.
10.笑里藏刀　Knife hidden under the smiling face.
11.李代桃僵　Sacrifice the plum for the peach.
12.顺手牵羊　Take the opportunity to pilfer⁵ a goat.
13.打草惊蛇　Disturb the snake by hitting the grass.
14.借尸还魂　Borrow another's body to return the soul.
15.调虎离山　Entice⁶ the tiger to leave the mountain.
16.欲擒故纵　To catch something, first let it go.
17.抛砖引玉　Bait a piece of jade⁷ with a brick.
18.擒贼擒王　To catch the bandit ,first capture their leader.
19.釜底抽薪　Take away the firewood under the cooking pot.
20.混水摸鱼　Fish in troubled water.
21.金蝉脱壳　Get away like the cicada sloughing⁸ its skin.
22.关门捉贼　Shut the door to catch the thief.
23.远交近攻　Befriend a distant state while attacking a neighbor.
24.假途伐虢　Obtain safe passage to conquer the enemy.
25.偷梁换柱　Replace the beams with rotten timbers.
26.指桑骂槐　Revile⁹ the locust¹⁰ tree while pointing at the mulberry.
27.假痴不癫　Play dumb, remain smart.
28.上屋抽梯　Pull down the ladder after ascent¹¹.
29.树上开花　Deck the tree with bogus blossom.
30.反客为主　Make the guest and host change places.
31.美人计　The beauty trap; Use seductive women to corrupt¹² the enemy.
32.空城计　Present a bold front to conceal¹³ unpreparedness.
33.反间计　Sow discord¹⁴ among the enemy; Use double agent.
34.苦肉计　Inflict¹⁵ injury upon oneself to gain trust.
35.连环计　Chain together the enemy's ships.
36.走为上　Run away to fight another day; Escape is the best policy.