The Wisdom of Deng and ChatGPT

ChatGPT is amazing if you ask the right question.

I asked ChatGPT the idiom 韬光养晦 that was a favorite of Mr. Deng Xiaoping, China’s paramount leader who opened China’s door to welcoming relationships and business with the West in 1979. He never stopped reminding his people this bee in his bonnet.

I typed: 韬光养晦 meaning

ChatGPT: 韬光养晦 (tāo guāng yǎng huì) is a Chinese idiom that means to hide one's capabilities and bide one's time. It literally translates to "conceal one's brightness and cultivate one's abilities."

This phrase is often used to advise someone to be humble and patient, to not show off their talents or achievements too much, and to focus on developing their skills quietly and steadily. It is also often used to describe a situation where someone chooses not to take action or make their plans known until the time is right.

The phrase has its roots in the military strategy of Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and philosopher who wrote "The Art of War," a famous treatise on warfare and strategy. Sun Tzu emphasized the importance of deception and surprise in warfare, and advocated for tactics that would confuse and mislead the enemy. The idea of concealing one's strengths and weaknesses until the opportune moment is a key principle in Sun Tzu's philosophy, and has been widely adopted in Chinese culture as a general approach to success in all areas of life.

When I asked Google the same question, the response is:

韬光养晦 /tāoguāng-yǎnghuì/

1. 比喻隐藏自己的锋芒或才能，隐蔽自己的踪迹，暂不使外露。「韬光养晦，等待时机」

Google gives me only the definition in Chinese.

ChatGPT has this edge over Google if you use the Large Language Model wisely.