Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having one's scheme succeed / to have a plan work: Describes the state where a person's stratagem, trick, or cunning plan has been successfully executed and achieved the desired outcome. It implies successful scheming.
   • To succeed in a trick / to have a ruse work: Specifically refers to the success of a deceptive or clever plan intended to gain an advantage, often over someone else.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Thấy đối thủ mắc bẫy, hắn mỉm cười đắc kế. (Seeing the rival fall into the trap, he smiled, having succeeded in his scheme.)
  • Kế hoạch của chúng tôi cuối cùng cũng đắc kế. (Our plan finally succeeded.)
  • Nó lừa được cảnh vệ và ra vào đắc kế. (He tricked the guard and got in and out successfully.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in narratives, literature, or when recounting events involving strategy, competition, or deception. It carries a connotation of cunning and intellectual victory rather than honest effort.

Variants and Related Words

• Kế (n): plan, scheme, stratagem.
  • Hắn ta có nhiều kế hay. (He has many clever schemes.)
• Thi hành kế hoạch (v): to execute a plan.
  • Họ đang thi hành kế hoạch. (They are executing the plan.)

Synonyms

• To succeed in a plot: To have a secret plan, especially for a wrongful purpose, work out.
• To have a plan come to fruition: For a plan to reach its desired conclusion.
• To pull off a scheme: To succeed in accomplishing a tricky or complex plan.

Related Idioms

• Đắc thế: to gain the upper hand.
  • Sau trận đó, quân ta hoàn toàn đắc thế. (After that battle, our forces completely gained the upper hand.)
• Đắc ý: to be pleased with oneself, smug.
  • Chiến thắng nhỏ khiến anh ta rất đắc ý. (The small victory made him very smug.)