Definition

1. Noun:
   • A clever trick, a brilliant stratagem: A very effective, ingenious, or cunning plan or scheme designed to achieve a specific goal, often in a difficult or competitive situation. It implies a high degree of intelligence and skill in its conception and execution.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy đã nghĩ ra một diệu kế để giải quyết vấn đề. (He came up with a brilliant stratagem to solve the problem.)
  • Diệu kế của quân sư đã giúp quân đội chiến thắng. (The military advisor's clever trick helped the army win the battle.)
  • Đó thực sự là một diệu kế mà không ai ngờ tới. (That was truly a masterful scheme that no one anticipated.)

Advanced Usage

• "bày diệu kế": to devise/plot a clever trick.
  • Kẻ địch đang bày diệu kế để tấn công chúng ta. (The enemy is plotting a clever trick to attack us.)
• "thi hành diệu kế": to execute/carry out a clever stratagem.
  • Sau khi lên kế hoạch, họ bắt đầu thi hành diệu kế. (After planning, they began to execute the clever stratagem.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kế sách (n): plan, strategy (a more general term for a plan or scheme).
• Mưu kế (n): scheme, plot (often with a slightly more cunning or secretive connotation).
• Diệu (adj): wonderful, marvelous, miraculous (the adjective component contributing to the meaning of "brilliant" or "excellent").

Synonyms

• Mưu mẹo khôn ngoan: clever trick/cunning scheme.
• Kế hay: excellent/good plan.
• Phương sách tuyệt diệu: marvelous method/brilliant plan.

Related Phrases

• "Diệu kế an bang": A brilliant stratagem to bring peace and stability to the nation. (An idiom describing a highly effective plan for national governance.)
• "Trăm phương nghìn kế": Hundreds of ways, thousands of schemes. (An idiom meaning to try every possible method or trick.)

Notes on Usage

• Formality and Context: "Diệu kế" is a literary and somewhat formal term. It is commonly found in historical narratives, literature, strategic discussions, or when describing exceptionally clever plans. It is less common in casual, everyday conversation.
• Connotation: The word carries a positive connotation, praising the intelligence and effectiveness of the plan. It is not typically used for malicious or evil plots, for which words like "âm mưu" (conspiracy, plot) are more appropriate.

1. Very effective trick