xuất tướng
Definition
- Verb (in Chinese Chess - Xiangqi):
- To move the general out of the palace: The primary meaning refers to the act of moving the "general" (king) piece from its starting central position within the palace (the nine-point fortress) to a side file, typically as a defensive or developing move.
- To bring the general into play: It describes the strategic decision to activate the general piece, often to connect the two royal pieces (general and advisor) for better defense or to avoid immediate threats.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy vội vàng xuất tướng để tránh đòn chiếu. (He hastily moved his general out to avoid the check.)
- Nước đi xuất tướng sớm có thể không an toàn. (An early move of the general might not be safe.)
- Sau khi xuất tướng, hai quân tướng sĩ sẽ được thông nhau. (After moving the general out, the two advisor pieces will be connected.)
Advanced Usage
- The move "xuất tướng" is a specific and common technical term in Xiangqi. It is often a preparatory move for castling (connecting the general and advisor) or to escape a direct attack along the central file.
Variants and Related Words
- Lộ mặt tướng (v): Literally "to expose the general's face." This is a specific, risky type of "xuất tướng" where the general moves to the central file, leaving it potentially vulnerable to attacks from opposing chariots or cannons.
- Lộ mặt tướng giữa ván cờ rất nguy hiểm. (Exposing the general's face in the middle of the game is very dangerous.)
Synonyms
- Move the king out: A direct descriptive synonym in the context of board games.
- Develop the general: Emphasizes the strategic aspect of bringing the piece into play.
Related Idioms
- While "xuất tướng" itself is a technical term, it can be used metaphorically in some contexts to mean "to bring the leader/boss into the situation," though this is rare outside of chess-related analogy.
- Cuối cùng, giám đốc cũng phải xuất tướng để giải quyết khủng hoảng. (Finally, the director had to make a personal appearance to resolve the crisis.)