以夷制夷

yǐ yí zhì yí

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Definitions

  1. 1. to use foreigners to subdue foreigners (idiom); let the barbarians fight it out among themselves (traditional policy of successive dynasties)
  2. 2. Use Western science and technology to counter imperialist encroachment. (late Qing modernizing slogan)

Child Words of 以夷制夷

以
yǐ

to use

制
zhì

to manufacture

夷
yí

non-Han people, esp. to the East of China