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Chinese/Dictionary entry

上有政策，下有对策

shàng yǒu zhèng cè , xià yǒu duì cèdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
The higher ups have policies while the lower downs have their own ways of getting around them. (idiom)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-ffc9350c75d38b6d. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

上有政策，下有對策 上有政策，下有对策 [shang4 you3 zheng4 ce4 , xia4 you3 dui4 ce4] /The higher ups have policies while the lower downs have their own ways of getting around them. (idiom)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 上有政策，下有對策

  • 上
    shǎng

    used in 上聲|上声[shǎng shēng]

    shàng

    (bound form) up / upper / above / previous / first (of multiple parts) / to climb / to get onto / to go up / to attend (class or university) / (directional complement) up / (noun suffix) on / above

  • 有
    yǒu

    to have / there is / (bound form) having / with / -ful / -ed / -al (as in 有意[yǒu yì] intentional)

  • 政
    zhèng

    political / politics / government

  • 策
    cè

    policy / plan / scheme / bamboo slip for writing (old) / to whip (a horse) / to encourage / riding crop with sharp spines (old) / essay written for the imperial examinations (old) / upward horizontal stroke in calligraphy

    Cè

    surname Ce

  • 下
    xià

    down / downwards / below / lower / later / next (week etc) / second (of two parts) / to decline / to go down / to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) / measure word to show the frequency of an action

  • 有
    yǒu

    to have / there is / (bound form) having / with / -ful / -ed / -al (as in 有意[yǒu yì] intentional)

  • 对
    duì

    right / correct / towards / at / for / concerning / regarding / to treat (sb a certain way) / to face / (bound form) opposite / facing / matching / to match together / to adjust / to fit / to suit / to answer / to reply / to add / to pour in (a fluid) / to check / to compare / classifier: couple / pair

  • 策
    cè

    policy / plan / scheme / bamboo slip for writing (old) / to whip (a horse) / to encourage / riding crop with sharp spines (old) / essay written for the imperial examinations (old) / upward horizontal stroke in calligraphy

    Cè

    surname Ce

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.