策 cè to urge
to urge; to whip; plan; policy
How to remember 策: 𥫗 bamboo + 朿 thorn = to urge. Holding a thin bamboo cane, the jockey steers round a thorn bush and shouts loudly to urge his tired pony on.
Component breakdown
策 = 𥫗 bamboo + 朿 thorn
- 𥫗 bamboo
- 朿 thorn
Holding a thin bamboo cane, the jockey steers round a thorn bush and shouts loudly to urge his tired pony on.
How it is used
- Plan/policy/strategy - 政策 (zhèngcè) policy, 策略 (cèlüè) tactics/strategy, 对策 (duìcè) a countermeasure.
- 决策 (juécè) = decision-making/a policy decision; 策划 (cèhuà) = to plan/mastermind (an event, or a plot).
- Original 'to whip/spur': 鞭策 (biāncè) to spur on/urge forward.
- 束手无策 (shùshǒu-wúcè) = at one's wit's end, unable to do anything about it.