百年大计 (Bǎi nián dà jì)

Basic Info

• Chinese Idiom: 百年大计 (Bǎi nián dà jì)
• Pinyin: bǎi nián dà jì
• Literal meaning: “A great plan of a hundred years.”
  (百年 = a hundred years / long-term; 大计 = great plan / major policy)

Figurative Definition

It refers to a long-term plan or measure that concerns fundamental and lasting interests – something planned not for immediate gain, but for the benefit of many years or generations to come. It is often used for education, infrastructure, environmental protection, national development, and other fields where short-term thinking is dangerous.

It carries a strong sense of responsibility and foresight: a “百年大计” is too important to be sacrificed for quick results or temporary convenience.

In short: a plan for the long haul – not for today, but for decades.

Cultural & Historical Origin

This idiom is cited from the Southern Song Dynasty thinker and patriot Chen Liang (陈亮), in his Third Letter to Emperor Xiaozong (《上孝宗皇帝第三书》):

“何忍假数百年社稷之大计，以为一日之侥幸，而徒以累陛下哉！”

“How could one bear to use the great long-term plan for the nation – meant for hundreds of years – as a gamble for a single day’s luck, and merely burden Your Majesty with it?”

Chen Liang was criticizing short-sighted political decisions that traded the nation’s long-term security for temporary advantage. The phrase “数百年社稷之大计” – “the great plan for the altars of state, lasting hundreds of years” – was later condensed into “百年大计.”

The idiom reflects a core idea in Chinese political thought: true statesmanship looks beyond the immediate moment. A ruler or leader who sacrifices lasting interests for short-term gain is not governing – they are gambling.

Key Lesson

Think in decades, not days. The idiom is a warning against short-termism: the temptation to choose what is quick, cheap, or politically convenient over what is truly necessary for lasting benefit. It teaches patience, responsibility, and foresight – especially in areas like education, public health, infrastructure, and the environment, where the consequences of short-term thinking may not appear for years. Ask yourself: Am I building something that will last – or just something that will get me through today?

Cultural Note

In modern Chinese, “百年大计” is a formal, serious, and often official idiom. It appears in:

• Education – “教育是百年大计” (“Education is a project of lasting importance”).
• Infrastructure and urban planning – “百年大计，质量第一” (“A long-term project – quality first”).
• Environmental policy – describing long-term ecological protection.
• Political and official speech – emphasizing responsibility to future generations.

Its near-synonym is “长久之计” (cháng jiǔ zhī jì – “a long-term plan”). Its opposite is “权宜之计” (quán yí zhī jì – “an expedient measure / temporary fix”).

Similar English Expressions

• A long-term plan – The most direct equivalent.
• A project of national importance – Emphasizing scale and seriousness.
• For the long haul – Planning for a long duration.
• Long-term investment – Something that pays off over time.
• A far-sighted policy – Showing foresight and responsibility.
• A generational project – Something that benefits future generations.
• To play the long game – To prioritize long-term success over short-term gain.
• A lasting legacy – Something built to endure.

The closest and most natural equivalents are “a long-term plan,” “a far-sighted policy,” and “to play the long game.”

In short, “百年大计” means a great plan of a hundred years – a serious, forward-looking idiom for decisions that shape the long-term future, and a reminder that the most important things are rarely achieved quickly.