"Lao mou shen suan" describes a person who plans meticulously and calculates deeply, usually referring to someone experienced and profoundly shrewd, skilled at making arrangements most advantageous to themselves in complex situations. This idiom originates from the Guoyu (Discourses of the States) and carries a certain flavor of political maneuvering. In everyday use, it is mostly employed to describe politicians, businessmen, or anyone adept at strategic planning. Its emotional tone is relatively neutral, but it can be either commendatory or derogatory depending on the context: in a positive sense, it praises someone for being resourceful and thorough in consideration; in a negative sense, it implies that someone is cunning, treacherous, and scheming. For example, in the workplace, a shrewd and calculating leader can lay out plans in advance and defuse crises; while in interpersonal relationships, if someone is always shrewd and calculating, it may make others find it hard to trust them. Overall, this idiom emphasizes far-sighted strategy and astute calculation, reflecting the complex attitude toward wisdom and statecraft in traditional Chinese culture.
📝 Example
1. This shrewd and calculating businessman began laying out his overseas market strategy as early as a decade ago. Now, amid economic turmoil, his enterprise stands rock-solid. (Describes a businessman who plans deeply and is shrewd and calculating.)
2. Though he usually stays quiet and says little, he is in fact deeply calculating, with every move hiding a hidden agenda. (Describes a person who is deeply scheming and skilled at calculation.)