bīng兵soldierbú不notyàn厌tire ofzhà诈deception
In war, deception is never wrong — all is fair in tactics.
Literal meaning
soldier (兵) — not (不) — tire of (厌) — deception (诈)
Origin
Han Feizi (《韩非子·难一》) records King Wen of Jin (晋文公) consulting his minister Hu Yan: 兵不厌诈 — "deception is not forbidden in war." The maxim has carried forward as the most concise Chinese statement of the morality of military deception.
Examples
Bīng兵bú不yàn厌zhà诈，tā他yòng用le了yí一ge个jiǎ假xiāo消xi息。
In war, deception is fair — he used a piece of fake intelligence.
Shāng商chǎng场rú如zhàn战chǎng场，bīng兵bú不yàn厌zhà诈。
Business is like war — deception is fair game.
Usage & nuances
Slightly cynical / pragmatic. Used to justify tactical deception, often in business or politics.
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