How to understand “套路” (tào lù)

The Chinese word "套路" (tào lù), originally referred to a set of martial art movements, is given with new implication. It's now used to describe an elaborate plan. Chinese learners can understand the word in these ways: 

Routine 

shǎo yì diǎn tào lù, duō yì diǎn zhēn chéng.

少一点套路，多一点真诚。

Less routine, more sincerity.

Honeydick 

nà gāi sǐ de lǎo shī yòu gēn wǒ men wán tào lù, dōu méi gào sù wǒ men jīn tiān yào kǎo shì.

那该死的老师又跟我们玩套路，都没告诉我们今天要考试。

Damn the teacher honeydicked us by not telling us that paper would be due today.

Strategy

tā shì gè xīn jī biǎo / tā shì gè tào lù hěn shēn de rén.

她是个心机婊/她是个套路很深的人。

She is a strategy person.

Trick 

tā shì zěn me shí pò tā de tào lù de? 

她是怎么识破他的套路的？

How did she look through his trick?

The article is translated and editted by Chinlingo. Please indicate the source for any use, reproduction or transfer. 

本文由Chinlingo编译后发布，如需转载，请标明来源。