Many traders have encountered this problem: watching the charts and K-lines every day, yet still getting chopped up in short-term fluctuations. Buying right before a drop, selling just before a rally. The more actively you trade, the faster your account shrinks.

The real culprit behind this isn’t the K-line itself, but rather not understanding the purpose of different timeframes. Timeframes are like viewing a city with different tools—an aerial shot, street view, or a magnifying glass—each showing completely different details. Using the wrong tool, no matter how hard you try, is pointless.

My approach is straightforward—three timeframes, three tasks, each with its own role:

**Use the 4-hour chart to confirm the main trend**

The 4-hour chart filters out short-term market noise. It clearly shows the market’s overall state. Are the highs continuously breaking new highs and lows rising? That’s a standard bullish trend. You wait for a pullback to the moving average or previous low before entering, riding the trend. Conversely, if highs are breaking down and lows are declining, that’s a bearish trend. Consider shorting at resistance levels during rebounds. If the price is oscillating within a range without clear higher highs or lower lows, the smartest move is to stay on the sidelines, observe carefully, and trade less.

**Use the 1-hour chart to find entry points**

Once the trend is confirmed, the next question is where exactly to enter. This is where the 1-hour chart comes in. You already know the general direction from the 4-hour chart, so now look for key technical levels: trendlines, moving averages, previous lows—these are critical areas to watch. If the price approaches these support levels, it’s likely to bounce, signaling a potential entry. Approaching previous highs or important resistance zones? Consider reducing position size or taking profits in advance. The 1-hour chart marks the precise "where to act" points for your trades.

**Use the 15-minute chart to pinpoint the exact entry timing**

Now that you know the direction and the position, you need to find the exact moment to enter—the precise timing. That’s the 15-minute chart’s job. When the price reaches the key levels identified on the 1-hour chart, start looking for signals on the 15-minute chart. Is there a reversal pattern? Divergence? Has a moving average crossover occurred? These can be potential entry signals. Especially for breakout trades: if you’re aiming for a breakout, volume confirmation is essential. Breakouts without volume are often false signals, and you risk being shaken out.

**Final advice**

Look at all three timeframes together. The core idea is: the 4-hour chart determines the main trend; the 1-hour chart finds the specific position; the 15-minute chart pinpoints the precise entry timing. If signals from these three timeframes conflict or contradict each other, the wisest choice isn’t to force a trade but to wait and see, allowing the market to clarify further. Staying on the sidelines and observing will never cause losses.