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一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì) — to do something once and for all; to permanently solve a problem with a single effort

Definition

A chengyu meaning to make one effort and be free of trouble forever — solving a problem permanently with a single action. Implies this is rare or idealistic; often used to note that no real-world solution is truly that easy.

idiom
to do something once and for allto permanently solve a problem with a single effort

Examples

  • 一劳永逸。
    Zhè ge wèn tí bú shì yī láo yǒng yì jiù néng jiě jué de.
    This problem cannot be solved once and for all.
  • 一劳永逸，。
    Tā yǐ wéi wán chéng le zhè ge xiàng mù jiù néng yī láo yǒng yì, qí shí hái xū yào jì xù wéi hù.
    He thought finishing this project would solve things once and for all, but ongoing maintenance is still needed.
  • 一劳永逸，。
    Shì jiè shàng méi yǒu yī láo yǒng yì de fāng fǎ, zhǐ yǒu bú duàn gǎi jìn de guò chéng.
    There is no once-and-for-all method in the world — only a process of continuous improvement.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勞; 劳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
𬡤
𬡤𬡤勞láo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勞 uses 力 for the meaning and 𬡤 for the sound; the simplified 劳 is a later shortened shape.

Open 劳 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 永 was drawn as a long river with side streams, or as a person swimming in water.

Open 永 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form of 逸 combined 止 and 㚔.

Open 逸 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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