事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi) — to get twice the result with half the effort; t…

Definition

A 成语 meaning 'half the work, double the result' — a smart method yields far more than the effort put in. Used to praise an efficient approach.

idiom

to get twice the result with half the effortto achieve disproportionate returns with minimal input

事半功倍，。
Zhè ge xīn xì tǒng néng ràng wǒ men shì bàn gōng bèi, tí gāo hěn duō xiào lǜ.
This new system can let us get twice the result with half the effort, greatly increasing efficiency.
。
Xué hǎo jī chǔ yǔ fǎ duì xué xí hàn yǔ yǒu shì bàn gōng bèi de xiào guǒ.
Learning basic grammar well has the effect of getting twice the result with half the effort for studying Chinese.
。
Guǎn lǐ tuán duì tōng guò jīng jiǎn liú chéng shí xiàn le shì bàn gōng bèi de mù biāo.
The management team achieved the goal of getting twice the result with half the effort by streamlining processes.

Characters in this word

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

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

The shape pairs 八 (to divide) with 牛 (cow), showing a cow cut into two halves.

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

工力功

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

Same sound today

功 puts 力 (strength) beside 工, which gives the sound gōng and means labour or work.

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

咅

咅pǒu倍bèi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

倍 has 人 on the left and 咅 on the right; 人 points to a person, while 咅 gives the sound.