四两拨千斤 (sì liǎng bō qiān jīn) — to achieve a great outcome with minimal effort through leverage, skill, or clever tactics

Definition

An idiom meaning to defeat a far greater force with minimal effort through clever technique and leverage — literally 'four ounces deflects a thousand catties'. Implies strategic skill, not just luck.

idiom
to achieve a great outcome with minimal effort through leverage, skill, or clever tactics

Examples

  • ，四两拨千斤，。
    Zhè pán qí, tā yòng le yì zhāo sì liǎng bō qiān jīn, qīng sōng huò shèng.
    In this chess game, he used a 'four ounces deflects a thousand pounds' move and won easily.
  • ，四两拨千斤。
    Xiǎo gōng sī xiǎng yǔ dà qǐ yè jìng zhēng, jiù yào xué huì sì liǎng bō qiān jīn de dào lǐ.
    Small companies that want to compete with big corporations must learn the principle of 'four taels deflecting a thousand catties'.
  • ，四两拨千斤。
    Tā bān bú dòng nà kuài shí tou, jiù yòng sì liǎng bō qiān jīn de fāng fǎ qiào le qǐ lái.
    He couldn't lift that rock, so he used a 'four ounces deflects a thousand pounds' method to pry it up.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The form 四 was drawn as a nose breathing out. It later came to be used for the word four.

Open 四 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

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 撥; 拨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
發
發fā撥bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 撥 combines 手 (hand) with 發, which gives the sound; the simplified 拨 is a different form.

Open 拨 →

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
一一yīone, signifying a number
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén千qiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

千 pairs 人, whose sound was similar, with 一, a number stroke; the extra line was explained as extension, and a thousand is a number reached by extending counting.

Open 千 →

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

斤 is drawn as a simple picture of an axe.

Open 斤 →

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