Definition
一劳永逸 is a four-character idiom that means 'to solve a problem once and for all' — the idea is that one big effort now saves you from having to deal with the issue repeatedly. Unlike literal translations might suggest, it's not about physical labor but about permanently resolving a situation. You often hear it in negative constructions (不是一劳永逸的事) to warn that ongoing effort is still needed.
f.e.
to do something once and for allto permanently solve a problem with a single effort
Examples
- 一劳永逸。Zhège wèntí bú shì yī láo yǒng yì jiù néng jiějué de.This problem cannot be solved once and for all.
- 一劳永逸，。Tā yǐwéi wánchéng le zhège xiàngmù jiù néng yī láo yǒng yì, qíshí hái xūyào jìxù wéihù.He thought finishing this project would solve things once and for all, but ongoing maintenance is still needed.
- 一劳永逸，。Shìjiè shàng méiyǒu yī láo yǒng yì de fāngfǎ, zhǐyǒu búduàn gǎijìn de guòchéng.There is no once-and-for-all method in the world — only a process of continuous improvement.
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