探囊取物 (tàn náng qǔ wù) — as easy as stealing candy from a baby; effortless; a piece of cake

Definition

Literally 'to take something from a bag': a literary idiom for a task so easy it feels like reaching into one's pocket to grab an object. More formal and vivid than 容易.

idiom
as easy as stealing candy from a babyeffortlessa piece of cake

Examples

  • ，探囊取物。
    Duì tā zhè zhǒng gāo shǒu lái shuō, zhè cì bǐ sài rú tóng tàn náng qǔ wù.
    For an expert like him, this competition is as easy as taking something from his pocket.
  • 探囊取物。
    Zhè ge wèn tí duì tā lái shuō jiǎn zhí jiù shì tàn náng qǔ wù.
    This problem is basically a piece of cake for him.
  • ，探囊取物。
    Tā yí xiàng zì xìn, jué de kǎo dì yī bú guò shì tàn náng qǔ wù bà liǎo.
    She has always been confident, thinking that getting first place in exams is no more than picking something out of a bag.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

探囊reach into a bag
探tànreach into囊nángbag
动宾Verb + object
取物take an object
取qǔtake物wùthing
动宾Verb + object

“探囊” is reaching into a bag, and “取物” is taking an object, so it describes effortless action.

Characters in this word

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥥍
𥥍𥥍探tàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 探, the 扌 part is a hand, and 𥥍 gives the sound.

Open 探 →

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
㯻㯻㯻bag
Sound part声符shēngfú
襄
襄xiāng囊náng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

囊 is made from 㯻, a tied bag with items inside, plus an abbreviated form of 襄 that gives the sound.

Open 囊 →

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

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →

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
牛牛niú
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù物wù
Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Open 物 →

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