走捷径 (zǒu jié jìng) — to take a shortcut (a shorter physical route); to take the easy way out; to cut corners (figuratively, often with a negative connotation)

Definition

走捷径 is both 'take a shortcut' (a shorter route) and, more commonly in writing, 'cut corners / take the easy way out' — usually with a negative connotation. As a separable phrase, the object 捷径 can move or be topicalized (走过捷径, 捷径走不得).

verb
to take a shortcut (a shorter physical route)to take the easy way outto cut corners (figuratively, often with a negative connotation)

Examples

  • 走捷径
    Wèi le jié shěng shí jiān, tā chuān guò xiǎo xiàng zǒu jié jìng.
    To save time, he took a shortcut through the alley.
  • 走捷径
    Bié zǒng xiǎng zhe zǒu jié jìng, tā tā shi shí nǔ lì cái shì zhèng dào.
    Don't always try to take the easy way out; steady effort is the right path.
  • 走捷径
    Tā kào guān xì zǒu jié jìng, zuì hòu fǎn ér chī le dà kuī.
    He used connections to cut corners, but in the end it backfired.
Appears in

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