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迎刃而解 (yíng rèn ér jiě) — (idiom) to be solved readily / to overcome obstacles without resistance

Definition

Idiom for problems or difficulties being solved smoothly once the key is found — like a bamboo split that yields to the knife. Used in formal writing for abstract, strategic problem-solving.

idiom
to be solved readily / to overcome obstacles without resistance

Examples

  • ，迎刃而解。
    Zhǐ yào zhǎo dào wèn tí de guān jiàn, qí tā jiù huì yíng rèn ér jiě.
    Once you find the key to the problem, everything else will be solved readily.
  • ，迎刃而解。
    Zài zhèng què de cè lüè xià, zhè xiē nán tí quán dōu yíng rèn ér jiě.
    With the right strategy, all these difficult problems were solved smoothly.
  • 迎刃而解。
    Tuán duì nèi bù de máo dùn jīng guò gōu tōng hòu yíng rèn ér jiě.
    After communication, the conflict within the team was resolved without difficulty.

Origin

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
卬
卬áng迎yíng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

迎 is made of 辶 (written fully as 辵) for the meaning and 卬 for the sound.

Open 迎 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

刃 is a knife with a mark on the blade, pointing to the sharp edge.

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

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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