独当一面

Pronunciation: dú dāng yī miàn Literal meaning: Alone handle one side

Origin & Usage

Zhang Liang, advising Liu Bang on whom he could afford to rely on, said that of his generals only Han Xin could be trusted with great affairs and hold a front by himself. To take charge (当) of one side (一面) alone (独) is therefore a specific measurement of a person: not that they are talented, but that a whole sector can be handed over and not looked at again. It is the standard marker of professional maturity — the point at which somebody stops being supervised — and the compliment people most want to hear about themselves at work.

Examples

English: "After years of training, she can now manage the department independently."

Chinese: 经过多年培训，她现在能够独当一面，管理整个部门。