马到功成

Pronunciation: mǎ dào gōng chéng Literal meaning: Horse arrives, success achieved

Origin & Usage

The idiom 马到功成 (mǎ dào gōng chéng) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe achieving success swiftly and efficiently. The phrase literally translates to 'the horse arrives, success is achieved,' painting a vivid image of a victorious return from battle as soon as the horse reaches its destination. The idiom first appeared in the Yuan dynasty play 楚昭公 (Chǔ Zhāo Gōng) by Zheng Tingyu, where it was used to express the hope for a quick and triumphant military campaign. In modern contexts, this idiom is often used to wish someone success in new endeavors, such as business ventures or projects, and is frequently paired with 旗开得胜 (qí kāi dé shèng), meaning 'to win the first battle.'

Examples

English: "With his quick decision-making, the project was completed successfully in no time."

Chinese: 凭借他的快速决策，项目马到功成。