唾手可得
唾手可得 (tuò shǒu kě dé) literally means “spit hand can obtain” and expresses “easily attainable”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: tuo shou ke de, tuo shou ke de,唾手可得 meaning, 唾手可得 in english
Easily attainable
Pronunciation: tuò shǒu kě dé Literal meaning: Spit hand can obtain
Origin & Usage
The idiom 唾手可得 (tuò shǒu kě dé) originates from a historical context involving Gongsun Zan, a military leader during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Gongsun Zan was known for his formidable cavalry unit, the 'White Horse Volunteers,' which often clashed with the Xiongnu. Confident in his military prowess, Gongsun Zan once remarked that resolving the widespread chaos of the era was as easy as spitting into his hand and grasping it. This expression evolved into the idiom 唾手可得, where 唾 (tuò) means 'spit,' 手 (shǒu) means 'hand,' 可 (kě) means 'can,' and 得 (dé) means 'obtain.' In modern usage, it describes situations where something is very easy to obtain or achieve, often implying an overconfidence that may not align with reality.
Examples
English: "The promotion seemed like a prize just waiting to be claimed."
Chinese: 这个晋升机会唾手可得。
Related Chinese Idioms
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Many twists and turns
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gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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Love ease, hate work
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Extremes lead to reversal
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yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 唾手可得 mean in English?
唾手可得 (tuò shǒu kě dé) literally translates to “Spit hand can obtain” and is used to express “Easily attainable”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 唾手可得 used?
Situation: The promotion seemed like a prize just waiting to be claimed.
What is the pinyin for 唾手可得?
The pinyin pronunciation for 唾手可得 is “tuò shǒu kě dé”.