唾手可得
唾手可得 (tuò shǒu kě dé) literally means “spit on the palms and it can be had” 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 on the palms and it can be had
Origin & Usage
唾手 is spitting on the palms, the gesture a labourer makes before taking hold of a handle — so the phrase is not about spit but about the moment just before gripping. What can be had (可得) at that point takes no more effort than closing the hand. The Later Han histories put it in the mouth of an over-confident commander. It carries that flavour still: Chinese often uses it of something described as easy by the person who has not yet had to do it.
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
Similar idioms about life philosophy
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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无可奈何
wú kě nài hé
Helpless; having no alternative
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忍无可忍
rěn wú kě rěn
Beyond endurance; can't take it anymore
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不可开交
bù kě kāi jiāo
Extremely busy; inextricably involved
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门可罗雀
mén kě luó què
Deserted; hardly a visitor
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亡羊得牛
wáng yáng dé niú
A small loss that yields a greater gain
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患得患失
huàn dé huàn shī
Constantly anxious about gains and losses
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心安理得
xīn ān lǐ dé
Feel at ease with a clear conscience
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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 on the palms and it can be had” 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”.