一劳永逸
一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì) literally means “one labor forever ease” and expresses “solve a problem once and for all”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: yi lao yong yi, yi lao yong yi,一劳永逸 meaning, 一劳永逸 in english
Solve a problem once and for all
Pronunciation: yī láo yǒng yì Literal meaning: One labor forever ease
Origin & Usage
One (一) exertion (劳) and lasting (永) ease (逸). Ban Gu uses the older form in an inscription cut on a mountain after a frontier campaign, arguing that one hard effort had bought a long peace. That is the claim the phrase always makes, and Chinese treats it with some suspicion: it appears at least as often in the negative, pointing out that no such solution exists, as it does in the positive. It is the standard vocabulary of arguments about permanent fixes.
Examples
English: "Investing in quality now will solve the problem once and for all."
Chinese: 现在投资高质量产品可以一劳永逸地解决问题。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
以逸待劳
yǐ yì dài láo
Rested against the exhausted
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Shirk effort by preference
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一心一意
yī xīn yī yì
Wholeheartedly; with undivided attention
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扬长避短
yáng cháng bì duǎn
Play to one's strengths
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力挽狂澜
lì wǎn kuáng lán
Heroically reversing catastrophic situation
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再接再厉
zài jiē zài lì
Continue efforts with undiminished enthusiasm
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朝气蓬勃
zhāo qì péng bó
Vibrant youthful energy and enthusiasm
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脚踏实地
jiǎo tà shí dì
Being practical and down-to-earth
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 一劳永逸 mean in English?
一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì) literally translates to “One labor forever ease” and is used to express “Solve a problem once and for all”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 一劳永逸 used?
Situation: Investing in quality now will solve the problem once and for all.
What is the pinyin for 一劳永逸?
The pinyin pronunciation for 一劳永逸 is “yī láo yǒng yì”.