一石二鸟
一石二鸟 (yī shí èr niǎo) literally means “one stone two birds” and expresses “two goals with one action”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: yi shi er niao, yi shi er niao,一石二鸟 meaning, 一石二鸟 in english
Two goals with one action
Pronunciation: yī shí èr niǎo Literal meaning: One stone two birds
Origin & Usage
A calque rather than a classical idiom: one (一) stone (石), two (二) birds (鸟), taken into Chinese from the English 'kill two birds with one stone' by way of the Japanese 一石二鳥, during the decades of heavy borrowing around the turn of the twentieth century. It is worth knowing precisely because it feels native and is not. The indigenous equivalent is 一箭双雕, one arrow and two eagles, which is in this collection and has an actual story behind it. Both are current, and a learner who wants the Chinese rather than the translated register should reach for the eagles.
Examples
English: "By cycling to work, she saved money and got exercise"
Chinese: 骑自行车上班，她既省钱又锻炼身体
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
独一无二
dú yī wú èr
One of a kind; unique
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一叶障目
yī yè zhàng mù
Miss big picture
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一叶知秋
yī yè zhī qiū
Small signs show big picture
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一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
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一言九鼎
yī yán jiǔ dǐng
Words carry great weight
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一丝不苟
yī sī bù gǒu
Extremely careful and thorough
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一鼓作气
yī gǔ zuò qì
Complete in one effort
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一气呵成
yī qì hē chéng
Finished without a break in it
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 一石二鸟 mean in English?
一石二鸟 (yī shí èr niǎo) literally translates to “One stone two birds” and is used to express “Two goals with one action”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 一石二鸟 used?
Situation: By cycling to work, she saved money and got exercise
What is the pinyin for 一石二鸟?
The pinyin pronunciation for 一石二鸟 is “yī shí èr niǎo”.
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