游刃有余
游刃有余 (yóu rèn yǒu yú) literally means “moving blade with room to spare” and expresses “handle with ease; have skill to spare”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: you ren you yu, you ren you yu,游刃有余 meaning, 游刃有余 in english
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
Pronunciation: yóu rèn yǒu yú
Literal meaning: Moving blade with room to spare
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes a moving (游) blade (刃) having (有) room to spare (余). From Zhuangzi's story of Cook Ding who butchered oxen so skillfully his knife never dulled. The phrase depicts mastery with ease. Modern usage describes handling tasks with skill and capacity to spare, performing effortlessly what others find difficult.
Examples
English: "The experienced chef handled the busy kitchen effortlessly."
Chinese: 经验丰富的厨师在繁忙的厨房游刃有余。
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dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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成竹在胸
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Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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恰如其分
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Perfectly appropriate; fitting exactly
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恰到好处
qià dào hǎo chù
Just right; perfectly appropriate
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适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 游刃有余 mean in English?
游刃有余 (yóu rèn yǒu yú) literally translates to “Moving blade with room to spare” and is used to express “Handle with ease; have skill to spare”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 游刃有余 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving handle with ease; have skill to spare.
What is the pinyin for 游刃有余?
The pinyin pronunciation for 游刃有余 is “yóu rèn yǒu yú”.