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.
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。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Master something completely
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juǎn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
Offer modest view to inspire better
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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: The experienced chef handled the busy kitchen effortlessly.
What is the pinyin for 游刃有余?
The pinyin pronunciation for 游刃有余 is “yóu rèn yǒu yú”.