What's the difference between these two Chinese idioms?
事半功倍 (half effort, double result) means working smart for efficiency, while 集腋成裘 (fox fur scraps make a robe) means small efforts accumulating into big results. Efficiency vs accumulation.
shì bàn gōng bèi
“Less effort, better results”
Literally: Half effort double result
This mathematical idiom describes situations where half (半) the effort (事) yields double (倍) the result (功). First appearing in Han Dynasty agricultural texts, it originally described efficient farming techniques that maximized yield while minimizing labor. The concept gained broader application dur...
Example: Using the new software doubled her productivity
Chinese: 使用新软件使她的工作效率提高了一倍
jí yè chéng qiú
“Small efforts make big results”
Literally: Gather fur make coat
This idiom originates from ancient Chinese furriers who gathered (集) small pieces of fur from animal armpits (腋) to make (成) a luxurious coat (裘). First recorded in Warring States period texts, it illustrated how seemingly insignificant items could, through accumulation and patience, create somethin...
Example: The charity reached its goal through thousands of small donations
Chinese: 慈善机构通过成千上万的小额捐款达到了目标
| Aspect | 事半功倍 | 集腋成裘 |
|---|---|---|
| Pinyin | shì bàn gōng bèi | jí yè chéng qiú |
| Literal Meaning | Half effort double result | Gather fur make coat |
| Used For | Less effort, better results | Small efforts make big results |
| Theme | Success & Perseverance | Success & Perseverance |
| Example | Using the new software doubled her productivity | The charity reached its goal through thousands of small donations |
事半功倍 (half effort, double result) means working smart for efficiency, while 集腋成裘 (fox fur scraps make a robe) means small efforts accumulating into big results. Efficiency vs accumulation.
事半功倍 literally means "Half effort double result" and is used to describe "Less effort, better results." This mathematical idiom describes situations where half (半) the effort (事) yields double (倍) the result (功). First appearing in Han Dynasty agricultural texts, it originally described efficient farmin
集腋成裘 literally means "Gather fur make coat" and is used to describe "Small efforts make big results." This idiom originates from ancient Chinese furriers who gathered (集) small pieces of fur from animal armpits (腋) to make (成) a luxurious coat (裘). First recorded in Warring States period texts, it ill
Use 事半功倍 when you want to emphasize "Less effort, better results." Use 集腋成裘 when you want to emphasize "Small efforts make big results." 事半功倍 (half effort, double result) means working smart for efficiency, while 集腋成裘 (fox fur scraps make a robe) means small efforts accumulating into big results. Efficiency vs accumulation.