游刃有余(游刃有餘)
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 & learning.
Also searched as: you ren you yu, you ren you yu,游刃有余 meaning, 游刃有余 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: The experienced chef handled the busy kitchen effortlessly.
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
得心应手
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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轻车熟路
qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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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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急流勇退
jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
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功成身退
gōng chéng shēn tuì
Retire after achieving success
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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 theWisdom & 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”.