有条不紊
有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn) literally means “have order not chaotic” and expresses “methodical and well-organized action”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: you tiao bu wen, you tiao bu wen,有条不紊 meaning, 有条不紊 in english
Methodical and well-organized action
Pronunciation: yǒu tiáo bù wěn Literal meaning: Have order not chaotic
Origin & Usage
This is from the Book of Documents, which likens good order to a net held by its main rope: then there are strands (有条) and no tangle (不紊). The image is structural — the threads are orderly because something holds them in relation to each other, not because each was tidied separately. Work or an argument that is orderly because something holds it together, not because it was tidied afterwards.
Examples
English: "Despite the emergency, the hospital staff handled the situation with methodical precision"
Chinese: 尽管情况紧急,医院工作人员仍然有条不紊地处理了这一情况
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
井然有序
jǐng rán yǒu xù
In perfect order; well-organized
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不痛不痒
bù tòng bù yǎng
Ineffective and inconsequential
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泰然自若
tài rán zì ruò
Maintain perfect composure under pressure
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置之度外
zhì zhī dù wài
To disregard; put aside consideration of
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无懈可击
wú xiè kě jī
Flawless; beyond criticism
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众所周知
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī
As everyone knows or is widely recognized
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小心翼翼
xiǎo xīn yì yì
Act with extreme caution and care
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大公无私
dà gōng wú sī
Completely impartial without self-interest
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 有条不紊 mean in English?
有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn) literally translates to “Have order not chaotic” and is used to express “Methodical and well-organized action”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 有条不紊 used?
Situation: Despite the emergency, the hospital staff handled the situation with methodical precision
What is the pinyin for 有条不紊?
The pinyin pronunciation for 有条不紊 is “yǒu tiáo bù wěn”.