一举两得 yī jǔ liǎng dé
to kill two birds with one stone
Literally: one move two gain
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Origin
From the Book of Jin: a general argued that one campaign could achieve two gains; also linked to the story of Bian Zhuangzi waiting for two tigers to fight before killing both.
How to use it
Predicate or attributive; positive. Often 这样做一举两得 or 一举两得的办法.
Example sentences
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- 骑车上班既锻炼身体又省钱，真是一举两得。Qíchē shàngbān jì duànliàn shēntǐ yòu shěng qián, zhēnshi yī jǔ liǎng dé.Cycling to work exercises you and saves money; it kills two birds with one stone.ride-bike go-to-work both exercise body and save money, truly one move two gain
- 看中文电影学汉语是个一举两得的好办法。Kàn Zhōngwén diànyǐng xué Hànyǔ shì gè yī jǔ liǎng dé de hǎo bànfǎ.Learning Chinese through Chinese films is a good two-for-one method.watch Chinese film study Chinese is (measure) one move two gain (particle) good method
More chengyu about success & failure
- 名副其实míng fù qí shíto live up to one's name; worthy of the title
- 功亏一篑gōng kuī yī kuìto fail for want of a final effort; to fall at the last hurdle
- 东山再起dōng shān zài qǐto stage a comeback; to return to power or success after a setback
- 卷土重来juǎn tǔ chóng láito make a comeback; to return after a defeat
- 一败涂地yī bài tú dìto suffer a crushing defeat; to be utterly routed
- 得不偿失dé bù cháng shīthe loss outweighs the gain; not worth it
- 一鸣惊人yī míng jīng rénto amaze the world with a single feat; an overnight sensation after long obscurity
- 前功尽弃qián gōng jìn qìall previous efforts wasted; to lose everything gained