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yí 一 cù 蹴 ér 而 jiù 就

一蹴而就 yí cù ér jiù

to achieve in one stroke; to succeed at the first attempt (usually negated)

Literally: one step and accomplish

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Origin

From Su Xun's Shang Tian Shumi Shu: 天下之学者,孰不欲一蹴而造圣人之域 — the form 一蹴而就 is a later fixed variant.

How to use it

Predicate; neutral, almost always negated. Often 不可能一蹴而就 or 不是一蹴而就的事.

Example sentences

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  1. 改革是一个长期的过程，不可能一蹴而就。
    Gǎigé shì yí gè chángqī de guòchéng, bù kěnéng yí cù ér jiù.
    Reform is a long-term process; it cannot be accomplished overnight.
    reform is one (measure) long-term (attributive particle) process, not possible one step and accomplish
  2. 学好一门语言需要日积月累，绝非一蹴而就。
    Xuéhǎo yì mén yǔyán xūyào rì jī yuè lěi, jué fēi yí cù ér jiù.
    Mastering a language takes steady accumulation over time; it is by no means achieved in one stroke.
    learn-well one (measure) language need day accumulate month pile, absolutely not one step and accomplish

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