si6 bun3 gung1 pui5事半功倍
Jyutpingsi6 bun3 gung1 pui5
Yalesih bun gūng púih
Definition
To achieve twice the result with half the effort; highly efficient.
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How it's used
This idiom is frequently used in professional or academic contexts to praise efficiency or strategic planning. It carries a positive, encouraging tone and is often used to justify delegating tasks or adopting new technologies. Unlike some other idioms, it is widely understood and used in both formal and casual settings.
Examples
Using the right method to do things really doubles the result with half the effort.
If you find a helper, will things be twice as efficient?
Related words
Common phrases
to achieve double the result with half the effort
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to describe someone who is lazy but lucky, but it specifically emphasizes the effectiveness of a method or strategy rather than the lack of personal exertion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
