一举两得

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yī jǔ liǎng dé
• English Translation: Killing two birds with one stone (Gaining two advantages with one move)
• Idiom Composition: 「一」（One; a single）＋「举」（Action; move; act）＋「两」（Two; both）＋「得」（To gain; to obtain; profit）
• Meaning: To achieve two benefits or results through a single action. It is a positive expression used to praise efficiency or a clever strategy.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「一举两得」 contains the following nuances:

• Emphasis on Efficiency: The idiom focuses on the concept of maximizing results while minimizing effort, highlighting the wisdom of the actor.
• Positive Evaluation: Rather than a lucky accident, this phrase usually implies a deliberate, clever plan or a wise judgment, serving as a compliment.

3. Usage

「一举两得」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Business and Proposals: Used to persuade others by showing how a single policy or action can provide multiple benefits, such as cost reduction and quality improvement.
  • Example:「采用这种新工艺，既能降低成本，又能提高产品质量，真是一举两得。」
    （Adopting this new process can both reduce costs and improve product quality; it is truly killing two birds with one stone.)
• Daily Life Efficiency: Used when discussing smart ways to manage time or resources, such as exercising while commuting or learning while doing chores.
  • Example:「骑自行车上班既锻炼了身体，又避开了交通拥堵，是一举两得的好办法。」
    （Biking to work is a great way to kill two birds with one stone, as it provides exercise while avoiding traffic jams.)

Additional Examples:

1. 废物利用不仅保护环境，还能节约资源，可谓一举两得。
   （Recycling waste not only protects the environment but also saves resources, which can be described as gaining two advantages with one move.）
2. 带孩子去博物馆，既能让他们开心，又能增长知识，真是一举两得。
   （Taking children to the museum is truly killing two birds with one stone, as it makes them happy and increases their knowledge.）
3. 这次出差顺便回家看望了父母，算是一举两得。
   （Since I was able to visit my parents while on this business trip, I'd say I killed two birds with one stone.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Source: This idiom originates from the Book of Jin (晋书), specifically the biography of Shu Xi (束皙). It was originally used to praise a policy that reduced the burden on the people while simultaneously solving an administrative issue.
• Nuance: While the English idiom 'killing two birds with one stone' is a perfect semantic match, the Chinese version 一举两得 (yī jǔ liǎng dé) sounds slightly more formal and is frequently used in professional writing. Another similar idiom, 一箭双雕 (yī jiàn shuāng diāo) (shooting two eagles with one arrow), emphasizes high-level skill or prowess even more strongly.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 一箭双雕 (yī jiàn shuāng diāo): To shoot two eagles with one arrow; achieving two goals through superb skill.
  • 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi): Half the work, double the result; being extremely efficient.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 得不偿失 (dé bù cháng shī): The gains do not make up for the losses; a situation where the cost outweighs the benefit.link
  • 事倍功半 (shì bèi gōng bàn): Double the work, half the result; being highly inefficient.

6. Summary

一举两得 (yī jǔ liǎng dé) is a highly frequent idiom used to describe gaining two advantages from one action. It functions exactly like the English idiom "killing two birds with one stone" and is used in everything from business to daily conversation to evaluate efficiency positively.