一劳永逸

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yī láo yǒng yì
• English Translation: To do something once and for all (a permanent solution)
• Idiom Composition: 「一」（One; a single time）＋「劳」（Labor; toil; effort）＋「永」（Forever; eternally）＋「逸」（Ease; leisure; freedom from toil）
• Meaning: To put in the effort once so that one can enjoy ease and comfort forever. It refers to achieving a result through a single, decisive effort that eliminates the need for further work or worry in the future.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「一劳永逸」 contains the following nuances:

• Root Cause Resolution: The idiom emphasizes cutting off the root of a problem so that it never recurs, rather than just treating the symptoms.
• Justifying Initial Toil: It is often used to encourage people to endure temporary hardship or high costs for the sake of future peace and stability.
• Realistic Limitations: While it represents an ideal state, it is frequently used in negative sentences to remind people that life usually requires continuous maintenance.

3. Usage

「一劳永逸」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Proposing Solutions: Used when suggesting infrastructure, systems, or medical procedures that have high upfront costs but provide permanent long-term benefits.
  • Example:「虽然这套系统的初期投入很大，但能一劳永逸地解决数据管理混乱的问题。」
    （Although the initial investment for this system is high, it can permanently solve the problem of data management chaos.）
• Cautionary Advice: Used to negate the idea that a single effort is sufficient for things that require ongoing maintenance or lifelong dedication.
  • Example:「学习是一辈子的事，没有一劳永逸的方法。」
    （Learning is a lifelong journey; there is no once-and-for-all method.）
• Medical or Repairs: Used when choosing a radical cure or a full replacement over temporary patches or symptomatic treatment.
  • Example:「医生建议做个小手术，这样可以一劳永逸地治好他的背痛。」
    （The doctor suggested a minor surgery so he could permanently cure his back pain.）

Additional Examples:

1. 与其每次出问题都修修补补，不如换台新机器一劳永逸。
   （Rather than patching it up every time a problem arises, it is better to replace it with a new machine to solve the issue once and for all.）
2. 想要一劳永逸地保持身材是不可能的，必须坚持锻炼。
   （It is impossible to maintain your physique with a single effort; you must exercise consistently.）
3. 修筑这座大坝是为了防洪，希望能起到一劳永逸的作用。
   （This dam was built for flood control in the hope that it would serve as a permanent solution.）
4. 这种杀毒软件可以一劳永逸地保护你的电脑不受病毒侵害。
   （This antivirus software can permanently protect your computer from virus infections.）
5. 别指望有什么一劳永逸的捷径。
   （Do not expect any shortcuts that will solve everything forever.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase originates from the *Inscription on Sealing Mount Yanran* (封燕然山铭) by the Han Dynasty historian Ban Gu (班固), where he described a decisive military victory that would bring long-term peace.
• It also appears in the ancient agricultural text *Essential Techniques for the Peasantry* (齐民要术), referring to the long-term benefits of planting certain crops.
• While 一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì) is generally positive, it is often contrasted with 一了百了 (yī liǎo bǎi liǎo). While both mean 'once finished, all is finished,' 一了百了 (yī liǎo bǎi liǎo) often carries a nihilistic or negative tone, such as 'death ending all troubles' or 'cutting ties completely,' whereas 一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì) is used for constructive, permanent solutions.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 一了百当 (yī liǎo bǎi dàng): Once the main thing is settled, everything else falls into place.
  • 斩草除根 (zhǎn cǎo chú gēn): To pull up weeds by the roots; to eliminate the cause of a problem completely.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 徒劳无功 (tú láo wú gōng): To work hard but achieve no results; a futile effort.
  • 事倍功半 (shì bèi gōng bàn): Twice the effort for half the result; highly inefficient.
  • 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò): To muddle through, taking one day at a time without much thought for the future.link
  • 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi): To give up halfway; to abandon something before it is finished.link

6. Summary

The idiom 一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì) describes the concept of a 'permanent solution.' It is frequently used when proposing long-term fixes in business or technology to justify high initial costs. Conversely, it is often used in a cautionary sense to remind others that certain things, like education or personal growth, require continuous effort and cannot be solved **once and for all**.