轻而易举

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qīng ér yì jǔ
• English Translation: Very easy, effortless, a piece of cake
• Idiom Composition: 「轻」（Light, easy）＋「而」（And）＋「易」（Easy）＋「举」（To lift, to carry out）
• Meaning: Describes something that can be done very easily, without any difficulty or effort.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「轻而易举」 contains the following nuances:

• Emphasis on ease: Highlights that something is very simple and requires little effort or difficulty.
• High ability: Can imply the high skill or proficiency of a person who accomplishes something with ease.
• Expression of confidence: The expression can reflect the speaker's confidence and positive attitude towards the task.

3. Usage

「轻而易举」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing ability or skill: Used to describe when someone can easily handle a specific task.
  • Example:「掌握这门编程语言对我来说是轻而易举的。」
    （Mastering this programming language is a piece of cake for me.）
• Expressing task ease: Expresses that a task or problem is generally or for a specific person easy to accomplish.
  • Example:「他轻而易举地解决了这个复杂的数学问题。」
    （He solved this complex math problem with ease.）
• Expressing certainty of success: Indicates that an action or plan is easily successful.
  • Example:「在团队的合作下，我们轻而易举地完成了项目。」
    （With the team's cooperation, we completed the project effortlessly.）

Additional Examples:

1. 尽管面临挑战，但他轻而易举地克服了所有障碍。
   （Despite facing challenges, he overcame all obstacles easily.）
2. 凭借出色的表现，他轻而易举地赢得了比赛。
   （With an outstanding performance, he won the match effortlessly.）
3. 对他来说，记住这些复杂的公式轻而易举。
   （For him, memorizing these complex formulas is a breeze.）
4. 她轻而易举地通过了这次考试，因为她准备得非常充分。
   （She passed this exam easily because she was very well prepared.）
5. 这项任务看起来很难，但对有经验的工程师来说，却是轻而易举。
   （This task looks difficult, but for an experienced engineer, it is very easy.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In Chinese culture, efficiency and smooth progress are highly valued. The idiom '轻而易举' reflects these values and is used with a positive connotation.
• However, '轻而易举' can sometimes be perceived as overconfidence or underestimating a matter. It is important to consider the context and relationship with the listener when using this expression.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 易如反掌 (yì rú fǎn zhǎng): As easy as turning over one's palm.
  • 手到擒来 (shǒu dào qín lái): So easy that it can be achieved as soon as one reaches out.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 举步维艰 (jǔ bù wéi jiān): Extremely difficult to make progress; things are very challenging.

6. Summary

'轻而易举' is a positive idiom that describes something very easy to accomplish. It reflects Chinese cultural values emphasizing efficiency and smooth progress, and can be used in various contexts such as business and learning. However, it is important to use it appropriately to avoid being perceived as overconfident or dismissive.