轻而易举

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qīng ér yì jǔ
• English Translation: Easy as lifting something light (effortless)
• Idiom Composition: 「轻」（Light; referring to something that lacks weight or burden.）＋「而」（And; a conjunction used here to connect two descriptive qualities.）＋「易」（Easy; simple to perform.）＋「举」（To lift or raise; referring to the physical act of picking something up.）
• Meaning: Describes a task that is extremely easy to accomplish without requiring much effort, as if lifting something very light.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「轻而易举」 contains the following nuances:

• Objective Ease: Refers to a situation where a task is inherently simple or the person's skill level is so high that the task becomes easy for them.
• Lack of Strain: Implies that the action does not require intense struggle or "breaking a sweat," suggesting a sense of composure and mastery.

3. Usage

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

• Highlighting High Ability: Used to describe a person who possesses such great skill or strength that they can solve difficult problems without any visible struggle.
  • Example:「凭他的专业知识，解决这个问题简直是轻而易举。」
    （With his professional expertise, solving this problem is a piece of cake.）
• Warning in the Negative: Often used with "绝非" (jué fēi - absolutely not) to caution that a task is more difficult than it looks and should not be underestimated.
  • Example:「想要在激烈的市场竞争中获胜，绝不是轻而易举的事。」
    （Winning in such fierce market competition is by no means an easy feat.）
• Sports and Competition: Used when a team or individual dominates an opponent or breaks a record with minimal effort.
  • Example:「冠军队轻而易举地击败了对手，晋级决赛。」
    （The championship team defeated their opponents with ease and advanced to the finals.）

Additional Examples:

1. 现在的科技让我们可以轻而易举地获取各种信息。
   （Modern technology allows us to obtain all kinds of information effortlessly.）
2. 别以为成功是轻而易举的，背后都需要付出巨大的努力。
   （Don't think that success is easy to come by; it always requires great effort behind the scenes.）
3. 他力气很大，轻而易举地搬起了那个沉重的箱子。
   （He is very strong and lifted that heavy box with no trouble at all.）
4. 这道数学题对他来说太简单了，轻而易举就做出来了。
   （This math problem was too simple for him; he solved it in no time.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: This phrase originates from the commentaries on the Book of Songs (诗经) by the Song Dynasty scholar Confucius (孔子) follower Zhu Xi (朱熹). He used it to discuss how people often claim that cultivating virtue is as easy as lifting something light (轻而易举), yet few actually manage to do it.
• Modern Usage: While it originally had a philosophical or paradoxical nuance regarding virtue, in modern Chinese it is used broadly to describe any task—physical or mental—that is easy to complete.
• Nuance: Beyond just stating a fact, it often carries a tone of admiration for someone's skill or a sense of surprise that a task was less difficult than expected.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 易如反掌 (yì rú fǎn zhǎng): As easy as turning over one's hand; used for extremely simple tasks.
  • 不费吹灰之力 (bù fèi chuī huī zhī lì): Without even the strength needed to blow away dust; implies zero effort.
  • 唾手可得 (tuò shǒu kě dé): Something is very easy to get.link
  • 举手之劳 (jǔ shǒu zhī láo): A small effort that is easy to do.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 难如登天 (nán rú dēng tiān): As difficult as climbing to heaven; used for nearly impossible tasks.
  • 来之不易 (lái zhī bù yì): Not easily come by; emphasizes that something was achieved through hard work.
  • 煞费苦心 (shà fèi kǔ xīn): To take immense pains or go to great trouble to do something.link
  • 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn): To lack the ability to do what one wants or intends.link

6. Summary

轻而易举 (qīng ér yì jǔ) is a common idiom used to describe actions that are performed with ease or tasks that are simple to complete. It combines the ideas of being "light" (轻) and "easy to lift" (易举). While it can be used to praise someone's high level of skill, it is also frequently used in negative constructions to warn that a goal will not be **easy to achieve**.