# 立竿见影

lì gān jiàn yǐng

Produce an immediate visible result

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Set up a pole and see its shadow

**Traditional Chinese:** 立竿見影

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe a change with promptly observable effects.

Not every valuable intervention works immediately.

## Understanding the expression

A pole casts a shadow as soon as it is placed in light. The expression describes an action whose effect becomes visible quickly, such as fixing a leak or clarifying a confusing instruction. It emphasizes speed and observability rather than permanence. Some useful work requires time before results appear, so demanding this effect everywhere can be unrealistic. A quick improvement should also be checked for durability and unintended costs.

## Examples

换了灯泡，亮度立竿见影地改善。

### Traditional Chinese

換了燈泡，亮度立竿見影地改善。

huàn le dēng pào ， liàng dù lì gān jiàn yǐng dì gǎi shàn 。

Changing the bulb immediately improved the brightness.

调整排班后，效率提升立竿见影。

### Traditional Chinese

調整排班後，效率提升立竿見影。

tiáo zhěng pái bān hòu ， xiào lǜ tí shēng lì gān jiàn yǐng 。

The revised schedule produced an immediate improvement in efficiency.

锻炼不一定立竿见影。

### Traditional Chinese

鍛鍊不一定立竿見影。

duàn liàn bù yí dìng lì gān jiàn yǐng 。

Exercise does not necessarily produce immediate results.

修好阀门，节水效果立竿见影。

### Traditional Chinese

修好閥門，節水效果立竿見影。

xiū hǎo fá mén ， jié shuǐ xiào guǒ lì gān jiàn yǐng 。

Repairing the valve immediately reduced water waste.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%AB%8B%E7%AB%BF%E8%A6%8B%E5%BD%B1)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=976&webMd=1&la=0)

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