# 如虎添翼

rú hǔ tiān yì

Gain something that greatly increases one's ability

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Like a tiger gaining wings

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe a useful addition to an already capable person or group.

The image is figurative and does not imply an actual animal.

## The image & its use

A capable person can become even more effective when the right tool or partner becomes available. The image adds wings to a strong animal, giving an already impressive ability another dimension. In ordinary use it can praise a new instrument, a well-matched teammate, or access to useful information. The improvement should build on an existing strength. Explaining both the original ability and the new advantage makes the expression more precise than using it for any convenient purchase.

## Examples

有了电子词典，她学习中文如虎添翼。

### Traditional Chinese

有了電子詞典，她學習中文如虎添翼。

yǒu le diàn zǐ cí diǎn ， tā xué xí zhōng wén rú hǔ tiān yì 。

An electronic dictionary greatly strengthened her Chinese study.

新来的设计师让这个小组如虎添翼。

### Traditional Chinese

新來的設計師讓這個小組如虎添翼。

xīn lái de shè jì shī ràng zhè ge xiǎo zǔ rú hǔ tiān yì 。

The new designer made the already capable group even stronger.

丰富的资料使他的研究如虎添翼。

### Traditional Chinese

豐富的資料使他的研究如虎添翼。

fēng fù de zī liào shǐ tā de yán jiū rú hǔ tiān yì 。

The extensive resources gave his research a major boost.

熟练的演奏者换上合适的乐器，真是如虎添翼。

### Traditional Chinese

熟練的演奏者換上合適的樂器，真是如虎添翼。

shú liàn de yǎn zòu zhě huàn shàng hé shì de yuè qì ， zhēn shì rú hǔ tiān yì 。

A suitable instrument greatly enhanced the skilled performer's ability.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1211&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A6%82%E8%99%8E%E6%B7%BB%E7%BF%BC)

## Keep exploring

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- [如鱼得水 rú yú dé shuǐ Thrive in a fitting environment ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ru-yu-de-shui)

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