# 事半功倍

shì bàn gōng bèi

Get better results with less effort

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Half the effort, twice the result

**Register:** Positive · conversational

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Use when a better method makes work more effective.

It is figurative; no exact doubling is implied.

## Behind the words

Mencius discusses achieving greater results with less effort under favorable conditions. The compact contrast became a way to praise effective methods.

The contrast between half the work and twice the result is an emphatic comparison, not a numerical promise. The expression praises conditions, planning, or methods that improve the relationship between effort and outcome. It usually implies a better way of working rather than avoiding work. Its opposite, 事倍功半, describes much effort producing disappointingly little progress.

## Examples

先把需求弄清楚，后面的工作就能事半功倍。

### Traditional Chinese

先把需求弄清楚，後面的工作就能事半功倍。

xiān bǎ xū qiú nòng qīng chǔ ， hòu miàn de gōng zuò jiù néng shì bàn gōng bèi 。

Clarifying the requirements first makes the rest of the work much more effective.

用表格自动计算费用，月底整理账目就能事半功倍。

### Traditional Chinese

用表格自動計算費用，月底整理賬目就能事半功倍。

yòng biǎo gé zì dòng jì suàn fèi yòng ， yuè dǐ zhěng lǐ zhàng mù jiù néng shì bàn gōng bèi 。

A spreadsheet that calculates expenses automatically makes month-end bookkeeping much more efficient.

选对练习方法，学发音往往事半功倍。

### Traditional Chinese

選對練習方法，學發音往往事半功倍。

xuǎn duì liàn xí fāng fǎ ， xué fā yīn wǎng wǎng shì bàn gōng bèi 。

Choosing the right practice method often makes pronunciation study far more effective.

先准备好材料再开始做饭，可以事半功倍。

### Traditional Chinese

先準備好材料再開始做飯，可以事半功倍。

xiān zhǔn bèi hǎo cái liào zài kāi shǐ zuò fàn ， kě yǐ shì bàn gōng bèi 。

Preparing the ingredients first makes cooking much more efficient.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=273&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%BA%8B%E5%8D%8A%E5%8A%9F%E5%80%8D)

## Keep exploring

- [势如破竹 shì rú pò zhú Advance with overwhelming ease and momentum ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-ru-po-zhu)

- [事在人为 shì zài rén wéi People's effort can shape the outcome ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-zai-ren-wei)

- [手不释卷 shǒu bù shì juàn Always have a book in hand ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shou-bu-shi-juan)

- [手忙脚乱 shǒu máng jiǎo luàn Become flustered and disorganized ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shou-mang-jiao-luan)

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