# 一鼓作气

yī gǔ zuò qì

Finish while the initial momentum lasts

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Build courage with the first drumbeat

**Traditional Chinese:** 一鼓作氣

**Register:** Encouraging · general

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

## When to use it

Encourage completing a task in one sustained effort.

Do not confuse momentum with ignoring fatigue or safety.

## Understanding the expression

An initial signal can bring people together and release a burst of energy. The expression focuses on using that energy before hesitation or repeated delays weaken it. It often encourages someone to complete the final stretch of work while confidence is high. The whole task need not be effortless or quick. What matters is maintaining a purposeful push instead of losing momentum through needless pauses and second thoughts.

## Examples

我们一鼓作气，把剩下的箱子搬完。

### Traditional Chinese

我們一鼓作氣，把剩下的箱子搬完。

wǒ men yī gǔ zuò qì ， bǎ shèng xià de xiāng zǐ bān wán 。

Let us keep the momentum and move the remaining boxes.

她一鼓作气写完了申请书。

### Traditional Chinese

她一鼓作氣寫完了申請書。

tā yī gǔ zuò qì xiě wán le shēn qǐng shū 。

She finished the application in one sustained effort.

趁大家状态好，一鼓作气排完这一段。

### Traditional Chinese

趁大家狀態好，一鼓作氣排完這一段。

chèn dà jiā zhuàng tài hǎo ， yī gǔ zuò qì pái wán zhè yí duàn 。

While everyone is focused, let us rehearse this section straight through.

休息之后，我们一鼓作气登上了山顶。

### Traditional Chinese

休息之後，我們一鼓作氣登上了山頂。

xiū xi zhī hòu ， wǒ men yī gǔ zuò qì dēng shàng le shān dǐng 。

After resting, we made a sustained push to the summit.

## 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=%E4%B8%80%E9%BC%93%E4%BD%9C%E6%B0%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=48&webMd=1&la=0)

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