# 一挥而就

yī huī ér jiù

Complete writing or art in one fluent burst

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Finish with one sweep of the brush

**Traditional Chinese:** 一揮而就

**Register:** Appreciative · literary

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

## When to use it

Praise swift, confident creative execution.

Quick execution may follow long preparation.

## Understanding the expression

A single sweep of the brush produces the finished result without visible hesitation. Modern use praises fluent writing, painting, or similar creative work done rapidly. It suggests mastery and a clear idea already formed. The phrase can exaggerate: the final act may be quick because planning and practice happened earlier. It is not a claim that good work always requires little time or that careful revision makes an artist less capable.

## Examples

她一挥而就，写好祝词。

### Traditional Chinese

她一揮而就，寫好祝詞。

tā yī huī ér jiù ， xiě hǎo zhù cí 。

She wrote the greeting in one fluent burst.

画家一挥而就，画出小景。

### Traditional Chinese

畫家一揮而就，畫出小景。

huà jiā yī huī ér jiù ， huà chū xiǎo jǐng 。

The painter quickly completed a small scene.

他构思很久，落笔却一挥而就。

### Traditional Chinese

他構思很久，落筆卻一揮而就。

tā gòu sī hěn jiǔ ， luò bǐ què yī huī ér jiù 。

He planned for a long time but wrote fluently in one sitting.

这篇短文被她一挥而就地写成。

### Traditional Chinese

這篇短文被她一揮而就地寫成。

zhè piān duǎn wén bèi tā yī huī ér jiù dì xiě chéng 。

She completed this short piece in a single fluent burst.

## 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%E6%8F%AE%E8%80%8C%E5%B0%B1)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=244&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [一目十行 yī mù shí háng Read extremely quickly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-mu-shi-hang)

- [一气呵成 yī qì hē chéng Complete smoothly in one continuous flow ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-qi-he-cheng)

- [易如反掌 yì rú fǎn zhǎng Extremely easy to do ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-ru-fan-zhang)

- [一事无成 yī shì wú chéng Have achieved nothing ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-shi-wu-cheng)

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