Intermediateproductchengyu

Chengyu usage loop

事半功倍

half the effort, twice the result. Learn the modern situation first; the old story is useful only after the idiom has a job.

half the effort, twice the result
Practice recall Open Practice

Situation first

half the effort, twice the result

A chengyu is a compressed judgment about a situation. Random idiom sprinkling is how learners sound like a proverb calendar.

01 Name the situation Read the English meaning first. Know what kind of moment this idiom labels.
02 Hear four characters Play the chengyu and say it as one compact expression, not four isolated words.
03 Recall the use Log it, then use the chengyu quiz to match it to a modern situation.

Reading supports

Use these after the first listen. Pinyin is scaffolding; English is context; neither should become a sofa.

Literal meaning

half the effort, twice the result

Story

This page focuses on the modern use of 事半功倍, not just the old story.

Modern usage

Use 事半功倍 in product contexts when the situation matches the meaning: half the effort, twice the result.

Example

This example can be described with 事半功倍.