驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
to do something with practised ease
Character by character
驾jià
drive
drive
轻qīng
light (cart)
light (cart)
就jiù
take
take
熟shú
familiar (road)
familiar (road)
Example
她当了十年导游，带外国游客参观故宫早就驾轻就熟了。
She has been a tour guide for ten years, and showing foreign visitors round the Forbidden City is second nature to her.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From 韩愈’s 《送石处士序》: like a team of horses pulling a light cart along a road they know. Used of tasks done many times: 做起来驾轻就熟, 对…驾轻就熟. It praises experience, not talent.
Learn this in Lesson 183 · HSK 7–9: 大国工匠 (Master craftsmen)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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