举重若轻
jǔ zhòng ruò qīng
to handle a heavy task with ease; to make the difficult look effortless
Character by character
举jǔ
lift
lift
重zhòng
heavy
heavy
若ruò
as if
as if
轻qīng
light
light
Example
这么大的项目，她安排得清清楚楚，看起来举重若轻。
A project this big, and she organises it so clearly that she makes it look effortless.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Mostly figurative: praise for someone who carries a great load, such as a big job, a hard role or a weighty subject in writing, without visible strain. Its mirror image 举轻若重 praises treating small matters with great care. In acrobatics, where performers really do spin heavy things, it can also be meant literally.
Learn this in Lesson 239 · HSK 9+: 吴桥杂技 (The acrobats of Wuqiao)
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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