删繁就简
shān fán jiù jiǎn
to cut out the superfluous and keep things simple
Character by character
删shān
cut
cut
繁fán
complex
complex
就jiù
towards
towards
简jiǎn
simple
simple
Example
新的报销流程删繁就简，原来要找五个人签字，现在只要两个。
The new expenses procedure has been stripped down: where it used to take five people’s signatures, it now takes two.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the painter and calligrapher 郑板桥’s couplet 删繁就简三秋树，领异标新二月花 (pared down like a tree in late autumn; striking and new like a flower of early spring). Used of writing, design and cutting red tape.
Learn this in Lesson 254 · HSK 9+: 一本书的诞生 (How a book is made)
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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