一步登天
yī bù dēng tiān
to reach the top in a single step; overnight success
Character by character
一yī
one
one
步bù
step
step
登dēng
climb
climb
天tiān
heaven
heaven
Example
做生意得一步一步来，别总想着一步登天。
In business you have to take it one step at a time; don’t keep dreaming of making it overnight.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Mostly in warnings and doubts: 别想一步登天, 不可能一步登天, 哪有一步登天的事. Said of a sudden rise in rank or fortune it sounds envious or critical. Compare 一夜成名 (lesson 3-22), which is about fame and can be neutral.
Learn this in Lesson 233 · HSK 9+: 横店的群演 (The extras of Hengdian)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
Open the lesson →