有条不紊
yǒu tiáo bù wěn
orderly; methodical; in a calm, well-ordered way
Character by character
有yǒu
have
have
条tiáo
order
order
不bù
not
not
紊wěn
tangled
tangled
Example
虽然客人很多，服务员们还是有条不紊地上菜、结账。
Although there were lots of customers, the waiters went on serving and taking payment calmly and methodically.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the 《尚书》 (Book of Documents): 若网在纲，有条而不紊, “like a net held by its main cord, ordered and not tangled”. Mostly 有条不紊地 + verb, praising work done calmly in a busy or complicated situation.
Learn this in Lesson 181 · HSK 7–9: 流水线上 (On the assembly line)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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