Hanzi
CharactersIdiomsChinese ZodiacChinese Name
Tools
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorRender Chinese text as a downloadable image
  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
View all tools →
Blogs
一挥而就
一挥而就
一挥而就
一挥而就
一挥而就
一挥而就
一挥而就
一挥而就

一挥而就 — “With one stroke, it's done”

一挥而就 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to complete a piece of writing, drawing, or composition quickly and skillfully, as if with a single stroke; to dash off something with great ease and speed, implying talent or swift inspiration”. Literally, “With one stroke, it's done”.

Frequency

一挥而就 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 一yī
  • 挥huī
  • 而ér
  • 就jiù

一挥而就 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
一
yī1one, a, single, whole
挥
huī9wave, brandish, or command
而
ér6and, but, then
就
jiù12to proceed based on circumstances

Example Sentence with 一挥而就

这位画家才思敏捷,每次作画都能一挥而就,令人惊叹。
This artist is quick-witted; every time he paints, he can dash it off in a flash, which is truly astonishing.

Origin and Story of 一挥而就

The idiom "Yi Hui Er Jiu" originates from the Five Dynasties period. A talented scholar named Wang Lin was known for his remarkable speed in writing poetry.

Once, while composing twenty poems, a sudden storm scattered and damaged several of his drafts. Unfazed, Wang Lin simply called for fresh paper and, with a swift stroke of his brush, he instantly completed more than ten new poems. This event became a testament to his quick wit and effortless writing ability, giving rise to the idiom "Yi Hui Er Jiu," which describes the act of completing a piece of writing, painting, or composition rapidly and skillfully.

Later, during the Southern Song Dynasty, the national hero Wen Tianxiang was also renowned for his literary prowess. It is said that he "dashed off" a ten-thousand-character examination paper in an instant, showcasing his profound intellect and eloquent expression, further solidifying the idiom's meaning of rapid and skillful creation.

Idioms Related to 一挥而就

Synonyms of 一挥而就

  • yī一qì气hē呵chéng成accomplished in one smooth continuous effort
  • yī一cù蹴ér而jiù就achieve success instantly and effortlessly
  • qīng轻ér而yì易jǔ举effortless and very easy

Antonyms of 一挥而就

  • yī一bǐ笔gōu勾xiāo销cancel completely with a single stroke
  • yī一bǐ笔mǒ抹shā煞to negate all achievements with one stroke
  • qiān千chuí锤bǎi百liàn炼tempered and refined through hardships

More idioms starting with 一

  • yī一dīng丁bù不shí识completely illiterate
  • yī一dīng丁diǎn点er儿a tiny bit
  • yī一bù不zuò作,,èr二bù不xiū休Finish what you start
  • yī一bù不zuò做,,èr二bù不xiū休in for a penny, in for a pound
  • yī一bù不yā压zhòng众,,bǎi百bù不suí随yī一The minority cannot prevail against the majority
  • yī一bù不niǔ扭zhòng众One person cannot defy the crowd
  • yī一shì世zhī之xióng雄A hero of a generation
  • yī一shì世lóng龙mén门A generation's revered influential figure
  • yī一qiū丘yī一hè壑live contentedly in nature
  • yī一qiū丘zhī之hé貉birds of a feather
  • yī一sī丝yī一háo毫the slightest amount
  • yī一sī丝bù不luàn乱perfectly orderly and neat

Questions about 一挥而就

What does 一挥而就 mean?
一挥而就 (yī huī ér jiù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to complete a piece of writing, drawing, or composition quickly and skillfully, as if with a single stroke; to dash off something with great ease and speed, implying talent or swift inspiration”.
How do you pronounce 一挥而就?
一挥而就 is pronounced yī huī ér jiù in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 一挥而就 literally mean?
Literally, 一挥而就 means “with one stroke, it's done”. It is used to mean “to complete a piece of writing, drawing, or composition quickly and skillfully, as if with a single stroke; to dash off something with great ease and speed, implying talent or swift inspiration”.
Where does 一挥而就 come from?
一挥而就 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 一挥而就?
挥:挥笔;就:成功。一动笔就写成了。形容写字、写文章、画画快。
Copy the pinyin for 一挥而就 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

© 2026 hanzi.now

Contact Us