一本万利 — “To make a huge profit with a small capital”
一本万利 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make a huge profit with a small capital”. To gain enormous returns from a trifling sum; small investment brings a ten-thousand-fold profit. Literally, “one capital, ten thousand profits”.
一本万利 Pronunciation and Pinyin
一本万利 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 一本万利
Origin and Story of 一本万利
During the Warring States period, Lü Buwei, a wealthy merchant from the State of Wei, traveled to Handan, the capital of the State of Zhao, for business. There, he encountered Prince Yiren of Qin, who was held as a hostage.
Lü Buwei decided to undertake a political 'business venture' that would yield enormous profits with a small investment.
He first went to Qin to win over Lady Huayang's favor, persuading her to adopt Yiren as her son. This facilitated Yiren's return to Qin and his eventual ascension as the ruler, allowing Lü Buwei himself to become the Prime Minister of Qin.
Idioms Related to 一本万利
Synonyms of 一本万利
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
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Open the tool →Questions about 一本万利
What does 一本万利 mean?
一本万利 (yī běn wàn lì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make a huge profit with a small capital”.
How do you pronounce 一本万利?
一本万利 is pronounced yī běn wàn lì in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 一本万利 literally mean?
Literally, 一本万利 means “one capital, ten thousand profits”. It is used to mean “to make a huge profit with a small capital”.
Where does 一本万利 come from?
一本万利 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 一本万利?
本钱小，利润大。