諺語 · a single proverb
一石二鳥
Simplified: 一石二鸟
What does 一石二鳥 (yī shí èr niǎo) mean?
一石二鳥 (yī shí èr niǎo) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "one stone, two birds." In use it means: Accomplishing two goals with a single action; efficiency in achieving multiple objectives at once. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "one stone, two birds."
The reading
The stone was meant for one bird. The second was a bonus. But the person who threw it had noticed both birds sitting close together and waited for that exact moment. Efficiency is not luck. It is patience combined with noticing which problems share a perch.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Adapted from English; widely naturalized in Chinese usage since late Qing
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 一石二鳥 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 一石二鳥 (yī shí èr niǎo) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Adapted from English; widely naturalized in Chinese usage since late Qing. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 一石二鳥?
In Mandarin it is yī shí èr niǎo. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 一石二鳥 aloud in Mandarin.