举手之劳

舉手之勞
jǔshǒuzhīláo
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 as easy as lifting a hand
  2. 2 a trivial effort
  3. 3 no trouble at all

Examples

HSK 3
Jiéyuē yòng shuǐ shì jǔshǒuzhīláo, rénrén dōu néng zuòdào.
Saving water takes almost no effort - anyone can do it.
HSK 7-9
Bāng nǐ ná ge kuàidì, jǔshǒuzhīláo éryǐ.
Grabbing your package for you is nothing - just a tiny favor.

Tips

history
From Han Yu's 《应科目时与人书》 (Tang dynasty): 「盖一举手一投足之劳也」 - 'merely the effort of raising a hand or taking a step.' Han Yu used it to beg a patron for minor help in his career.
usage
A polite deflection of thanks - if someone thanks you for a small favor, reply 「举手之劳不用谢」 ('no trouble at all, don't mention it'). Functions like 'it's nothing' in English.

Stroke Order

shǒu
zhī
láo