游刃有余

遊刃有餘

yóurènyǒuyú

idiom #22,923

Meanings

1 to handle with ease
2 to have more than enough skill
3 to be more than equal to a task

Characters

to roam / to move freely

blade / cutting edge

surplus / room to spare

Examples

她处理这类问题游刃有余。

Tā chǔlǐ zhè lèi wèntí yóurènyǒuyú.

She handles this kind of problem with ease.

经验丰富的厨师切菜游刃有余。

Jīngyàn fēngfù de chúshī qiē cài yóurènyǒuyú.

An experienced chef cuts vegetables with effortless ease.

Tips

history

From the Zhuangzi (庄子), in the story of Cook Ding (庖丁解牛). The cook's blade glides through the ox's joints with space to spare — 游刃有余 means literally 'the blade roams with room to spare,' describing mastery so complete that work feels effortless.

Stroke Order

游 yóu

刃 rèn

有 yǒu

余 yú