轻车熟路

輕車熟路

qīngchēshúlù

idiom #48,817

Meanings

1 a light carriage on a familiar road
2 to do something with ease through long practice; a piece of cake

Characters

vehicle, carriage

Examples

这种工作他做了多年，早已轻车熟路。

Zhè zhǒng gōngzuò tā zuò le duō nián, zǎoyǐ qīngchēshúlù.

He's done this kind of work for years — by now it's second nature.

对老司机来说，山路也是轻车熟路。

Duì lǎo sījī lái shuō, shān lù yěshì qīngchēshúlù.

For a veteran driver, even mountain roads are an easy ride.

Tips

history

From Han Yu (Tang) 《送石处士序》: 若驷马驾轻车就熟路，而王良、造父为之先后也 — like a light carriage on a familiar road, with the great charioteers Wang Liang and Zaofu leading and following.

usage

Emphasizes ease from experience, not just speed. Often used about returning to a job or task you've mastered before.

Stroke Order

轻 qīng

车 chē

熟 shú

路 lù