举手之劳
jǔ shǒu zhī láo
Small effort task · trad. 舉手之勞
Describes an action that requires very little effort or trouble to complete. It implies that the task is easy and perhaps even trivial for the person performing it.
What does 举手之劳 (jǔ shǒu zhī láo) mean?
举手之劳 (jǔ shǒu zhī láo) means "small effort task" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "lifting a hand's effort."
Character by character
- 举 jǔ lift, raise
- 手 shǒu hand
- 之 zhī of, 's
- 劳 láo effort, labor
When to use it
Often used when someone downplays their contribution, suggesting that what they did was minimal and not worth much thanks. It implies humility and a willingness to help without expecting significant appreciation.
Example
我只是举手之劳，你不用老把谢谢挂在嘴上。
Wǒ zhǐshì jǔ shǒu zhī láo, nǐ búyòng lǎo bǎ xièxie guà zài zuǐshàng.
It was just a small favor for me, so you don't need to keep thanking me.
Pro tip: Emphasizes the ease of the action rather than its insignificance. It's about the minimal effort required, not that the result is unimportant.
Related idioms
精打细算 · Meticulous planning and budgeting举世闻名 · World famous举一反三 · Inferring from one example
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