abacus rhyme; swift and neat
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
swiftly and efficiently; neatly and quickly
Originally one of the rhymes used in abacus (suanpan) calculation, describing the action of adding three by pushing down a five-unit bead and removing two one-unit beads. Now used metaphorically to describe handling matters swiftly, efficiently, and without hesitation.
Tā他
sān三
xià下
wǔ五
chú除
èr二
jiù就
bǎ把
zuò作
yè业
zuò做
wán完
le了
。
He finished his homework swiftly.
Jǐng警
chá察
sān三
xià下
wǔ五
chú除
èr二
zhì制
fú服
le了
xiǎo小
tōu偷
。
The police subdued the thief quickly and efficiently.
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Sān三
xià下
wǔ五
chú除
èr二
，
wèn问
tí题
jiù就
jiě解
jué决
le了
。
Just like that, the problem was solved.
Tā他
sān三
xià下
wǔ五
chú除
èr二
de地
chī吃
wán完
le了
fàn饭
。
He ate his meal quickly without hesitation.