shortcut to success; convenient path to power
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
shortcut to officialdom; a quick route to achieve one's goals; an expedient means to success
literaryDerived from the Tang Dynasty story of Lu Cangyong, who lived as a hermit near Zhongnan Mountain (close to the capital Chang'an) to gain fame and secure a high official position (recorded in the New Book of Tang). Often carries a connotation of taking an expedient or calculated path rather than honest effort.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
háng行
yè业
，
chéng成
gōng功
méi没
yǒu有
zhōng终
nán南
jié捷
jìng径
，
zhǐ只
néng能
kào靠
qín勤
fèn奋
hé和
jī积
lěi累
。
In this industry, there is no shortcut to success; it can only be achieved through diligence and accumulation.
Tā他
yǐ以
wéi为
pān攀
fù附
quán权
guì贵
shì是
zhōng终
nán南
jié捷
jìng径
，
jié结
guǒ果
què却
nòng弄
qiǎo巧
chéng成
zhuō拙
。
He thought currying favor with the powerful was a shortcut to success, but he outsmarted himself in the end.
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Zhōng终
nán南
jié捷
jìng径
suī虽
rán然
kàn看
shì似
shěng省
shí时
shěng省
lì力
，
dàn但
wǎng往
wǎng往
gēn根
jī基
bù不
wěn稳
。
Although shortcuts may seem to save time and effort, they often result in an unstable foundation.