四兩撥千斤 sì liǎng bō qiān jīn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. four ounces can move a thousand catties (idiom)
  2. fig. to achieve much with little effort

CHARACTERS

四 sì
HSK 1
four
兩 liǎng two, both, pair, couple; ounce
撥 bō move; dispel; distribute; plectrum, play stringed instrument
千 qiān
HSK 2
thousand; many, numerous; very; (Cant.) a cheater, swindler
斤 jīn
HSK 3
a catty (approximately 500 g); an axe; keen, shrewd; KangXi radical number 69