📖 Meaning
Originally describes shooting two eagles with a single arrow. It is used figuratively to mean accomplishing two goals with a single action, or killing two birds with one stone.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom comes from the "History of the Northern Dynasties", in the biography of Zhangsun Sheng. Once, two eagles were seen fighting over a piece of meat in the sky. The ruler gave Zhangsun Sheng two arrows and asked him to shoot them down. Zhangsun Sheng rode out, saw the eagles grappling with each other, and with a single arrow pierced both eagles at once. His extraordinary archery skill gave rise to this enduring expression.
💡 Example Usage
这次出差既能谈成合同又能拜访老客户，真是一箭双雕。
This business trip allowed me to both close the deal and visit an old client — truly killing two birds with one stone.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 一箭双雕
- Pinyin: yī jiàn shuāng diāo
- Literal Translation: one, arrow, two, eagles
- Category: Efficiency
- Characters: 4