Idiom Explanation:
Find the trick through practice. Doing things proficiently, you can find the trick and do it with ease.
Pronunciation:
熟能生巧
shú néng shēng qiǎo
Origin book:
《归田录·卖油翁》：乃取一葫芦置于地，以钱覆其口，徐以杓酌油沥之，自钱孔入，而钱不湿。因曰：“我亦无他，惟手熟尔。”康肃笑而遣之。
Origin Story:
During the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a man named Chen Kang Su, Yao Zi, who had excellent archery skills and was unmatched in the world. He was so proud of himself that he often boasted of his superior skills: “My archery skills are unmatched by anyone. Would any of you like to compete with me?” “Master, you are too good, how can we compare with you?” “Yes, we have to learn more from you! Master, show us more, so that we can have a better understanding!” These young people who wanted to learn archery from Chen Yao Zi said compliments to him every day, making him extremely happy.
One day Chen Yao Zi was practicing archery with his disciples in the courtyard, when an old man selling oil happened to walk by and stopped to watch. Chen Yao Zi raised his bow, loaded his arrows, and fired ten arrows in a row, each one hitting the red center. The disciples clapped and applauded, and Chen Yao Zi said to the old man, “What do you think?” The old man just nodded slightly and did not shout.
Chen Yao Zi was upset and asked him nonchalantly, “Hey, do you, an old man, know how to shoot arrows too?” “No.” “Then is it because I can’t shoot arrows well?” “Good, yes, but it’s just the usual technique, it’s not that great.” “Old man, what are you talking about? How dare you repent and insult our master like this. Do you know that our master’s archery skills are unmatched by anyone. You simply despise people too much.”
“Young man, don’t be angry yet, I am telling the truth. Your archery skills are indeed very ordinary, nothing to praise.” “Old man, you sound like you are very good at it, so show us your skills. If you’re not convinced, then let’s have a competition. It’s hard to convince people just by talking without practicing!” “Little brother, I do not have the skill to shoot arrows, but let me pour oil for you to see.” “Pouring oil, do you need an old man like you to perform this? Who doesn’t know how to pour oil? Don’t be ridiculous!” “You’d better watch it.”
When the old man finished, he took a gourd and put it on the ground, and put a copper coin with a hole in it above the mouth. Then scooped a spoonful of oil, eyesight, the ladle of oil gently crooked, those oils are like a thin yellow line, straight from the money hole into the gourd. After pouring, the oil didn’t touch the coins at all. The old man modestly said to Chen Yaozi, “This is just a normal technique, that is, practice makes perfect.
Chen Yao Zi was so ashamed of himself that he practiced archery even harder and never boasted about his archery skills again. Later, his character was as good as his archery skills. The idiom of “Find the trick through practice” was derived from this story.
Similar Idioms:
- 得心应手
- 游刃有余
