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割鸡焉用牛刀

gējīyānyòngniúdāo

Traditional: 割雞焉用牛刀

lit. why use a pole-ax to slaughter a chicken? (idiom) / fig. to waste effort on a trifling matter / also written [[殺雞焉用牛刀|杀鸡焉用牛刀<shājīyānyòngniúdāo>]]

Character Breakdown

割
gē
to cut, to divide, to partition; to cede
HSK 6
鸡
jī
chicken
HSK 2
焉
yān
why? where? how?; strange; thereupon, then
用
yòng
to use, to employ, to apply; use
HSK 3
牛
niú
ox, cow, bull
HSK 2
刀
dāo
knife; old coin; measure
HSK 4

Additional Information

Category
Chinese
HSK Character Level
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HSK Word Level
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