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立竿见影

lì gān jiàn yǐngdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(lit.) set up a pole and immediately see its shadow (idiom) / (fig.) to get instant results
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-771daffccad8e9e9. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

立竿見影 立竿见影 [li4 gan1 jian4 ying3] /(lit.) set up a pole and immediately see its shadow (idiom)/(fig.) to get instant results/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 立竿見影

  • 立
    lì

    to stand / to set up / to establish / to lay down / to draw up / at once / immediately

    Lì

    surname Li

  • 竿
    gān

    (bound form) pole / rod

  • 见
    jiàn

    to see / to meet / to appear (to be sth) / to interview / opinion / view

    xiàn

    to appear / also written 現|现[xiàn]

  • 影
    yǐng

    picture / image / film / movie / photograph / reflection / shadow / trace

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.