一身两役 yī shēn liǎng yì Two roles in one

Explanation

这个成语的意思是说一个人身兼数职，同时做两件或多件事。比喻一个人既要承担工作、学习等方面的责任，又要兼顾家庭、生活等方面的需要。

The meaning of this idiom is that a person holds multiple positions and does two or more things at the same time. It means that a person must bear the responsibilities of work, study, etc., and also take care of the needs of family and life.

Origin Story

战国时期，有一个名叫孙膑的军事家，他足智多谋，为魏国赢得了许多胜利。一次，孙膑在魏国担任军师，由于战功卓著，他被魏王封为上将军。然而，孙膑却并不满足于此，他希望能够帮助魏国取得更大的胜利。于是，他开始学习其他方面的知识，并最终成为了一位全面的军事家。他既精通兵法，又懂天文地理，甚至还擅长医术。后来，孙膑被封为魏国宰相，他用自己的知识和智慧，为魏国做出了巨大的贡献。

zhàn guó shí qī, yǒu yī gè míng jiào sūn bìn de jūn shì jiā, tā zú zhì duō móu, wèi wèi guó yíng dé le xǔ duō shèng lì. yī cì, sūn bìn zài wèi guó dàn rèn jūn shī, yóu yú zhàn gōng zhuó zhù, tā bèi wèi wáng fēng wéi shàng jiāng jūn. rán ér, sūn bìn què bù mǎn zú yú cǐ, tā xī wàng néng gòu bāng zhù wèi guó qǔ dé gèng dà de shèng lì. yú shì, tā kāi shǐ xué xí qí tā fāng miàn de zhī shí, bìng zuì zhōng chéng wéi le yī wèi quán miàn de jūn shì jiā. tā jì jīng tōng bīng fǎ, yòu dǒng tiān wén dì lǐ, shèn zhì hái shàn cháng yī shù. hòu lái, sūn bìn bèi fēng wéi wèi guó zǎi xiàng, tā yòng zì jǐ de zhī shí hé zhì huì, wèi wèi guó zuò chū le jù dà de gòng xiàn.

During the Warring States period, there was a military strategist named Sun Bin, who was resourceful and won many victories for the State of Wei. Once, Sun Bin served as a military advisor in Wei, and due to his outstanding achievements, he was appointed by the King of Wei as the supreme commander. However, Sun Bin was not satisfied with this, he hoped to help the State of Wei achieve greater victories. So he began to learn knowledge in other areas, and eventually became a comprehensive military strategist. He was proficient in military tactics, understood astronomy and geography, and even excelled in medicine. Later, Sun Bin was appointed as the prime minister of Wei, and he made great contributions to Wei with his knowledge and wisdom.

Usage

这个成语常用于形容一个人承担多项工作或责任，或者一个人同时兼顾多个角色。

zhè ge chéng yǔ cháng yòng yú xíng róng yī gè rén chéng dān duō xiàng gōng zuò huò zé rèn, huò zhě yī gè rén tóng shí jiān gù duō gè jué sè.

This idiom is often used to describe a person who takes on multiple jobs or responsibilities, or who plays multiple roles at the same time.

Examples

• 为了提高工作效率，他一个人身兼数职，一人身兼两役，忙得不可开交。

  wèi le tí gāo gōng zuò xiào lǜ, tā yī gè rén shēn jiān shù zhí, yī rén shēn jiān liǎng yì, máng de bù kě kāi jiāo.

  To improve work efficiency, he holds several positions, plays two roles in one, and is too busy to cope.

• 她既要照顾孩子，又要上班，真是 一身两役，十分辛苦。

  tā jì yào zhào gù hái zi, yòu yào shàng bān, zhēn shì yī shēn liǎng yì, shí fēn xīn kǔ

  She has to take care of her children and work at the same time, it is really a dual role, very hard.

Related Idioms

• 身兼数职

• 分身乏术

• 多才多艺

Opposite Idioms

• 专心致志

• 一心一意