避难就易 Avoid difficulties and seek the easy
Explanation
指躲开困难，选择容易的。也指做事先从容易的做起。
To avoid difficulties and choose the easy ones. It also means to start with easy things first.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有一个名叫李白的书生，他自幼聪颖，博览群书，但性情懒散，总是避难就易。有一次，县令要他写一篇关于治水的文章，李白觉得写治水太难，便写了一篇关于山水游玩的文章，避开难点。县令看了他的文章，虽称赞其文采斐然，却也批评了他避难就易的做法。李白这才明白，做事不能总是避难就易，而要直面挑战，才能有所成就。于是他开始勤学苦练，最终成为一代诗仙。
It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar named Li Bai, who was intelligent and well-read since childhood, but lazy and always avoided difficulties. Once, the county magistrate asked him to write an article about water control. Li Bai found it too difficult to write about water control, so he wrote an article about traveling in mountains and rivers, avoiding the difficulties. The county magistrate praised his elegant writing style, but also criticized him for avoiding difficulties. Li Bai then realized that one should not always avoid difficulties, but face challenges in order to achieve something. So he began to study diligently and eventually became one of the great poets of his time.
Usage
用于形容做事不积极，喜欢走捷径，回避困难。
Used to describe someone who is not proactive in doing things, prefers to take shortcuts, and avoids difficulties.
Examples
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他做事总是避难就易，不愿面对挑战。
ta zuoshi zongshi binanjiuyi, buyuan mianduitiaozhan.
He always avoids difficulties and chooses the easy way.
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学习要循序渐进，不要避难就易。
xuexi yao xunxu jìn, buyao binanjiuyi
Learning should be gradual, not to avoid difficulties and seek easy ones.