DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

如臂使指

Mandarin · pinyin rú bì shǐ zhǐ

as the arm moves the finger (idiom)
freely and effortlessly
to have perfect command of

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Characters in this entry

如: rú · if, supposing; as if; like, as
臂: bì · arm
使: shǐ · cause, send on a mission, order; envoy, messenger, ambassador
指: zhǐ · finger, toe; point, indicate

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–4–3–3 · ru2 bi4 shi3 zhi3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(simile) to control or handle someone or something effectively and easily; to be in perfect command of

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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