顺利

• Pinyin: shùn lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 顺 = 川 (river) + 页 (head), flowing smoothly like a river; 利 = 禾 (grain) + 刂 (knife), meaning 'sharp/beneficial'

Meaning

Smooth; successful. Describes a process going well without obstacles.

Used to describe events, processes, or tasks that proceed without difficulty. Very common in well-wishes: 祝你一切顺利 (wish you all the best). Can function as both an adjective and an adverb (顺利地 smoothly). Often used for exams, trips, interviews, and projects.

Examples

1. 考试很顺利。 The exam went smoothly.
2. 祝你一切顺利！ Wish you everything goes smoothly!
3. 他顺利地找到了新工作。 He successfully found a new job.

Usage Guide

Context: well-wishes, describing outcomes, work

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 旅行很顺利。(The trip went smoothly.)
• 希望你的面试顺利！(Hope your interview goes well!)

Don't Say

• 不要说'很顺利的天气' (Don't say 很顺利的天气 — 顺利 describes processes, events, or tasks going well, not the weather; for nice weather use 好天气)

Origin & History

顺 (shùn, to follow/along) + 利 (lì, smooth/beneficial). Literally 'following smoothly,' meaning things go in a favourable direction without resistance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal