<p>As you mentioned, both 「一箭雙雕 」and 「一石二鳥」are equivalent  to the English idiom " kill two birds with one stone" . The difference is the scenario of the metaphor . You can say the two idioms are basically the same, but「一箭雙雕 」 is more decisive and forceful, while 「一石二鳥」 is more methodical and calculated.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>「一箭雙雕 」(one arrow goes through two condors) describe two goals being achieved by one straight forward action-- that take great aim, skill and power.</p></li>
<li><p>「一石二鳥」( hit two birds with one stone) also describe one action achieves two goals, but the stone has to hit the first bird and then bounds to hit the second bird-- that take skill, planing and calculation. </p></li>
<li><p>「一箭雙雕」focus on the result: You can describe someone dating two sisters at the same time as  「一箭雙雕 」, but not 「一石二鳥」.</p></li>
<li><p>「一石二鳥」 focus on the method: People say " 「一石二鳥之計」( the trick that kill two birds with one stone) but not 「一箭雙雕之計」。</p></li>
<li><p>Another term similar to the two is 「一舉兩得」( take one action and get two benefits)</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-04T13:12:57.433Z
In English, killing two birds with one stone can also be just lucky, or convenient.   If the barber shop is next door to the grocery I can kill two birds with one stone by picking up groceries when I get my hair cut.  No skill on my part, it is just convenient.  That is more like 一舉兩得.  Does Chinese have that sense for 一石二鳥?
Colin McLarty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-04T14:15:08.427Z
「一舉兩得」 is the appropriate phrase to describe the scenario in you example.  I already stated「一石二鳥」focus on the method, that's why we say 「一石二鳥之計」. The method of using one stone to kill two birds must be methodical and calculated.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T09:57:51.333Z
Based on this discussion, I guess「一箭雙雕 」and 「一石二鳥」are NOT COMPLETELY equivalent to the English idiom "kill two birds with one stone"
jf328
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T10:35:22.527Z
I suspect the English idiom "kill two birds with one stone" was imported directly from the Chinese idiom「一石二鳥」. Eventually the English added different additional usage . You can still focus on the method (use one stone) and use "kill two birds with one stone" like the original, to describe a clever plan that achieves two goals ; or you can focus on the result (get two birds) and describe something just happens conveniently. 「一箭雙雕 」on the other hand, is just similar but not an equivalent because it's usage is only focus on the result.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T10:51:28.703Z
一石二鳥之計 (the plan of killing two birds with one stone) is methodical and calculated; 結果一石二鳥 ( the result is, got two birds with one stone) doesn't mention it is by luck or by plan.Logically; We can also say 一箭雙雕之計( the plan of shoot down two condors with one arrow) , but 一石二鳥 is the more preferred metaphor for this sense.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T11:55:57.543Z
As a native Chinese, I don't think there is difference between these.
Zang MingJie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-06T09:06:50.703Z
I like this answer, very clarify, 一箭双雕 focus on the goal, 一石二鸟 on the way, the difference is very subtle.
sfy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-06T09:14:42.363Z
@ColinMcLarty It can, there is also a slang : 搂草打兔子( in old days, people collect grass for winter, if there jumps out a rabbit, then he can hit it)
sfy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-07T22:08:49.793Z
@TangHo: I'd be dubious about the Chinese origin of the English idiom.  It appears first in Bramhall and Hobbes in the middle of the 17th century, from people whose connection to Chinese culture is nil.  It seems a common enough notion for me to find independent invention fairly credible.  For what it's worth, some people think the English idiom dates back as far as Greek (is an English translation of some phrase back then, in other words—Ovid, I think).  I'm dubious about that too, though.
Brian Tung
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-03T21:42:40.903Z
2016-09-03T21:59:02.423Z
2016-09-03T21:59:02.423Z
Tang Ho
<p>I learned recently that both 一箭双雕 and 一石二鸟 are equivalent to the phrase "kill two birds with one stone". Is there any difference between these two? Do they have different connotations? Would you use them in different situations?</p>

<usage><difference>
Difference between these two phrases for "Killing two birds with one stone": 一箭双雕 vs. 一石二鸟
# Difference between these two phrases for "Killing two birds with one stone": 一箭双雕 vs. 一石二鸟

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-03)

I learned recently that both 一箭双雕 and 一石二鸟 are equivalent to the phrase "kill two birds with one stone". Is there any difference between these two? Do they have different connotations? Would you use them in different situations?

**Tags:** usage, difference


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-09-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

As you mentioned, both 「一箭雙雕 」and 「一石二鳥」are equivalent to the English idiom " kill two birds with one stone" . The difference is the scenario of the metaphor . You can say the two idioms are basically the same, but「一箭雙雕 」 is more decisive and forceful, while 「一石二鳥」 is more methodical and calculated.

* 「一箭雙雕 」(one arrow goes through two condors) describe two goals being achieved by one straight forward action-- that take great aim, skill and power.
* 「一石二鳥」( hit two birds with one stone) also describe one action achieves two goals, but the stone has to hit the first bird and then bounds to hit the second bird-- that take skill, planing and calculation.
* 「一箭雙雕」focus on the result: You can describe someone dating two sisters at the same time as 「一箭雙雕 」, but not 「一石二鳥」.
* 「一石二鳥」 focus on the method: People say " 「一石二鳥之計」( the trick that kill two birds with one stone) but not 「一箭雙雕之計」。
* Another term similar to the two is 「一舉兩得」( take one action and get two benefits)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: In English, killing two birds with one stone can also be just lucky, or convenient.   If the barber shop is next door to the grocery I can kill two birds with one stone by picking up groceries when I get my hair cut.  No skill on my part, it is just convenient.  That is more like 一舉兩得.  Does Chinese have that sense for 一石二鳥?  
> **username_1**: 「一舉兩得」 is the appropriate phrase to describe the scenario in you example.  I already stated「一石二鳥」focus on the method, that's why we say 「一石二鳥之計」. The method of using one stone to kill two birds must be methodical and calculated.  
> **username_3**: Based on this discussion, I guess「一箭雙雕 」and 「一石二鳥」are NOT COMPLETELY equivalent to the English idiom "kill two birds with one stone"  
> **username_1**: I suspect the English idiom "kill two birds with one stone" was imported directly from the Chinese idiom「一石二鳥」. Eventually the English added different additional usage . You can still focus on the method (use one stone) and use "kill two birds with one stone" like the original, to describe a clever plan that achieves two goals ; or you can focus on the result (get two birds) and describe something just happens conveniently. 「一箭雙雕 」on the other hand, is just similar but not an equivalent because it's usage is only focus on the result.  
> **username_1**: 一石二鳥之計 (the plan of killing two birds with one stone) is methodical and calculated; 結果一石二鳥 ( the result is, got two birds with one stone) doesn't mention it is by luck or by plan.Logically; We can also say 一箭雙雕之計( the plan of shoot down two condors with one arrow) , but 一石二鳥 is the more preferred metaphor for this sense.  
> **username_4**: As a native Chinese, I don't think there is difference between these.  
> **username_5**: I like this answer, very clarify, 一箭双雕 focus on the goal, 一石二鸟 on the way, the difference is very subtle.  
> **username_5**: @ColinMcLarty It can, there is also a slang : 搂草打兔子( in old days, people collect grass for winter, if there jumps out a rabbit, then he can hit it)  
> **username_6**: @TangHo: I'd be dubious about the Chinese origin of the English idiom.  It appears first in Bramhall and Hobbes in the middle of the 17th century, from people whose connection to Chinese culture is nil.  It seems a common enough notion for me to find independent invention fairly credible.  For what it's worth, some people think the English idiom dates back as far as Greek (is an English translation of some phrase back then, in other words—Ovid, I think).  I'm dubious about that too, though.  

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