ProverbCommunication
English origin1546
English origin1546Many hands make light work
Meaning: Tasks are easier when shared among many people.
Example: “Everyone grab a box; many hands make light work.”
Origin: John Heywood's 1546 collection gives "Many hands make light work," and the saying was already old then: a version appears in the medieval romance Sir Bevis of Hampton. It suits any job that shrinks when it is shared, from harvests to washing up.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and 6 more languages
French: L'union fait la force (literally: Unity makes strength)
Spanish: La unión hace la fuerza (literally: Union makes strength)
Japanese: 三人寄れば文殊の知恵 (Sannin yoreba Monju no chie) (literally: Three people together have Manjusri's wisdom)
German: Viele Hände machen der Arbeit schnell ein Ende (literally: Many hands quickly make an end of the work)
Italian: L'unione fa la forza (literally: Union makes strength)
Portuguese: A união faz a força (literally: Union makes strength)
Dutch: Vele handen maken licht werk (literally: Many hands make light work)
Russian: Берись дружно, не будет грузно (Beris' druzhno, ne budet gruzno) (literally: Lift together and it won't be heavy)
Chinese: 众人拾柴火焰高 (Zhòngrén shí chái huǒyàn gāo) (literally: When everyone gathers firewood, the flames rise high)
Korean: 백지장도 맞들면 낫다 (Baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda) (literally: Even a sheet of paper is lighter carried by two)
Turkish: Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var (literally: What does one hand have? Two hands make a sound)
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