yì一onejǔ举actchéng成becomemíng名name
One act and you're famous — overnight success.
Literal meaning
one (一) — act (举) — become (成) — name (名)
Origin
A late-imperial phrase originally about scholars who passed the imperial civil-service exam and were celebrated nationwide in a single day. Modern usage broadened it to any one-act breakthrough — a debut novel, a breakout film, a debut performance.
Examples
Tā她yì一jǔ举chéng成míng名，cóng从cǐ此zǒu走shàng上yǎn演yuán员zhī之lù路。
She rose to fame overnight and became a working actress.
Yì一jǔ举chéng成míng名de的yùn运dòng动yuán员wǎng往wǎng往yā压lì力hěn很dà大。
Athletes who become famous overnight often face huge pressure.
Usage & nuances
Slightly dramatic. Implies the fame was sudden, often debut-driven.
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