逆水行舟
逆水行舟 (nì shuǐ xíng zhōu) literally means “boat moving against current” and expresses “progress needs constant effort”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ni shui xing zhou, ni shui xing zhou,逆水行舟 meaning, 逆水行舟 in english
Progress needs constant effort
Pronunciation: nì shuǐ xíng zhōu
Literal meaning: Boat moving against current
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes a boat (舟) moving (行) against (逆) the current (水), originally appearing in Tang Dynasty texts discussing persistence in difficult endeavors. The metaphor draws from the experience of river traders who understood that stopping meant drifting backward. During the Song Dynasty, it gained particular significance in educational contexts, where scholars used it to encourage consistent effort in study. The image powerfully suggests that maintaining position against opposing forces requires constant effort. Modern usage emphasizes that progress against any opposing force - whether in personal development, business competition, or social reform - requires continuous effort to avoid regression.
Examples
English: "In this competitive industry, you must keep improving or fall behind"
Chinese: 在这个竞争激烈的行业，你必须不断进步，否则就会落后
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 逆水行舟 mean in English?
逆水行舟 (nì shuǐ xíng zhōu) literally translates to “Boat moving against current” and is used to express “Progress needs constant effort”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 逆水行舟 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving progress needs constant effort.
What is the pinyin for 逆水行舟?
The pinyin pronunciation for 逆水行舟 is “nì shuǐ xíng zhōu”.