海底捞针
海底捞针 (hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn) literally means “sea bottom dredge needle” and expresses “attempt an extremely difficult search”. 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: hai di lao zhen, hai di lao zhen,海底捞针 meaning, 海底捞针 in english
Attempt an extremely difficult search
Pronunciation: hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn Literal meaning: Sea bottom dredge needle
Origin & Usage
Ming Dynasty storytellers gave us this image of searching for a needle at the bottom of the ocean (海底捞针), originally appearing in tales of impossible tasks set for heroes. Qing Dynasty officials adopted it to describe particularly challenging investigations. The vast disparity between the search space and target size perfectly captures the frustration of seeking something minuscule in an overwhelming environment.
When to Use
Situation: Finding the specific document among millions of unorganized files seemed impossible
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 海底捞针 mean in English?
海底捞针 (hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn) literally translates to “Sea bottom dredge needle” and is used to express “Attempt an extremely difficult search”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 海底捞针 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving attempt an extremely difficult search.
What is the pinyin for 海底捞针?
The pinyin pronunciation for 海底捞针 is “hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn”.