跋山涉水
跋山涉水 (bá shān shè shuǐ) literally means “climb mountains, ford waters” and expresses “travel through hardship; overcome obstacles”. 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: ba shan she shui, ba shan she shui,跋山涉水 meaning, 跋山涉水 in english
Travel through hardship; overcome obstacles
Pronunciation: bá shān shè shuǐ
Literal meaning: Climb mountains, ford waters
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes climbing (跋) mountains (山) and fording (涉) waters (水). It depicts arduous travel through difficult terrain. The phrase captures the determination needed to overcome physical obstacles. Modern usage describes overcoming difficulties, the perseverance required to reach goals despite obstacles, whether literal journeys or metaphorical challenges.
Examples
English: "They overcame many obstacles to reach their destination."
Chinese: 他们跋山涉水，克服重重困难到达目的地。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 跋山涉水 mean in English?
跋山涉水 (bá shān shè shuǐ) literally translates to “Climb mountains, ford waters” and is used to express “Travel through hardship; overcome obstacles”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 跋山涉水 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving travel through hardship; overcome obstacles.
What is the pinyin for 跋山涉水?
The pinyin pronunciation for 跋山涉水 is “bá shān shè shuǐ”.