步步高升

Pronunciation: bù bù gāo shēng Literal meaning: Step by step rising high

Origin & Usage

Step (步) by step (步) rising (升) higher (高). The doubling of 步 is the whole distinction: every other phrase in this family describes a rise that skipped something, and this one insists the stages were all taken. That makes it the safe thing to say, which is why it is a blessing rather than a description. Chinese puts it on new year couplets and says it to somebody starting a job, and it wishes for advancement without any of the suggestion of luck the faster phrases carry.

Examples

English: "May your career continue to advance steadily."

Chinese: 祝你事业步步高升。