独木难支
独木难支 (dú mù nán zhī) literally means “a single tree cannot support” and expresses “insufficient individual effort”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: du mu nan zhi, du mu nan zhi,独木难支 meaning, 独木难支 in english
Insufficient individual effort
Pronunciation: dú mù nán zhī Literal meaning: A single tree cannot support
Origin & Usage
The idiom 独木难支 (dú mù nán zhī) originates from the Southern Dynasties period, specifically from Liu Yiqing's 'A New Account of the Tales of the World' (世说新语). The story involves Yuan Can, a notable figure of the Liu Song dynasty, who faced a dire situation when the rebel Liu Xiufan attacked the capital. Despite his valiant efforts, Yuan Can acknowledged that 'a single tree cannot support a collapsing building' (独木难支大厦倾), recognizing that his individual strength was insufficient to save the empire. The idiom breaks down as follows: 独 (dú, single), 木 (mù, tree), 难 (nán, difficult), 支 (zhī, support). In modern usage, it conveys the idea that one person's efforts are often inadequate to resolve a crisis, emphasizing the need for collective action.
Examples
English: "In times of crisis, relying solely on one person can lead to failure."
Chinese: 在危机时刻，单靠一个人是难以支撑的。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 独木难支 mean in English?
独木难支 (dú mù nán zhī) literally translates to “A single tree cannot support” and is used to express “Insufficient individual effort”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 独木难支 used?
Situation: In times of crisis, relying solely on one person can lead to failure.
What is the pinyin for 独木难支?
The pinyin pronunciation for 独木难支 is “dú mù nán zhī”.