奋不顾身
奋不顾身 (fèn bù gù shēn) literally means “strive without regard for self” and expresses “selfless courage”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: fen bu gu shen, fen bu gu shen,奋不顾身 meaning, 奋不顾身 in english
Selfless courage
Pronunciation: fèn bù gù shēn Literal meaning: Strive without regard for self
Origin & Usage
The idiom 奋不顾身 (fèn bù gù shēn) originates from the Western Han dynasty, as recorded in Sima Qian's letter to Ren An. It describes the story of General Li Ling, who, during the reign of Emperor Wu, led a small force against a much larger Xiongnu army. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Li Ling and his men fought valiantly, showing a spirit of selflessness and dedication to their country. The idiom is composed of four characters: 奋 (fèn, strive), 不 (bù, not), 顾 (gù, care for), and 身 (shēn, oneself), collectively illustrating the idea of striving forward without regard for personal safety. In modern usage, it praises those who act courageously and selflessly for the greater good, often in dangerous or challenging situations.
Examples
English: "He threw himself into the project, caring little for his own safety"
Chinese: 他奋不顾身地投入到项目中，几乎不顾自己的安全
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
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Sudden, remarkable success
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百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
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水滴石穿
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Persistence achieves anything
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门庭若市
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Extremely popular
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天道酬勤
tiān dào chóu qín
Heaven rewards diligence
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破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
Commit with no retreat
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守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīn
Value time preciously
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青出于蓝
qīng chū yú lán
Student surpasses master
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 奋不顾身 mean in English?
奋不顾身 (fèn bù gù shēn) literally translates to “Strive without regard for self” and is used to express “Selfless courage”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 奋不顾身 used?
Situation: He threw himself into the project, caring little for his own safety
What is the pinyin for 奋不顾身?
The pinyin pronunciation for 奋不顾身 is “fèn bù gù shēn”.