刮骨疗毒
刮骨疗毒 (guā gǔ liáo dú) literally means “scrape bone to cure poison” and expresses “radical problem-solving”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: gua gu liao du, gua gu liao du,刮骨疗毒 meaning, 刮骨疗毒 in english
Radical problem-solving
Pronunciation: guā gǔ liáo dú Literal meaning: Scrape bone to cure poison
Origin & Usage
The idiom 刮骨疗毒 (guā gǔ liáo dú) originates from a famous story in the historical text 《三国志》 (Records of the Three Kingdoms). It recounts the tale of the legendary general Guan Yu (关羽) who was wounded by a poisoned arrow during the late Eastern Han dynasty. Despite the excruciating pain, he allowed the renowned physician Hua Tuo (华佗) to perform a surgery that involved scraping (刮, guā) the poison from his bone (骨, gǔ) to cure (疗, liáo) the poison (毒, dú). Guan Yu's remarkable composure and endurance during the procedure, even as he continued to eat and drink with his fellow generals, exemplifies his bravery and perseverance. Today, this idiom is used to describe taking drastic measures to solve a problem at its root, emphasizing the importance of determination and courage in overcoming significant challenges.
Examples
English: "He had to scrape bones to cure the poison of his past mistakes."
Chinese: 他不得不刮骨疗毒，以治愈过去错误的毒害。
Related Chinese Idioms
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yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
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bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
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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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Heaven rewards diligence
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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
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Student surpasses master
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 刮骨疗毒 mean in English?
刮骨疗毒 (guā gǔ liáo dú) literally translates to “Scrape bone to cure poison” and is used to express “Radical problem-solving”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 刮骨疗毒 used?
Situation: He had to scrape bones to cure the poison of his past mistakes.
What is the pinyin for 刮骨疗毒?
The pinyin pronunciation for 刮骨疗毒 is “guā gǔ liáo dú”.