浩浩荡荡
浩浩荡荡 (hào hào dàng dàng) literally means “vast mighty flow” and expresses “vast and mighty”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: hao hao dang dang, hao hao dang dang,浩浩荡荡 meaning, 浩浩荡荡 in english
Vast and mighty
Pronunciation: hào hào dàng dàng Literal meaning: Vast mighty flow
Origin & Usage
This rhythmic description of vast (浩浩) flowing (荡荡) movement originated from classical descriptions of the Yellow River's mighty course. During the Tang Dynasty, it evolved to describe impressive military processions and large-scale social movements. The doubled characters create a sense of continuous, unstoppable momentum. Historical texts used it to convey both physical scale and moral force. Modern usage describes large-scale trends, social movements, or historical progress, suggesting both magnitude and inevitability. It captures the awe-inspiring nature of collective human endeavor while maintaining connection to natural imagery.
Examples
English: "The reform movement swept through the industry like a mighty wave"
Chinese: 改革运动浩浩荡荡地席卷了整个行业
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
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
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
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门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
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 浩浩荡荡 mean in English?
浩浩荡荡 (hào hào dàng dàng) literally translates to “Vast mighty flow” and is used to express “Vast and mighty”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 浩浩荡荡 used?
Situation: The reform movement swept through the industry like a mighty wave
What is the pinyin for 浩浩荡荡?
The pinyin pronunciation for 浩浩荡荡 is “hào hào dàng dàng”.
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