好事多磨
好事多磨 (hǎo shì duō mó) literally means “good things meet much grinding” and expresses “good things come with setbacks”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: hao shi duo mo, hao shi duo mo,好事多磨 meaning, 好事多磨 in english
Good things come with setbacks
Pronunciation: hǎo shì duō mó Literal meaning: Good things meet much grinding
Origin & Usage
Good things (好事) meet much (多) grinding (磨). 磨 is the millstone, and the abrasion is the point: the phrase does not say good things are delayed but that they are worn against something on the way. Its natural home is romance and marriage, where Chinese uses it almost as a superstition — the courtship that keeps hitting obstacles is being tested rather than warned off. It is offered as consolation, and it implies the good thing is still coming.
Examples
English: "She faced numerous challenges before finally achieving her dream job."
Chinese: 她在实现梦想的过程中，好事多磨，经历了无数挑战。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
多此一举
duō cǐ yī jǔ
Unnecessary action
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积少成多
jī shǎo chéng duō
Small amounts compound
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博学多才
bó xué duō cái
Versatile and learned
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见多识广
jiàn duō shí guǎng
Broadly knowledgeable
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Shirk effort by preference
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好高骛远
hào gāo wù yuǎn
Unrealistic aspirations
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万事如意
wàn shì rú yì
May everything go the way you want
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心想事成
xīn xiǎng shì chéng
May your wishes come true
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 好事多磨 mean in English?
好事多磨 (hǎo shì duō mó) literally translates to “Good things meet much grinding” and is used to express “Good things come with setbacks”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 好事多磨 used?
Situation: She faced numerous challenges before finally achieving her dream job.
What is the pinyin for 好事多磨?
The pinyin pronunciation for 好事多磨 is “hǎo shì duō mó”.