脚踏实地

Pronunciation: jiǎo tà shí dì Literal meaning: Feet stepping on solid ground

Origin & Usage

Feet (脚) planted (踏) on solid (实) ground (地). Sima Guang, who spent nineteen years compiling a history of thirteen centuries, is the man the phrase attached itself to — a contemporary is said to have used it of him, and the fit is obvious enough that it stuck. What it praises is not effort but contact with the actual: work that touches the material at every step instead of reasoning above it. It is among the most common compliments in modern Chinese, and its opposite is 好高骛远.

Examples

English: "Success comes from practical, grounded efforts rather than empty dreams."

Chinese: 成功来自脚踏实地的努力，而非空想。