劳苦功高
劳苦功高 (láo kǔ gōng gāo) literally means “hard work, high achievements” and expresses “success through perseverance”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: lao ku gong gao, lao ku gong gao,劳苦功高 meaning, 劳苦功高 in english
Success through perseverance
Pronunciation: láo kǔ gōng gāo Literal meaning: Hard work, high achievements
Origin & Usage
The idiom 劳苦功高 (láo kǔ gōng gāo) originates from the historical text 《史记》 (Shǐjì), written by Sima Qian during the Western Han Dynasty. It is associated with the story of Liu Bang, who later became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. During the tumultuous period following the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang's forces captured the capital, Xianyang, before Xiang Yu, another powerful leader. Despite Liu Bang's significant contributions and hardships (劳苦, hard work), he was not immediately rewarded, which led to tensions with Xiang Yu. The idiom highlights the concept of achieving great success (功高, high achievements) through perseverance and hard work. In modern usage, it is used to commend individuals who have made significant contributions through their diligent efforts.
Examples
English: "Through years of dedication and effort, she finally reached her career goals."
Chinese: 经过多年的努力，她终于达到了职业目标。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 劳苦功高 mean in English?
劳苦功高 (láo kǔ gōng gāo) literally translates to “Hard work, high achievements” and is used to express “Success through perseverance”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 劳苦功高 used?
Situation: Through years of dedication and effort, she finally reached her career goals.
What is the pinyin for 劳苦功高?
The pinyin pronunciation for 劳苦功高 is “láo kǔ gōng gāo”.