励精图治

Pronunciation: lì jīng tú zhì Literal meaning: Rouse the spirit, plan good governance

Origin & Usage

To rouse (励) the concentrated spirit (精) and plan for (图) good order (治). 精 is focused energy rather than cleverness, so the phrase describes effort applied at full intensity to the business of governing, and it belongs to a ruler taking hold of affairs personally after a stretch of drift. That sense of a fresh start is usually still there. New administrations, and managers brought in to turn something around, with the implication that the previous period had gone slack.

Examples

English: "The new administration committed to reforms and better governance."

Chinese: 新政府励精图治，致力于改革和更好的治理。