8 Chinese Idioms About Courage & Bravery
Inspiring Chinese idioms about courage, facing fears, and having the bravery to pursue your dreams.
Throughout Chinese history, courage has been celebrated as a fundamental virtue. These idioms capture different aspects of bravery - from the courage to commit fully to a cause, to the strength needed to persist against overwhelming odds.
百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náoUnshakeable despite adversity
Literal: Bend hundred times never yield
Dating to the Warring States period, this idiom describes bamboo that bends a hundred (百) times (折) but never (不) yields (挠). The imagery comes from ancient observations of bamboo groves surviving severe storms by bending rather than breaking. The metaphor gained particular significance during the T...
Example
Despite numerous rejections, she never gave up on her dreams
尽管屡次被拒绝，她从未放弃梦想
破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōuCommit with no retreat
Literal: Break pots sink boats
Originating from a famous historical event in 207 BCE, this idiom recounts how general Xiang Yu ordered his troops to break (破) their cooking pots (釜) and sink (沉) their boats (舟) before battling the Qin army. By eliminating the possibility of retreat, he created absolute commitment to victory. Duri...
Example
He quit his job to start a business, fully committed to success
他辞去工作创业，全身心投入追求成功
四面楚歌
sì miàn chǔ gēSurrounded by hostility
Literal: Chu songs from four sides
This poignant idiom originates from the final battle of Xiang Yu in 202 BCE. Surrounded by Han forces at Gaixia, Xiang Yu heard songs (歌) from his homeland of Chu being sung from all four sides (四面), indicating his own people had surrendered to Liu Bang. The psychological warfare strategy proved dev...
Example
The small company found itself facing competition from all sides
这家小公司发现自己四面受敌
逆水行舟
nì shuǐ xíng zhōuProgress needs constant effort
Literal: Boat moving against current
This idiom describes a boat (舟) moving (行) against (逆) the current (水), originally appearing in Tang Dynasty texts discussing persistence in difficult endeavors. The metaphor draws from the experience of river traders who understood that stopping meant drifting backward. During the Song Dynasty, it ...
Example
In this competitive industry, you must keep improving or fall behind
在这个竞争激烈的行业，你必须不断进步，否则就会落后
笨鸟先飞
bèn niǎo xiān fēiWork harder to compensate
Literal: Slow bird flies first
This disarmingly simple idiom emerged from folk wisdom observing that slow (笨) birds (鸟) must start first (先飞) to reach their destination with the flock. During the Song Dynasty, it gained prominence in educational texts as encouragement for students who weren't naturally gifted. The imagery challen...
Example
Knowing she needed more practice, she always arrived first at training
知道自己需要更多练习，她总是第一个到达训练场
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rénSudden, remarkable success
Literal: Bird cry that startles all
This idiom emerged during the Han Dynasty in scholarly discourse about late-blooming talent. The image of a seemingly ordinary bird (鸣, cry) suddenly producing an extraordinary song that startles (惊) everyone (人) was inspired by the story of a rural scholar who, after years of obscurity, stunned the...
Example
After years of quiet preparation, his novel became an overnight sensation
经过多年默默准备，他的小说一夜成名
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuānPersistence achieves anything
Literal: Water drops pierce stone
This idiom captures the power of persistence through the image of water (水) drops (滴) piercing (穿) stone (石). First documented in Han Dynasty texts, it was inspired by observations of natural cave formations created by centuries of dripping water. The imagery gained prominence during the Tang Dynast...
Example
With consistent practice, she finally mastered the difficult skill
通过持续练习，她终于掌握了这项难度很大的技能
天道酬勤
tiān dào chóu qínHeaven rewards diligence
Literal: Heaven's way rewards diligence
This idiom encapsulates the belief that Heaven's way (天道) rewards (酬) diligence (勤). Emerging from Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian teachings, it reflects the synthesis of cosmic order with human effort. The concept challenged both fatalistic acceptance and the belief in pure luck, suggesting instead that...
Example
Her years of hard work finally paid off with a major breakthrough
她多年的努力终于带来了重大突破
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