披肝沥胆
披肝沥胆 (pī gān lì dǎn) literally means “expose liver, drain gallbladder” and expresses “give one's all; be completely sincere”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: pi gan li dan, pi gan li dan,披肝沥胆 meaning, 披肝沥胆 in english
Give one's all; be completely sincere
Pronunciation: pī gān lì dǎn Literal meaning: Expose liver, drain gallbladder
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes exposing (披) one's liver (肝) and draining (沥) one's gallbladder (胆). These organs represent sincerity and courage in Chinese culture. The phrase depicts holding nothing back, giving everything. Modern usage describes complete dedication and openness, offering one's full effort and being completely honest, hiding nothing in pursuit of a goal.
Examples
English: "He dedicated himself completely to the cause."
Chinese: 他披肝沥胆，全身心投入这项事业。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
Learn more →
百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
Learn more →
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
Learn more →
门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
Extremely popular
Learn more →
天道酬勤
tiān dào chóu qín
Heaven rewards diligence
Learn more →
破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
Commit with no retreat
Learn more →
守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīn
Value time preciously
Learn more →
青出于蓝
qīng chū yú lán
Student surpasses master
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 披肝沥胆 mean in English?
披肝沥胆 (pī gān lì dǎn) literally translates to “Expose liver, drain gallbladder” and is used to express “Give one's all; be completely sincere”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 披肝沥胆 used?
Situation: He dedicated himself completely to the cause.
What is the pinyin for 披肝沥胆?
The pinyin pronunciation for 披肝沥胆 is “pī gān lì dǎn”.