平步青云

Pronunciation: píng bù qīng yún Literal meaning: Level steps to blue clouds

Origin & Usage

Walking on the level (平步) straight up into the blue (青) clouds (云). The image is of somebody climbing without the climb — the ground stays flat underfoot and the height arrives anyway — which is what makes the phrase pointed rather than simply admiring. 青云 has meant high office in Chinese since antiquity. A fast promotion, and whether it is a compliment depends entirely on the speaker, since the same four characters cover a deserved rise and one nobody can account for.

Examples

English: "His rapid promotion took everyone by surprise."

Chinese: 他的快速晋升让所有人惊讶，简直平步青云。