平步青云
平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún) literally means “level steps to blue clouds” and expresses “rise rapidly to high position”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ping bu qing yun, ping bu qing yun,平步青云 meaning, 平步青云 in english
Rise rapidly to high position
Pronunciation: píng bù qīng yún
Literal meaning: Level steps to blue clouds
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes level (平) steps (步) to blue (青) clouds (云). It depicts rising to great heights with ease, as if walking casually into the sky. The phrase describes effortless ascent to high positions. Modern usage describes rapid, seemingly effortless career advancement, meteoric rises to success.
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。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 平步青云 mean in English?
平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún) literally translates to “Level steps to blue clouds” and is used to express “Rise rapidly to high position”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 平步青云 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving rise rapidly to high position.
What is the pinyin for 平步青云?
The pinyin pronunciation for 平步青云 is “píng bù qīng yún”.