千里迢迢
千里迢迢 (qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo) literally means “a thousand miles distant” and expresses “travel a great distance”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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Travel a great distance
Pronunciation: qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Literal meaning: A thousand miles distant
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes a thousand (千) miles (里) being distant (迢迢). The doubled 迢 emphasizes the remoteness and length of the journey. The phrase captures the effort of traveling great distances. Modern usage describes coming from far away, emphasizing the dedication shown by traveling long distances for a purpose, whether visiting loved ones or pursuing goals.
Examples
English: "She traveled from far away to attend her friend's wedding."
Chinese: 她千里迢迢赶来参加朋友的婚礼。
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Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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不远千里
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Willingly travel far; make great efforts
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Travel through hardship; overcome obstacles
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风餐露宿
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Endure hardships of travel; rough it
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Prosperous people and powerful nation
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guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 千里迢迢 mean in English?
千里迢迢 (qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo) literally translates to “A thousand miles distant” and is used to express “Travel a great distance”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 千里迢迢 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving travel a great distance.
What is the pinyin for 千里迢迢?
The pinyin pronunciation for 千里迢迢 is “qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo”.