千山万水

Pronunciation: qiān shān wàn shuǐ Literal meaning: Thousand mountains, ten thousand rivers

Origin & Usage

The idiom 千山万水 (qiān shān wàn shuǐ) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to evoke the imagery of 'a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers.' It does not have a specific origin story tied to a historical event or text, but it vividly paints a picture of vast distances and numerous obstacles. The characters 千 (qiān) meaning 'thousand,' 山 (shān) meaning 'mountain,' 万 (wàn) meaning 'ten thousand,' and 水 (shuǐ) meaning 'water' or 'river,' collectively emphasize the idea of traversing great distances and overcoming numerous challenges. In modern usage, this idiom is often employed to describe the perseverance and determination required to achieve one's goals, suggesting that no matter how many obstacles one faces, they can be overcome with persistence and effort.

Examples

English: "After traveling through countless obstacles, she finally reached her destination."

Chinese: 她经历了千山万水，终于到达了目的地。