忍辱负重

Pronunciation: rěn rǔ fù zhòng Literal meaning: Endure humiliation bear burdens

Origin & Usage

This idiom originates from the historical account of Lu Xun (陆逊), a general of the Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. In 221 CE, Lu Xun was appointed to lead the defense against Liu Bei's (刘备) massive invasion. Despite facing skepticism from veteran generals due to his youth and scholarly background, Lu Xun (忍辱, endure humiliation) maintained his composure and focused on his heavy responsibilities (负重, bear burdens). He strategically avoided direct confrontation until the enemy was fatigued, then launched a decisive attack, securing a significant victory at the Battle of Yiling. The idiom highlights the virtue of enduring hardship and insult to achieve greater goals. In modern usage, it describes persevering through adversity to fulfill important duties.

Examples

English: "To achieve his goals, he had to endure many hardships and keep pushing forward despite the challenges."

Chinese: 为了实现他的目标，他不得不忍辱负重，继续前行。