任重道远
任重道远 (rèn zhòng dào yuǎn) literally means “heavy responsibility, long road” and expresses “heavy burden and long journey ahead”. 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: ren zhong dao yuan, ren zhong dao yuan,任重道远 meaning, 任重道远 in english
Heavy burden and long journey ahead
Pronunciation: rèn zhòng dào yuǎn
Literal meaning: Heavy responsibility, long road
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes heavy (重) responsibility (任) and a long (远) road (道). From the Analects where Confucius described the burden of benevolence. The phrase captures the weight of important duties that require long journeys. Modern usage describes significant undertakings that require sustained effort over time, acknowledging both the importance and difficulty of major goals.
Examples
English: "Achieving sustainability is a long-term challenge requiring sustained effort."
Chinese: 实现可持续发展任重道远。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 任重道远 mean in English?
任重道远 (rèn zhòng dào yuǎn) literally translates to “Heavy responsibility, long road” and is used to express “Heavy burden and long journey ahead”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 任重道远 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving heavy burden and long journey ahead.
What is the pinyin for 任重道远?
The pinyin pronunciation for 任重道远 is “rèn zhòng dào yuǎn”.