卧薪尝胆
卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn) literally means “sleep on firewood, taste gall” and expresses “endure hardship for future success”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: wo xin chang dan, wo xin chang dan,卧薪尝胆 meaning, 卧薪尝胆 in english
Endure hardship for future success
Pronunciation: wò xīn cháng dǎn Literal meaning: Sleep on firewood, taste gall
Origin & Usage
This perseverance idiom combines two historical stories of determined revenge. It references King Goujian of Yue who slept on brushwood (卧薪) to remember his humiliation and Wu Zixu who tasted bile (尝胆) to never forget his family's execution. After being defeated and enslaved by King Fuchai of Wu, Goujian endured humiliation for years while secretly rebuilding his state's strength. The phrase gained significant cultural resonance during the Song Dynasty as China faced foreign invasions. Each character emphasizes the physical discomfort willingly endured as motivation. Modern usage describes extraordinary determination through self-imposed hardship, particularly after significant setbacks, teaching that transformative achievement often requires accepting temporary suffering for future success.
Examples
English: "After losing the championship, the athlete trained with extraordinary dedication for years to finally win"
Chinese: 失去冠军后，这位运动员多年来以非凡的奉献精神训练，最终获胜
Related Chinese Idioms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 卧薪尝胆 mean in English?
卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn) literally translates to “Sleep on firewood, taste gall” and is used to express “Endure hardship for future success”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 卧薪尝胆 used?
Situation: After losing the championship, the athlete trained with extraordinary dedication for years to finally win
What is the pinyin for 卧薪尝胆?
The pinyin pronunciation for 卧薪尝胆 is “wò xīn cháng dǎn”.
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