一往无前

Pronunciation: yī wǎng wú qián Literal meaning: Once going, nothing ahead can stop

Origin & Usage

Going forward (一往) with nothing (无) in front (前). The phrase is grammatically ambiguous in a productive way: nothing ahead can be read as no obstacle standing there, or as nothing being looked at except the objective. Both senses are in use. It belongs to military language and to exhortation, and it describes commitment made in a way that has removed the option of reconsidering, which is what separates it from ordinary courage.

Examples

English: "With determination, they pushed forward regardless of obstacles."

Chinese: 他们怀着坚定的决心一往无前。