Success & Perseverance Chinese Idioms

Study Chinese idioms about achievement, determination, and perseverance. These expressions inspire resilience and celebrate the path to success.

79 idioms in this category

力挽狂澜

lì wǎn kuáng lán

Pull back raging tides

Heroically reversing catastrophic situation

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呼风唤雨

hū fēng huàn yǔ

Summon wind, call rain

Wielding extraordinary influence over others

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龙马精神

lóng mǎ jīng shén

Dragon-horse spirit

Youthful vigor despite old age

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出类拔萃

chū lèi bá cuì

Rise above the crowd

Excellence that outshines all others

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前途无量

qián tú wú liàng

Boundless path ahead

Unlimited potential for future success

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胆大心细

dǎn dà xīn xì

Bold gallbladder, careful heart

Courage balanced with careful attention

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天衣无缝

tiān yī wú fèng

Heavenly garment without seams

Flawless and perfectly seamless

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绕梁三日

rào liáng sān rì

Lingering around beams for days

Lasting impact of performance

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文不加点

wén bù jiā diǎn

Writing needing no corrections

Perfect execution without revision

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半途而废

bàn tú ér fèi

Abandon halfway through journey

Quitting before completion

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愚公移山

yú gōng yí shān

Foolish old man moves mountains

Persistence overcomes huge obstacles

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卧薪尝胆

wò xīn cháng dǎn

Sleep on firewood, taste gall

Endure hardship for future success

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大器晚成

dà qì wǎn chéng

Great talents mature late

Excellence develops with time

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泰然自若

tài rán zì ruò

Calm naturally as before

Maintain perfect composure under pressure

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信手拈来

xìn shǒu niān lái

Trustingly hand plucks

Create effortlessly from mastery

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风雨无阻

fēng yǔ wú zǔ

Wind rain no hindrance

Persist despite difficult conditions

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自强不息

zì qiáng bù xī

Self-strengthen without ceasing

Strive continuously for self-improvement

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左右逢源

zuǒ yòu féng yuán

Left right meet springs

Find advantage in all directions

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千锤百炼

qiān chuí bǎi liàn

Thousand hammers hundred forges

Perfected through repeated refinement

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妙手回春

miào shǒu huí chūn

Skilled hands bring spring

Extraordinary healing skill

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巧夺天工

qiǎo duó tiān gōng

Skill surpasses nature's work

Craftsmanship beyond natural limits

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滴水不漏

dī shuǐ bù lòu

No water drop leaks

Absolutely flawless and thorough

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通宵达旦

tōng xiāo dá dàn

Through night reach dawn

Work through the entire night

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急流勇进

jí liú yǒng jìn

Rapids bravely advance

Advance boldly through difficulty

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登峰造极

dēng fēng zào jí

Climb peak reach limit

Reach highest attainable level

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呕心沥血

ǒu xīn lì xuè

Vomit heart drip blood

Invest utmost effort and emotion

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固若金汤

gù ruò jīn tāng

Solid as metal soup

Impenetrable defenses

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知难而进

zhī nán ér jìn

Know difficulty yet advance

Press on despite awareness of challenges

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临危不惧

lín wēi bù jù

Face danger without fear

Courage under pressure

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厚积薄发

hòu jī bó fā

Thick accumulation thin launch

Success after long preparation

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各得其所

gè dé qí suǒ

Each finds its place

Everything in right place

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目无全牛

mù wú quán niú

Eyes see no whole ox

Achieve instinctive mastery

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聚精会神

jù jīng huì shén

Gather essence meet spirit

Concentrate fully

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精益求精

jīng yì qiú jīng

Perfect seek more perfect

Constantly improve

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浩浩荡荡

hào hào dàng dàng

Vast mighty flow

Vast and mighty

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望其项背

wàng qí xiàng bèi

See only their neck back

Almost catch up

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风云际会

fēng yún jì huì

Wind cloud gather meeting

Perfect moment of opportunity

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凤毛麟角

fèng máo lín jiǎo

Phoenix feather unicorn horn

Extremely rare

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一气呵成

yī qì hē chéng

Complete in one breath

Complete in one go

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披星戴月

pī xīng dài yuè

Wear stars crown moon

Work day and night

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玉汝于成

yù rǔ yú chéng

Jade becomes perfect

Perfect through careful work

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负重致远

fù zhòng zhì yuǎn

Bear weight reach far

Endure now for future

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闭月羞花

bì yuè xiū huā

Moon hides flowers shy

Exceptionally beautiful

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如鱼得水

rú yú dé shuǐ

Fish finds water

In perfect element

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目不转睛

mù bù zhuǎn jīng

Eyes do not turn away

Focus intently

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聚沙成塔

jù shā chéng tǎ

Gather sand make tower

Small things build achievement

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鹤立鸡群

hè lì jī qún

Crane stands among chickens

Stand out from crowd

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精卫填海

jīng wèi tián hǎi

Bird fills sea with pebbles

Persist despite impossibility

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铁杵成针

tiě chǔ chéng zhēn

Iron rod becomes needle

Success through persistence

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冰消瓦解

bīng xiāo wǎ jiě

Ice melts tile breaks

Complete collapse

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凿壁偷光

záo bì tōu guāng

Pierce wall steal light

Study despite poverty

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悬梁刺股

xuán liáng cì gǔ

Hang beam stab thigh

Study extremely hard

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春蚕到死

chūn cán dào sǐ

Spring silkworm until death

Selfless dedication

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披荆斩棘

pī jīng zhǎn jí

Cut thorns break brambles

Overcome all obstacles

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锲而不舍

qiè ér bù shě

Carve and not stop

Persevere until success

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日积月累

rì jī yuè lěi

Days pile months gather

Gradual accumulation builds up

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一鼓作气

yī gǔ zuò qì

One drum make spirit

Complete in one effort

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运筹帷幄

yùn chóu wéi wò

Plan behind curtain

Plan strategy carefully

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水到渠成

shuǐ dào qú chéng

Water comes channel forms

Success comes naturally

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登堂入室

dēng táng rù shì

Enter hall reach inner room

Progress from basic to advanced

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胸有丘壑

xiōng yǒu qiū hè

Hills and valleys in heart

Have great vision

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举重若轻

jǔ zhòng ruò qīng

Lift heavy as light

Make difficult look easy

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一丝不苟

yī sī bù gǒu

Not loose one thread

Extremely careful and thorough

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闻鸡起舞

wén jī qǐ wǔ

Hear rooster rise dance

Practice with determination

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集腋成裘

jí yè chéng qiú

Gather fur make coat

Small efforts make big results

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负重前行

fù zhòng qián xíng

Carry weight march forward

Progress despite difficulties

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毛遂自荐

máo suì zì jiàn

Mao Sui recommends himself

Volunteer oneself confidently

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百尺竿头

bǎi chǐ gān tóu

Hundred foot pole top

Achieve even greater success

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事半功倍

shì bàn gōng bèi

Half effort double result

Less effort, better results

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笨鸟先飞

bèn niǎo xiān fēi

Slow bird flies first

Work harder to compensate

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逆水行舟

nì shuǐ xíng zhōu

Boat moving against current

Progress needs constant effort

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青出于蓝

qīng chū yú lán

Blue comes from indigo plant

Student surpasses master

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守时如金

shǒu shí rú jīn

Value time like gold

Value time preciously

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破釜沉舟

pò fǔ chén zhōu

Break pots sink boats

Commit with no retreat

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天道酬勤

tiān dào chóu qín

Heaven's way rewards diligence

Heaven rewards diligence

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门庭若市

mén tíng ruò shì

Doorway busy as market

Extremely popular

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水滴石穿

shuǐ dī shí chuān

Water drops pierce stone

Persistence achieves anything

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百折不挠

bǎi zhé bù náo

Bend hundred times never yield

Unshakeable despite adversity

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一鸣惊人

yī míng jīng rén

Bird cry that startles all

Sudden, remarkable success

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