📖 Meaning
To climb over mountains and traverse ridges. It describes the hardship and exertion of traveling or working in the wilderness, covering rugged terrain on foot. Often used to emphasize physical endurance and determination during a difficult journey.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in the historical novel 'Li Zicheng' by Yao Xueyin, set during the late Ming Dynasty peasant uprisings. In the first volume, Chapter 6, it is used to describe the rugged mobility of the rebel soldiers, noting that a seasoned fighter with strong legs could traverse mountains and ridges as swiftly as a young man. The expression vividly conveys the grueling overland travel required in military campaigns and frontier life.
💡 Example Usage
地质队员们翻山越岭，在深山中勘探矿藏。
The geological team crossed mountains and ridges, prospecting for mineral deposits in the deep mountains.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 翻山越岭
- Pinyin: fān shān yuè lǐng
- Literal Translation: turn over, mountain, cross, ridge
- Category: Perseverance
- Characters: 4