📖 Meaning
A metaphor for acting completely alone without anyone's help or support. It evokes the image of a solitary boat propelled by a single oar, emphasizing isolation and self-reliance in difficult circumstances.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Peking opera 'Red Detachment of Women' (《红色娘子军》), a revolutionary work from the 1960s. In the fourth scene, a character questions how one could rely solely on personal grudges and individual bravery, acting like a lone boat with a single oar or a single warrior on horseback, rather than joining collective struggle. The phrase thus criticizes isolationist heroism and advocates for solidarity.
💡 Example Usage
他在创业路上孤舟独桨，没有任何人愿意伸出援手。
He paddled his lone boat on the path of entrepreneurship, with no one willing to lend a helping hand.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 孤舟独桨
- Pinyin: gū zhōu dú jiǎng
- Literal Translation: lone boat, single oar
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4