📖 Meaning
To work hard and endure severe difficulties in order to achieve a goal. It emphasizes persevering through hardship with determined effort rather than giving up or seeking comfort. The phrase is commonly used to praise resilience, diligence, and an unyielding spirit in the face of adversity.
📜 Origin Story
The individual components of this phrase appear in classical texts from different periods. 艰苦 (arduous) occurs in works such as the Book of Documents (尚书), describing harsh conditions faced by early rulers. 奋斗 (strive, struggle) appears in later classical prose and historical writings to describe vigorous, determined effort. The modern four-character combination was popularized in the 20th century, notably used by Chinese leaders such as Mao Zedong to call for resilience and self-reliance during periods of national hardship, though its roots lie in the classical Chinese tradition of valuing endurance and industrious effort.
💡 Example Usage
正是几代人的艰苦奋斗，才换来了今天的繁荣富强。
It was exactly the arduous struggle of several generations that brought about today's prosperity and strength.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 艰苦奋斗
- Pinyin: jiān kǔ fèn dòu
- Literal Translation: arduous, bitter, vigorous, struggle
- Category: Perseverance
- Characters: 4