📖 Meaning
In Chinese mythology, Jingwei is a bird determined to fill up the sea by carrying twigs and stones. Formerly used as a metaphor for deep hatred and a resolute desire for revenge, it now describes someone with an indomitable will who presses on despite hardship. It conveys unyielding determination in the face of seemingly impossible tasks.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from the ancient text Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), specifically the Northern Mountain Classic, dating from the pre-Qin period. According to the myth, Yan Di's youngest daughter Nüwa drowned while swimming in the East Sea and never returned. Her spirit was transformed into a bird named Jingwei. From then on, the bird ceaselessly carried twigs and stones from the Western Mountain to fill in the East Sea, vowing to avenge her death.
💡 Example Usage
他以精卫填海的精神，日复一日地攻克着技术难题。
With a spirit like Jingwei filling the sea, he tackled the technical problems day after day.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 精卫填海
- Pinyin: jīng wèi tián hǎi
- Literal Translation: Jingwei, fill, sea
- Category: Perseverance
- Characters: 4