📖 Meaning
The sun is setting and the road ahead is still long. It metaphorically describes a desperate situation where one has reached the end of one's resources or is near doom. It can also depict being reduced to extreme poverty or hardship.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记), in the biography of Wu Zixu (伍子胥), a nobleman of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period. After his father and elder brother were wrongly executed by King Ping of Chu, Wu Zixu fled and eventually helped the State of Wu conquer Chu; when questioned about his vengeful, reckless actions, he explained that with the sun setting and the road still long, he had no choice but to act against convention (倒行逆施). The phrase was later echoed by the Northern Zhou dynasty poet Yu Xin (庾信) in his 'Lament for the South' (哀江南赋), lamenting the fall of the Liang dynasty.
💡 Example Usage
公司经营日暮途远，员工们纷纷另谋出路。
The company's operations have reached a dead end, and employees are leaving one after another to seek new opportunities.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 日暮途远
- Pinyin: rì mù tú yuǎn
- Literal Translation: sun, sets, road, far
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4