📖 Meaning
This idiom describes willingly braving extreme danger and hardship without hesitation. It is a metaphor for fearlessly confronting perilous situations. The imagery evokes walking into flames and wading through boiling water.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom draws on ancient Chinese military and philosophical traditions where loyalty and courage were paramount virtues. The phrase combines two perilous images—entering fire and stepping into boiling broth—to convey the utmost willingness to face danger. It appears in classical texts emphasizing devotion to duty and self-sacrifice. No single definitive origin story is recorded; rather, it emerged from the broader tradition of martial and moral exhortation. Similar expressions appear across dynastic literature praising those who serve without regard for personal safety.
💡 Example Usage
消防员入火赴汤，冲进熊熊燃烧的大楼救人。
The firefighters braved fire and boiling water, rushing into the blazing building to rescue people.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 入火赴汤
- Pinyin: rù huǒ fù tāng
- Literal Translation: enter fire, go through boiling water
- Category: Determination
- Characters: 4