📖 Meaning
Describes a journey that is long and distant. It conveys the hardship and distance one must travel to reach a destination. Often used to emphasize the arduousness of the road ahead.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Yuan dynasty zaju play 《存孝打虎》(Cun Xiao Beats the Tiger) by the playwright 陈以仁 (Chen Yiren). In the prologue (楔子) of the play, the line reads "避不的山遥路远," meaning one cannot avoid the long and arduous journey. The play recounts the legendary deeds of Li Cunxiao, a famed warrior of the Five Dynasties period. Over time, the phrase came to be used as a set expression for distant, difficult travel.
💡 Example Usage
为了求学,他不顾山遥路远,独自踏上了旅途。
To pursue his studies, he set out alone on the journey, undeterred by the long and distant road ahead.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 山遥路远
- Pinyin: shān yáo lù yuǎn
- Literal Translation: mountain, distant, road, far
- Category: Distance
- Characters: 4