📖 Meaning
To regard something as a fearsome path or perilous journey. It describes treating a task or situation as dangerous and daunting, something one is reluctant to face. Often used when people avoid an endeavor because they perceive it as too risky or difficult.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from 'Zhuangzi: Da Sheng' (《庄子·达生》), a Daoist text from the Warring States period. Zhuangzi writes that on a road where one in ten travelers is killed, fathers and sons would warn each other about the danger, calling it a 'feared road' (畏涂). Over time, the expression evolved to metaphorically describe any endeavor people regard as too dangerous or difficult to attempt.
💡 Example Usage
这份工作要求高、压力大，许多应聘者都视为畏途。
The job is demanding and high-pressure, causing many applicants to regard it as a daunting path.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 视为畏途
- Pinyin: shì wéi wèi tú
- Literal Translation: regard as, be, fear, road
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4