📖 Meaning
To forge ahead despite knowing the difficulties ahead. It describes a courageous and resolute attitude of facing challenges head-on rather than retreating when the path is hard.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase derives from classical Chinese philosophical thought, particularly associated with the Confucian tradition. The idea of advancing in the face of difficulty is echoed in the Analects (论语), where Confucius taught that a noble person presses forward despite knowing the enormity of the task. The four-character formulation became a standard idiom used in later dynasties to praise determination and moral courage.
💡 Example Usage
面对技术瓶颈，团队选择知难而进，最终成功突破了难关。
Faced with a technical bottleneck, the team chose to forge ahead despite the difficulties and ultimately succeeded in breaking through the barrier.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 知难而进
- Pinyin: zhī nán ér jìn
- Literal Translation: know, difficult, and, advance
- Category: Determination
- Characters: 4