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勇往直前 (yǒng wǎng zhí qián) — to forge ahead courageously; to advance bravely without hesitation

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'to forge ahead bravely without hesitation,' focusing on one person's courageous advance. 前赴后继 highlights successive sacrifices of many people, wave upon wave.

phrase
to forge ahead courageouslyto advance bravely without hesitation

Examples

  • ，勇往直前。
    Wú lùn yù dào shén me kùn nan, wǒ men dōu yào yǒng wǎng zhí qián.
    No matter what difficulties we encounter, we must forge ahead courageously.
  • 勇往直前。
    Tā nà zhǒng yǒng wǎng zhí qián de jīng shén gǎn rǎn le suǒ yǒu rén.
    His spirit of forging ahead courageously inspired everyone.
  • ，勇往直前，。
    Zài bǐ sài zhōng, tā yǒng wǎng zhí qián, zuì zhōng qǔ dé le shèng lì.
    In the competition, he advanced bravely and finally achieved victory.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

勇往advance bravely
勇yǒngbravely往wǎngadvance
偏正Modifier + head
直前straight forward
直zhístraight前qiánforward
偏正Modifier + head

勇往 suggests advancing bravely and 直前 going straight ahead, together meaning to press forward without hesitation.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrong
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng勇yǒng
Same sound today

勇 pairs 甬, which gives the sound, with 力, a strength part, to mean brave and strong.

Open 勇 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
王
王wáng往wǎng
Same sound today

The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.

Open 往 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

Open 前 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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