垫脚石 (diàn jiǎo shí) — stepping stone (a stone placed to facilitate walking on muddy or uneven ground); stepping stone (something used to achieve a goal, especially career advancement)
Definition
A noun for both a literal stone for stepping on in mud and, more commonly, a figurative stepping stone to a larger goal. Often used metaphorically, and can carry a negative tone when people are treated as stepping stones.
noun
stepping stone (a stone placed to facilitate walking on muddy or uneven ground)stepping stone (something used to achieve a goal, especially career advancement)
Measure word · 块
Examples
- 垫脚石。Tā zài ní lù shang fàng le jǐ kuài diàn jiǎo shí.He placed a few stepping stones on the muddy path.
- 垫脚石。Zhè fèn gōng zuò zhǐ shì tā chéng gōng de diàn jiǎo shí.This job is just a stepping stone to his success.
- 垫脚石。Bié bǎ bié rén dàng chéng diàn jiǎo shí.Don't treat others as stepping stones.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.