卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn) — to undergo self-imposed hardships in order to achieve a future goal; to steel oneself for future trials

Definition

A chengyu from the story of King Goujian of Yue: literally 'sleep on brushwood and taste gall' to endure hardship in order to exact revenge. Used for enduring suffering now to win later.

idiom
to undergo self-imposed hardships in order to achieve a future goalto steel oneself for future trials

Examples

  • ，卧薪尝胆，。
    Wèi le kǎo shàng lǐ xiǎng de dà xué, tā jué dìng wò xīn cháng dǎn, kè kǔ xué xí.
    To get into his dream university, he decided to endure hardships and study diligently.
  • 卧薪尝胆，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zài wēi jī zhōng xuǎn zé le wò xīn cháng dǎn, zhōng yú chóng huò shēng jī.
    This company chose to endure hardships in the crisis and finally regained vitality.
  • 卧薪尝胆，。
    Yuè wáng gōu jiàn wò xīn cháng dǎn de gù shi, tí xǐng wǒ men jiān chí yǔ rěn nài de lì liàng.
    The story of King Goujian of Yue undergoing hardships reminds us of the power of persistence and patience.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

卧薪sleep on firewood
卧wòsleep薪xīnfirewood
动宾Verb + object
尝胆taste gall
尝chángtaste胆dǎngall
动宾Verb + object

卧薪 and 尝胆 describe sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall, two hardships joined.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臥; 卧 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 臥 pairs 臣 (an eye pointing down) with 人 (a person).

Open 卧 →

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
新
新xīn薪xīn
Same sound today

In 薪, the top 艹 (plants, written 艸) marks plant material, and 新 (xīn) gives the sound.

Open 薪 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 嘗; 尝 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 尝 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (尝, 尝试) it is 嘗; in others (品尝) it is 嚐.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
旨旨zhǐtasty
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng嘗cháng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 嘗 pairs 旨 (tasty) with 尚, which supplies the sound; the simplified 尝 is a later shorthand.

Open 尝 →

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
⺼Written in full as肉ròubody part
Sound part声符shēngfú
旦
旦dàn胆dǎn
Same sound today

胆 combines ⺼, written as 肉 when full, for a body part, with 旦 as a sound part.

Open 胆 →

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