独木桥 (dú mù qiáo) — single-plank bridge; log bridge; difficult or risky path (figurative)

Definition

Literally a log/single-plank bridge, but most often used figuratively for a narrow, risky path where only one person can pass at a time (e.g. 千军万马过独木桥).

noun
single-plank bridgelog bridgedifficult or risky path (figurative)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 独木桥
    Zhè tiáo xiǎo hé shàng zhǐ yǒu yí zuò dú mù qiáo, zǒu de shí hou yào xiǎo xīn.
    There's only a single-plank bridge over this small stream — be careful when crossing.
  • 独木桥
    Gāo kǎo jiù xiàng zǒu dú mù qiáo, qiān jūn wàn mǎ guò dú mù qiáo.
    The college entrance exam is like walking a single-plank bridge — thousands of troops crossing a narrow log.
  • 独木桥
    Chuàng yè zhè tiáo lù shì tiáo dú mù qiáo, dàn jiān chí xià qù jiù yǒu xī wàng.
    The path of entrepreneurship is a difficult one, but if you persist there's hope.

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