卧薪尝胆
- Literal
- To sleep on firewood and taste gall.
- Figurative
- To willingly endure hardship and self-denial, never forgetting one's humiliation or goal, in order to grow strong and finally triumph or take revenge.
Where does 卧薪尝胆 come from?
Goujian, king of Yue, was defeated and humiliated by the state of Wu. Back in his own land, so as never to forget that shame, he slept on a bed of rough firewood and, before eating, licked a hanging gall bladder to taste its bitterness. After years of effort and discipline he strengthened his state and at last defeated Wu.
Source (出处): 《史记》
How is 卧薪尝胆 used? Two examples
- 失败之后，他卧薪尝胆，三年终于东山再起。
After his failure he endured hardship without losing sight of his goal, and after three years he finally rose again.
- 为了重返赛场，她卧薪尝胆苦练了整整两年。
To return to competition, she endured every hardship and trained hard for two whole years.
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