千里迢迢

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
• English Translation: From a great distance / Over a long journey
• Idiom Composition: 「千」（Thousand; used metaphorically to mean a very large number.）＋「里」（Li (a Chinese unit of distance); refers to the road or journey.）＋「迢迢」（Distant or remote; a reduplicated adjective used in classical poetry to describe vast stretches of space or time.）
• Meaning: Describing a journey from a very long distance away. It emphasizes not just the physical distance, but the effort, time, and dedication involved in traveling so far.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「千里迢迢」 contains the following nuances:

• Emphasis on the Process: Unlike words that simply state two points are far apart, this idiom focuses on the act of traveling through that distance. It highlights the movement and the passage of time.
• Implication of Effort: It often implies that the traveler has gone to great lengths, showing their sincerity, dedication, or the high importance of their mission.

3. Usage

「千里迢迢」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Visits and Arrivals: Most frequently used as a polite greeting to acknowledge the effort someone made to visit from a distant location.
  • Example:「感谢你千里迢迢赶来参加我的婚礼。」
    （Thank you for traveling from so far away to attend my wedding.）
• Purposeful Travel: Used to describe traveling a long distance for a specific goal, such as education, work, or providing aid.
  • Example:「为了求学，他千里迢迢来到了北京。」
    （To pursue his studies, he traveled over a great distance to reach Beijing.）
• Lyrical or Emotional Context: Used to poetically describe the physical separation from home or loved ones and the longing involved in the journey.
  • Example:「游子千里迢迢回到故乡，只为看一眼年迈的父母。」
    （The traveler returned to his hometown from a long journey just to see his elderly parents.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这份礼物是我朋友千里迢迢从国外带回来的。
   （This gift was brought back from a great distance overseas by my friend.）
2. 虽然路途千里迢迢，但为了见到偶像，粉丝们觉得一切都值得。
   （Although the journey was extremely long, the fans felt it was all worth it to see their idol.）
3. 救援物资被千里迢迢运送到了灾区。
   （Relief supplies were transported over a vast distance to the disaster area.）
4. 你不必千里迢迢跑这一趟，打个电话就行了。
   （You don't need to travel all this way; a phone call will suffice.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase appears in Ming Dynasty (明朝) short story collections such as *Stories to Caution the World* (警世通言) and *Stories Old and New* (古今小说) by Feng Menglong (冯梦龙).
• The term 迢迢 (tiáo tiáo) is a classical reduplicated adjective representing remoteness. It is famously used in the *Nineteen Old Poems* (古诗十九首) to describe the distance of the stars in the Cowherd and Weaver Girl legend.
• In modern Chinese, it remains a very common expression in both spoken and written language, often serving as a standard polite phrase to express gratitude to visitors.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 不远千里 (bù yuǎn qiān lǐ): Not considering a thousand miles too far; used to emphasize someone's enthusiasm or willingness to travel for a cause.
  • 万水千山 (wàn shuǐ qiān shān): Ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains; a metaphor for a long and arduous journey involving many obstacles.
  • 长途跋涉 (cháng tú bá shè): To travel a long distance over difficult terrain.link
  • 千山万水 (qiān shān wàn shuǐ): Refers to numerous mountains and rivers, indicating a long and arduous journey.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 近在咫尺 (jìn zài zhǐ chǐ): Right before one's eyes; extremely close in distance.
  • 朝发夕至 (zhāo fā xī zhì): Departing in the morning and arriving by evening; describes a short distance or very convenient transportation.
  • 一衣带水 (yī yī dài shuǐ): Describes two places or countries separated only by a narrow strip of water, indicating close proximity.link

6. Summary

千里迢迢 (qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo) is used to highlight that someone has traveled a vast distance. It often carries a sense of appreciation for the effort made to arrive, or emphasizes the scale of a journey. It is commonly used when welcoming guests from afar or describing a long, arduous trek to reach a specific goal.