坚韧不拔

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiān rèn bù bá
• English Translation: Firm and indomitable (unyielding persistence)
• Idiom Composition: 「坚」（Firm or solid.）＋「韧」（Tough and resilient; pliable yet strong.）＋「不」（Not.）＋「拔」（To uproot or shake; here meaning to be moved from one's conviction.）
• Meaning: To have an extremely strong will and remain unshaken by any difficulty or pressure. It describes a quality that is not just hard and rigid, but also resilient and tough, like a tree that cannot be uprooted.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「坚韧不拔」 contains the following nuances:

• The Union of Firmness and Resilience: The idiom combines 坚 (jiān), meaning 'firmness,' and 韧 (rèn), meaning 'resilience.' It suggests a strength that is not brittle, but capable of enduring stress without breaking.
• An Unshakable Foundation: The term 不拔 (bù bá) literally means 'cannot be uprooted.' It metaphorically describes a person's beliefs or will as being so deeply rooted that no external force can move or shake them.

3. Usage

「坚韧不拔」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Praising character or mental strength: Commonly used to praise individuals who continue to work hard without giving up under difficult circumstances. It is a formal expression often found in writing or speeches.
  • Example:「正是凭着坚韧不拔的毅力，他才克服了重重困难，最终取得了成功。」
    （It was precisely because of his firm and indomitable willpower that he overcame numerous difficulties and finally achieved success.）
• Describing groups or organizations: Used to describe the attitude of sports teams, companies, or even nations as they face and overcome adversity.
  • Example:「这支球队展现出了坚韧不拔的斗志，在落后的情况下实现了逆转。」
    （The team showed unyielding fighting spirit and managed to make a comeback despite being behind.）

Additional Examples:

1. 面对严酷的自然环境，沙漠中的胡杨树表现出了坚韧不拔的生命力。
   （Facing a harsh natural environment, the Populus euphratica trees in the desert demonstrate extraordinary resilience.）
2. 要想在科学研究上有所建树，必须具备坚韧不拔的精神。
   （To achieve results in scientific research, one must possess a firm and indomitable spirit.）
3. 她那坚韧不拔的性格是在长期的艰苦生活中磨练出来的。
   （Her indomitable character was tempered through long years of hardship.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase originates from the essay 'On Chao Cuo' (晁错论) by the Song Dynasty scholar Su Shi (苏轼). He wrote: 'Those who achieved great things in ancient times not only had extraordinary talent, but also possessed a 坚韧不拔 (jiān rèn bù bá) will.'
• In the original text, the word used was 坚忍 (jiān rěn), meaning 'firm endurance.' However, in modern Chinese, it is more common to write 坚韧 (jiān rèn), which emphasizes 'toughness' and 'resilience.' Both are understood, but the modern version highlights the quality of being 'unbreakable.'
• This idiom is frequently used to describe plants that survive in extreme conditions, such as the 'Three Friends of Winter' (岁寒三友 - suì hán sān yǒu)—the Pine, Bamboo, and Plum blossom—symbolizing high moral character and persistence.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 百折不挠 (bǎi zhé bù náo): To be undaunted by repeated setbacks; emphasizes not losing heart after failure.
  • 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě): To keep carving without stopping; focuses on the persistence of effort.link
  • 坚持不懈 (jiān chí bù xiè): To persevere unremittingly.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi): To give up halfway; to leave a task unfinished.link
  • 知难而退 (zhī nán ér tuì): To retreat in the face of difficulty; to back down when things get hard.
  • 自暴自弃 (zì qiáng bù xī): To give up on oneself and abandon all hope.link

6. Summary

Derived from the writings of the famous poet Su Shi (苏轼), 坚韧不拔 (jiān rèn bù bá) describes a spirit of unwavering persistence. While the original text used a character meaning 'endurance,' the modern version emphasizes 'resilience,' praising those who remain steadfast through adversity.