每天成语
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愚公移山

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: yú gōng yí shān
  • English Translation: The Old Fool moves the mountains (unyielding persistence)
  • Idiom Composition: 「愚公」（The 'Old Fool,' the name of the protagonist in the fable, implying a person who is seemingly simple-minded but possesses great wisdom.）＋「移」（To move, shift, or relocate.）＋「山」（Mountain, representing a massive, immovable obstacle standing in one's way.）
  • Meaning: A metaphor for the idea that no matter how difficult or seemingly impossible a task may be, it can eventually be accomplished through unwavering determination and persistent effort.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「愚公移山」 contains the following nuances:

  • Indomitable Spirit: The idiom emphasizes more than just effort; it highlights an overwhelming resolve and patience to see a task through, even if it takes generations.
  • Challenging the Impossible: It refers to the attitude of tackling massive challenges that others might dismiss as futile or impossible based on common sense.

3. Usage

「愚公移山」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Slogans and Ideological Spirit: Frequently used in political speeches or organizational goals as a slogan to inspire people to overcome difficulties. It carries a formal and serious tone.
    • Example:「我们要发扬愚公移山的精神，克服一切困难，完成这项艰巨的任务。」
      （We must carry forward the spirit of the Old Fool moving the mountains, overcome all difficulties, and complete this arduous task.）
  • Long-term Projects: Used when expressing determination for projects that take many years to complete, such as environmental protection or large-scale infrastructure.
    • Example:「治理沙漠不是一朝一夕的事，需要我们拿出愚公移山的毅力。」
      （Greening the desert is not something that happens overnight; it requires us to show the perseverance of the Old Fool moving the mountains.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 只要有愚公移山的恒心，就没有学不会的技术。
    （As long as you have the persistence of the Old Fool moving the mountains, there is no skill that cannot be mastered.）
  2. 面对堆积如山的工作，他拿出了愚公移山的劲头，一点一点地处理。
    （Facing a mountain of work, he summoned the drive of the Old Fool moving the mountains and handled it bit by bit.）
  3. 这种愚公移山般的执着，最终让他获得了诺贝尔奖。
    （This unwavering dedication, like the Old Fool moving the mountains, eventually led him to win the Nobel Prize.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Source: From the 'Tang Wen' (汤问) chapter of the book Liezi (列子). The story tells of a 90-year-old man named 愚公 (yú gōng) who began digging away two mountains that blocked his front door. When a 'wise' man mocked him, 愚公 (yú gōng) replied that while he might die, his children and grandchildren would continue the work until the mountains were gone. Moved by his sincerity, the Heavenly Emperor (天帝) sent deities to move the mountains for him.
  • Political Context: In 1945, Mao Zedong (毛泽东) gave a famous speech titled 'The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains,' reinterpreting the story as a symbol of the Chinese people's revolutionary spirit. Consequently, in modern China, it is often used with a positive and patriotic weight to describe national construction and overcoming hardship.
  • The Paradox of Wisdom: The story contains a philosophical irony where the 'Old Fool' (愚公) is actually the wise one for his long-term vision, while the 'Wise Old Man' (智叟) is portrayed as shallow for only seeing immediate limitations.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 愚公移山 (yú gōng yí shān) describes an indomitable spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. It emphasizes not just hard work, but a long-term vision that can span generations. Due to its historical and political significance, it is frequently used in China as a powerful, positive slogan to inspire collective perseverance and national development.

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每天成语 | 愚公移山