愚公移山

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yú gōng yí shān
• English Translation: The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountains; overcoming difficulties through persistent effort
• Idiom Composition: 「愚」（Foolish, simple-minded）＋「公」（Old man）＋「移」（To move, to shift）＋「山」（Mountain）
• Meaning: A story about an old man named Foolish Old Man who considers the mountains in front of his house a hindrance and, together with his family, tries to move them. It symbolizes the idea that no matter how difficult a task seems, persistent effort will eventually lead to success.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「愚公移山」 contains the following nuances:

• Indomitable spirit: Represents a strong will to keep challenging seemingly impossible difficulties without giving up.
• Importance of persistence: Highlights the importance of accumulating daily efforts even if success is not immediate.
• Power of belief: Conveys that acting with strong belief can inspire others and generate great power.
• Determination to achieve goals: Emphasizes the importance of persevering and continuing efforts to achieve goals despite difficulties.

3. Usage

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

• Praising effort and perseverance: Used to praise long-term effort and the attitude of facing difficulties.
  • Example:「他这种愚公移山的精神值得我们学习。」
    （His spirit of the Foolish Old Man moving the mountains is worth learning from.）
• Expressing determination to achieve goals: Used to express determination when facing challenging goals.
  • Example:「面对困难，我们只有愚公移山的决心，才能取得成功。」
    （When facing difficulties, only with the determination of the Foolish Old Man moving the mountains can we succeed.）
• As a moral lesson or proverb: Quoted as a life lesson or proverb to emphasize the importance of effort.
  • Example:「愚公移山，精卫填海，都是古人留给我们的精神财富。」
    （The Foolish Old Man moving the mountains and Jingwei filling the sea are both spiritual legacies left to us by the ancients.）

Additional Examples:

1. 在科研工作中，我们需要愚公移山的毅力，才能取得突破。
   （In scientific research, we need the perseverance of the Foolish Old Man moving the mountains to achieve breakthroughs.）
2. 他愚公移山般地努力，终于考上了理想的大学。
   （He worked with the persistence of the Foolish Old Man moving the mountains and finally got admitted to his ideal university.）
3. 只要我们有愚公移山的精神，就没有克服不了的困难。
   （As long as we have the spirit of the Foolish Old Man moving the mountains, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome.）
4. 学习外语就像愚公移山，需要每天坚持，才能取得进步。
   （Learning a foreign language is like the Foolish Old Man moving the mountains; it requires daily persistence to make progress.）
5. 他以愚公移山的毅力，完成了这项艰巨的任务。
   （He completed this difficult task with the perseverance of the Foolish Old Man moving the mountains.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• 'The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountains' is a fable from the ancient Chinese text 'Liezi', specifically the chapter 'Tang Wen'.
• In Chinese culture, diligence, perseverance, and an indomitable spirit are highly valued virtues. This story symbolizes these values and is widely known.
• Although '愚' generally means 'foolish', in this story it represents a belief that defies common sense and a strong will that can make the impossible possible.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng): To persist patiently and make unremitting efforts.
  • 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě): To keep carving without giving up the chisel; to persevere tirelessly.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi): To give up halfway; to quit midway.
  • 虎头蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi): A strong start but a weak finish; losing momentum towards the end.

6. Summary

'The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountains' is a powerful idiom conveying the message that even seemingly impossible challenges can be overcome through strong will and persistent effort. This story reflects important values in Chinese culture and continues to inspire people striving toward their goals in modern society.