艰苦奋斗

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiān kǔ fèn dòu
• English Translation: Struggling hard through difficulties (Arduous struggle)
• Idiom Composition: 「艰苦」（Harsh and bitter; describes a situation where conditions are extremely difficult or resources are scarce.）＋「奋斗」（To strive or fight; to put in a great deal of effort to achieve a specific goal.）
• Meaning: To persevere and work tirelessly toward a goal despite facing extremely harsh environments or difficult circumstances. It emphasizes not just effort, but the mental fortitude and sustained endurance required to overcome adversity.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「艰苦奋斗」 contains the following nuances:

• Mental Resilience: The term emphasizes a strong spirit that refuses to surrender to material lack or poor environments. It is often used in contexts that value frugality and discourage luxury.
• A Long-term Process: Rather than a momentary burst of effort, this idiom usually refers to a sustained process of fighting against difficulties over a long period.

3. Usage

「艰苦奋斗」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Entrepreneurship and Pioneering: Used to describe building a foundation from nothing, such as the early days of a startup or developing an impoverished region.
  • Example:「这家企业是老一辈人通过几十年的艰苦奋斗才建立起来的。」
    （This enterprise was built by the older generation through decades of arduous struggle.）
• Slogans and Education: A formal expression used to urge others to maintain a "hungry" spirit and avoid complacency, even when living standards have improved.
  • Example:「虽然现在生活条件好了，但我们不能丢掉艰苦奋斗的精神。」
    （Although living conditions have improved, we must not lose the spirit of working hard and enduring hardships.）
• Personal Success Stories: Used to praise an individual who has overcome significant adversity to achieve success.
  • Example:「他靠着艰苦奋斗，从一名普通工人成为了著名的工程师。」
    （Through hard work and perseverance, he rose from an ordinary worker to a famous engineer.）

Additional Examples:

1. 我们要继续发扬艰苦奋斗的优良作风。
   （We must continue to carry forward the fine tradition of struggling hard through difficulties.）
2. 经过全村人几年的艰苦奋斗，这里终于通了公路。
   （After years of arduous effort by all the villagers, a road was finally opened here.）
3. 创业初期，大家挤在一间小屋里办公，那是段艰苦奋斗的日子。
   （In the early days of the startup, everyone was squeezed into a small room to work; those were days of struggling together through hardships.）
4. 成功没有捷径，唯有艰苦奋斗。
   （There are no shortcuts to success, only hard work and perseverance.）
5. 他不怕累不怕苦，始终保持着艰苦奋斗的本色。
   （He is not afraid of exhaustion or hardship, always maintaining his true nature of plain living and hard struggle.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Historical Context: This phrase is a significant political slogan in the history of the Communist Party of China. During the Yan'an (延安) period and the early years of the People's Republic, it was paired with 自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng), meaning 'self-reliance,' to encourage overcoming resource shortages through sheer willpower.
• Modern Significance: In contemporary China, as the country has become more affluent, the term is frequently invoked by leaders like Xi Jinping (习近平) as a moral standard to warn against decadence and to remind people to 'stay true to their original aspiration' (不忘初心 - bù wàng chū xīn).
• Register: This is a formal and heavy expression. It is too intense for minor daily inconveniences (like working a few hours of overtime) and is better suited for discussing life goals, organizational development, or national history.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng): Regeneration through one's own efforts; achieving success without relying on outside help.link
  • 发愤图强 (fā fèn tú qiáng): To be determined to make the country (or oneself) strong through dedicated effort.link
  • 吃苦耐劳 (chī kǔ nài láo): Enduring hardship and working hard.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 花天酒地 (huā tiān jiǔ dì): To lead a life of debauchery and luxury, indulging in wine and play.
  • 坐享其成 (zuò xiǎng qí chéng): To sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor without doing any work oneself.
  • 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò): To muddle through, taking one day at a time without much thought for the future.link
  • 无所事事 (wú suǒ shì shì): To have nothing to do or to be idle.link

6. Summary

The idiom 艰苦奋斗 (jiān kǔ fèn dòu) is a weighty expression describing the spirit of unyielding effort under pressure. It goes beyond simply "working hard" to highlight a resilient will to endure suffering. It is frequently used in the context of entrepreneurial "bootstrapping" stories or formal speeches to honor past sacrifices and encourage future perseverance.