发愤图强

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: fā fèn tú qiáng
• English Translation: To rouse oneself to strive for strength (and prosperity)
• Idiom Composition: 「发愤」（To rouse one's spirit or be determined (often motivated by a sense of indignation or a desire to overcome a setback)）＋「图」（To seek, strive for, or plan）＋「强」（Strong, powerful, or prosperous）
• Meaning: To make a firm resolution and exert great effort to change a state of weakness or backwardness, aiming to make oneself, an organization, or a nation strong and prosperous.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「发愤图强」 contains the following nuances:

• The Nuance of 'Fā Fèn': While often used interchangeably with 发奋 (fā fèn), which simply means to exert oneself, the character 愤 (fèn) in 发愤 (fā fèn) implies an inner emotional spark—such as indignation or a refusal to accept defeat—that serves as the catalyst for the hard work.
• Clarity of Purpose: The idiom is not just about working hard in general; it specifically includes the goal of 图强 (tú qiáng), which means 'striving for strength.' It implies moving from a position of disadvantage to one of power and prosperity.

3. Usage

「发愤图强」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• National or Organizational Development: Frequently used as a formal slogan when a collective body, such as a country or a company, unites to achieve a major goal like economic recovery or national rejuvenation.
  • Example:「为了国家的未来，青年一代必须发愤图强。」
    （For the future of the country, the younger generation must work hard with determination to make the nation strong.）
• Personal Self-Improvement: Used when an individual decides to overcome a failure or a period of stagnation to reach a higher level of success.
  • Example:「经历这次失败后，他决定发愤图强，苦练技术。」
    （After this failure, he decided to rouse himself and strive for success by practicing his skills diligently.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这家企业在濒临破产之际发愤图强，终于扭亏为盈。
   （This company worked with great determination to turn things around when it was on the verge of bankruptcy, finally becoming profitable.）
2. 我们要发愤图强，不能总是依赖别人的帮助。
   （We must strive to become strong through our own efforts and not always rely on the help of others.）
3. 落后就要挨打，所以我们必须发愤图强。
   （If we fall behind, we will be bullied; therefore, we must rouse ourselves to strengthen the nation.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In modern Chinese history, this idiom was frequently paired with the concept of 救亡图存 (jiù wáng tú cún), meaning 'saving the nation from extinction and striving for survival,' serving as a rallying cry during times of foreign intervention and national crisis.
• The term 发愤 (fā fèn) has deep literary roots. For instance, the great historian Sima Qian (司马迁) famously described his motivation for writing the Records of the Grand Historian (史记) as 发愤著书 (fā fèn zhù shū), or 'writing a book out of indignation' after suffering great personal injustice.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn): Literally 'sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall'; it means to endure hardships and rouse one's ambition to achieve a goal or seek revenge.
  • 奋发有为 (fèn fā yǒu wéi): To be high-spirited and determined to achieve great things.
  • 自强不息 (zì qiáng bù xī): To constantly strive to improve oneself.link
  • 艰苦奋斗 (jiān kǔ fèn dòu): To struggle arduously and work hard.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 自暴自弃 (zì bào zì qì): To give up on oneself and have no ambition to improve; to be self-abandoned.link
  • 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò): To muddle along or drift through life without any high goals or ambition.link

6. Summary

The idiom 发愤图强 (fā fèn tú qiáng) describes a powerful determination to overcome difficulties or a lagging status quo. It is often used as a slogan for national development or personal self-improvement, emphasizing that the drive to succeed comes from an inner resolve to no longer be weak.