"Zhi nan er jin" means clearly knowing that difficulties lie ahead, yet still bravely pressing forward. It emphasizes a spirit of actively meeting challenges head-on without retreating, forming a sharp contrast with "zhi nan er tui" (retreating upon seeing difficulties). This idiom originates from the Zuo Zhuan and reflects the character of perseverance and courage to take responsibility that is highly praised in traditional Chinese culture. In terms of usage, it is mostly used to describe individuals or groups that, when facing challenges and predicaments, neither fear nor evade them, but instead respond actively and strive to overcome them. Its emotional tone is positive, and it is often used to praise those with tenacious willpower and an enterprising spirit. Its deeper meaning lies in the fact that true courage is not ignoring difficulties, but choosing to move forward after clearly recognizing them. This combination of rationality and courage is precisely the core value of "zhi nan er jin." In contemporary society, it is often used to inspire people to tackle hard problems in their studies, careers, or scientific research, and is also commonly used to describe the determination of a country or organization to confront difficulties in reform and development.
📝 Example
1. Facing technical bottlenecks, the R&D team did not retreat but pressed forward despite the difficulties, ultimately overcoming the challenge. (In this sentence, it means the team knew the technical difficulties but still persisted in tackling them.)
2. On his entrepreneurial journey, he pressed forward despite the difficulties, never giving up even after repeated failures. (In this sentence, it means he knew entrepreneurship was difficult but still moved forward bravely.)