精卫填海

Pinyin:jīng wèi tián hǎi

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📖 Meaning

Relentless determination in the face of impossible odds.

📜 Origin

《山海经》

💡 Detailed Explanation

Jingwei Fills the Sea is an ancient idiom from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, telling the story of Nüwa, the daughter of Emperor Yan, who drowned in the East Sea and transformed into the bird Jingwei, carrying wood and stones from the Western Mountains day after day to fill up the East Sea. Its deeper meaning lies in praising a spirit of firm determination, fearlessness in the face of hardship, and perseverance, never giving up even when facing seemingly impossible tasks. It is mostly used to describe the tenacious perseverance shown by individuals or groups in pursuing their goals, especially in contexts of overcoming enormous difficulties and long-term struggle. In terms of cultural background, it embodies the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation—self-improvement and unyielding resilience. Its emotional tone is positive, and it is often used to inspire people to dare to take on challenges and persevere.

📝 Example

With the perseverance of Jingwei filling the sea, he spent ten years and finally overcame this technical challenge. (A metaphor for unwavering determination and fearlessness in the face of hardship.) Facing harsh natural conditions, the research team persisted in field investigations with the spirit of Jingwei filling the sea, and ultimately made a major discovery. (Describing perseverance and fearlessness in the face of hardship.)