"Hanma Gonglao" (sweat-horse merit) literally refers to the merit earned by warhorses galloping until they sweat. It originates from the record of "hanma zhi lao" (the toil of sweating horses) in the Records of the Grand Historian, originally denoting the achievements of soldiers who rode horses into battle and fought bloody battles on the battlefield. Later, its meaning expanded to generally refer to great contributions made through tremendous effort and notable achievements in a career, work, or a certain task. This idiom carries a commendatory connotation and is often used to praise others or modestly refer to oneself, emphasizing that the credit comes from arduous struggle rather than easy gain. It is mostly used on formal or semi-formal occasions, such as commendation meetings, work summaries, and historical commentaries, and can also be used in everyday spoken language to thank others for their great assistance. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the traditional Chinese admiration for "great contributions won through bitter toil," as well as the affirmation of the spirit of dedication shown by those who make quiet efforts and brave hardships. Emotionally, it conveys respect and gratitude toward contributors, with a solemn and positive tone. It should be noted that this idiom is generally used to affirm major contributions and is not suitable for describing insignificant help.
📝 Example
1. In this research breakthrough, Professor Wang led the team in fighting day and night, making a great contribution to the success of the project.
2. The company's smooth listing is inseparable from the efforts of colleagues in the finance and legal departments, who made a great contribution to the company.