万事开头难
wan shi kai tou nan
Hard to begin
Literally: Ten thousand things start head difficult
In 15 Seconds
- Starting is the hardest part of any journey.
- Use it to encourage friends facing new challenges.
- Validates struggle as a natural part of progress.
- A five-character mantra for persistence and grit.
Meaning
Think of this as the ultimate 'don't give up' mantra. It means that starting anything new is always the most difficult part, but once you get moving, things will get easier.
Key Examples
3 of 6Encouraging a friend starting a diet
别担心，万事开头难，坚持下去就好。
Don't worry, the first step is always the hardest; just keep going.
A manager addressing a team on a new project
虽然目前有很多问题，但万事开头难。
Although there are many problems now, the beginning is always difficult.
Texting a friend who is frustrated with Chinese grammar
万事开头难！加油！
Starting is hard! Keep it up!
Cultural Background
In the competitive education system, parents often use this to push children to get through the 'boring' basics of piano or calligraphy. Often seen in business contexts, especially in the tech industry, to describe the 'R&D' phase of a product. Used by immigrants to describe the struggle of settling in a new country and learning a new culture. Used during 'kick-off' meetings to set expectations that the first quarter will be the most grueling.
Use with 'Suohua shuo'
Adding '{俗话说|súhuà shuō}' (As the saying goes) before the idiom makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't over-use
If you say this every time something is hard, it loses its power. Save it for truly new endeavors.
In 15 Seconds
- Starting is the hardest part of any journey.
- Use it to encourage friends facing new challenges.
- Validates struggle as a natural part of progress.
- A five-character mantra for persistence and grit.
What It Means
Imagine you are staring at a blank page. Or your first day at a gym. That feeling of 'where do I even begin?' is exactly what 万事开头难 (wàn shì kāi tóu nán) captures. It acknowledges that the initial friction of any project is the highest. It is a reminder that your current struggle isn't because you are bad at it. It is just because you are at the beginning.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase as a standalone sentence. It works great as a response when someone complains about a new task. You can also use it to encourage yourself. It usually follows a description of a problem. For example: 'I can't understand these characters, but 万事开头难!' It functions like a verbal pat on the back. It shifts the focus from the struggle to the progress.
When To Use It
Use it when a friend starts a new job. Use it when you are struggling with a new hobby. It is perfect for business meetings when a project hits a first-week snag. It fits well in graduation speeches or wedding toasts. Basically, any 'Day 1' scenario is fair game. It adds a touch of wisdom to your encouragement.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it if someone is halfway through a project. If they are failing at the end, this phrase feels dismissive. Avoid using it for things that are actually easy. If you can't open a bag of chips, saying 万事开头难 sounds like a weird joke. Also, don't use it for serious tragedies. It is meant for challenges, not grief.
Cultural Background
This phrase is deeply rooted in Chinese pragmatism. It reflects the value of persistence (毅力). Chinese culture places a huge emphasis on the 'foundation' of things. If you survive the 'difficult head' (the beginning), you have proven your character. It has been a staple of Chinese households for centuries. It is the go-to comfort phrase for parents and teachers.
Common Variations
You might hear people add 良好的开端是成功的一半. This means 'a good start is half the battle.' It is the optimistic sibling to our phrase. Some people just say 开头难 in very casual settings. However, the full five-character version is the most rhythmic and satisfying to say. It feels like a complete thought.
Usage Notes
This is a highly versatile phrase with a neutral register. It is safe to use in almost any social situation to provide encouragement or acknowledge difficulty.
Use with 'Suohua shuo'
Adding '{俗话说|súhuà shuō}' (As the saying goes) before the idiom makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't over-use
If you say this every time something is hard, it loses its power. Save it for truly new endeavors.
Examples
6别担心，万事开头难，坚持下去就好。
Don't worry, the first step is always the hardest; just keep going.
Classic use of the phrase to provide emotional support.
虽然目前有很多问题，但万事开头难。
Although there are many problems now, the beginning is always difficult.
Used here to maintain team morale during a rocky launch.
万事开头难！加油！
Starting is hard! Keep it up!
Short, punchy, and perfect for a quick motivational text.
哎呀，万事开头难，我还是用叉子吧。
Gosh, the first step is hard, I'll just use a fork.
Using a deep idiom for a small task creates a funny contrast.
宝贝别哭，万事开头难，我们再试一次。
Don't cry baby, everything is hard at first, let's try again.
Softens the blow of failure for a beginner.
回想去年，真是万事开头难啊。
Looking back at last year, the beginning was truly difficult.
Used retrospectively to acknowledge past hardships.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing characters for the idiom.
万事____难
The standard idiom is '{万事开头难|wànshì kāitóu nán}'.
Which situation best fits the idiom '{万事开头难|wànshì kāitóu nán}'?
A friend is crying because they lost their wallet.
This idiom is for new beginnings and challenges, not for personal loss or accidents.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {我学中文学了一个月了|wǒ xué zhōngwén xuéle yīgè yuè le}，{还是觉得很难|háishì juédé hěn nán}。 B: _________，{坚持下去就会好的|jiānchí xiàqù jiù huì hǎo de}。
B is offering encouragement to a struggling learner.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercises万事____难
The standard idiom is '{万事开头难|wànshì kāitóu nán}'.
A friend is crying because they lost their wallet.
This idiom is for new beginnings and challenges, not for personal loss or accidents.
A: {我学中文学了一个月了|wǒ xué zhōngwén xuéle yīgè yuè le}，{还是觉得很难|háishì juédé hěn nán}。 B: _________，{坚持下去就会好的|jiānchí xiàqù jiù huì hǎo de}。
B is offering encouragement to a struggling learner.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsNot at all! It's very common in casual conversation to encourage friends.
Only if you are being funny. Otherwise, it's for bigger tasks like learning or projects.
Related Phrases
{千里之行，始于足下|qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià}
similarA journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
{良好的开端是成功的一半|liánghǎo de kāiduān shì chénggōng de yībàn}
builds onA good beginning is half the success.
{万事大吉|wànshì dàjí}
contrastEverything is fine/going well.
