披荆斩棘
pi jing zhan ji
Clear the way
Literally: 披 (Spread/Drape) 荆 (Thorns) 斩 (Cut/Chop) 棘 (Brambles)
In 15 Seconds
- Hacking through thorns to create a new path forward.
- Overcoming major hardships through sheer willpower and hard work.
- Used for heroic efforts, startups, and major life milestones.
Meaning
It describes the act of hacking through thorns and brambles to forge a path. It is used to praise someone who overcomes immense obstacles to achieve a goal.
Key Examples
3 of 6Encouraging a friend starting a business
创业虽然辛苦，但我相信你能披荆斩棘，走向成功。
Starting a business is hard, but I believe you can hack through the thorns to success.
Formal CEO speech at an anniversary
公司成立十年来，我们披荆斩棘，才有今天的成就。
In the ten years since our founding, we've cleared every obstacle to reach today's success.
Texting a classmate after a hard exam season
终于考完了！这段时间我们真是披荆斩棘啊。
Finally done! We really fought through the trenches this term.
Cultural Background
The phrase originates from the 'Book of the Later Han' (Hou Han Shu), referring to General Feng Yi's dedication to Emperor Guangwu. In modern pop culture, it gained a massive second life through the hit reality show 'Call Me By Fire' (Chinese title: 披荆斩棘的哥哥), which features older male celebrities competing and reinventing themselves.
Pair it with 'Success'
This phrase is almost always followed by a positive outcome. It's about the struggle *before* the victory.
Don't use for 'easy' help
If someone just helped you carry groceries, don't use this. It makes you sound like you think they just fought a war.
In 15 Seconds
- Hacking through thorns to create a new path forward.
- Overcoming major hardships through sheer willpower and hard work.
- Used for heroic efforts, startups, and major life milestones.
What It Means
Imagine you are lost in a dense, prickly forest. You have no path. You take out a machete and start hacking. That is 披荆斩棘. It represents the grit needed to face tough challenges. It is about clearing a way where none existed before. You are not just walking; you are pioneering.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a verb or an adjective. Usually, it describes a long, difficult journey or project. You can say someone 披荆斩棘 to reach success. It sounds powerful and heroic. Use it when the struggle was real and messy. It is perfect for startup founders or athletes.
When To Use It
Use it in a graduation speech to inspire others. Use it in a business meeting to praise a team. It works well when discussing historical figures or innovators. If your friend finally finished a grueling PhD, say this. It acknowledges their sweat and tears. It makes their achievement feel epic and legendary.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for small, easy tasks. If you just cleared your inbox, it is too much. Avoid it for minor inconveniences like traffic jams. It is a 'big energy' phrase. Using it for trivial things sounds sarcastic or dramatic. Unless you are being funny, keep it for the big wins.
Cultural Background
This phrase dates back to the 'Book of the Later Han'. It originally described a general clearing land for an army. For centuries, it has symbolized the Chinese spirit of perseverance. It is deeply tied to the idea of 'opening up' new frontiers. It reflects a culture that values hard work and endurance. Today, it is even the title of a popular reality show!
Common Variations
You might hear 乘风破浪 (ride the wind, break the waves). That one is more about momentum and speed. 披荆斩棘 is more about the physical struggle of clearing obstacles. Both are high-level idioms for success. Use them together if you want to sound extra poetic. Just don't trip over your own metaphors!
Usage Notes
While formal, its popularity in modern media makes it accessible. Avoid using it for mundane tasks to prevent sounding overly dramatic or sarcastic.
Pair it with 'Success'
This phrase is almost always followed by a positive outcome. It's about the struggle *before* the victory.
Don't use for 'easy' help
If someone just helped you carry groceries, don't use this. It makes you sound like you think they just fought a war.
The 'Older Brother' Effect
If you mention this phrase to young Chinese people, they might immediately think of the TV show 'Call Me By Fire'. It's very trendy right now!
Examples
6创业虽然辛苦，但我相信你能披荆斩棘，走向成功。
Starting a business is hard, but I believe you can hack through the thorns to success.
A classic way to show support for a big life move.
公司成立十年来，我们披荆斩棘，才有今天的成就。
In the ten years since our founding, we've cleared every obstacle to reach today's success.
Emphasizes the company's history of overcoming struggle.
终于考完了！这段时间我们真是披荆斩棘啊。
Finally done! We really fought through the trenches this term.
Slightly dramatic but shows shared struggle.
想走到你床边，真得披荆斩棘才行。
To get to your bed, I literally have to hack through a jungle of mess.
Using a grand idiom for a silly situation creates irony.
父母为我们披荆斩棘，才换来了我们现在的幸福生活。
Our parents cleared the path for us so we could have this happy life.
Shows deep gratitude and respect for sacrifice.
你们在比赛中披荆斩棘，最终夺冠，太棒了！
You fought through every challenge in the tournament to win the title, amazing!
Perfect for competitive contexts.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about a difficult journey.
无论前方有多少困难，我们都要___，勇往直前。
`披荆斩棘` fits because it implies overcoming obstacles to move forward.
Which context is MOST appropriate for this phrase?
这位科学家在研究领域___，终于取得了突破。
Scientific research often involves overcoming many obstacles, making this the perfect fit.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality and Intensity Spectrum
Used ironically for small chores.
Cleaning a messy desk.
Talking about personal goals.
Studying for a difficult degree.
Speeches, history, or business.
A company overcoming a market crisis.
Where to use 披荆斩棘
Startup Culture
Pitching to investors about market entry.
Education
Graduation speech about the 4-year journey.
Sports
Winning a championship against the odds.
Personal Growth
Overcoming a health or personal crisis.
Practice Bank
2 exercises无论前方有多少困难，我们都要___，勇往直前。
`披荆斩棘` fits because it implies overcoming obstacles to move forward.
这位科学家在研究领域___，终于取得了突破。
Scientific research often involves overcoming many obstacles, making this the perfect fit.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is mostly used metaphorically now. You can use it for mental struggles, business challenges, or scientific research like 在科研道路上披荆斩棘.
Yes, but it might sound a bit boastful. It is better to use it to praise others or to describe a collective effort like 我们一起披荆斩棘.
Not if the situation is serious. If a friend just passed a huge exam, texting 恭喜你披荆斩棘，成功上岸！ is very encouraging.
披荆斩棘 emphasizes the painful removal of obstacles. 乘风破浪 emphasizes using momentum to move fast toward a goal.
Only as a joke! It sounds very dramatic, so your friends will know you are being funny about the clutter.
It usually acts as a verb phrase. You can say [Person] 披荆斩棘 or use it as a modifier like 披荆斩棘的精神 (the spirit of clearing obstacles).
Yes, it is a classic four-character idiom (Chengyu) with a rich historical background.
Not really. It is almost exclusively positive because it focuses on the bravery and effort of the person involved.
Absolutely. It is very common in annual reports or speeches to describe a company's growth through tough times.
Focus on the 'zhǎn' (third tone). It should sound sharp and decisive, mirroring the action of chopping.
Related Phrases
乘风破浪 (Ride the wind and waves)
排除万难 (Remove all difficulties)
艰苦奋斗 (Hard struggle/work)
一帆风顺 (Smooth sailing - the opposite!)
