jyu4 gung1 ji4 saan1愚公移山
Jyutpingjyu4 gung1 ji4 saan1
Yaleyùh gūng yìh sāan
Definition
To persistently work to achieve something seemingly impossible, showing courage and determination to overcome difficulties.
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How it's used
This idiom originates from a classic Chinese fable about an old man who insisted on moving mountains by hand, believing his descendants would eventually finish the task. In modern Cantonese, it is used to praise someone's extreme persistence and long-term commitment to a seemingly impossible goal. It carries a sense of admiration for someone who refuses to be discouraged by the sheer scale of a challenge.
Examples
He has the spirit of 'the foolish old man moving the mountain' at work and never gives up no matter how hard it is.
min6面deoi3對ni1呢go3個kwan3困guk6局，ngo5我dei6哋hai6係mai6咪jiu3要faat3發fai1揮jyu4愚gung1公ji4移saan1山ge3嘅ngai6毅lik6力le1呢？
Facing this deadlock, should we demonstrate the perseverance of 'the foolish old man moving the mountain'?
Related words
Common phrases
the spirit of persistent effort
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
