pei1 ging1 zaam2 gik1披荊斬棘披荆斩棘
Jyutpingpei1 ging1 zaam2 gik1
Yalepēi gīng jáam gīk
Definition
To overcome difficulties; to cut through thorns and briars.
writtenworkdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of heroic struggle and is typically reserved for describing significant life achievements or long term endeavors. It is much more formal than everyday expressions like 捱苦, making it suitable for speeches, formal writing, or serious discussions about someone's career path. Using it to describe minor daily inconveniences would sound overly dramatic or sarcastic.
Examples
They overcame many obstacles back then to build this company.
Although the startup process was full of hardships, he never gave up.
Related words
Common phrases
the spirit of overcoming obstacles
to overcome obstacles all the way
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this phrase to describe simple physical labor or routine chores. It specifically refers to overcoming major obstacles or pioneering a difficult path, rather than just working hard at a standard task.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
