【No. 2194】Gashin Shōtan (臥薪嘗胆 - Struggling against Difficulties)
Oct 24, 2023 22:45
Gashin Shōtan
To endure hardships and continue making efforts to achieve one's goal is called gashin shōtan (臥薪嘗胆).
Gashin (臥薪) means "to sleep on firewood," and shōtan (嘗胆) means "to lick bitter gall," both of which imply to endure hardships.
This four-character idiom originates from a Chinese historical tale and originally meant "to endure hardships willingly never to forget one's desire for revenge."
This is how it came to have its current meaning over time.
It suggests a very long period of hardships and efforts, not a short-term one.
To endure hardships and continue making efforts to achieve one's goal is called gashin shōtan (臥薪嘗胆).
Gashin (臥薪) means "to sleep on firewood," and shōtan (嘗胆) means "to lick bitter gall," both of which imply to endure hardships.
This four-character idiom originates from a Chinese historical tale and originally meant "to endure hardships willingly never to forget one's desire for revenge."
This is how it came to have its current meaning over time.
It suggests a very long period of hardships and efforts, not a short-term one.
臥薪嘗胆
目的を達成するため、苦労を重ねたり、努力を続けることを、「臥薪嘗胆」と言います。
「臥薪」は薪の上で寝ることを、「嘗胆」は苦いきもを嘗めることを意味し、いずれも苦しみに耐えることを示唆します。
この四字熟語は中国の故事に由来し、もともとは「復讐の志を忘れないようにすすんで苦しみに耐えること」を意味していました。
これが転じて、現在の意味を持つようになったというわけです。
短期的なものではなく、とても長い期間の苦労や努力を示唆するものとなっています。
目的を達成するため、苦労を重ねたり、努力を続けることを、「臥薪嘗胆」と言います。
「臥薪」は薪の上で寝ることを、「嘗胆」は苦いきもを嘗めることを意味し、いずれも苦しみに耐えることを示唆します。
この四字熟語は中国の故事に由来し、もともとは「復讐の志を忘れないようにすすんで苦しみに耐えること」を意味していました。
これが転じて、現在の意味を持つようになったというわけです。
短期的なものではなく、とても長い期間の苦労や努力を示唆するものとなっています。
Corrections (3)
No. 1 O-Star
- Gashin Shōtan (臥薪嘗胆 - Struggling against Difficulties)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Gashin Shōtan
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- To endure hardships and continue making efforts to achieve one's goal is called 'gashin shōtan' (臥薪嘗胆).
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- 'Gashin' (臥薪) means "to sleep on firewood," and 'shōtan' (嘗胆) means "to lick bitter gall," both of which imply to endure hardships.
- 'Gashin' (臥薪) means "to sleep on firewood," and 'shōtan' (嘗胆) means "to lick bitter gall," both of which refer to enduring hardships.
- This four-character idiom originates from a Chinese historical tale and originally meant "to endure hardships willingly never to forget one's desire for revenge."
- This four-character idiom originates from a Chinese historical tale and originally meant "to endure hardships willingly and to never forget one's desire for revenge."
- This is how it came to have its current meaning over time.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- It suggests a very long period of hardships and efforts, not a short-term one.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you for the corrections!
Thank you for the corrections!
O-Star
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
No. 2 friendfromfaraway
- Gashin Shōtan (臥薪嘗胆 - Struggling against Difficulties)
- Gashin Shōtan (臥薪嘗胆 - Struggling through hardships)
- To endure hardships and continue making efforts to achieve one's goal is called 'gashin shōtan' (臥薪嘗胆).
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- 'Gashin' (臥薪) means "to sleep on firewood," and 'shōtan' (嘗胆) means "to lick bitter gall," both of which imply to endure hardships.
- 'Gashin' (臥薪) means "to sleep on firewood," and 'shōtan' (嘗胆) means "to lick bitter gall," both of which are metaphors for enduring hardships.
- This four-character idiom originates from a Chinese historical tale and originally meant "to endure hardships willingly never to forget one's desire for revenge."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- This is how it came to have its current meaning over time.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- It suggests a very long period of hardships and efforts, not a short-term one.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Interesting phrase. I did not know the character "臥"!
Toru
Thank you for the corrections!
> Interesting phrase. I did not know the character "臥"!
The kanji "臥" is difficult, and I believe many Japanese people might not be able to read it, haha.
Thank you for the corrections!
> Interesting phrase. I did not know the character "臥"!
The kanji "臥" is difficult, and I believe many Japanese people might not be able to read it, haha.
No. 3 Amop567
- Gashin Shōtan (臥薪嘗胆 - Struggling against Difficulties)
- Gashin Shōtan (臥薪嘗胆 - Struggling Against Difficulties)
- To endure hardships and continue making efforts to achieve one's goal is called 'gashin shōtan' (臥薪嘗胆).
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- This is how it came to have its current meaning over time.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- It suggests a very long period of hardships and efforts, not a short-term one.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
I memorized this term from Yuriko Koike's 臥薪嘗胆ヘア. (Old political anecdote)
Never knew the origin. Very interesting.
Toru
Thank you for the correction!
Wow, you really know a lot about current affairs in Japan!
Thank you for the correction!
Wow, you really know a lot about current affairs in Japan!
Amop567
ha, yeah it's a very obscure reference I imagine, but it just stuck in my memory.
Thanks for the informative entries as always. ^^
ha, yeah it's a very obscure reference I imagine, but it just stuck in my memory.
Thanks for the informative entries as always. ^^