卧薪尝胆wò xīn cháng dǎnto maintain one's resolve for revenge

1. 1.

   to maintain one's resolve for revengeidiom

Figurative meaning

To maintain one's resolve for revenge.

Literal meaning

To sleep on brushwood and taste gall.

• 卧to lie
• 薪(literary) firewood; fuel
• 尝to taste; to try (food)
• 胆gall

The story

After Wu spared Yue, King Goujian of Yue returned to his state. He punished his body and troubled his mind, set a gall bladder by his seat, looked up at it whenever he sat or lay down, and tasted it whenever he ate or drank.

卧薪尝胆 is formal and can describe someone who bears hardship for years after a defeat in order to come back stronger.

1. HSK 4

   比赛输了以后，他卧薪尝胆，每天练习到很晚。

   Bǐsài shū le yǐhòu, tā wò xīn cháng dǎn, měitiān liànxí dào hěn wǎn.

   After losing the match, he kept his resolve to win it back, practicing late every day.

2. HSK 4

   公司失败后，他们卧薪尝胆，终于重新站了起来。

   Gōngsī shībài hòu, tāmen wò xīn cháng dǎn, zhōngyú chóngxīn zhàn le qǐlai.

   After the company failed, they endured hardship with firm resolve and finally got back on their feet.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   去年你们队输得很惨。

   Qùnián nǐmen duì shū de hěn cǎn.

   Your team lost badly last year.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   是啊，我们一直记着那次比赛。

   Shì a, wǒmen yìzhí jìzhe nà cì bǐsài.

   Yes, we've never forgotten that match.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   今年你们准备得怎么样？

   Jīnnián nǐmen zhǔnbèi de zěnmeyàng?

   How is your preparation going this year?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   我们卧薪尝胆一年了，这次一定要赢。

   Wǒmen wò xīn cháng dǎn yì nián le, zhè cì yídìng yào yíng.

   We've kept our resolve for a whole year; this time we must win.

1. 1.What does 卧薪尝胆 mean?

   ATo maintain one's resolve for revengeBTo sleep well at nightCTo enjoy a good meal
2. 2.Which sentence uses 卧薪尝胆 correctly?

   A比赛输了以后，他卧薪尝胆，每天练习。B这个菜很卧薪尝胆。C他卧薪尝胆地笑了。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 输了以后，他____，每天努力练习。 (After losing, he kept his resolve and practiced hard every day.)

   A卧薪尝胆B一箭双雕C马马虎虎

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