卧薪尝胆

wòxīnchángdǎn

sleep on brushwood and taste gall—undergo self-imposed hardships

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undergo self-imposed hardships so as to strengthen one's resolve to do sth.

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undergo self-imposed hardships so as to strengthen one's resolve to do sth.

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wo4 xin1 chang2 dan3

lit. to lie on firewood and taste gall (idiom); fig. suffering patiently, but firmly resolved on revenge

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卧薪尝胆

wò xīn cháng dǎn

sleep on the brushwood (sticks) and taste the gall -- to nurse vengeance; endure hardships to accomplish some ambition; eat (swallow) the leek; (For days) I have lain, as it were, upon thorns, and my mouth filled with gall.; lie on faggots and taste gall -- undergo self-imposed hardships so as to strengthen one's resolve to wipe out a national humiliation; put up with an insult in order to take revenge; stoop to conquer (win):

他卧薪尝胆， 图谋报复。 He endured hardships to plan retaliation.

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臥薪嚐膽|卧薪尝胆 [wò xīn cháng dǎn] ► lit. to lie on firewood and taste gall (idiom); fig. suffering patiently, but firmly resolved on revenge