yúgōngyíshān: 愚公移山 - The Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains

• Keywords: 愚公移山, yugongyishan, Chinese idiom for perseverance, the foolish old man moves mountains, Chinese story about determination, Mao Zedong speech, Chinese fable, what does yugongyishan mean, chengyu for perseverance.
• Summary: The Chinese idiom 愚公移山 (Yú Gōng Yí Shān), literally “the foolish old man moves mountains,” is a famous chengyu that celebrates the power of unwavering determination and perseverance to overcome seemingly impossible odds. Originating from an ancient fable, the story tells of an old man who decides to dig away two mountains blocking his home, inspiring generations with the idea that with enough persistence, even the most monumental tasks can be accomplished. It remains a powerful symbol of grit and long-term vision in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): Yú Gōng Yí Shān
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom) / Proverb
• HSK Level: N/A (Considered essential cultural knowledge beyond HSK levels)
• Concise Definition: An idiom that means with sheer willpower and tireless persistence, one can achieve a monumental, seemingly impossible goal.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a task so huge that everyone calls you a fool for even trying. That's the spirit of `愚公移山`. It's not about being clever or finding a shortcut; it's about having the conviction to start an enormous project and the faith that you, your children, and their children will continue the work until it's done. It champions long-term, unyielding effort against impossible obstacles.

• 愚 (yú): Foolish, stupid. In this context, it's part of a name, but the “foolishness” is ironic, as it's this perceived foolishness that ultimately leads to success.
• 公 (gōng): A respectful term for an old man; can also mean “duke” or “public”. Here, it means “Old Man” or “Grandpa”.
• 移 (yí): To move, shift, or relocate.
• 山 (shān): Mountain.

These characters combine literally to form the title of the story: “The Foolish Old Man (Yu Gong) Moves the Mountains.” The meaning of the idiom is a direct reference to the moral of this story.

The story of `愚公移山` originates from the ancient Daoist text `Liezi`. It tells of a 90-year-old man named Yu Gong whose house faced two great mountains, making travel difficult. He decided to level them. A “wise” man laughed at him, saying it was impossible. Yu Gong replied, “When I die, my sons will carry on; when they die, there will be their sons, and so on endlessly. The mountains, however, cannot grow higher. Why can't we level them?” The gods, moved by his sincerity, moved the mountains for him. While ancient, the idiom was catapulted into modern fame by Mao Zedong. In a famous 1945 speech, he used the story to rally the Communist Party, comparing imperialism and feudalism to the “two great mountains” weighing on the Chinese people. He declared that if the Party worked with the perseverance of Yu Gong, they could move these mountains. This speech embedded `愚公移山` deep into the national consciousness as a symbol of collective will and national struggle. Comparison to a Western Concept: A close Western equivalent is “Where there's a will, there's a way.” However, `愚公移山` has a distinctly different flavor.

• Scope: The Western phrase often applies to individual, achievable goals. `愚公移山` is reserved for tasks of an epic, almost impossible scale.
• Timeframe: “Where there's a will…” implies success within a reasonable timeframe. `愚公移山` embraces an inter-generational struggle, where you may start a task you will not live to see finished.
• Effort: The Western phrase implies finding a “way” (a method or path). `愚公移山` emphasizes the brute-force, tireless, and unglamorous nature of the work itself. It is a testament to grit above all else.

This highlights the Chinese cultural value of long-term planning, perseverance (`持之以恒`), and the collective good over individual reward.

`愚公移山` is almost always used in a positive and admiring way. It's a formal idiom but is widely understood. You'll hear it in motivational speeches, see it in corporate slogans, and read it in articles praising major achievements.

• In Business and Startups: It can describe the spirit needed to build a company from nothing, competing against giants. “We need the spirit of `愚公移山` to succeed in this market.”
• For National Projects: State media often uses it to describe massive infrastructure projects, like the Three Gorges Dam or poverty alleviation programs. It frames these as monumental national achievements requiring the collective will of the people.
• For Personal Encouragement: You might use it to encourage a friend facing a huge life challenge, like overcoming a serious illness or pursuing a very difficult career path. It says, “I know this looks impossible, but your consistent effort will conquer it.”

Example 1: 我们公司需要有愚公移山的精神才能在竞争激烈的市场中生存下来。 Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī xūyào yǒu Yú Gōng Yí Shān de jīngshén cáinéng zài jìngzhēng jīliè de shìchǎng zhōng shēngcún xiàlái. English: Our company needs the spirit of “the old man moving mountains” to survive in this fiercely competitive market. Analysis: Here, the idiom describes the immense, persistent effort required for a business to succeed against overwhelming odds. It's used as a motivational rallying cry. Example 2: 他花了二十年时间写这本书，真有愚公移山的毅力。 Pinyin: Tā huāle èrshí nián shíjiān xiě zhè běn shū, zhēn yǒu Yú Gōng Yí Shān de yìlì. English: He spent twenty years writing this book; he truly has the perseverance of “the old man moving mountains.” Analysis: This praises an individual's long-term dedication to a single, massive project. The timeframe (20 years) makes the use of this idiom appropriate. Example 3: 只要我们有愚公移山的志气，就一定能把这个项目完成。 Pinyin: Zhǐyào wǒmen yǒu Yú Gōng Yí Shān de zhìqì, jiù yīdìng néng bǎ zhège xiàngmù wánchéng. English: As long as we have the will of “the old man moving mountains,” we can definitely complete this project. Analysis: `志气 (zhìqì)` means “ambition” or “will.” This sentence uses the idiom to inspire a team to tackle a difficult project. Example 4: 学习中文对很多外国人来说，就像愚公移山，需要每天坚持。 Pinyin: Xuéxí Zhōngwén duì hěn duō wàiguó rén lái shuō, jiù xiàng Yú Gōng Yí Shān, xūyào měitiān jiānchí. English: For many foreigners, learning Chinese is like “the old man moving mountains”; it requires daily persistence. Analysis: This is a relatable example for learners, comparing the long, slow, and sometimes daunting process of language acquisition to moving a mountain. Example 5: 当年，他们靠着愚公移山的精神，在这片荒地上建起了一座新城。 Pinyin: Dāngnián, tāmen kàozhe Yú Gōng Yí Shān de jīngshén, zài zhè piàn huāngdì shàng jiàn qǐle yī zuò xīnchéng. English: Back then, relying on the spirit of “the old man moving mountains,” they built a new city on this barren land. Analysis: This describes a past achievement of a grand scale, attributing the success to this particular type of unyielding determination. Example 6: 解决环境污染问题，需要几代人愚公移山般的努力。 Pinyin: Jiějué huánjìng wūrǎn wèntí, xūyào jǐ dài rén Yú Gōng Yí Shān bān de nǔlì. English: Solving the problem of environmental pollution will require the “mountain-moving” efforts of several generations. Analysis: The phrase `般的 (bān de)` means “like” or “sort of,” turning the idiom into a descriptive adjective. This perfectly captures the inter-generational aspect of the original story. Example 7: 别小看他，他有愚公移山的决心，迟早会成功的。 Pinyin: Bié xiǎokàn tā, tā yǒu Yú Gōng Yí Shān de juéxīn, chízǎo huì chénggōng de. English: Don't underestimate him; he has the determination of “the old man moving mountains” and will succeed sooner or later. Analysis: This usage warns against dismissing someone's seemingly “foolish” or ambitious goal because their level of determination is extraordinary. Example 8: 这个科学难题困扰了学界百年，只有拿出愚公移山的劲头才可能攻克。 Pinyin: Zhège kēxué nántí kùnrǎo le xuéjiè bǎi nián, zhǐyǒu ná chū Yú Gōng Yí Shān de jìntóu cái kěnéng gōngkè. English: This scientific puzzle has baffled academia for a century; only with the drive of “the old man moving mountains” can it possibly be solved. Analysis: `劲头 (jìntóu)` refers to energy or drive. This example applies the idiom to intellectual or scientific pursuits that are long-term and extremely difficult. Example 9: 毛主席曾号召全国人民，要发扬愚公移山的精神，改造中国。 Pinyin: Máo Zhǔxí céng hàozhào quánguó rénmín, yào fāyáng Yú Gōng Yí Shān de jīngshén, gǎizào Zhōngguó. English: Chairman Mao once called upon the entire nation to carry forward the spirit of “the old man moving mountains” to transform China. Analysis: This is a historical reference, showing the idiom's use in a major political and social context. `发扬 (fāyáng)` means to promote or carry forward (a spirit). Example 10: 面对如此巨大的债务，他只能以愚公移山的方式，一点一点地偿还。 Pinyin: Miànduì rúcǐ jùdà de zhàiwù, tā zhǐnéng yǐ Yú Gōng Yí Shān de fāngshì, yīdiǎn yīdiǎn de chánghuán. English: Faced with such huge debts, he could only repay them little by little, in the manner of “the old man moving mountains.” Analysis: This shows the idiom applied to a personal financial struggle, emphasizing the slow, painstaking, but determined process of overcoming the debt.

• Don't use it for small tasks: The biggest mistake is to use `愚公移山` for a minor or short-term challenge. You would not use it to describe finishing a difficult homework assignment or cleaning your house. Doing so is hyperbole and sounds strange. It is reserved for truly monumental, long-term, or seemingly impossible undertakings.
• The “Foolishness” is Heroic, Not Stupid: A learner might see `愚 (yú)` and think the idiom is critical. It's the opposite. The “foolishness” is what the short-sighted world sees. The idiom celebrates this “foolish” determination as a virtue. The hero of the story is praised for ignoring the cynics.
• It's about the process, not a clever solution: `愚公移山` is not about finding a smart way to solve a problem. It's about solving it through sheer, unyielding, hard work. If the story was about Yu Gong inventing dynamite to blow up the mountain, it would be a completely different idiom.

• 精卫填海 (jīng wèi tián hǎi) - A mythical bird tries to fill the ocean with pebbles. A very close synonym in theme, representing a seemingly futile but determined struggle against impossible odds.
• 水滴石穿 (shuǐ dī shí chuān) - “Dripping water penetrates stone.” Emphasizes the power of small, consistent, and persistent actions over a long period.
• 铁杵磨成针 (tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn) - “An iron rod is ground down into a needle.” Similar to `水滴石穿`, it highlights how patience and hard work can lead to achieving a difficult goal. Often used to encourage students.
• 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng) - “To persevere.” A more general and very common verb phrase for “to stick with something.” `愚公移山` is a specific story embodying this principle.
• 坚持不懈 (jiān chí bù xiè) - “To persist unremittingly.” A common idiom for not giving up; a close synonym of `持之以恒`.
• 有志者事竟成 (yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng) - “Where there is a will, there is a way.” This is a more direct translation for the English phrase and focuses on ambition leading to success.
• 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) - “To give up halfway.” This is a direct antonym, describing the act of abandoning a task before it is complete, the opposite of the `愚公移山` spirit.