卧薪尝胆 in English wo4 xin1 chang2 dan3 Meaning

Meanings

  • 臥薪嘗膽
    • literally (word for word) to sleep on brushwood and taste gall (like King Gou Jian of Yue 勾踐|勾践[Gou1 Jian4]), in order to recall one's humiliations) (idiomatic expression)
    • metaphorically to maintain one's resolve for revenge
  • 臥薪嚐膽
    • literally (word for word) to lie on firewood and taste gall (idiomatic expression); metaphorically suffering patiently, but firmly resolved on revenge

Simplified Characters

卧 薪 尝 胆

Traditional Characters

臥 薪 嘗 膽 臥 薪 嚐 膽

Pinyin

wo4 xin1 chang2 dan3

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

卧wo4to lie 薪xin1fuel 尝chang2to taste 胆dan3gall bladder