諺語 · a single proverb
九牛二虎之力
What does 九牛二虎之力 (jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì) mean?
九牛二虎之力 (jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "the strength of nine oxen and two tigers." In use it means: An enormous amount of effort; the kind of force required when the task refuses to yield to anything less. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "the strength of nine oxen and two tigers."
The reading
You did not underestimate the difficulty. You simply did not know it would take eleven animals' worth of force until you were already pulling. Some problems announce their weight honestly. Others let you find out halfway through, when quitting costs more than finishing.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common literary idiom; Yuan-Ming literary tradition
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Perseverance & the Long Road, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 九牛二虎之力 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 九牛二虎之力 (jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common literary idiom; Yuan-Ming literary tradition. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 九牛二虎之力?
In Mandarin it is jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 九牛二虎之力 aloud in Mandarin.