諺語 · a single proverb
路漫漫其修遠兮
Simplified: 路漫漫其修远兮
What does 路漫漫其修遠兮 (lù màn màn qí xiū yuǎn xī) mean?
路漫漫其修遠兮 (lù màn màn qí xiū yuǎn xī) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "road long long its path far indeed." In use it means: The road is long and the journey far; one must keep searching and striving. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Horse.
Literally: "road long long its path far indeed."
The reading
The poet stood on the road and did not lie about its length. He said it stretches beyond what the eye can hold, and still he chose to walk. Honesty about the distance is not discouragement but preparation for a commitment made with open eyes. The long road walked willingly is different from one walked by surprise.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Qu Yuan 屈原·《離騷》 (Lí Sāo, Encountering Sorrow)
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 Horse, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 路漫漫其修遠兮 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 路漫漫其修遠兮 (lù màn màn qí xiū yuǎn xī) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Qu Yuan 屈原·《離騷》 (Lí Sāo, Encountering Sorrow). 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 路漫漫其修遠兮?
In Mandarin it is lù màn màn qí xiū yuǎn xī. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 路漫漫其修遠兮 aloud in Mandarin.