Tā dài zhe bù pò Lóulán zhōng bù huán de juéxīn tóurù yánfā.
He threw himself into R&D with the resolve that he would not come back until the job was done.
Tips
history
Closing line of Wang Changling's (王昌龄, Tang dynasty) 《从军行·其四》: 青海长云暗雪山，孤城遥望玉门关。黄沙百战穿金甲，不破楼兰终不还 — 'Dark clouds over Qinghai darken the snowy peaks; from the lone frontier city one gazes at Yumen Pass. A hundred battles in yellow sand pierce our golden armor — we will not return until Loulan is broken.' Loulan was an oasis kingdom along the Silk Road, shorthand here for any western enemy.
usage
楼兰 (Lóulán) is read with an initial L, not Ló-lán — one word. Used widely in modern Chinese as a no-retreat oath, from sports slogans to corporate keynotes.
