手把红旗旗不湿

手把紅旗旗不濕
shǒu bǎ hóngqí qí bù shī
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 holding the red flag high, the flag stays dry
  2. 2 a praise of skilled tide-riders who master the waves
  3. 3 (lit.) hand gripping red flag, the flag not wet

Examples

Tā zài fēngkǒulàngjiān shàng gànshì yè, shǒubǎhóngqíqíbùshī.
He builds his career on the crest of the waves — red flag aloft, never wetted.
Nòng cháo ér shǒubǎhóngqíqíbùshī, lìngrén pèifú.
The tide-surfer keeps his red flag dry above the waves — truly admirable.

Tips

history
From Pan Lang's (, Northern Song) 《·》, describing the Qiantang tide-surfers of Hangzhou: 红旗湿。(The tide-surfer stands atop the breakers, gripping the red flag — and the flag stays dry.) A famous image of fearless skill amid natural fury.
usage
The first is the red flag as object of ; the second repeats it as the subject of 湿 — a stylistic reduplication common in song lyrics. Often cited as praise for poised leaders in turbulent markets or politics.

Stroke Order

shǒu
hóng
湿 shī