手把红旗旗不湿

手把紅旗旗不濕
shǒubǎhóngqíqíbùshī
phrase

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 fēngkǒu làngjiān shàng gàn shìyè, shǒu bǎ hóngqí qí bù shī.
He builds his career on the crest of the waves — red flag aloft, never wetted.
Nòngcháo'ér shǒu bǎ hóngqí qí bù shī, lìng rén 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: 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