中流砥柱

zhōngliú-dǐzhù

idiom #29,443

Meanings

1 mainstay
2 pillar of strength
3 cornerstone
4 tower of strength (one who stands firm in adversity)

Characters

middle; center; amid

to flow; current; stream

whetstone; to sharpen; firm

pillar; column; post

Examples

他是公司的中流砥柱，缺少不了他。

Tā shì gōngsī de zhōngliúdǐzhù, quēshǎo bu liǎo tā.

He is the backbone of the company — they cannot do without him.

在国家危难之际，军队是中流砥柱。

Zài guójiā wēinàn zhījì, jūnduì shì zhōngliúdǐzhù.

When the nation is in peril, the army is the pillar of strength.

Tips

history

中流砥柱 refers to a rock (砥柱山) in the middle of the Yellow River at Sanmenxia that remains standing despite the fierce current. It became a metaphor for someone who stands firm and supports others amid great pressure or difficulty.

Stroke Order

中 zhōng

流 liú

砥 dǐ

柱 zhù