夸父追日

kuāfù-zhuīrì

idiom

Meanings

1 Kuafu chasing the sun
2 to pursue an overly ambitious or impossible goal; an heroic but doomed effort

Characters

boast (here: Kuafu, a name)

Examples

HSK 3

这种精神就是夸父追日。

Zhèzhǒng jīngshén jiùshì Kuāfùzhuīrì.

This kind of spirit is like Kuafu chasing the sun.

HSK 4

他一个人想完成这么大的项目,简直是夸父追日。

Tā yīgè rén xiǎng wánchéng zhème dà de xiàngmù, jiǎnzhí shì Kuāfùzhuīrì.

Him trying to finish such a huge project alone is just like Kuafu chasing the sun.

HSK 7-9

夸父追日的故事表达了中国人不畏艰难的精神。

Kuāfùzhuīrì de gùshì biǎodá le Zhōngguórén búwèi jiānnán de jīngshén.

The story of Kuafu chasing the sun expresses the Chinese spirit of fearlessness in the face of difficulty.

Tips

culture

From 《山海经》 (Shān Hǎi Jīng, Classic of Mountains and Seas). The giant Kuafu raced the sun, dried two rivers dry from thirst, collapsed and died before reaching it. His staff transformed into a peach forest. In modern usage the idiom carries both tones: foolhardy overreach AND admirable determination.

Stroke Order

夸 kuā

父 fù

追 zhuī

日 rì