伤筋动骨 injure tendons and bones
Explanation
比喻事物受到重大损害，影响很大，需要花费很大力气才能恢复。
It means that something has been seriously damaged and has had a great impact, requiring a lot of effort to restore.
Origin Story
传说，在古代有一位名叫李白的诗人，他常年游历四方，写下了许多脍炙人口的诗篇。有一天，李白乘船游览长江，不幸遇上了暴风雨。狂风巨浪拍打着船身，船体剧烈摇晃，李白被颠簸得头昏脑涨，不小心把装有珍贵书籍的箱子掉入了江中。李白心痛不已，连忙跳下水去寻找箱子。可是，江水湍急，箱子早已经被洪流卷走，无影无踪。李白捞了一阵，一无所获，只得失望地回到岸边。从此以后，李白失去了许多珍贵的诗稿，他十分惋惜，感叹道：“我这次真是伤筋动骨，痛不欲生啊！”，从此再也没有创作出与以前相媲美的诗篇。
Legend has it that in ancient times there was a poet named Li Bai who traveled far and wide for many years, writing many popular poems. One day, Li Bai was sailing on the Yangtze River when he was caught in a violent storm. The strong wind and huge waves beat against the hull of the boat, which swayed violently. Li Bai was so dizzy from the tossing that he accidentally dropped the box containing his precious books into the river. Li Bai was heartbroken and immediately jumped into the water to search for the box. But the current was fast and the box had already been swept away by the torrent, without a trace. Li Bai searched for a while but found nothing, and had to return to the shore in disappointment. From then on, Li Bai lost many of his precious manuscripts, and he was very regretful and lamented:
Usage
这个成语用来形容事物受到重大损害，影响很大，需要花费很大力气才能恢复。
This idiom is used to describe something that has been seriously damaged, has had a great impact, and requires a lot of effort to restore.
Examples
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这场改革触及了国家的根本利益，可谓是伤筋动骨。
zhe chang gai ge chu ji le guo jia de gen ben li yi, ke wei shi shang jin dong gu.
This reform has touched upon the fundamental interests of the country, it can be said to be a major overhaul.
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这次事故让工厂遭受了伤筋动骨的损失。
zhe ci shi gu rang gong chang zao shou le shang jin dong gu de sun shi.
This accident has caused the factory to suffer a major loss.