十年生聚 shí nián shēng jù Accumulate for Ten Years

Explanation

这个成语比喻长期积累实力，以图报复或实现目标。

This idiom refers to the long-term accumulation of strength in order to avenge or achieve a goal.

Origin Story

春秋时期，吴国强大，攻打越国，越王勾践战败被俘，被迫到吴国为奴。吴王夫差为了羞辱勾践，让他尝遍苦楚，勾践忍辱负重，暗中观察吴国的国情，学习吴国的治国方略。他每天睡在柴草上，睡前尝尝苦胆，时刻提醒自己不要忘记亡国之恨。他还努力学习农业技术，发展生产，壮大自己的实力。经过十年的忍辱负重，勾践终于获得吴王夫差的信任，被释放回越国。回国后，他励精图治，积极备战，最终在十年的时间里，积聚了强大的力量，终于打败了吴国，报了灭国之仇。

chūn qiū shí qī, wú guó qiáng dà, gōng dǎ yuè guó, yuè wáng gōu jiàn zhàn bài bèi fú, bèi pò dào wú guó wéi nú. wú wáng fū chā wèi le xiū rǔ gōu jiàn, ràng tā cháng biàn kǔ chǔ, gōu jiàn rěn rǔ fù zhòng, àn zhōng guān chá wú guó de guó qíng, xué xí wú guó de zhì guó fāng lüè. tā měi tiān shuì zài cái cǎo shàng, shuì qián cháng cháng kǔ dǎn, shí kè tí xíng zì jǐ bù yào wàng jì wáng guó zhī hèn. tā hái nǔ lì xué xí nóng yè jì shù, fā zhǎn shēng chǎn, zhuàng dà zì jǐ de shí lì. jīng guò shí nián de rěn rǔ fù zhòng, gōu jiàn zhōng yú huò dé wú wáng fū chā de xìn rèn, bèi shì fàng huí yuè guó. huí guó hòu, tā lì jīng tú zhì, jī jí bèi zhàn, zuì zhōng zài shí nián de shí jiān lǐ, jī jù le qiáng dà de lì liàng, zhōng yú dǎ bài le wú guó, bào le miè guó zhī chóu.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Kingdom of Wu was strong and attacked the Kingdom of Yue. The King of Yue, Goujian, was defeated and captured, and was forced to serve as a slave in Wu. King Fuchai of Wu wanted to humiliate Goujian and made him experience all the bitterness of life. Goujian endured this humiliation patiently and secretly observed the situation in Wu and learned the art of government from Wu. He slept on straw every day and tasted gall before going to bed, constantly reminding himself of the shame of his country's downfall. He also tried hard to learn agricultural techniques, develop production and strengthen his own strength. After ten years of enduring humiliation and suffering, Goujian gained the trust of King Fuchai of Wu and was released back to Yue. Upon his return, he ruled with all his might, actively prepared for war and gathered a strong force within ten years. Finally, he defeated Wu and avenged the destruction of his country.

Usage

这个成语一般用于形容一个人或一个集体经过长时间的努力，积累了强大的实力，最终取得成功。

zhè ge chéng yǔ yī bàn yòng yú xíng róng yī ge rén huò yī ge jí tí jīng guò cháng shí jiān de nǔ lì, jī lěi le qiáng dà de shí lì, zuì zhōng qǔ dé chéng gōng.

This idiom is generally used to describe a person or a group that has accumulated great strength after a long time of effort and finally achieved success.

Examples

• 越王勾践卧薪尝胆，十年生聚，十年教训，最终灭掉了吴国。

  yuè wáng gōu jiàn wò xīn cháng dǎn, shí nián shēng jù, shí nián jiào xùn, zuì zhōng miè diào le wú guó.

  King Goujian of Yue slept on a bed of thorns and tasted gall to remind himself of his humiliation by the king of Wu. After ten years of gathering strength and ten years of learning lessons, he finally destroyed the kingdom of Wu.

• 经过多年的经营，他们终于积聚了足够的资金，准备大干一场。

  jīng guò duō nián de jīng yíng, tā men zhōng yú jī jù le zú gòu de zījīn, zhǔn bèi dà gàn yī chǎng

  After years of hard work, they finally accumulated enough capital and were ready to make a big move.

Related Idioms

• 卧薪尝胆

• 十年教训

Opposite Idioms

• 一蹴而就

• 立竿见影

• 急功近利