厚积薄发 hòu jī bó fā Accumulate slowly, then suddenly unfold

Explanation

比喻在实践中积累大量的经验，以待时机成熟时，突然发挥出来取得成功。

It means to accumulate a lot of experience in practice and then use it when the time is ripe to suddenly achieve success.

Origin Story

话说在一个偏远的小山村里，住着一位名叫张铁匠的老铁匠。他从小就对打铁有着浓厚的兴趣，每天都勤奋地学习，练习打铁技艺。他从最基本的锻造开始，一步一个脚印，认真学习各种铁器的制作方法，不断改进自己的技艺。为了练好一手好铁匠的功夫，他经常一练就是一整天，即使是酷暑严冬，也从不间断。日复一日，年复一年，张铁匠的技艺越来越精湛，他打出来的兵器坚固耐用，受到了村民们的赞赏。村里人常说他打出来的铁器是一等一的，坚固耐用，胜过其他的铁匠。有一天，村子要建造一座新桥，需要打造大量的铁件。村长找到张铁匠，请他帮助建造新桥。张铁匠欣然接受了任务，他认真地规划设计，精心挑选材料，经过长时间的辛苦努力，他终于完成了这座新桥的铁件打造任务，桥梁非常的结实。这座桥不仅解决了村民的出行问题，还成为了村子的一道亮丽的风景线。大家对张铁匠的铁匠技艺赞叹不已。张铁匠用他的实际行动证明了厚积薄发的道理。

huì shuō zài yīgè piānyuǎn de xiǎo shān cūn lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào zhāng tiě jiàng de lǎo tiě jiàng. tā cóng xiǎo jiù duì dǎ tiě yǒu zhe nóng hòu de xìngqù, měi tiān dōu qínfèn de xuéxí, liànxí dǎ tiě jìyì. tā cóng zuì jīběn de duànzào kāishǐ, yībù yīgè jiǎoyìn, rènzhēn xuéxí gè zhǒng tiě qì de zhìzuò fāngfǎ, bùduàn gǎijìn zìjǐ de jìyì. wèile liàn hǎo yī shǒu hǎo tiě jiàng de gōngfu, tā jīngcháng yī liàn jiù shì yī zhěng tiān, jíshǐ shì kùshǔ yán dōng, yě cóng bù jiàn duàn. rì fù yī rì, nián fù yī nián, zhāng tiě jiàng de jìyì yuè lái yuè jīngzhàn, tā dǎ chū lái de bīngqì jiāngu lì yòng, shòudào le cūn mín men de zànshǎng. cūn lǐ rén cháng shuō tā dǎ chū lái de tiě qì shì yī děng yī de, jiāngu lì yòng, shèng guò qítā de tiě jiàng. yǒu yī tiān, cūn zi yào jiànzào yī zuò xīn qiáo, xūyào dǎzào dà liàng de tiě jiàn. cūn zhǎng zhǎodào zhāng tiě jiàng, qǐng tā bāngzhù jiànzào xīn qiáo. zhāng tiě jiàng xīn rán jiēshòu le rènwu, tā rènzhēn de guīhuà shèjì, jīngxīn tiāoxuǎn cáiliào, jīngguò cháng shíjiān de xīnkǔ nǔlì, tā zhōngyú wánchéng le zhè zuò xīn qiáo de tiě jiàn dǎzào rènwu, qiáoliáng de fēicháng de jiēshi. zhè zuò qiáo bù jǐn jiějué le cūn mín de chūxíng wèntí, hái chéngwéi le cūn zi de yī dào liànglì de fēngjǐng xiàn. dàjiā duì zhāng tiě jiàng de tiě jiàng jìyì zàntàn bù yǐ. zhāng tiě jiàng yòng tā de shíjì xíngdòng zhèngmíng le hòu jī bó fā de dàolǐ.

Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, there lived an old blacksmith named Zhang. From a young age, he was fascinated by blacksmithing and practiced diligently every day. He started with the basics of forging, step by step, learning the methods of making various ironware and constantly improving his skills. To perfect his blacksmithing skills, he often practiced for a whole day, even in the scorching summer and harsh winter. Day after day, year after year, Zhang's skills became more and more refined. The weapons he made were sturdy and durable, and were praised by the villagers. The villagers often said that his ironware was first-class, strong and durable, surpassing those of other blacksmiths. One day, the village needed to build a new bridge, which required a large number of iron parts. The village chief approached Zhang, asking for his help in building the new bridge. Zhang readily accepted the task. He carefully planned and designed, meticulously selected materials, and after a long period of hard work, he finally completed the task of forging the iron components for the new bridge. The bridge was incredibly solid. This bridge not only solved the villagers’ transportation problems, but also became a beautiful scenery in the village. Everyone admired Zhang’s blacksmithing skills. Zhang proved the meaning of "accumulating slowly and then suddenly unfolding" with his actions.

Usage

形容经过长时间的积累，在适当的时候爆发出来，取得显著的成绩。

xiáoróng jīngguò cháng shíjiān de jīlěi, zài shìdàng de shíhòu bàofā chūlái, qǔdé xiǎnzhù de chéngjī

It describes that after a long time of accumulation and preparation, one flourishes at the right moment and achieves remarkable results.

Examples

• 十年寒窗苦读，只为今朝厚积薄发。

  shí nián hán chuāng kǔ dú, zhǐ wèi jīn zhāo hòu jī bó fā

  Ten years of hard study at the desk, only to shine today with a bang.

• 他默默积累了多年的经验，最终厚积薄发，取得了巨大的成功。

  tā mòmò jī lěi le duō nián de jīng yàn, zuì zhōng hòu jī bó fā, qǔ dé le jù dà de chénggōng

  He secretly accumulated years of experience and finally achieved tremendous success through his unexpected breakthrough..

Related Idioms

• 积少成多

• 水到渠成

Opposite Idioms

• 浅尝辄止

• 急功近利