寸步难行 Cun Bu Nan Xing inch by inch

Explanation

形容事情进展艰难，寸步难行。

Describes the difficulty in the progress of a matter.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，一位名叫李白的诗人，想要去拜访一位隐居山林的朋友。他沿着崎岖的山路，一路跋涉，山路蜿蜒曲折，荆棘丛生，行走十分艰难。李白虽然意志坚定，但山路如此险峻，他每走一步都异常吃力，感觉寸步难行。他几次想放弃，但想到与朋友相聚的喜悦，又坚持了下来。经过几天的辛苦跋涉，李白终于到达了朋友的住所，两人把酒言欢，尽情畅谈，李白心中的喜悦难以言表。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī, yī wèi míng jiào lǐ bái de shī rén, xiǎng yào qù bài fǎng yī wèi yǐn jū shān lín de péng you. tā yán zhe qí qū de shān lù, yī lù bá shé, shān lù wānyán qūzhé, jīng jí cóng shēng, xíng zǒu shí fēn jiān nán. lǐ bái suī rán yì zhì jiāndìng, dàn shān lù rúcǐ xiǎnjùn, tā měi zǒu yī bù dōu yì cháng chī lì, gǎnjué cùn bù nán xíng. tā jǐ cì xiǎng fàng qì, dàn xiǎng dào yǔ péng you xiāng jù de xǐ yuè, yòu jiān chí le xià lái. jīng guò jǐ tiān de xīnkǔ bá shé, lǐ bái zhōng yú dào dá le péng you de zhù suǒ, liǎng rén bǎ jiǔ yán huān, jìn qíng chàng tán, lǐ bái xīn zhōng de xǐ yuè nán yǐ yán biǎo.

In the Tang Dynasty, a poet named Li Bai wanted to visit a friend who lived in seclusion in the mountains. He followed a winding mountain path, full of thorns and obstacles. Although Li Bai was determined, the path was so steep that every step was a great effort, and he felt as if he could not make any progress. Several times he was close to giving up, but the thought of seeing his friend again gave him the strength to continue. After several days of arduous travel, Li Bai finally reached his friend's home, where they drank together and talked freely. Li Bai's joy was indescribable.

Usage

用于形容处境艰难，事情进展缓慢。

yong yu xingrong chu jing jian nan, shiqing jinzhan huanman

Used to describe a difficult situation and slow progress.

Examples

• 他遇到困难重重，寸步难行。

  ta yu dao kun nan chong chong, cun bu nan xing.

  He encountered numerous difficulties and found it hard to make any progress.

• 改革开放初期，国家建设寸步难行。

  gaige kaifang chuqi, guojia jianshe cun bu nan xing

  In the early days of reform and opening up, national construction was slow going..

Related Idioms

• 步履维艰

• 举步维艰

Opposite Idioms

• 一帆风顺

• 畅通无阻