山重水复 shān chóng shuǐ fù Mountains high and waters deep

Explanation

形容山峦重叠，水流曲折，景色幽深复杂。也比喻事情发展变化的复杂曲折。

Describes overlapping mountains and winding waterways, a deep and complex landscape. Also describes the complex and winding changes in the development of things.

Origin Story

话说唐朝贞观年间，一位名叫李白的诗人，游历四方，饱览祖国壮丽的山河。一日，他来到一处风景秀丽的山谷，只见山峦叠嶂，溪流蜿蜒，景色如画。他沿着山间小路前行，穿过茂密的树林，越过清澈的溪流，一路欣赏着美景。可是，走了许久，却发现路越来越窄，山越来越高，似乎走到了绝境。李白心中不禁有些沮丧，心想：这山重水复，难道就没有出路了吗？正当他感到灰心丧气的时候，忽见眼前一亮，一条小路出现在眼前，路旁绿树成荫，鲜花盛开，一条小溪缓缓流淌，形成了一幅美丽的田园风光。原来，穿过这片山重水复的景象后，竟然别有洞天，他又来到了一个更加美丽的村庄。李白不禁感叹道：山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村啊！

huì shuō táng cháo zhēn guān nián jiān，yī wèi míng jiào lǐ bái de shī rén，yóu lì sì fāng，bǎo lǎn zǔ guó zhuàng lì de shān hé。yī rì，tā lái dào yī chù fēng jǐng xiù lì de shān gǔ，zhǐ jiàn shān luán dié zhàng，xī liú wānyán，fēng jǐng rú huà。tā yán zhe shān jiān xiǎo lù qián xíng，chuānguò mào mì de shù lín，yuè guò qīng chè de xī liú，yī lù xīn shǎng zhe měi jǐng。kěshì，zǒu le xǔ jiǔ，què fāxiàn lù yuè lái yuè zhǎi，shān yuè lái yuè gāo，sìhū zǒu dào le jué jìng。lǐ bái xīn zhōng bù jīn yǒuxiē jǔ sǎng，xīn xiǎng：zhè shān chóng shuǐ fù，nán dào jiù méiyǒu chū lù le ma？zhèngdāng tā gǎndào huī xīn sàng qì de shíhòu，hū jiàn yǎn qián yī liàng，yī tiáo xiǎo lù chū xiàn zài yǎn qián，lù páng lǜ shù chéng yīn，xiān huā shèng kāi，yī tiáo xiǎo xī huǎn huǎn liútǎng，xíng chéng le yī fú měilì de tiányuán fēng guāng。yuán lái，chuānguò zhè piàn shān chóng shuǐ fù de jǐng xiàng hòu，jìng rán bié yǒu dòng tiān，tā yòu lái dào le yī gè gèng jiā měilì de cūn zhuāng。lǐ bái bù jīn gǎn tàn dào：shān chóng shuǐ fù yí wú lù，liǔ àn huā míng yòu yī cūn a！

In the Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Taizong, a poet named Li Bai traveled far and wide, admiring the magnificent landscapes of his motherland. One day, he came to a picturesque valley where towering mountains and meandering streams formed a breathtaking panorama. He followed the mountain path, passing through dense forests and crossing clear streams, all the while enjoying the scenic beauty. However, after walking for a long time, he found the path becoming narrower and the mountains taller, seemingly leading to a dead end. Li Bai felt discouraged, thinking, "With mountains so high and waters so deep, is there no way out?" Just as he was losing hope, his eyes brightened. A small path appeared before him, lined with lush trees and blooming flowers, a clear brook gently flowing beside it, creating a beautiful pastoral scene. It turned out that beyond this area of mountains and rivers, another enchanting world existed, and he had arrived at an even more picturesque village. Li Bai exclaimed, "With mountains so high and waters so deep, I thought there was no path, but unexpectedly, a village appeared, hidden among willows and blooming flowers!"

Usage

用于描写山峦重叠，水流曲折的景色，也比喻事情发展变化的复杂曲折。

yòng yú miáoxiě shān luán chóng dié，shuǐ liú qū zhé de jǐng sè，yě bǐ yù shì qíng fāzhǎn biànhuà de fùzá qū zhé。

Used to describe the overlapping mountains and winding waterways, but also to describe the complex and winding course of the development of things.

Examples

• 山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。

  shān chóng shuǐ fù yí wú lù，liǔ àn huā míng yòu yī cūn。

  It seems there's no way on, with mountains high and waters deep, but there is yet another village, where willow trees are green and flowers bright.

• 人生之路，往往山重水复，但只要坚持，就会柳暗花明。

  rén shēng zhī lù，wǎng wǎng shān chóng shuǐ fù，dàn zhǐ yào jiānchí，jiù huì liǔ àn huā míng。

  The path of life is often winding and difficult, but as long as you persist, you will encounter new opportunities and successes。

Related Idioms

• 柳暗花明

• 峰回路转

Opposite Idioms

• 一马平川

• 一帆风顺