筚路蓝缕 toil and moil
Explanation
驾着简陋的车，穿着破烂的衣服去开辟山林。形容创业的艰苦。
Driving a simple cart and wearing ragged clothes to open up mountains and forests. Describes the hardships of starting a business.
Origin Story
春秋时期，楚国一位名叫若敖的公子，为了开辟新的疆土，带领族人跋山涉水，克服了无数的困难。他们驾着简陋的木车，穿着破旧的衣服，在荆棘丛生的山林中艰难地前行。他们风餐露宿，忍饥挨饿，日夜不停地劳作，终于开垦出一片肥沃的土地，建立了新的家园。后人为了纪念他们的功绩，便将这段历史记载下来，并流传至今。这个故事体现了创业的艰辛和先辈们的开拓精神。
During the Spring and Autumn period, a prince of Chu named Ru'ao, in order to open up new territories, led his people over mountains and rivers, overcoming countless difficulties. They drove simple wooden carts, wore old clothes, and trudged through the thorny mountains and forests. They ate and slept in the open, endured hunger and starvation, and worked tirelessly day and night, finally reclaiming a fertile land and establishing a new home. To commemorate their achievements, this history was recorded and passed down to this day. This story reflects the hardships of starting a business and the pioneering spirit of our ancestors.
Usage
形容创业的艰辛，通常用于书面语。
Describes the hardships of starting a business, usually used in written language.
Examples
-
创业初期，他们筚路蓝缕，克服了无数困难。
chuàngyè chūqī, tāmen bì lù lán lǚ, kèfú le wúshù kùnnan
In the early days of their business, they worked hard and overcame countless difficulties.
-
为了国家的繁荣富强，先辈们筚路蓝缕，奠定了坚实的基础。
wèile guójiā de fánróng fùqiáng, xiānbèi men bì lù lán lǚ, diànlèi le jiānshí de jīchǔ
For the prosperity and strength of the country, the ancestors worked hard and laid a solid foundation.