踏破铁鞋 worn-out shoes
Explanation
比喻为寻找某种东西而费尽周折，经历很多艰难困苦。
It means to go through great trouble and hardships in searching for something.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，京城长安有一位名叫李白的青年才俊，他胸怀大志，想要寻找一位隐居山林的世外高人学习武功。他听闻这位高人住在终南山深处，于是便开始了他的寻访之旅。他翻山越岭，走遍了终南山的每一处角落，但他始终找不到这位高人的住处。日复一日，年复一年，李白踏破了无数双鞋子，依然没有找到高人，但他并没有放弃，他依然坚信着高人就在终南山某个隐秘之处等待着有缘人。终于有一天，他来到一座古寺，寺庙香火稀少，显得异常静谧。李白走进寺庙，一位鹤发童颜的老者正在打坐，他看出了李白的不凡之处，于是便收他为徒，传授他一身武功。李白终于找到了他苦苦寻找的高人，虽然经历了千辛万苦，但他依然感到无比的兴奋和喜悦。
It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, in the capital city of Chang'an, there lived a talented young man named Li Bai. He harbored great ambitions and sought to find a reclusive expert living in the mountains to learn martial arts from him. He heard that this expert resided deep within the Zhongnan Mountains, and so he embarked on his journey to seek him. He traversed mountains and valleys, exploring every corner of the Zhongnan Mountains, but he still could not find the expert's abode. Day after day, year after year, Li Bai wore out countless pairs of shoes, yet he still hadn't found the expert, but he did not give up. He firmly believed that the expert was waiting somewhere in a secluded place within the Zhongnan Mountains for a worthy student. One day, he arrived at an ancient temple. The temple was rarely visited and seemed unusually quiet. Li Bai entered the temple, where an old man with snow-white hair and a youthful complexion was meditating. The old man saw Li Bai's extraordinary talent and accepted him as a disciple, imparting to him the art of martial arts. Li Bai had finally found the expert he had been desperately searching for. Although he had undergone numerous hardships, he still felt immense excitement and joy.
Usage
常用来形容为寻找某人或某物而付出极大的努力和时间。
It is often used to describe the great effort and time spent in searching for someone or something.
Examples
-
他为了寻找丢失的古董，踏破铁鞋，四处奔波。
ta po tie xie
He searched everywhere for the lost antique and traveled extensively.
-
他为寻找失踪的亲人，踏破铁鞋，遍寻无果。
ta po tie xie
He searched everywhere for his missing relative, and despite his best efforts, he came up empty-handed.