窮當益堅 qióng dāng yì jiān

the worse one's position, the harder one must fight back

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. the worse one's position, the harder one must fight back
  2. 2. poor but ambitious (idiom); hard-pressed but determined

Characters

Character Meaning
窮 qióng
poor; destitute; thoroughly
當 dāng
to be; to act as; should
益 yì HSK 5
benefit; beneficial; to increase
堅 jiān
solid; firm; strong