臥薪嚐膽 wò xīn cháng dǎn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to sleep on brushwood and taste gall (like King Gou Jian of Yue 勾踐|勾践[Gou1 Jian4]), in order to recall one's humiliations) (idiom)
  2. fig. to maintain one's resolve for revenge
  3. lit. to lie on firewood and taste gall (idiom); fig. suffering patiently, but firmly resolved on revenge

CHARACTERS

臥 wò lie down; crouch
薪 xīn
HSK 6
fuel, firewood; salary
嚐 cháng taste
膽 dǎn gall bladder; bravery, courage