青云直上 qīng yún zhí shàng

DEFINITIONS

  1. rising straight up in a clear sky (idiom); rapid promotion to a high post
  2. meteoric career

CHARACTERS

青 qīng blue, green, black; young
云 yún say, speak; clouds
直 zhí straight, erect, vertical
上 shàng top; superior, highest; go up, send up