Definition
举步维艰 is a four-character idiom meaning 'every step is difficult'. It describes a situation where progress is extremely hard — a project, career, or cause is stuck, facing serious obstacles. The literal image is of lifting your feet to walk with great difficulty. It's often used in formal or written contexts, especially in news, business, or personal narratives about struggling through tough times.
f.e.
to have great difficulty making progressto be stuck in a very tough situation
Examples
- 举步维艰，。Chuàngyè chūqī gōngsī jǔ bù wéi jiān, zījīn hé réncái dōu yánzhòng bùzú.In the early days of the startup, the company struggled so hard that it was barely able to move forward, lacking both funds and talent.
- ，举步维艰。Zài yìqíng chōngjī xià, xǔduō chuántǒng hángyè jǔ bù wéi jiān.Under the impact of the pandemic, many traditional industries found it extremely difficult to make progress.
- 举步维艰，。Tā de xiězuò shēngyá yídù jǔ bù wéi jiān, zhídào xīn shū yìwài zǒuhóng.His writing career was once stuck in a rut, until his new book unexpectedly became a hit.
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