Definition
敲门砖 is a four-character idiom meaning a 'stepping stone to success' — something you use temporarily to gain entry into a desirable situation (like a job, school, or social circle), then often discard once the goal is achieved. The literal image is a brick used to knock on a door; once the door opens, the brick is no longer needed.
n.
stepping stone (to success)a means to an end (often used and then abandoned)
Examples
- 敲门砖，。Tā bǎ zhè fèn gōngzuò dàng qiāo mén zhuān, wèile jīlěi jīngyàn.He treats this job as a stepping stone to gain experience.
- 敲门砖。Hěn duō xuésheng bǎ xuéwèi kàn zuò shì qiāo mén zhuān.Many students see a degree as a stepping stone.
- 敲门砖，。Tā xuéxí Hànyǔ zhǐshì bǎ tā dàngzuò qiāo mén zhuān, wèile zhǎodào gèng hǎo de gōngzuò.She studies Chinese only as a stepping stone to find a better job.
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