Definition
独木桥 literally means 'single-plank bridge' — a narrow bridge made from one log. Figuratively, it refers to a difficult, risky, or solitary path in life, often used in the phrase '走独木桥' (to walk a single-plank bridge) to describe a tough or competitive situation. The two senses are closely related: the literal image of a precarious crossing extends to any challenging endeavor where there's little room for error.
n.
single-plank bridgelog bridgedifficult or risky path (figurative)
Examples
- 独木桥，。Zhè tiáo xiǎo hé shàng zhǐ yǒu yí zuò dú mù qiáo, zǒu de shíhou yào xiǎoxīn.There's only a single-plank bridge over this small stream — be careful when crossing.
- 独木桥，。Gāokǎo jiù xiàng zǒu dú mù qiáo, qiān jūn wàn mǎ guò dú mù qiáo.The college entrance exam is like walking a single-plank bridge — thousands of troops crossing a narrow log.
- 独木桥，。Chuàngyè zhè tiáo lù shì tiáo dú mù qiáo, dàn jiānchí xiàqù jiù yǒu xīwàng.The path of entrepreneurship is a difficult one, but if you persist there's hope.
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