Definition
苦心经营 is a fixed expression (成语) meaning to put tremendous effort and careful planning into building or maintaining something over time — often a business, career, relationship, or project. The literal image is 'bitter-heart manage-construct', but it's not about suffering; it's about sustained, painstaking dedication. You can use it to describe someone who has built something from scratch through hard work and strategic thinking.
f.e.
to painstakingly build up or manage (an enterprise, career, relationship, etc.) through sustained effort
Examples
- 苦心经营,。Zhè jiā gōngsī jīngguò èrshí nián de kǔ xīn jīng yíng, zhōngyú chéngwéi hángyè lóngtóu.After twenty years of painstaking effort, this company finally became the industry leader.
- 苦心经营,。Tā kǔ xīn jīng yíng duō nián, cái bǎ yí gè xiǎo zuōfang fāzhǎn chéng dàxíng qǐyè.He worked painstakingly for many years to develop a small workshop into a large enterprise.
- 苦心经营,。Zhè duàn hūnyīn shì liǎng rén kǔ xīn jīng yíng de jiéguǒ, lái zhī bú yì.This marriage is the result of both people's painstaking efforts — it was hard-won.
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