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mái 埋 tóu 头 kǔ 苦 gàn 干

埋头苦干 mái tóu kǔ gàn

to work hard with one's head down; to toil quietly

Literally: bury head bitterly work

Intermediate 📚 Study & effort
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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Popularised by Lu Xun's essay praising the Chinese people who 埋头苦干 as the nation's backbone.

How to use it

Predicate; positive. Often 埋头苦干了几年.

Example sentences

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  1. 他在实验室埋头苦干了三年，终于有了成果。
    Tā zài shíyànshì mái tóu kǔ gàn le sān nián, zhōngyú yǒu le chéngguǒ.
    He toiled in the lab for three years and finally got results.
    he at laboratory bury head bitterly work (particle) three year, finally have (particle) result
  2. 光埋头苦干还不够，也要注意方法。
    Guāng mái tóu kǔ gàn hái bù gòu, yě yào zhùyì fāngfǎ.
    Just working hard with your head down isn't enough; you also need good methods.
    only bury head bitterly work still not enough, also must pay-attention method

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