# 乘风破浪

chéng fēng pò làng

Advance boldly through difficulties

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Ride the wind and break through waves

**Traditional Chinese:** 乘風破浪

**Register:** Encouraging · literary

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Encourage ambitious progress despite obstacles.

Often aspirational rather than a report of success.

## Understanding the expression

A boat moves forward through wind and waves instead of waiting for a perfectly calm sea. The expression turns that motion into an image of ambition and courage. It often encourages people beginning a venture, facing challenges, or pursuing a large goal. Obstacles remain part of the scene. The phrase emphasizes the will to advance through them, so it need not mean that the journey is already complete.

## Examples

愿你乘风破浪，实现梦想。

### Traditional Chinese

願你乘風破浪，實現夢想。

yuàn nǐ chéng fēng pò làng ， shí xiàn mèng xiǎng 。

May you face challenges boldly and achieve your dreams.

团队乘风破浪，开拓新市场。

### Traditional Chinese

團隊乘風破浪，開拓新市場。

tuán duì chéng fēng pò làng ， kāi tuò xīn shì chǎng 。

The team advances boldly into new markets.

她带着新作品乘风破浪。

### Traditional Chinese

她帶著新作品乘風破浪。

tā dài zhe xīn zuò pǐn chéng fēng pò làng 。

She moves forward boldly with her new work.

毕业生准备乘风破浪，迎接未来。

### Traditional Chinese

畢業生準備乘風破浪，迎接未來。

bì yè shēng zhǔn bèi chéng fēng pò làng ， yíng jiē wèi lái 。

The graduates are ready to face the future boldly.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B9%98%E9%A2%A8%E7%A0%B4%E6%B5%AA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=118&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [持之以恒 chí zhī yǐ héng Maintain an effort consistently ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chi-zhi-yi-heng)

- [重整旗鼓 chóng zhěng qí gǔ Regroup and prepare to try again ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chong-zheng-qi-gu)

- [踌躇满志 chóu chú mǎn zhì Feel proudly satisfied or confident in one's achievement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chou-chu-man-zhi)

- [初出茅庐 chū chū máo lú Begin a career with little experience ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-chu-mao-lu)

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