# 栉风沐雨

zhì fēng mù yǔ

Work outdoors through harsh weather

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Comb the hair with wind and bathe in rain

**Traditional Chinese:** 櫛風沐雨

**Register:** Admiring · literary

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

## When to use it

Praise sustained toil exposed to the elements.

Literary description of hardship, not simply getting caught in rain.

## Understanding the expression

Wind takes the place of a comb, and rain the place of washing water. The expression describes life and work carried on outdoors despite uncomfortable weather. Surveyors, builders, and travelers can fit the image when exposure is sustained. It often praises endurance while acknowledging difficult conditions. The hardship should not be romanticized into a reason to withhold shelter or equipment; respecting the workers includes making their demanding activity as safe as possible.

## Examples

勘测队栉风沐雨，走遍山区。

### Traditional Chinese

勘測隊櫛風沐雨，走遍山區。

kān cè duì zhì fēng mù yǔ ， zǒu biàn shān qū 。

The survey team endured weather across the mountains.

他多年栉风沐雨地修筑道路。

### Traditional Chinese

他多年櫛風沐雨地修築道路。

tā duō nián zhì fēng mù yǔ dì xiū zhù dào lù 。

He spent years building roads through harsh weather.

摄影师栉风沐雨，记录候鸟迁徙。

### Traditional Chinese

攝影師櫛風沐雨，記錄候鳥遷徙。

shè yǐng shī zhì fēng mù yǔ ， jì lù hòu niǎo qiān xǐ 。

The photographer endured the elements to document migration.

这些栉风沐雨的工人需要更好的防护。

### Traditional Chinese

這些櫛風沐雨的工人需要更好的防護。

zhè xiē zhì fēng mù yǔ de gōng rén xū yào gèng hǎo de fáng hù 。

These weather-exposed workers need better protection.

## 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=%E6%AB%9B%E9%A2%A8%E6%B2%90%E9%9B%A8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=658&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [专心致志 zhuān xīn zhì zhì Concentrate wholeheartedly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zhuan-xin-zhi-zhi)

- [自暴自弃 zì bào zì qì Give up on oneself and stop trying ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zi-bao-zi-qi)

- [自强不息 zì qiáng bù xī Keep improving oneself with sustained effort ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zi-qiang-bu-xi)

- [自食其力 zì shí qí lì Support oneself through one's own work ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zi-shi-qi-li)

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