苦尽甘来

kǔ jìn gān lái

  • Meaning

    Literal

    The hard times have ended and the good times have come

    Usage

    Refers to one's life taking a turn for the better

  • Connotation

    Positive

  • Usage Examples

    辛勤工作好几年后,琼斯先生终於可以苦尽甘来了 | Xīnqín gōngzuò hǎojǐ nián hòu, qióngsī xiānshēng zhōng yú kěyǐ kǔjìngānláile
    After years of arduous work, Mr. Jones's life finally turned for the better
    [Source]

    孩子大了,公司效益也好多了,所以我们家也就苦尽甘来了 | Háizi dà le, gōngsī xiàoyì yě hǎoduō le, suǒyǐ wǒmen jiā yě jiù kǔjìngānlái le
    The kids are grown, and the company is performing much better, so now we can enjoy happier times
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    苦尽甜来 (kǔ jìn tián lái)

  • Entry Notes

    This is an HSK chengyu

  • Origin

    《西厢记》(Xī Xiāng Jì), a work by Yuán Dynasty (元, 1279 - 1368) author 王实甫 (Wáng Shí Fǔ). It is often known in English as "Romance of the Western Chamber" or "Romance of the Western Wing."

  • Story

    This chengyu is from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]