Chinese idiom · 成语
气吞山河
Meaning
Spirit swallows mountains and rivers; grand ambition.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary metaphorThe expression imagines a person's spirit swallowing mountains and rivers, an extravagant picture of immense courage or ambition. A documented occurrence is in the Yuan dramatist Jin Renjie's play about pursuing Han Xin. In its second act, the character has left Chu for Han but remains without someone who recognizes his abilities; his grand aspiration is contrasted with that lack of recognition.
This is a dramatic portrayal of Han Xin, not a report that he literally spoke the words in antiquity. The metaphor can describe heroic bearing, a sweeping artistic performance, or tremendous resolve. It emphasizes the scale of the spirit rather than guaranteeing victory.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
合唱团最后那段气吞山河的演唱，让观众久久鼓掌。
The choir's sweeping, powerful finale earned prolonged applause.
Grand, literary praise for tremendous spirit or expressive power.