bằng bay, côn nhảy
Definition
- Idiom:
- To achieve great success and rapid advancement: This four-character idiom, derived from classical Chinese imagery, metaphorically describes a person, typically a scholar or candidate, soaring to high position and distinction with remarkable speed and ease. It paints a picture of majestic, unimpeded ascent.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Sau khi đỗ trạng nguyên, con đường công danh của ông ấy thực sự bằng bay, côn nhảy. (After passing the top imperial examination, his path to honor and rank truly soared like the bằng and leaped like the côn.)
- Với tài năng và sự chăm chỉ, cô ấy sớm có được sự nghiệp bằng bay, côn nhảy. (With talent and diligence, she soon had a career that soared and leaped.)
Advanced Usage
- This idiom is highly literary and is used almost exclusively in formal, celebratory, or descriptive texts to praise someone's spectacular and smooth rise to fame, high office, or academic excellence. It is not used in everyday conversation.
Etymology and Cultural Context
- The idiom originates from Sino-Vietnamese literary tradition. The (鵬) is a mythical giant roc bird from Chinese mythology, symbolizing immense power and the ability to soar to great heights. The (鯤) is a mythical giant fish (often translated as a giant kun fish) that can transform into the bird. The imagery of the flying and the leaping evokes a sense of boundless potential and magnificent, effortless advancement.
Synonyms
- To rise meteorically: to advance very quickly to a high position.
- To soar to great heights: to achieve a very high level of success.
- A spectacular rise: a very impressive and rapid advancement.
Related Idioms
- Công thành danh toại: to achieve both success in one's career and fulfillment of one's ambitions.
- Mong rằng anh sớm công thành danh toại. (I hope you soon achieve both career success and personal fulfillment.)
- Thăng quan tiến chức: to be promoted and advance in rank (more common and less literary than ).
- Ông ấy thăng quan tiến chức rất nhanh. (He was promoted and advanced in rank very quickly.)