Definition

Noun: - Thorns and brambles; difficulties, obstacles, and dangers: A metaphorical term referring to the hardships, hindrances, and perils encountered while striving to achieve a goal. It evokes the image of a path littered with sharp spikes and thorns.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cuộc đời không tránh khỏi những chông gai. (Life is not without its difficulties and obstacles.)
  • Cô ấy đã vượt qua mọi chông gai để đạt được thành công. (She overcame all hardships to achieve success.)
  • Con đường phía trước còn nhiều chông gai. (The road ahead is still full of thorns and pitfalls.)

Advanced Usage

• "đạp bằng mọi chông gai": To tread flat all obstacles; to advance by braving all difficulties.
  • Với quyết tâm, họ đạp bằng mọi chông gai. (With determination, they braved all difficulties.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gian nan (adj/n): Arduous, full of hardship. Often used similarly to describe difficult situations.
• Trở ngại (n): Obstacle, hindrance. A more direct synonym for an impediment.
• Khó khăn (n): Difficulty, hardship. A general term for challenges.

Synonyms

• Khó khăn, trắc trở: Difficulties, setbacks.
• Vật cản, trở ngại: Obstacles, hindrances.
• Hiểm nguy, nguy hiểm: Dangers, perils (emphasizing the dangerous aspect).

Related Idioms

• "Đường đời lắm chông gai": The path of life is full of thorns. (Meaning: Life is full of hardships.)
• "Vượt qua bão tố chông gai": To weather storms and thorns. (Meaning: To overcome great trials and tribulations.)

1. Spikes and thorns, difficulties, obstacles and dangers
   • đạp bằng mọi chông gai để tiến lên
     to tread flat all obstacles and advance, to advance by contending against difficulties (braving all difficulties)