Chinese Conversation · Level 74
90 words
Chinese word
脚踏实地
Pronunciation
Pinyinjiǎo tà shí dì
Meaning
- idiomdown-to-earth
Example
老板喜欢脚踏实地的员工。láo bǎn xǐ huān jiǎo tà shí dì de yuán gōng
The boss likes down-to-earth employees.
More examples
在学习上要脚踏实地，不要投机取巧。zài xué xí shàng yào jiǎo tà shí dì bú yào tóu jī qú qiǎo
When studying, stay down-to-earth and do not take shortcuts.
Core concept
Both feet stay on solid ground while work advances in practical, steady steps.
Common phrases
脚踏实地的态度jiǎo tà shí dì de tài dù
a down-to-earth attitude
脚踏实地地工作jiǎo tà shí dì dì gōng zuò
work in a down-to-earth way
Similar words
踏踏实实tà tā shí shí: Handling things in a calm, solid manner and avoiding rash actions.
勤勤恳恳qín qín kén kěn: Doing assigned work conscientiously and steadily through persistent effort.
稳扎稳打wěn zhā wén dǎ: Following a careful plan and gaining dependable results one step at a time.
兢兢业业jīng jīng yè yè: Taking work seriously and carefully while trying not to make even small errors.
Definition in Chinese
形容做事稳重、务实，不浮夸，一步一步踏实完成目标。xíng róng zuò shì wěn zhòng wù shí bù fú kuā yí bù yí bù tā shí wán chéng mù biāo
Word origin
The idiom joins 脚 (jiǎo, "foot"), 踏 (tà, "tread"), 实 (shí, "real") and 地 (dì, "ground") to turn feet on real ground into a metaphor for steady, practical action.
Usage tips
- In everyday Chinese, this idiom can praise a plan or way of working as well as a person, so it is useful beyond descriptions of personality.
Other meanings
- keep one's feet on the groundidiom
- earnestidiom
Opposites
- 好高骛远hào gāo wù yuǎnbe overly ambitious and impracticalidiom
- 急功近利jí gōng jìn lìseek quick success and immediate gainidiom