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不入虎穴,焉得虎子

Bù rù hǔ xué, yān dé hǔ zǐ
Nothing ventured, nothing gained

If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you get the tiger cub?

This saying encourages taking risks to achieve great rewards...

This saying encourages taking risks to achieve great rewards. It means that significant accomplishments require courage and a willingness to face danger or difficulty. Chinese people use it to inspire boldness in pursuit of ambitious goals.

The phrase originates from a historical story about a Han dynasty general who took a risky military action. It reflects a martial spirit within Chinese culture, valuing bravery and strategic risk-taking.

Someone might say this when a friend is hesitating to apply for a competitive job or invest in a risky venture, to push them toward bold action.

This saying functions to counterbalance the cultural emphasis on caution, providing justification for calculated risks. It signals ambition and courage, framing risk as necessary for growth — a way to motivate action in situations where hesitation could mean missing out.

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