| 精卫填海 |
Jīng wèi tián hǎi |
lit. mythical bird Jingwei tries to fill the ocean with stones (idiom); futile ambition / task of Sisyphus / determination in the face of impossible odds |
| 精 |
jīng |
essence / extract / vitality / energy / semen / sperm / mythical goblin spirit / highly perfected / elite / the pick of sth / proficient (refined ability) / extremely (fine) / selected rice (archaic) |
| 精卫 |
Jīng wèi |
mythological bird, reincarnation of drowned daughter Nüwa 女娃 of Fiery Emperor 炎帝 |
| 卫 |
Wèi |
surname Wei / vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1066-221 BC), located in present-day Henan and Hebei Provinces |
| 卫 |
wèi |
to guard / to protect / to defend / abbr. for 卫生, hygiene / health / abbr. for 卫生间, toilet |
| 填 |
tián |
to fill or stuff / (of a form etc) to fill in |
| 填海 |
tián hǎi |
land reclamation |
| 海 |
Hǎi |
surname Hai |
| 海 |
hǎi |
ocean / sea / CL:个,片 / great number of people or things / (dialect) numerous |