jiǎo脚foottà踏stepshí实soliddì地ground
To be down-to-earth; to be practical and realistic.
Literal meaning
foot (脚) — step (踏) — solid (实) — ground (地)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase emphasizing the importance of being grounded and working diligently.
Examples
Wǒ我men们yào要jiǎo脚tā踏shí实dì地，yī一bù步yī一ge个jiǎo脚yìn印de地qián前jìn进。
We must be down-to-earth and move forward step by step.
Zhǐ只yǒu有jiǎo脚tā踏shí实dì地，cái才néng能qǔ取dé得zhēn真zhèng正de的chéng成gōng功。
Only by being down-to-earth can we achieve true success.
Usage & nuances
Positive connotation, emphasizing the importance of hard work and practicality.
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