rèn任responsibilityzhòng重heavydào道roadyuǎn远far
Heavy responsibility, long road — a big task with no quick finish.
Literal meaning
responsibility (任) — heavy (重) — road (道) — far (远)
Origin
Analects (《论语·泰伯》). Zengzi said: 士不可以不弘毅，任重而道远 — "A gentleman must be broad and resolute, for his responsibility is heavy and his road is far." The phrase has been used since to mark serious, multi-year commitments.
Examples
Qì气hòu候biàn变huà化de的jiě解jué决rèn任zhòng重dào道yuǎn远。
Solving climate change is a heavy responsibility on a long road.
Jiào教yù育gǎi改gé革rèn任zhòng重dào道yuǎn远，bù不néng能jí急yú于qiú求chéng成。
Education reform is a heavy, long-road task — you can't rush it.
Usage & nuances
Slightly formal. Common in policy writing, leadership speeches, mission statements.
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