This little anecdote takes place during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_and_Southern_dynasties" target="_blank">Northern and Southern Dynasties</a>, which lasted 150 years or so (from 420 to 589 AD), and outlines the origin of the rather stalwart Chinese phrase 乘风破浪 [pinyin]cheng2 feng1 po4 lang4[/pinyin], describes spirited daring and ambition. Unless you regularly lay waste to English garrisons, I don't know how often you'll encounter 乘风破浪 on day-to-day occasions, but that's not to say it doesn't have its place. There are those rousing pep talks you give yourself in the bathroom mirror, for instance. 

<h3>Usage Examples</h3>

<ol>
<li>在工作上,我们要敢于乘风破浪。 - In my work, I must dare to dare.</li>
<li>人民解放军乘风破浪，横渡长江。 - The daring and courageous People's Liberation Army crossed the Yangtze River.</li>
<li>这艘轮船乘风破浪驶向大海。 - This ship, braving the winds and waves, flies towards the sea.</li>
</ol>

<h3>Some good martial vocab</h3>
<strong>勇敢 [pinyin]yong3 gan3[/pinyin] - Brave, courageous</strong>

<strong>抱负 [pinyin]bao4 fu4[/pinyin] - Aspiration, ambition</strong>
This is something you have, rather than something you are, as in 很有抱负 / 没有抱负。 

<strong><strong>勤学苦练 [pinyin]qin2 xue2 ku3 lian4[/pinyin]</strong> - Study diligently and train hard</strong>

<strong>奋斗 [pinyin]fen4 dou4[/pinyin] - To struggle </strong>
This word is super useful outside of any martial context. Not only does it mean "to struggle" in the military sense, it also means "to struggle" in the "life is hard" sense. It can be used to describe the general struggle of the daily grind: getting up, getting the kids to school, working long hours, making dinner. If, for example, a husband and wife were to say to you: "我们奋斗了六年。" that would mean, "We worked our butts off for six years." 


See the <a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/130604310.html" target="_blank">source</a>.


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1) 古代南北朝的时候，宋国有位将军姓宗名悫，他从小就很<strong>勇敢</strong>，也很有<strong>抱负</strong>。有一天，宗悫的叔父问他有什么志向，宗悫回答道：“愿乘长风，破万里浪。”意思是：我一定要突破一切障碍，勇往直前，干一番事业。宗悫经过<strong>勤学苦练</strong>，努力<strong>奋斗</strong>，终于成为一位能征善战的将军。

2) 后来，人们就用“乘风破浪”来形容不怕困难，奋勇前进的精神。
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1) In ancient times, during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there was a general of the Song State, whose surname was Zong, and whose family name Que. Even as a child he was brave and full of ambition. One day, Zong Que's uncle asked him about his aspirations, to which Zong Que replied, "I will ride the long wind, and brave 10,000 waves." By this he meant: "I will undoubtedly break through any obstructions, bravely forging ahead in a given undertaking." Zong Que underwent rigorous training, assiduously struggling on, finally becoming a skillful general. 

2) Later, people used the term "Ride the wind and brave the waves" to describe a spirit unafraid of meeting difficulty, one which plows ahead with courage and energy.      
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