手把红旗旗不湿

手把紅旗旗不濕

shǒu bǎ hóngqí qí bù shī

quotation

Meanings

1 holding the red flag high, the flag stays dry
2 a praise of skilled tide-riders who master the waves
3 (lit.) hand gripping red flag, the flag not wet

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

他在风口浪尖上干事业，手把红旗旗不湿。

Tā zài fēngkǒu-làngjiān shàng gàn shìyè, shǒu bǎ hóngqí qí bù shī.

He builds his career on the crest of the waves - red flag aloft, never wetted.

HSK 7-9

弄潮儿手把红旗旗不湿，令人佩服。

Nòngcháo'ér shǒu bǎ hóngqí qí bù shī, lìng rén pèifú.

The tide-surfer keeps his red flag dry above the waves - truly admirable.

Tips

history

From Pan Lang's (潘阆, Northern Song) 《酒泉子·长忆观潮》, describing the Qiantang tide-surfers of Hangzhou: 弄潮儿向涛头立，手把红旗旗不湿. (The tide-surfer stands atop the breakers, gripping the red flag, and the flag stays dry.) A famous image of fearless skill amid natural fury.

usage

The first 旗 is the red flag as object of 把; the second 旗 repeats it as the subject of 不湿 - a stylistic reduplication common in song lyrics. Often cited as praise for poised leaders in turbulent markets or politics.

Stroke Order

手 shǒu

把 bǎ

红 hóng

旗 qí

不 bù

湿 shī