不到黃河心不死

黃河／黄河 (Huáng Hé) may be a corrupted or euphemistic form of 黃泉／黄泉 (huángquán).

不到黃河心不死

1. until all is over, ambition never dies; not stop until one reaches one's goal; not to give up hope until one comes to one's tether's end; not to stop until one reaches the Yellow river; refuse to give up until all hope is gone

   • 從歷史的源頭開始，中國民眾在困惑之中選擇了抗爭之路，義無返顧的走下去，形成了一種“不到黃河心不死”、“不到長城非好漢”的積極向上、不懈追求的精神 [MSC, trad.]
     从历史的源头开始，中国民众在困惑之中选择了抗争之路，义无返顾的走下去，形成了一种“不到黄河心不死”、“不到长城非好汉”的积极向上、不懈追求的精神 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2005: editorial staff of People's Education Press, 纪念抗日战争胜利60周年 (Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory in the sino-Japanese war)

     cóng lìshǐ de yuántóu kāishǐ, Zhōngguó mínzhòng zài kùnhuò zhī zhōng xuǎnzé le kàngzhēng zhī lù, yìwúfǎngù de zǒu xià qù, xíngchéng le yī zhǒng “bù dào Huánghé xīn bù sǐ”, “bù dào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn” de jījí xiàng shàng, bùxiè zhuīqiú de jīngshén

     From the beginning of history, the Chinese people have chosen to fight back when in dire circumstances. They persist as if duty-bound not to turn back. It is a tireless seeking spirit that forms a kind of positive resolve where one says, "I will not give up hope until I reach the Yellow River," or "I have not truly lived until I have reached the Great Wall.

• 留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒／留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 (liú dé qīngshān zài, bùpà méi chái shāo)
• 不見棺材不掉淚／不见棺材不掉泪 (bùjiàn guāncai bù diàolèi)