披荆斩棘

1. • lit. to cut one's way through thistles and thorns (idiom)
2. • fig. to overcome all obstacles on the way
3. • to break through hardships
4. • to blaze a new trail

Character by character

• 披(pī)drape over one's shoulders
• 荆(jīng)an early name for the state of Chu 楚国 chǔguó
• 斩(zhǎn)behead
• 棘(jí)thorns