guò mén bù rù

Literal translation: To pass by (過, guò) the door (門, mén) and not enter (不入, bù rù)

Actual translation: To work hard at the expense of your personal life

The ancient Emperor Shun employed a Master of Works named Yu, who inherited the role from his dad. The old man could not control the Great Floods ravaging China, and was eventually fired - via Imperial Execution. Not a particularly fun way to lose a job.

Determined not to end up similarly unemployed, Yu dedicated his life to the waterworks. He worked so hard that he remained single until the age of thirty (a surprisingly progressive take on the social construct of marriage, really). Yu enjoyed his 4 day honeymoon, then promptly left for work right away. For the next 13 years, Yu never returned home - ever - despite passing by on three occasions and hearing the cries of his newborn child. Now that’s what I call hands-off parenting.

The hard work paid off: Yu eventually cured the floods and earned his way to the throne as the Great Emperor Yu. But were his professional accomplishments worth sacrificing what could have been a deeply fulfilling family life? Wouldn’t we like to know.

TL;DR: Yu worked so hard he became a role model for justifying Chinese work ethic. That, or he was terrified of his wife.