These four characters combine to create a powerful image: Every day (日), a large dipperful (斗) of gold (金) enters (进). This illustrates a business or person making an incredible amount of money on a consistent, daily basis.
In Chinese culture, prosperity and wealth are not just personal goals; they are often seen as a sign of blessing, good fortune, and the foundation for a stable family and society. “日进斗金” is a perfect embodiment of this aspiration. It's most frequently used as a blessing (祝福语, zhùfúyǔ), especially during the opening of a new business or during Chinese New Year. You will often see it written on red banners (春联, chūnlián) or given as a well-wish to entrepreneurs. It carries a heavy, positive weight, wishing the recipient not just wealth, but overwhelming, continuous success. A Western comparison might be “to be rolling in dough” or “to make a killing.” However, these phrases are often more colloquial and descriptive of a current state. “日进斗金” functions more like a formal blessing or a noble aspiration. While “making a killing” might imply a single, massive transaction, “日进斗金” emphasizes the *daily, unending* flow of wealth, which is a more culturally valued form of stability and success.
This idiom is alive and well in modern China, appearing in both formal and informal contexts.
The connotation is overwhelmingly positive and auspicious. It's considered an elegant and powerful way to talk about financial success.