When combined, 渡劫 (dùjié) literally means “to cross a calamity.” The characters perfectly capture the image of actively navigating and passing through a period of immense, pre-destined hardship to reach a new stage.
The term 渡劫 (dùjié) is deeply rooted in Chinese folk religion, Taoism, and the wildly popular fantasy genre known as Xianxia (仙侠). In Taoist and cultivation lore, a practitioner (修行者, xiūxíngzhě) who accumulates enough power and understanding will eventually face a bottleneck. To break through this bottleneck and ascend to a higher realm of power or immortality (飞升, fēishēng), the heavens will test them by sending a “heavenly tribulation” (天劫, tiānjié). This often takes the form of devastating lightning strikes, inner demons, or other cosmic calamities. To survive this test is to 渡劫. Failure could mean death or the loss of all one's progress. This concept has become a central trope in Chinese online literature, TV dramas, and video games, making it instantly recognizable to younger generations. Comparison to a Western Concept: A good Western parallel is a “rite of passage” or a “trial by fire,” but with a cosmic, leveling-up twist. While a “rite of passage” is often a social construct (like a graduation or a confirmation), 渡劫 is framed as a fundamental law of the universe. It's less like “networking” your way to a promotion and more like a final boss battle designed by the universe itself, which you must win to unlock your next skill tree.
While its origins are fantastical, 渡劫 (dùjié) has become a widespread and humorous slang term for enduring any major modern ordeal. It's used informally among friends, colleagues, and especially on social media.
The connotation is generally one of shared suffering and dark humor. It acknowledges the immense stress of a situation but also frames it as a temporary trial that will lead to relief and a sense of accomplishment (a “level up”) once it's over.