nằm gai nếm mật

== Vietnamese == === Alternative forms === nếm mật nằm gai ngoạ tân thường đảm === Etymology === Calque of Chinese 臥薪嘗膽 / 卧薪尝胆 (wòxīnchángdǎn). === Pronunciation === (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [nam˨˩ ɣaːj˧˧ nem˧˦ mət̚˧˨ʔ] (Huế) IPA(key): [nam˦˩ ɣaːj˧˧ nem˦˧˥ mək̚˨˩ʔ] (Saigon) IPA(key): [nam˨˩ ɣaːj˧˧ nem˦˥ mək̚˨˩˨] === Idiom === nằm gai nếm mật to undergo self-imposed hardships; to nurse vengeance