淘金 (táo jīn) literally means 'to wash gold' — 淘 (táo) refers to the process of rinsing or sifting sediment in water to separate valuable particles, and 金 (jīn) means 'gold'. Historically, it describes the physical act of panning for gold in rivers using a shallow pan, a practice common during gold rushes in China and abroad. The term evokes images of rugged prospectors working in mountain streams or riverbeds.

Figuratively, 淘金 is widely used to mean 'seeking fortune' or 'pursuing wealth or opportunity', especially in competitive, high-risk environments like startups, stock markets, or emerging industries. It often carries connotations of effort, risk, and the hope of striking it rich — similar to English expressions like 'hitting the jackpot' or 'striking gold'. While rooted in mining history, today it’s more commonly heard in business and media contexts than in actual gold panning.