锲而不舍
锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě) literally means “carve and not stop” and expresses “persevere until success”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: qie er bu she, qie er bu she,锲而不舍 meaning, 锲而不舍 in english
Persevere until success
Pronunciation: qiè ér bù shě
Literal meaning: Carve and not stop
Origin & Usage
This idiom originates from the story of an ancient man who attempted to carve (锲) through a mountain with unwavering persistence (不舍). Recorded in pre-Qin texts, it exemplifies the classical Chinese virtue of perseverance through seemingly impossible tasks. The character 锲 specifically refers to carving jade - a process requiring both strength and delicacy. Modern usage emphasizes persistent effort toward goals, particularly in contexts requiring both determination and careful attention to detail.
Examples
English: "Despite repeated failures, the researcher continued his experiments with determination"
Chinese: 尽管屡次失败，研究员仍然坚持不懈地进行实验
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 锲而不舍 mean in English?
锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě) literally translates to “Carve and not stop” and is used to express “Persevere until success”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 锲而不舍 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving persevere until success.
What is the pinyin for 锲而不舍?
The pinyin pronunciation for 锲而不舍 is “qiè ér bù shě”.