锲而不舍

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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