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.
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
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
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百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
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水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
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门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
Extremely popular
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天道酬勤
tiān dào chóu qín
Heaven rewards diligence
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破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
Commit with no retreat
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守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīn
Value time preciously
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青出于蓝
qīng chū yú lán
Student surpasses master
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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: Despite repeated failures, the researcher continued his experiments with determination
What is the pinyin for 锲而不舍?
The pinyin pronunciation for 锲而不舍 is “qiè ér bù shě”.
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