韦编三绝
韦编三绝 (wéi biān sān jué) literally means “leather binding breaks three times” and expresses “diligent, repeated study”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: wei bian san jue, wei bian san jue,韦编三绝 meaning, 韦编三绝 in english
Diligent, repeated study
Pronunciation: wéi biān sān jué Literal meaning: Leather binding breaks three times
Origin & Usage
Books in Confucius's day were bamboo slips strung together with leather (韦) thongs. The Records of the Grand Historian says that in his later years he so loved the Book of Changes that the thongs binding (编) his copy wore through and snapped (绝) three (三) separate times, and that he remarked he would master the book if granted a few more years. The image is precise about what devotion looked like before paper: not a note in a margin but a volume physically destroyed by rereading. It is reserved for study pursued to that depth, and stays closer to high praise than to an everyday compliment.
Examples
English: "His copy of the textbook had lost its spine from constant rereading"
Chinese: 他那本教科书翻得书脊都散了
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Integrate many strands into one understanding
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juàn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
Offer modest view to inspire better
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 韦编三绝 mean in English?
韦编三绝 (wéi biān sān jué) literally translates to “Leather binding breaks three times” and is used to express “Diligent, repeated study”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 韦编三绝 used?
Situation: His copy of the textbook had lost its spine from constant rereading
What is the pinyin for 韦编三绝?
The pinyin pronunciation for 韦编三绝 is “wéi biān sān jué”.