10 Wise Chinese Sayings About Patience & Perseverance

Persistence achieves anything

Literal meaning: Water drops pierce stone

This idiom captures the power of persistence through the image of water (水) drops (滴) piercing (穿) stone (石). First documented in Han Dynasty texts, it was inspired by observations of natural cave formations created by centuries of dripping water. The imagery gained prominence during the Tang Dynast...

Gradual accumulation builds up

Literal meaning: Days pile months gather

This idiom weaves together daily (日) accumulation (积) with monthly (月) gathering (累) to describe gradual progress. It first appeared in Han Dynasty texts discussing scholarly cultivation, where learning was seen as a process of constant, minute additions - like grains of sand forming a mountain. The...

Persevere until success

Literal meaning: Carve and not stop

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 car...

Success through persistence

Literal meaning: Iron rod becomes needle

The tale of an elderly woman grinding an iron (铁) pestle (杵) into a needle (针) dates to the Northern Song Dynasty. When Li Bai saw her task, she explained that with enough persistence, even the impossible becomes possible. Her story became so influential that the actual grinding stone was preserved ...

Persist despite impossibility

Literal meaning: Bird fills sea with pebbles

This poignant idiom comes from an ancient myth about Nüwa's daughter, who drowned in the Eastern Sea and became a bird (精卫) determined to fill (填) the sea (海) with pebbles. The story first appeared in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, symbolizing unwavering determination against overwhelming odds. ...

Small things build achievement

Literal meaning: Gather sand make tower

The concept of gathering (聚) sand (沙) to build (成) a tower (塔) emerged from Buddhist temple construction practices during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The image of accumulated individual grains forming a massive structure became a metaphor for collective effort and gradual progress. It gained particula...

Persistence overcomes huge obstacles

Literal meaning: Foolish old man moves mountains

This persistent idiom tells of a determined old man (愚公) who began removing (移) mountains (山) that blocked his path, originating from the 'Liezi' during the Warring States period. When ridiculed for attempting such an impossible task at his advanced age, he replied that while he might die, his desce...

Continue efforts with undiminished enthusiasm

Literal meaning: Again connect again encourage

Found in the historical records of the Jin Dynasty, this expression of renewed connection (再接) and repeated encouragement (再厉) originally described military commanders maintaining momentum after initial victories. Song Dynasty educators adopted it to motivate students facing imperial examinations, e...

Over a long period of time

Literal meaning: Long years accumulated months

This idiom describes long (长) years (年) with accumulated (累) months (月), emphasizing extended duration. The repetition of time units reinforces the sense of prolonged periods. The phrase appeared in historical texts describing gradual processes that unfold over extended timeframes. It emphasizes tha...

Progress step by step

Literal meaning: Follow order and advance gradually

This idiom appears in 'The Analects of Confucius' and was elaborated upon by Zhu Xi, the great Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar. It emphasizes following (循) a proper sequence (序) while advancing (进) gradually (渐). The phrase reflects the Confucian educational philosophy that learning must proceed ...