悬梁刺股
悬梁刺股 (xuán liáng cì gǔ) literally means “hang beam stab thigh” and expresses “study extremely hard”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: xuan liang ci gu, xuan liang ci gu,悬梁刺股 meaning, 悬梁刺股 in english
Study extremely hard
Pronunciation: xuán liáng cì gǔ Literal meaning: Hang beam stab thigh
Origin & Usage
Two men, two methods. Sun Jing, of the Han, tied his hair to the roof beam (悬梁) so that nodding off would pull him upright. Su Qin, generations earlier, had been sent home from Qin in disgrace after ten memorials went unread, and read through the night with an awl beside him, stabbing (刺) his own thigh (股) when he grew drowsy — the Strategies of the Warring States says the blood ran to his feet. Neither was preparing for an examination; that system was centuries away. Both were trying to become men worth listening to.
Examples
English: "She studied late into the night, determined to master the subject"
Chinese: 她深夜苦读，决心掌握这门学科
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
Learn more →
百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
Learn more →
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
Learn more →
门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
Extremely popular
Learn more →
天道酬勤
tiān dào chóu qín
Effort is eventually repaid
Learn more →
温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
Learn more →
破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
Commit with no retreat
Learn more →
守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīn
Value time preciously
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 悬梁刺股 mean in English?
悬梁刺股 (xuán liáng cì gǔ) literally translates to “Hang beam stab thigh” and is used to express “Study extremely hard”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 悬梁刺股 used?
Situation: She studied late into the night, determined to master the subject
What is the pinyin for 悬梁刺股?
The pinyin pronunciation for 悬梁刺股 is “xuán liáng cì gǔ”.
Curated Lists Featuring 悬梁刺股
10 Chinese Idioms to Impress in Job Interviews
Powerful Chinese idioms that demonstrate your skills, work ethic, and cultural knowledge in professional interviews.
12 Essential Chinese Idioms for HSK 4 Learners
Key Chinese idioms every HSK 4 student should know - commonly tested chengyu for intermediate learners.
10 Chinese Idioms About Learning From Mistakes
Wise Chinese idioms about failure, learning from errors, and turning setbacks into growth opportunities.