磨杵成针 — “To achieve great things through persistent effort and hard work”
磨杵成针 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to achieve great things through persistent effort and hard work”. To show that perseverance can overcome any difficulty, no matter how challenging the task. Literally, “Grind an iron rod into a needle”.
磨杵成针 Pronunciation and Pinyin
磨杵成针 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 磨杵成针
Origin and Story of 磨杵成针
During the Tang Dynasty, the famous poet Li Bai was not a diligent student in his youth, often discarding his books to play outside.
One day, he encountered an elderly woman with white hair who was tirelessly grinding a large iron rod against a stone. Intrigued, Li Bai asked her what she was doing.
The old woman explained that she was trying to grind the iron rod into a fine embroidery needle. Deeply moved by her unwavering perseverance, Li Bai was inspired to change his ways.
From that day forward, he dedicated himself to diligent study and eventually became a renowned literary master.
Idioms Related to 磨杵成针
Synonyms of 磨杵成针
More idioms starting with 磨
- mó磨bù不lín磷，，niè涅bù不zī缁Unyielding integrity despite adverse circumstances
- mó磨qián乾yà轧kūn坤Towering high, reaching to the heavens
- mó磨dāo刀bù不wù误kǎn砍chái柴gōng工Sharpening tools improves work efficiency
- mó磨dāo刀cā擦qiāng枪prepare for battle
- mó磨dāo刀huò霍huò霍sharpening a blade for impending action
- mó磨lì厉yǐ以xū须prepare and wait for the opportune moment
- mó磨zuǐ嘴pí皮zi子talk idly or unnecessarily
- mó磨mò墨shǔn吮háo毫prepare ink and moisten brush
- mó磨mò墨rú濡háo毫prepare to write or paint
- mó磨xíng形liàn炼xìng性temper body and cultivate character
- mó磨quán拳cā擦zhǎng掌eager for a fight or action
- mó磨róu揉qiān迁gé革temper and transform through experience
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Open the tool →Questions about 磨杵成针
What does 磨杵成针 mean?
磨杵成针 (mó chǔ chéng zhēn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to achieve great things through persistent effort and hard work”.
How do you pronounce 磨杵成针?
磨杵成针 is pronounced mó chǔ chéng zhēn in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 磨杵成针 literally mean?
Literally, 磨杵成针 means “Grind an iron rod into a needle”. It is used to mean “to achieve great things through persistent effort and hard work”.
Where does 磨杵成针 come from?
磨杵成针 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 磨杵成针?
把铁棒磨成了针。比喻做任何艰难的工作，只要有毅力，下苦功，就能够克服困难，做出成绩。