绳锯木断 — “Persistent effort”
绳锯木断 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Persistent effort”. No matter how small, can eventually overcome great difficulties or achieve significant results, much like a rope can saw through wood with continuous friction. Literally, “Rope saws wood breaks”.
绳锯木断 Pronunciation and Pinyin
绳锯木断 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 绳锯木断
Origin and Story of 绳锯木断
During the Song Dynasty, Zhang Guaiya, the magistrate of Chongyang County, was known for his integrity and impartiality. One day, he observed a clerk responsible for the iron treasury stealing a single coin from the money vault.
Zhang Guaiya believed that although the amount was small, the nature of the offense was serious and demanded severe punishment. The official protested, but Zhang Guaiya sentenced him to death and inscribed in the verdict: 'One coin a day, a thousand coins in a thousand days; a rope can saw through wood, and dripping water can wear through stone.'
Idioms Related to 绳锯木断
More idioms starting with 绳
- shéng绳yī一jiè戒bǎi百punish one to warn many
- shéng绳zhī之yǐ以fǎ法punish according to the law
- shéng绳xiān先qǐ启hòu后inherit the past and usher in the future
- shéng绳qí其zǔ祖wǔ武follow in ancestors' footsteps
- shéng绳jué厥zǔ祖wǔ武continue ancestral legacy
- shéng绳mò墨zhī之yán言wise and ethical advice
- shéng绳chuáng床wǎ瓦zào灶extremely poor living conditions
- shéng绳qiān愆jiū纠miù缪correct faults and rectify errors
- shéng绳qiān愆jiū纠miù谬correct errors and rectify mistakes
- shéng绳qiān愆jiū纠wéi违identify and correct faults
- shéng绳kǔn捆suǒ索bǎng绑bind tightly with ropes
- shéng绳shū枢zhī之shì士a person from a very humble and impoverished background
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Open the tool →Questions about 绳锯木断
What does 绳锯木断 mean?
绳锯木断 (shéng jù mù duàn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Persistent effort”.
How do you pronounce 绳锯木断?
绳锯木断 is pronounced shéng jù mù duàn in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 绳锯木断 literally mean?
Literally, 绳锯木断 means “Rope saws wood breaks”. It is used to mean “Persistent effort”.
Where does 绳锯木断 come from?
绳锯木断 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 绳锯木断?
用绳当锯子，也能把木头锯断。比喻力量虽小，只要坚持下去，事情就能成功。