三余读书 — “To make good use of every spare moment to study or read”

Q: What is the Chinese definition of 三余读书?

充分利用一切空余时间读书。

三余读书 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make good use of every spare moment to study or read”. To utilize all available free time for learning.

Frequency

三余读书 Pronunciation and Pinyin

三余读书 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
三	sān	3	the number three
余	yú	7	I, me, remaining, after
读	dú	10	read or study
书	shū	4	book, write, document

Example Sentence with 三余读书

小明虽然工作繁忙，但他坚持利用“三余读书”，知识面越来越广。

Even though Xiao Ming is busy with work, he insists on making good use of his spare time for reading, and his knowledge base is constantly expanding.

Origin and Story of 三余读书

During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Dong Yu, a lecturer to Emperor Xian, was a highly learned man, revered as 'Ru Zong' (Master of Confucianism). Many scholars wished to become his disciples and seek his guidance.

However, Dong Yu declined to take on students, asserting that books themselves were the finest teachers. He famously advocated, 'Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will naturally reveal itself.'

When some scholars lamented their lack of time for study, Dong Yu advised them to make use of their 'three remnants of time': the idle days of winter, the quiet hours of night, and the dreary stretches of rainy weather, all ideal for reading and learning.