水滴石穿 — “Water droplets pierce stone”
水滴石穿 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Perseverance and persistent effort can overcome great difficulties or achieve significant results, just as constant dripping water can eventually wear away a stone”. Literally, “Water droplets pierce stone”.
水滴石穿 Pronunciation and Pinyin
水滴石穿 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 水滴石穿
Origin and Story of 水滴石穿
During the Song Dynasty, Zhang Guaiyia served as the magistrate of Chongyang. At that time, it was common for soldiers to insult generals and minor officials to infringe upon their superiors. Zhang Guaiyia considered this an abnormal situation and was determined to rectify it.
One day, as he was inspecting the area around the yamen (magistrate's office), he suddenly saw a minor official hastily emerging from the treasury. Zhang Guaiyia stopped the official and discovered a single coin hidden under his head covering. The official stammered for a long time before admitting he had stolen it from the government funds.
Zhang Guaiyia brought the official back to the main hall and ordered him to be flogged. The official retorted indignantly, "What's one coin? You can only beat me, not kill me!"
Zhang Guaiyia was furious and declared, "One coin a day, a thousand coins in a thousand days. A rope can cut wood, and dripping water can pierce stone." To punish such behavior, Zhang Guaiyia immediately executed the official in the hall.
Idioms Related to 水滴石穿
Synonyms of 水滴石穿
Antonyms of 水滴石穿
More idioms starting with 水
- shuǐ水zhōng中zhuō捉yuè月chase an illusion
- shuǐ水zhōng中lāo捞yuè月make futile efforts
- shuǐ水zhōng中zhuó著yán盐blend in perfectly without a trace
- shuǐ水rǔ乳zhī之qì契inseparable and harmonious relationship
- shuǐ水rǔ乳jiāo交róng融blend perfectly together
- shuǐ水pèi佩fēng风shang裳adorned with water and wind
- shuǐ水guāng光shān山sè色picturesque natural landscapes
- shuǐ水guāng光jiē接tiān天shimmering water merges with sky
- shuǐ水jìng净é鹅fēi飞lose everything, utterly destitute
- shuǐ水zé则zài载zhōu舟，，shuǐ水zé则fù覆zhōu舟What sustains can also destroy
- shuǐ水dào到qú渠chéng成When conditions are ripe, success will follow
- shuǐ水dào到yú鱼xíng行When conditions are ripe, success follows naturally
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Open the tool →Questions about 水滴石穿
What does 水滴石穿 mean?
水滴石穿 (shuǐ dī shí chuān) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Perseverance and persistent effort can overcome great difficulties or achieve significant results, just as constant dripping water can eventually wear away a stone”.
How do you pronounce 水滴石穿?
水滴石穿 is pronounced shuǐ dī shí chuān in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 水滴石穿 literally mean?
Literally, 水滴石穿 means “Water droplets pierce stone”. It is used to mean “Perseverance and persistent effort can overcome great difficulties or achieve significant results, just as constant dripping water can eventually wear away a stone”.
Where does 水滴石穿 come from?
水滴石穿 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 水滴石穿?
水不停地滴，石头也能被滴穿。比喻只要有恒心，不断努力，事情就一定能成功。
