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HSK 3 Chinese reading practice

凿壁偷光

záo bì tōu guāng

Borrowing Light Through the Wall

Too poor to buy lamp oil, the young Kuang Heng discovers a narrow beam of his neighbor’s light beside the wall.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 3
READ3 min
HANZI187
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文化
CULTURE

What does 凿壁偷光 mean?

凿壁偷光 literally means ‘make a hole in the wall to borrow light.’ The familiar account is associated with the Western Han scholar Kuang Heng. Today the phrase describes studying diligently despite difficult circumstances.

Key vocabulary7 words from this story
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Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01匡衡晚上为什么不能点灯读书？
02匡衡在墙上开小洞以后得到了什么？
03匡衡去别人家工作时想要什么？
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 凿壁偷光

What does 凿壁偷光 mean in English?

凿壁偷光 (záo bì tōu guāng) literally means “make a hole in the wall to borrow light.” It describes studying diligently despite poverty or difficult conditions.

When is 凿壁偷光 used?

Use 凿壁偷光 when praising someone who finds a way to learn even without adequate resources. For example: He studied in the corridor because his room had no electricity, recalling the story of 凿壁偷光.

What is the pinyin for 凿壁偷光?

The pinyin pronunciation for 凿壁偷光 is “záo bì tōu guāng.”