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HSK 3 Chinese reading practice

铁杵成针

tiě chǔ chéng zhēn

Grinding an Iron Rod into a Needle

A young Li Bai watches an old woman grind a thick iron rod and discovers what steady effort can achieve.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 3
READ4 min
HANZI173
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文化
CULTURE

Great work begins with patient effort

铁杵成针 is a traditional story associated with the poet Li Bai. The idiom says that an iron rod can be ground into a needle and is used to encourage patience, determination, and steady effort.

Key vocabulary8 words from this story
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阅读理解 · COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01小时候的李白为什么跑出学堂？
02老婆婆想把大铁棒磨成什么？
03听完老婆婆的话，李白做了什么？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 铁杵成针

What does 铁杵成针 mean in English?

铁杵成针 (tiě chǔ chéng zhēn) literally means “grind an iron rod into a needle.” It describes achieving a difficult goal through patience and persistent effort.

When is 铁杵成针 used?

Use 铁杵成针 to encourage someone whose steady work will eventually produce a result. For example: She practised Chinese every day for years—只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针.

What is the pinyin for 铁杵成针?

The pinyin pronunciation for 铁杵成针 is “tiě chǔ chéng zhēn.”