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.

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