Patience Easy

只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针

zhǐ yào gōng fū shēn, tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn

With enough effort, an iron pestle can be ground into a needle.

Literal translation

As long as effort is deep, iron pestle grinds into needle.

What it means

Perseverance and dedication can turn even the most impossibl...

Perseverance and dedication can turn even the most impossible task into reality. No goal is too hard if you are willing to put in the time and work.

Cultural context

This saying comes from a famous story about the poet Li Bai, who was inspired by an old woman grinding an iron rod into a needle. It is a classic lesson in persistence, often told to children.

When Chinese people say this

Someone might say this to a student struggling to learn a difficult subject, or to an entrepreneur facing repeated failures — reminding them that persistence is the key.

Why Chinese people say this

This saying embodies the Chinese belief in the transformative power of sustained effort. It counters despair by framing difficulty as a test of will, not a sign of impossibility.

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