Home / Chinese Wisdom Cards / 绳锯木断,水滴石穿
Patience Easy

绳锯木断,水滴石穿

Shéng jù mù duàn, shuǐ dī shí chuān
A rope can saw through wood; water drops can pierce stone — persistence conquers all.

Rope saws wood breaks, water drops stone pierces

This saying emphasizes the power of persistent, consistent e...

This saying emphasizes the power of persistent, consistent effort over time, even when each individual action seems insignificant. It teaches that patience and determination can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

This is a classic Chinese proverb rooted in Daoist philosophy, which values the soft overcoming the hard through endurance. It is often used to encourage students, athletes, and entrepreneurs who face slow progress.

Someone might say this when a friend is about to give up learning a difficult language, or when an entrepreneur is discouraged by slow initial sales.

This saying provides a powerful motivational framework, reframing slow progress as a natural and necessary part of success. It signals that the speaker values perseverance and sees quitting as the only true failure.

#patience #hard-times #success

Discover More Chinese Sayings

Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.

🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards