shuǐ水waterdī滴dropshí石stonechuān穿pierce
Constant dripping wears away the stone; perseverance achieves success.
Literal meaning
water (水) — drop (滴) — stone (石) — pierce (穿)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase illustrating the power of perseverance.
Examples
Zhǐ只yào要jiān坚chí持bù不xiè懈，shuǐ水dī滴shí石chuān穿，zǒng总huì会chéng成gōng功de的。
As long as you persevere, constant dripping wears away the stone, you will eventually succeed.
Xué学xí习wài外yǔ语xū需yào要shuǐ水dī滴shí石chuān穿de的jīng精shén神。
Learning a foreign language requires the spirit of constant dripping wears away the stone.
Usage & nuances
Emphasizes the importance of persistence and hard work.
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