Liǎng wèi lǎotóngxué duō nián lái hùxiāng dǐlì, hòulái dōu chéng le yǒumíng de xuézhě.
The two old classmates spurred each other on for years, and both became well-known scholars.
Tips
usage
砥 is a fine whetstone and 砺 a coarse one; grinding a blade on both became the image for toughening one's will through hardship. The word is formal and common in speeches: 砥砺前行 (to forge ahead), 互相砥砺 (to spur each other on).
