只要功夫深

zhǐyàogōngfushēn

phrase

Meanings

1 as long as you put in deep effort (you'll succeed)
2 persistence pays off
3 (lit.) only if your kung fu is deep

Characters

if / so long as

(noun suffix, with 功 = effort/training)

Examples

只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针，别放弃。

Zhǐyào gōngfu shēn, tiěchǔ mó chéng zhēn, bié fàngqì.

As long as you put in deep effort, you can grind an iron bar into a needle — don't give up.

学语言没有捷径，只要功夫深，总能学好。

Xué yǔyán méiyǒu jiéjìng, zhǐyào gōngfu shēn, zǒng néng xuéhǎo.

There's no shortcut to learning a language — with enough dedication, you'll always master it.

Tips

history

Half of the proverb 只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针 — traditionally linked to a legend about a young Li Bai (李白) meeting an old woman grinding an iron pestle into a needle on Mount Mei; shamed by her patience, he returned to his studies. The full saying is the Chinese equivalent of 'practice makes perfect.'

usage

Nearly always completed mentally with 铁杵磨成针. Common in encouragement to students or learners facing a long slog.

Stroke Order

只 zhǐ

要 yào

功 gōng

夫 fū

深 shēn