锲而不舍

鍥而不捨

qiè'ér-bùshě

idiom #40,909

Meanings

1 to keep chiseling without giving up (idiom)
2 to persevere unflaggingly
3 to stick with it through to the end

Characters

to chisel; to engrave

and (classical)

to give up; to abandon

Examples

他锲而不舍地追求自己的梦想。

Tā qiè'érbùshě de zhuīqiú zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.

He pursues his dreams with unflagging perseverance.

科学研究需要锲而不舍的精神。

Kēxué yánjiū xūyào qiè'érbùshě de jīngshén.

Scientific research requires relentless perseverance.

只要锲而不舍，终能成功。

Zhǐyào qiè'érbùshě, zhōng néng chénggōng.

As long as you persevere, you'll eventually succeed.

Tips

history

Comes straight from 《荀子·劝学》: 锲而舍之，朽木不折；锲而不舍，金石可镂 — chisel and quit, even rotten wood won't break; chisel without quitting, even metal and stone can be carved. Xunzi's classic argument for persistence.

register

Formal, written, and elevated — the kind of phrase used in speeches, essays, and academic writing, not casual conversation.

Stroke Order

锲 qiè

而 ér

不 bù

舍 shě