韦编三绝

韋編三絕

wéibiān-sānjué

idiom

Meanings

1 lit. the leather bindings wore through three times
2 to study with great diligence

Characters

to bind (bamboo slips)

three; many times

Examples

HSK 6

这本《论语》被他翻得破破烂烂，很有点韦编三绝的味道。

Zhè běn 《 Lúnyǔ 》 bèi tā fān de pòpòlànlàn, hěn yǒudiǎn wéibiān-sānjué de wèidao.

He has leafed through his copy of the Analects until it is falling apart, rather like the leather bindings that wore through three times.

HSK 7-9

他读书非常刻苦，真可谓韦编三绝。

Tā dúshū fēicháng kèkǔ, zhēn kěwèi wéibiān-sānjué.

He studies extremely hard; you could truly say he has worn out his books.

Tips

history

From 《史记·孔子世家》: in old age Confucius read the 《易经》 so many times that the leather thongs binding its bamboo slips broke three times. 三 here means "many times".

Stroke Order

韦 wéi

编 biān

三 sān

绝 jué