滴水穿石
Constant dripping wears away stone
Littéralement: Drip water pierce stone
Use this to encourage someone (or yourself) when slow progress feels discouraging but necessary.
En 15 secondes
- Small daily actions lead to massive long-term results.
- Consistency is more effective than sudden, short-lived bursts of power.
- Persistence can overcome even the hardest, most stubborn challenges.
Signification
This phrase describes how small, persistent efforts can eventually overcome even the most impossible obstacles. It is a beautiful way to say that consistency is more powerful than raw strength.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Encouraging a friend learning a language
学中文不容易，但只要你有滴水穿石的精神，一定能学好。
Learning Chinese isn't easy, but as long as you have the spirit of constant dripping wearing away stone, you will surely master it.
Talking about a long-term savings goal
每天存十块钱，滴水穿石，几年后就能买房了。
Save ten yuan every day; constant dripping wears away stone, and you'll be able to buy a house in a few years.
A CEO addressing the company about a 10-year plan
我们的市场份额是靠滴水穿石的努力一点点赢回来的。
Our market share was won back bit by bit through the effort of constant dripping wearing away stone.
Contexte culturel
Originating from the 'Book of Han' (Han Shu), this phrase reflects the Taoist and Confucian emphasis on endurance and the power of the 'soft' overcoming the 'hard.' It has remained popular for centuries because it provides a relatable, natural metaphor for the universal human struggle against difficult odds.
The 'Spirit' Connection
You can add `的精神` (de jīngshén) after the phrase to turn it into 'the spirit of...' This is the most common way to use it as a noun.
Don't Rush the Drip
Avoid using this for things that happened quickly. If you won the lottery, don't say it was `滴水穿石`—that would sound very confusing!
En 15 secondes
- Small daily actions lead to massive long-term results.
- Consistency is more effective than sudden, short-lived bursts of power.
- Persistence can overcome even the hardest, most stubborn challenges.
What It Means
Imagine a tiny water droplet hitting a massive, hard boulder. In a single day, nothing happens. In a month, the stone is still there. But over years and decades, that soft water eventually bores a hole right through the rock. This phrase is all about the power of persistence. It tells you that you don't need to be a giant to achieve big things. You just need to keep showing up every single day. It is the ultimate anthem for the 'slow and steady' approach to life.
How To Use It
You can use 滴水穿石 as a standalone piece of advice or as part of a sentence. It often functions like an adjective or a noun to describe a person's spirit. You might say someone has a 滴水穿石 spirit. It is also common to use it when someone feels discouraged by slow progress. It reminds them that their small daily actions are actually carving out a path to success. Think of it as a more poetic version of 'don't give up.'
When To Use It
This is perfect for long-term goals. Use it when you are talking about learning a difficult language like Chinese. It is great for fitness journeys where results take months to show. You can use it in a business meeting to describe a long-term strategy. It also works well in graduation cards or when mentoring a younger friend. If someone is working on a 1,000-piece puzzle, this is your go-to phrase. It adds a touch of wisdom to any conversation about hard work.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for things that require urgent, immediate action. If you need to finish a report by tomorrow morning, 滴水穿石 won't help you. It is also not suitable for 'get rich quick' schemes or temporary fixes. Avoid using it for negative habits; we usually use it for positive, constructive persistence. Also, don't use it if the task is actually very easy. It loses its magic if the 'stone' isn't actually hard to pierce!
Cultural Background
This idiom has been part of Chinese wisdom for over 2,000 years. It appears in ancient texts like the *Book of Han*. It reflects a core Chinese value: the virtue of patience. In many Western stories, heroes win through a single burst of great power. In Chinese culture, the hero is often the one who outlasts everyone else. It is deeply tied to the idea that time is a tool, not just a measurement. It suggests that nature itself teaches us how to be successful.
Common Variations
You will often hear 铁杵磨成针 (tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn). This means 'grinding an iron bar into a needle.' It carries almost the exact same meaning. Another related concept is 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng), which means to persevere. While 滴水穿石 is a vivid image, these variations are more direct. However, none of them quite capture the visual beauty of water conquering stone. Stick with the water metaphor if you want to sound particularly wise over coffee.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is highly versatile across all registers. When using it, ensure the context involves a long duration of time; using it for short-term tasks sounds unnatural.
The 'Spirit' Connection
You can add `的精神` (de jīngshén) after the phrase to turn it into 'the spirit of...' This is the most common way to use it as a noun.
Don't Rush the Drip
Avoid using this for things that happened quickly. If you won the lottery, don't say it was `滴水穿石`—that would sound very confusing!
The Power of Softness
In Chinese philosophy, water is often seen as the most powerful element because it is soft but persistent. This phrase is a perfect example of that 'soft power' logic.
Exemples
6学中文不容易，但只要你有滴水穿石的精神，一定能学好。
Learning Chinese isn't easy, but as long as you have the spirit of constant dripping wearing away stone, you will surely master it.
Here it describes the type of 'spirit' or 'mindset' needed.
每天存十块钱，滴水穿石，几年后就能买房了。
Save ten yuan every day; constant dripping wears away stone, and you'll be able to buy a house in a few years.
Used to show how small financial habits add up.
我们的市场份额是靠滴水穿石的努力一点点赢回来的。
Our market share was won back bit by bit through the effort of constant dripping wearing away stone.
Used in a professional setting to emphasize long-term strategy.
别放弃！滴水穿石，你的腹肌迟早会出来的。
Don't give up! Constant dripping wears away stone; your abs will show up sooner or later.
A lighthearted way to encourage someone during a workout rut.
我花了三年时间才让这只猫理我，真是滴水穿石啊。
It took me three years to get this cat to acknowledge me; it's truly a case of constant dripping wearing away stone.
Using a grand idiom for a small, funny personal victory.
康复的过程很慢，但他凭着滴水穿石的毅力站了起来。
The recovery process was slow, but he stood up again thanks to his 'dripping water' perseverance.
Emphasizes the emotional strength required for physical healing.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about long-term success.
成功没有捷径，只有___的努力才能达到目标。
`滴水穿石` emphasizes long-term effort, whereas `一日千里` means rapid progress and `马到成功` means instant success.
Which word in the phrase means 'to pierce' or 'to wear through'?
在‘滴水穿石’这个成语中，表示‘穿透’的字是：___。
`穿` (chuān) means to pierce, wear, or go through, which describes the action of the water on the stone.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality and Context Spectrum
Encouraging a friend to keep practicing guitar.
Keep at it, 滴水穿石!
Discussing study habits with a teacher.
Learning requires 滴水穿石.
A keynote speech about environmental conservation.
Our progress is like 滴水穿石.
Where to use 滴水穿石
Language Learning
Learning 5 words a day.
Fitness
Daily 15-minute walks.
Saving Money
Putting spare change in a jar.
Skill Mastery
Practicing scales on piano.
Relationships
Small daily acts of kindness.
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt literally means 'dripping water pierces stone.' It refers to the natural phenomenon where water droplets eventually create a hole in solid rock.
It is neutral. You can use it in a formal speech or while texting a friend. It is very versatile.
Generally, no. It is almost always used to praise positive persistence or encourage someone toward a good goal.
You can use it as a subject or an adjective. For example: 我们要有滴水穿石的毅力 (We need to have the perseverance of dripping water piercing stone).
Not really. It is a standard four-character idiom (chengyu). Shortening it would make it lose its meaning.
坚持不懈 (jiānchí bùxiè) means 'to persevere without flagging.' It is more direct, while 滴水穿石 is more metaphorical and poetic.
Yes, you can say someone has a 滴水穿石的精神 (a spirit of dripping water piercing stone) to describe their tenacity.
It originates from the *Book of Han*, an ancient Chinese history book, though the concept is found in even older Taoist writings.
Yes, it is very common. You will see it in books, news articles, and hear it in daily conversations about goals.
A common mistake is using it for a one-time big effort. Remember, it only applies to small, repeated actions over a long time.
Yes, the closest is 'Constant dripping wears away stone' or 'Rome wasn't built in a day.'
No, it implies that the task *seems* impossible but is actually achievable through steady effort.
Expressions liées
磨杵成针
Grinding an iron pestle into a needle (persistence).
持之以恒
To persevere in something.
坚持不懈
Unremitting perseverance.
锲而不舍
To keep on carving (persistence in study/work).
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