persistence perseverance effort diligence time

"水滴石穿" (shuǐ dī shí chuān) - Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone

水滴石穿

Constant dripping wears away a stone; persistent effort can achieve success.

Origins and Historical Context

The idiom "水滴石穿" (shuǐ dī shí chuān) originates from the Shi Zi (尸子), an ancient Chinese text attributed to Shi Jiao (尸佼), a philosopher during the Warring States period. The original phrase illustrates how even a soft and seemingly insignificant force like dripping water can eventually erode hard stone through consistent action over time. This natural phenomenon became a powerful metaphor for human perseverance and the cumulative effect of small, consistent efforts.虽然有些故事中引用了这个成语，比如罗大经《鹤林玉露》中张乖崖判案的故事，但成语本身是先于这些故事就存在的，是对自然现象的总结。

Meaning and Usage

"水滴石穿" literally translates to "water drips, stone wears through." It means that persistent effort, no matter how small, can achieve great things over time. It is used to encourage perseverance, diligence, and the importance of consistent action in achieving goals.

  • Example (Learning): “学习任何知识都需要水滴石穿的精神，每天坚持学习一点，日积月累就能取得显著的进步。” (“Xuéxí rènhé zhīshì dōu xūyào shuǐ dī shí chuān de jīngshén, měitiān jiānchí xuéxí yīdiǎn, rìjīyuèlěi jiù néng qǔdé xiǎnzhù de jìnbù.”) – “Learning any knowledge requires the spirit of ‘constant dripping wears away a stone.’ Persisting in learning a little every day will lead to significant progress over time.”

  • Example (Project Completion): “这项工程虽然困难重重，但只要我们有水滴石穿的毅力，一定能够按时完成。” (“Zhè xiàng gōngchéng suīrán kùnnán chóngchóng, dàn zhǐyào wǒmen yǒu shuǐ dī shí chuān de yìlì, yīdìng nénggòu ànshí wánchéng.”) – “Although this project is full of difficulties, as long as we have the perseverance of ‘constant dripping wears away a stone,’ we will definitely be able to complete it on time.”

Cultural Significance of Chéngyǔ (成语)

"水滴石穿" embodies core values in Chinese culture:

  • Importance of Perseverance: It stresses the value of persistence and continuous effort.
  • Power of Small, Consistent Actions: It demonstrates that even seemingly insignificant actions, when repeated consistently, can lead to substantial results.
  • 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng): To persevere; to persist.
  • 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě): To carve relentlessly; to persevere.
  • 日积月累 (rì jī yuè lěi): To accumulate over a long period.