qiè'érbùshě: 锲而不舍 - To Persevere, Unflagging Persistence

• Keywords: 锲而不舍, qie er bu she, Chinese idiom for perseverance, persistent, unflagging effort, determination, tenacity, how to use 锲而不舍, Chinese chengyu, stick to it, never give up in Chinese.
• Summary: 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě) is a powerful and elegant Chinese idiom (chengyu) that embodies the spirit of relentless perseverance. Literally meaning “to carve and not give up,” it paints a vivid picture of someone chipping away at a difficult task—like carving stone or metal—with unflagging determination until the goal is achieved. This term is frequently used to praise admirable persistence in study, work, or personal development, reflecting a core cultural value of diligence and tenacity.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiè ér bù shě
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); can function as an adverb, adjective, or predicate.
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To persevere with unflagging determination; to work at something relentlessly without giving up.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine trying to carve your name into a rock with a small chisel. It's slow, difficult, and requires immense patience. 锲而不舍 is the spirit you need to keep chipping away, day after day, until the job is done. It's more than just “trying again”; it's about continuous, focused, and admirable effort against a great challenge.

• 锲 (qiè): To carve, to engrave, or to cut into a hard surface. Think of a sculptor's chisel.
• 而 (ér): A classical grammatical particle that connects two clauses, here meaning “and” or “and yet.”
• 不 (bù): Not; no.
• 舍 (shě): To abandon, to discard, to give up.

The characters combine literally and beautifully: “To carve (锲) and (而) not (不) give up (舍).” The meaning is transparent and creates a strong visual metaphor for persistence.

The idiom 锲而不舍 comes from a famous line in the classic Confucian text Xunzi (《荀子》), specifically in the chapter “An Exhortation to Learning” (《劝学篇》). The original sentence is: “锲而舍之，朽木不折；锲而不舍，金石可镂” (qiè ér shě zhī, xiǔ mù bù zhé; qiè ér bù shě, jīn shí kě lòu). This translates to: “If one carves and gives up, even rotten wood cannot be broken; if one carves and does not give up, metal and stone can be engraved.” This origin firmly roots 锲而不舍 in the Chinese value system, which esteems diligence, self-cultivation, and the belief that consistent effort can overcome any obstacle. It's not just about achieving a result, but about the virtue inherent in the struggle itself. Compared to the Western concept of “grit” or “stick-to-it-iveness,” 锲而不舍 is subtly different. While “grit” often implies a passion-fueled resilience over the long haul, 锲而不舍 emphasizes the methodical, continuous, and almost artistic *process* of the work. The metaphor of “carving” suggests a focused, deliberate, and skillful application of effort, making it particularly popular in contexts of learning, craftsmanship, and scientific research.

锲而不舍 is a formal and highly respected chengyu. While you might not hear it in the most casual daily chatter, it is widely used and understood in slightly more formal contexts.

• Formal Encouragement: It's perfect for a teacher encouraging a student, a manager motivating a team, or a parent inspiring a child. It carries a sense of gravity and high praise.
• Written Language: It appears frequently in essays, articles, official speeches, and motivational quotes.
• Describing Success: It is often used to explain the reason for someone's great achievement, attributing it to their incredible work ethic. For example, “His success is due to his 锲而不舍 spirit.”

Its connotation is always positive and admiring. Using it shows a good command of the language and an appreciation for traditional values.

• Example 1:
  • 学习任何技能都需要锲而不舍的精神。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí rènhé jìnéng dōu xūyào qiè ér bù shě de jīngshén.
  • English: Learning any skill requires a spirit of unflagging perseverance.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use case, linking the idiom to the general concept of learning. The phrase `…的精神 (…de jīngshén)` meaning “the spirit of…” is a very common structure used with 锲而不舍.
• Example 2:
  • 只要我们锲而不舍，就一定能克服眼前的困难。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào wǒmen qiè ér bù shě, jiù yīdìng néng kèfú yǎnqián de kùnnán.
  • English: As long as we persevere, we can definitely overcome the current difficulties.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used as a verb phrase to mean “to persevere.” This sentence is a great example of motivational language you might hear from a team leader.
• Example 3:
  • 这位科学家锲而不舍地研究了二十年，终于取得了突破。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā qiè ér bù shě de yánjiū le èrshí nián, zhōngyú qǔdé le tūpò.
  • English: This scientist researched relentlessly for twenty years and finally made a breakthrough.
  • Analysis: The particle `地 (de)` turns the idiom into an adverb, describing how the scientist researched. This is a very common grammatical pattern.
• Example 4:
  • 他的成功不是靠运气，而是靠锲而不舍的努力。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénggōng bùshì kào yùnqì, érshì kào qiè ér bù shě de nǔlì.
  • English: His success wasn't due to luck, but due to his relentless effort.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom functions as an adjective modifying “effort” (`努力`). This structure clearly separates luck from admirable, hard work.
• Example 5:
  • 古人说：“锲而不舍，金石可镂。” 这句话一直激励着我。
  • Pinyin: Gǔrén shuō: “Qiè ér bù shě, jīn shí kě lòu.” Zhè jù huà yīzhí jīlì zhe wǒ.
  • English: The ancients said: “If you persevere, metal and stone can be carved.” This sentence has always inspired me.
  • Analysis: Quoting the source directly is a powerful way to use the idiom. It shows a deeper cultural understanding. `金石可镂 (jīn shí kě lòu)` is the second half of the original phrase.
• Example 6:
  • 为了实现自己的梦想，她锲而不舍地工作，从不抱怨。
  • Pinyin: Wèile shíxiàn zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng, tā qiè ér bù shě de gōngzuò, cóng bù bàoyuàn.
  • English: In order to realize her dream, she worked with unflagging persistence and never complained.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the positive character trait associated with the idiom. It's not just about working hard, but about having a virtuous attitude while doing so.
• Example 7:
  • 这种锲而不舍的探索精神是所有伟大探险家的共同特质。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng qiè ér bù shě de tànsuǒ jīngshén shì suǒyǒu wěidà tànxiǎnjiā de gòngtóng tèzhì.
  • English: This kind of relentless spirit of exploration is a common trait of all great explorers.
  • Analysis: This sentence again uses the `…的精神` pattern to create a noun phrase: “the spirit of relentless exploration.”
• Example 8:
  • 面对一次又一次的失败，他没有放弃，反而更加锲而不舍。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì yīcì yòu yīcì de shībài, tā méiyǒu fàngqì, fǎn'ér gèngjiā qiè ér bù shě.
  • English: Faced with failure again and again, he didn't give up; on the contrary, he became even more persistent.
  • Analysis: This shows that 锲而不舍 is often the response to failure. The word `更加 (gèngjiā)` means “even more,” emphasizing the increased determination.
• Example 9:
  • 只有锲而不舍，才能在学术上有所成就。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu qiè ér bù shě, cáinéng zài xuéshù shàng yǒu suǒ chéngjiù.
  • English: Only by persevering relentlessly can one achieve something in academia.
  • Analysis: The `只有…才… (zhǐyǒu…cái…)` structure means “only if…then…” and is perfect for framing 锲而不舍 as a necessary condition for success.
• Example 10:
  • 这个项目非常复杂，但我们的团队会锲而不舍地把它完成。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù fēicháng fùzá, dàn wǒmen de tuánduì huì qiè ér bù shě de bǎ tā wánchéng.
  • English: This project is extremely complex, but our team will complete it with unflagging determination.
  • Analysis: A great example of its use in a professional or business context, promising dedication to a difficult task.

• Don't use it for short-term tasks. You would not say you worked 锲而不舍 to finish your homework for one evening. The idiom implies a long, arduous journey toward a significant goal. Using it for a simple task would sound overly dramatic.
  • Incorrect: 我锲而不舍地找到了我的钥匙。(I relentlessly found my keys.)
  • Correct: 我找了半天才找到我的钥匙。(I searched for a long time before finding my keys.)
• Difference from `坚持 (jiānchí)`: `坚持` is a common verb meaning “to persist” or “to insist on.” It's versatile and used daily. 锲而不舍 is a much more formal, literary, and powerful chengyu. Think of `坚持` as “to keep going,” while 锲而不舍 is “to persevere with the noble spirit of a master carver.” You can `坚持` your opinion in an argument, but you would use 锲而不舍 to describe your decade-long effort to master the piano.
• Don't confuse it with stubbornness. The Chinese word for “stubborn” is `固执 (gùzhí)`, which has a negative connotation of being inflexible and unwilling to listen. 锲而不舍 is entirely positive, praised as a virtue of diligence and strong will.

• Synonyms (similar meaning):
  • 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng) - “To grasp something and do it with constancy.” A very close synonym for long-term perseverance.
  • 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bù xiè) - “To persist without slacking.” Another strong synonym emphasizing continuous effort.
  • 水滴石穿 (shuǐ dī shí chuān) - “Dripping water penetrates stone.” A chengyu with a different metaphor to describe the same principle: small, consistent efforts can overcome great obstacles.
  • 愚公移山 (yú gōng yí shān) - “The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountains.” A famous fable and chengyu about the power of seemingly impossible perseverance.
• Antonyms (opposite meaning):
  • 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) - “To give up halfway.” The direct opposite of seeing a task through.
  • 三天打鱼，两天晒网 (sān tiān dǎ yú, liǎng tiān shài wǎng) - “Fish for three days, dry the nets for two.” A vivid idiom describing someone who works sporadically and lacks consistency.
• Related Verb:
  • 坚持 (jiānchí) - The common, everyday verb for “to persist,” “to insist on,” or “to stick with it.”