鍥而不捨

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Chinese

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cut; to carve
and; as well as; but (not)
and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast)
 
to not stop; to hate to part with
trad. (鍥而不捨/鍥而不舍) 不捨/不舍
simp. (锲而不舍) 不舍
Literally: “to chisel without giving up”.

Etymology

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From Xunzi:

朽木鍥而不舍金石 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
朽木锲而不舍金石 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Xunzi, c. 3rd century BCE
Qiè ér shě zhī, xiǔmù bù zhé; qiè'érbùshě, jīnshí kě lòu. [Pinyin]
If you start carving and give up, you will not be able to break even rotten wood, but if you start carving and do not give up, then you can engrave even metal and stone.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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鍥而不捨

  1. to persevere; to continue doing something in a determined way and not give up