Meaning and Usage
"水滴石穿" literally means "water droplets wear through stone." It is a Chinese idiom used to express that persistent effort and patience can overcome even the toughest obstacles. It often encourages perseverance in learning, work, or personal goals.
Common Contexts
This idiom is frequently used in educational settings to motivate students, in work environments to emphasize steady progress, and in everyday conversation to highlight the power of consistent effort.
Collocations and Patterns
- 水滴石穿 + verb phrase: emphasizes the result of persistent action (e.g., 水滴石穿，困难终会被克服)
- 只要 + 水滴石穿: used to stress that as long as persistence continues, success is possible
Nuances
Using 水滴石穿 implies a positive, hopeful attitude toward challenges. It is more formal and literary than casual speech, often found in written or motivational contexts. Avoid confusing it with similar idioms that emphasize speed or sudden success; 水滴石穿 stresses slow, steady progress.