只要功夫深,铁杵磨成针 zhǐ yào gōng fu shēn , tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn

DEFINITIONS

  1. If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.
  2. cf idiom 磨杵成針|磨杵成针, to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiom); fig. to persevere in a difficult task
  3. to study diligently

CHARACTERS

只 zhǐ only, just, simply
要 yào necessary, essential; necessity
功 gōng achievement, merit, good result
夫 fu man, male adult, husband; those
深 shēn deep; depth; far; very, extreme
铁 tiě iron; strong, solid, firm
杵 chǔ pestle; baton used beat clothes
磨 mó grind; polish; rub; wear out; a millstone
成 chéng completed, finished, fixed
针 zhēn needle; pin; tack; acupuncture