头悬梁，锥刺股 tóu xuán liáng ， zhuī cì gǔ

study very hard; work with great effort

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. with his head attached to a beam and stabbing his thigh with an awl (idiom)
  2. 2. fig. to study assiduously and tirelessly

Characters

Character Meaning
头 tóu HSK 3
head; the top; end
悬 xuán HSK 6
to hang or suspend; to worry; unresolved
梁 liáng HSK 6
beam (structure); roof beam; bridge
锥 zhuī
awl; cone; to bore
刺 cì HSK 5
to prick; to pierce; to stab
股 gǔ HSK 5
(stock) share; thigh; part of a whole