手不釋卷 shǒu bù shì juàn

fig. (of a student or scholar) diligent and hardworking

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. (of a student or scholar) diligent and hardworking
  2. 2. lit. always with a book in hand (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
手 shǒu HSK 2
hand; personal(ly); person engaged in certain types of work
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
釋 shì
to explain; Buddhism; to release
卷 juàn HSK 5
to roll (up); to roll up; roll