手不釋卷 shǒu bù shì juàn

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

手 shǒu hand
不 bù no, not; un-; negative prefix
釋 shì interprete, elucidate; release
卷 juàn scroll; curl; make a comeback