磨杵成針 mó chǔ chéng zhēn

DEFINITIONS

  1. to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiom); fig. to persevere in a difficult task
  2. to study diligently

CHARACTERS

磨 mó
HSK 6
grind; polish; rub; wear out; a millstone
杵 chǔ pestle; baton used beat clothes
成 chéng
HSK 3
completed, finished, fixed
針 zhēn needle; pin; tack; acupuncture