The idiom “滴水穿石 (dīshuǐchuānshí)” more literally means that constantly dripping water can wear away stone.
Now it is used to mean that you can succeed if you persist. It also can be written as “水滴石穿 (shuǐdīshíchuān).”
Let’s read about the origin of this idiom.
Key Learning Point (Preview):
滴水穿石 (dīshuǐchuānshí): Dripping water wears away stone.
Yì tiān, Sòngcháo xiànlìng Zhāng Guāiyá zài yámen zhōuwéi xúnxíng.
一天， 宋 朝 县令 张 乖崖 在 衙门 周围 巡行。
One day, Zhang Guaiya (the county magistrate) was patrolling the government buildings.
Kàndào yí ge xiǎolì huānghuang zhāngzhang de cóng qiánkù zhōng zǒu chūlái.
看 到 一个 小吏 慌慌 张张 地 从 钱库 中 走 出来。
He saw a minor official come out from the money vault hurriedly.
Zhāng Guāiyá bǎ tā hǎn zhù wèn: “nǐ zhème huānghuang zhāngzhang gàn shénme?”
张 乖崖 把 他 喊 住 问：“你 这么 慌慌 张张 干 什么?”
Zhang Guaiya stopped him and asked, “Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Méi shénme.” Nà xiǎolì huídá shuō.
“没 什么。” 那 小吏 回答 说。
“No reason.” the officer answered.
Zhāng Guāiyá liánxiǎng dào zuìjìn qiánkù jīngcháng shīqiè, biàn ràng suícóng duì
张 乖崖 联想 到 最近 钱库 经常 失窃， 便 让 随从 对
tā jìnxíng sōuchá.
他 进行 搜查。
Zhang Guaiya recalled the things stolen from the money vault recently. He ordered the guards to search the officer.
Jiéguǒ, zài tóujīn lǐ sōu dào yì méi tóngqián.
结果， 在 头巾里 搜 到 一 枚 铜钱。
Consequently, there was a copper piece found in the officer’s headband.
Zhāng Guāiyá wèn tā yígòng tōule duōshǎo qián, xiǎolì bù chéngrèn lìngwài tōuguò qián,
张 乖崖 问 他 一共 偷了 多少 钱，小吏 不 承认 另外 偷过 钱，
Zhāng Guāiyá biàn xià lìng káodǎ.
张 乖崖 便 下令 拷打。
Zhang Guaiya asked him how much more money he had stolen. The officer refused to admit that he stole any additional money. Zhang Guaiya ordered that the officer be tortured.
Xiǎolì bù fú shuō: “tōule yì méi tóngqián yǒu shénme liǎobùqǐ, nándào nǐ hái néng
小吏 不服 说：“ 偷了一枚 铜钱 有 什么 了不起， 难道 你 还 能
shāle wǒ?”
杀了 我？”
The officer didn’t give in and said, “It’s nothing to steal just a copper piece. Could it be that you can kill me?”
Zhāng Guāiyá shífēn fènnù, jiù bǎ tā yā dào xíngchǎng zhánshǒu shìzhòng.
张 乖崖 十分 愤怒，就 把 他 押 到 刑场 斩首 示众。
Zhang Guaiya was very angry and sent him to be executed.
Bìng duì suǒyǒu rén shuō: “shuǐdī bù tíng de dī, jiù néng bǎ shítou dī chuān, gèng bú yòng
并 对 所有 人 说：“ 水滴 不 停 的滴，就 能 把 石头 滴 穿， 更 不 用
shuō shì měitiān tōudào le.”
说 是 每天 偷盗 了。”
He said to all the people, “Dripping water wears away stone, let alone stealing everyday.”
Key Learning Point:
滴水穿石 (dīshuǐchuānshí): Dripping water wears away stone.
Examples:
Zhǐyào wǒmen jiānchí nǔlì, zǒng huì dīshuǐchuānshí, qǔdé chénggōng.
只要 我们 坚持 努力，总 会 滴水穿石， 取得 成功。
As long as we persist to work hard, we can succeed just as constantly dripping water can wear away stone.
Xuéxí yào yǒu héngxīn hé jīlěi, dīshuǐchuānshí, cái néng qǔdé hǎo chéngjì.
学习 要 有 恒心 和积累， 滴水穿石， 才 能 取得 好 成绩。
Study requires the acquisition of knowledge and persistence. Just as dripping water wears away stone constant effort will help us to achieve good marks.
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