# 磨杵成针

mó chǔ chéng zhēn

Achieve a difficult goal through persistent effort

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Grind a heavy pestle into a needle

**Traditional Chinese:** 磨杵成針

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Encourage sustained practice and perseverance.

Persistence also needs a workable method.

## Understanding the expression

Transforming a thick implement into a tiny needle requires effort repeated over a long period. The expression makes patience tangible and encourages continued work on a difficult skill or goal. It often appears in study and practice. Its lesson is not that every method will eventually succeed regardless of conditions. Progress, feedback, and suitable tools still matter. The image honors steady effort while leaving room to improve how that effort is directed.

## Examples

她每天练字，相信磨杵成针。

### Traditional Chinese

她每天練字，相信磨杵成針。

tā měi tiān liàn zì ， xiāng xìn mó chǔ chéng zhēn 。

She practices handwriting daily, believing persistence can achieve a difficult goal.

学琴需要磨杵成针的耐心。

### Traditional Chinese

學琴需要磨杵成針的耐心。

xué qín xū yào mó chǔ chéng zhēn de nài xīn 。

Learning piano requires patient perseverance.

他以磨杵成针的精神反复练习。

### Traditional Chinese

他以磨杵成針的精神反覆練習。

tā yǐ mó chǔ chéng zhēn de jīng shén fǎn fù liàn xí 。

He practiced repeatedly with determined persistence.

磨杵成针也要选择合适的方法。

### Traditional Chinese

磨杵成針也要選擇合適的方法。

mó chǔ chéng zhēn yě yào xuǎn zé hé shì de fāng fǎ 。

Persistent effort still needs an appropriate method.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%A3%A8%E6%9D%B5%E6%88%90%E9%87%9D)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1008&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [披荆斩棘 pī jīng zhǎn jí Overcome obstacles while forging a path ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/pi-jing-zhan-ji)

- [披星戴月 pī xīng dài yuè Travel or toil from early until late ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/pi-xing-dai-yue)

- [疲于奔命 pí yú bēn mìng Exhausted by constantly responding to demands ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/pi-yu-ben-ming)

- [迫不及待 pò bù jí dài Be too eager to wait ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/po-bu-ji-dai)

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