# 手不释卷

shǒu bù shì juàn

Always have a book in hand

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Never release the scroll from the hand

**Traditional Chinese:** 手不釋卷

**Register:** Positive · literary

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

## When to use it

Praise enthusiasm and diligence in reading.

An exaggeration of sustained study, not a requirement never to rest.

## Understanding the expression

A scroll represents written knowledge, and the hand's refusal to put it down suggests continual engagement with reading. The expression praises a reader who makes use of spare moments and keeps returning to study. Modern books or digital reading can carry the same idea. It does not literally require reading every minute. The emphasis is on an enduring habit and appetite for knowledge rather than simply owning many books.

## Examples

他在火车上仍手不释卷。

### Traditional Chinese

他在火車上仍手不釋卷。

tā zài huǒ chē shàng réng shǒu bù shì juàn 。

He kept reading even on the train.

奶奶退休后手不释卷，尤其爱读历史。

### Traditional Chinese

奶奶退休後手不釋卷，尤其愛讀歷史。

nǎi nai tuì xiū hòu shǒu bù shì juàn ， yóu qí ài dú lì shǐ 。

After retiring, Grandma reads constantly, especially history.

备考期间，她几乎手不释卷。

### Traditional Chinese

備考期間，她幾乎手不釋卷。

bèi kǎo qī jiān ， tā jī hū shǒu bù shì juàn 。

While preparing for the exam, she was almost always reading.

这位研究者手不释卷，却也坚持每天散步。

### Traditional Chinese

這位研究者手不釋卷，卻也堅持每天散步。

zhè wèi yán jiū zhě shǒu bù shì juàn ， què yě jiān chí měi tiān sàn bù 。

The researcher reads constantly but still takes a walk each day.

## 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=%E6%89%8B%E4%B8%8D%E9%87%8B%E5%8D%B7)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=407&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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- [守株待兔 shǒu zhū dài tù Waiting for luck instead of taking action ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shou-zhu-dai-tu)

- [熟能生巧 shú néng shēng qiǎo Practice makes you skillful ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shu-neng-sheng-qiao)

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