锲而不舍 qiè’érbùshě to chip away at a task and not abandon it
to chip away at a task and not abandon it (idiom); to chisel away at something; to persevere; unflagging efforts
How to remember 锲而不舍: 锲 sickle + 而 and yet + 不 not + 舍 house = to chip away at a task and not abandon it.
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How it is used
- Idiom 'keep chipping away and never give up; persevere' - 锲而不舍地努力 (qiè'érbùshě de nǔlì) persist with unflagging effort.
- From Xunzi: keep carving and you'll cut through metal/stone. Praises dogged persistence.
- Formal/inspirational; the 锲 = to carve, 舍 = to give up (read shě).