"An iron pestle ground into a needle" literally means grinding an iron rod into a fine needle, and it is used as a metaphor to convey that with enough perseverance and determination, even the most difficult tasks can be accomplished. This idiom comes from the story of Li Bai in Zhu Mu's Fang Yu Sheng Lan of the Song Dynasty: when Li Bai was young, he did not like to study. One day he met an old woman grinding an iron pestle by a stream. Li Bai asked her what she was doing, and the old woman replied, "I want to make a needle." Deeply moved, Li Bai devoted himself to studying from then on and eventually became one of the greatest poets of his generation. This idiom emphasizes the spirit of persistence and perseverance, and it is often used to encourage people not to give up easily when facing difficulties. It carries a strongly positive connotation and reflects the Chinese cultural tradition of valuing perseverance and diligence. It is mostly used in contexts such as study, work, and entrepreneurship, where long-term effort is required, and it can also be used for self-motivation or to encourage others.
📝 Example
1. Learning a foreign language requires the perseverance of grinding an iron rod into a needle; only by practicing every day can one make progress. (A metaphor meaning that with determination, even the hardest task can be accomplished.)
2. He believes in grinding an iron rod into a needle—as long as he keeps working hard, one day he will realize his dream. (A metaphor meaning that persistent effort will lead to the achievement of one's goal.)