凿壁偷光

Borrowing light from a chink in the wall to study.

《西京杂记》

"Chiseling a Wall to Steal Light" literally means making a hole in a wall to borrow a neighbor's candlelight for reading. The idiom comes from Volume Two of *Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital*, telling the story of Kuang Heng in the Western Han Dynasty, who was too poor to afford a lamp, so he chiseled a hole in the wall to read by his neighbor's light and eventually became a famous prime minister. In its deeper meaning, this idiom describes studying diligently and assiduously under extremely harsh conditions, emphasizing the spirit of overcoming material hardship and actively seeking knowledge. It is often used to praise those who pursue learning despite difficulties and remain unswervingly committed, carrying a strong tone of admiration and encouragement. In cultural context, it reflects the traditional virtue of the Chinese nation's emphasis on education and reverence for diligent study, and together with idioms such as "reading by the light of fireflies and snow" and "tying one's hair to a beam and pricking one's thigh," it forms a cultural symbol of inspirational hard study. It is mostly used to describe attitudes toward learning, praise others for their diligence, or encourage oneself. In emotional coloring, it contains sympathy for impoverished circumstances but even more prominently highlights praise for the spirit of struggle, making it a positive and uplifting idiom.

1. He came from a poor family, yet with the spirit of "boring a hole in the wall to steal light," he was admitted to his ideal university. (Describes studying diligently under harsh conditions.) 2. While teaching in a mountainous area, I was deeply moved by the children's passion for learning, like "boring a hole in the wall to steal light." (A metaphor for the drive to overcome difficulties and study hard.)