只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针
Traditional form:
只要功夫深，鐵杵磨成針
Pinyin (reading):
zhǐyàogōngfushēn,tiěchǔmóchéngzhēn
Definitions:
- If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.
- cf idiom 磨杵成針／磨杵成针, to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiom); fig. to persevere in a difficult task
- to study diligently
Characters:
- 只 - only, merely, just
- 要 - essential, necessary; to ask for; to coerce; to demand
- 功 - achievement, good work; merit; service
- 夫 - man, husband; worker; those
- 深 - deep, profound; depth
- 铁 - iron; strong, solid, firm
- 杵 - pestle; to grind
- 磨 - millstone; to grind, to polish, to rub, to wear out
- 成 - to accomplish; to become; to complete, to finish; to succeed
- 针 - needle, pin, tack; acupuncture
Traditional characters:
- 只 - only, merely, just
- 要 - essential, necessary; to ask for; to coerce; to demand
- 功 - achievement, good work; merit; service
- 夫 - man, husband; worker; those
- 深 - deep, profound; depth
- 鐵 - iron; strong, solid, firm
- 杵 - pestle; to grind
- 磨 - millstone; to grind, to polish, to rub, to wear out
- 成 - to accomplish; to become; to complete, to finish; to succeed
- 針 - needle, pin, tack; acupuncture