手不释卷

Traditional form:

手不釋卷

Pinyin (reading):

shǒubùshìjuàn

Definitions:

• lit. always with a book in hand (idiom)
• fig. (of a student or scholar) diligent and hardworking

Characters:

• 手 - hand
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 释 - to explain, to interpret; to release
• 卷 - book, scroll, volume; curled up; to curl, to roll

Traditional characters:

• 手 - hand
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 釋 - to explain, to interpret; to release
• 卷 - book, scroll, volume; curled up; to curl, to roll