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Literal Meaning:
Grinding the iron stick into a needle
Metaphorical Meaning:
It is used to describe the fact that a man can do everything if he has enough resolution and fortitude
The famous poet during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), Li Bai, was a naughty boy when he was young. He usually skipped class and went to the streets for fun.
One day, Li Bai skipped class again. He went to the streets and looked here and there. Unconsciously, he arrived at the outskirts. The warm sunshine, cheering bird and swaying flowers and grass made Li Bai give out a sigh: “It is so boring to sit in the room and read in such good weather.”
He stopped at the door of a broken hutch when he saw a white-haired old lady grinding an iron stick. Li Bai got close to the lady and asked: “What are you doing here, Grandma?”
“I am going to grind this stick into a needle,” said the old lady while looking up and smiled to Li Bai. Then he lowered her head and focused on her work again.
“Needle?” Li Bai asked. “The needle for sewing clothes?”
“Of course!” answered the old lady.
“But how could you make it when the stick is so thick?”
The old lady asked Li Bai: “The dropping water can punch the stone. Yu Gong can move large mountain with shovels and poles. Why can’t I turn this iron stick into a needle?”
“But your age…”
“Only if I work harder than the others, I can do everything.”
Li Bai felt very embarrassed upon hearing the old lady’s words. He immediately went back to school and never skipped classes again. After years’ hard work, he grew to become a famous poet.
Grinding the iron stick into a needle
Metaphorical Meaning:
It is used to describe the fact that a man can do everything if he has enough resolution and fortitude
The famous poet during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), Li Bai, was a naughty boy when he was young. He usually skipped class and went to the streets for fun.
One day, Li Bai skipped class again. He went to the streets and looked here and there. Unconsciously, he arrived at the outskirts. The warm sunshine, cheering bird and swaying flowers and grass made Li Bai give out a sigh: “It is so boring to sit in the room and read in such good weather.”
He stopped at the door of a broken hutch when he saw a white-haired old lady grinding an iron stick. Li Bai got close to the lady and asked: “What are you doing here, Grandma?”
“I am going to grind this stick into a needle,” said the old lady while looking up and smiled to Li Bai. Then he lowered her head and focused on her work again.
“Needle?” Li Bai asked. “The needle for sewing clothes?”
“Of course!” answered the old lady.
“But how could you make it when the stick is so thick?”
The old lady asked Li Bai: “The dropping water can punch the stone. Yu Gong can move large mountain with shovels and poles. Why can’t I turn this iron stick into a needle?”
“But your age…”
“Only if I work harder than the others, I can do everything.”
Li Bai felt very embarrassed upon hearing the old lady’s words. He immediately went back to school and never skipped classes again. After years’ hard work, he grew to become a famous poet.