📖 Meaning
As hard as metal and stone. It describes something extremely hard, solid, or unyielding. Often used to praise unwavering willpower or indestructible resolve.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from 'Qi Fa' (Seven Stimuli), a famous fu essay by the Han dynasty writer Mei Sheng (枚乘). In the essay, a guest tries to awaken a sick prince through vivid descriptions and philosophical arguments, stating that even something with the hardness of metal and stone would eventually melt and break apart under the right conditions. The metaphor serves to illustrate that no matter how firm or unyielding something appears, it can still be overcome.
💡 Example Usage
他凭借金石之坚的意志，终于战胜了病魔。
With a will as unyielding as metal and stone, he finally conquered his illness.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 金石之坚
- Pinyin: jīn shí zhī jiān
- Literal Translation: metal, stone, of, hardness
- Category: Perseverance
- Characters: 4