📖 Meaning
铅 refers to lead powder and 椠 refers to wooden tablets, both ancient writing implements. The idiom describes being diligent in writing, copying, and proofreading work. It is used to praise scholars who devotedly pursued literary and scholarly labors.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from 'Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital' (《西京杂记》), Volume 3, written during the Jin dynasty. It records that Yang Xiong (扬雄, courtesy name Ziyun) of the Western Han dynasty was fond of learning and always carried lead powder and wooden tablets with him. He followed tribute officials traveling to various regions to collect and record the dialects and languages of distant and unusual lands. The phrase later became an allusion for diligence in writing and textual scholarship.
💡 Example Usage
他一生握铅抱椠，著述颇丰。
He devoted his entire life to diligent writing and scholarship, producing a great many works.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 握铅抱椠
- Pinyin: wò qiān bào qiàn
- Literal Translation: hold lead, carry wooden tablets
- Category: Learning
- Characters: 4