石の上にも三年
ishi no ue ni mo sannen
ja
en
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Translating...
perseverance pays off, stick with it
/iɕi no ɯe ni mo saɴneɴ/
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Staying with a difficult undertaking long enough can eventually bring progress or reward.
Examples
技術が身につくまで粘る姿は、まさに石の上にも三年だ。
The way she persisted until mastering the skill shows that perseverance pays off.
最初は失敗続きだったが、石の上にも三年と続けてきた。
At first I kept failing, but I stayed with it: perseverance pays off.
石の上にも三年とは言うが、危険な職場で無理をする必要はない。
They say perseverance pays off, but you need not endure an unsafe workplace.
修業がつらくても、石の上にも三年と思って踏ん張った。
The training was hard, yet I held on, thinking stick with it.
入社一年で辞めるか迷ったとき、祖父は石の上にも三年と言った。
When I considered quitting after a year, Grandpa said, stick with it.
Meanings
Examples
最初は失敗続きだったが、石の上にも三年と続けてきた。
At first I kept failing, but I stayed with it: perseverance pays off.
修業がつらくても、石の上にも三年と思って踏ん張った。
The training was hard, yet I held on, thinking stick with it.
石の上にも三年とは言うが、危険な職場で無理をする必要はない。
They say perseverance pays off, but you need not endure an unsafe workplace.
入社一年で辞めるか迷ったとき、祖父は石の上にも三年と言った。
When I considered quitting after a year, Grandpa said, stick with it.
技術が身につくまで粘る姿は、まさに石の上にも三年だ。
The way she persisted until mastering the skill shows that perseverance pays off.
Etymology
Even a cold stone would warm if one sat on it long enough; three years is a conventional symbol of sustained patience.
FAQ
Staying with a difficult undertaking long enough can eventually bring progress or reward.
It is read いしのうえにもさんねん, written ishi no ue ni mo sannen.
When would you use 石の上にも三年?
An encouragement to endure the difficult beginning of training or work; “three years” is symbolic, not a fixed requirement.
How is 石の上にも三年 different from 継続は力なり?
継続は力なり praises continuity in general; this proverb foregrounds enduring an initially cold, difficult situation.
How does 石の上にも三年 change in a sentence?
This fixed expression keeps its core wording; the examples show how it fits into a sentence.
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