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韋編三絕. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
韋編三絕, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
韋編三絕 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
韋編三絕 you have here. The definition of the word
韋編三絕 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
韋編三絕, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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surname; soft leather
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weave; plait; organize weave; plait; organize; group; arrange; edit; compile; write; compose; fabricate |
three
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cut short; extinct; to disappear cut short; extinct; to disappear; to vanish; absolutely; by no means |
| trad. (韋編三絕)
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韋
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編
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三
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絕
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| simp. (韦编三绝)
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韦
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编
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三
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绝
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| alternative forms
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三絕韋編／三绝韦编
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| anagram
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三絕韋編／三绝韦编
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| Literally: “the leather binding (of the bamboo scroll) has broken three times”.
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Etymology
From the story of Confucius studying the Classic of Changes so diligently that the tanned leather threads which connected the bamboo slips broke several times.
Directly from:
孔子晚而喜易，序彖、繫、象、說卦、文言。讀易，韋編三絕。
孔子晚而喜易，序彖、系、象、说卦、文言。读易，韦编三绝。 - From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
- Kǒngzǐ wǎn ér xǐ Yì, xù Tuàn, Xì, Xiàng, Shuōguà, Wényán. Dú Yì, wéibiān sān jué.
- In his old age Confucius loved to study the Book of Changes and wrote commentaries titled Tuan (Commentary on the Judgment), Xici (Commentary on the Appended Phrases), Xiang (lit. image), Shuogua (lit. Explanation of the Trigrams) and Wenyan (Commentary on the Words). He studied this book so much that the leather thongs binding the wooden strips wore out thrice.
Note that in Classical Chinese 三 may also mean many instead of being exactly three.
Pronunciation
Idiom
韋編三絕
- (figurative) to study diligently