十年寒窗

shínián-hánchuāng
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 lit. ten years at a cold window
  2. 2 long years of hard, lonely study

Examples

HSK 4
Shínián-hánchuāng, tā zhōngyú kǎoshàng le lǐxiǎng de dàxué.
After years of hard study, he finally got into the university he wanted.
HSK 7-9
Gǔdài dúshūrén shínián-hánchuāng, jiùshì wèile jīnbǎng-tímíng.
Scholars of old studied for years by a cold window, all for the chance to see their names on the list of successful candidates.

Tips

history
From the saying "ten years by a cold window and nobody asks after you; pass the exam once and the whole world knows your name", whose second half is 一举成名天下知. It sums up the imperial examination dream.

Stroke Order

十 shí
年 nián
寒 hán
窗 chuāng