Today, we shall continue our exploration of the idiom 懸樑刺股 (hyun4 loeng4 chi3 gu2). As previously discussed, this expression characterises an individual who engages in intense and diligent study, overcoming challenges and enduring hardships to realise their objectives – an individual who truly embodies the notion of “burning the midnight oil.“

However, there are two origin stories that converge to form this idiom, illustrating the extent to which individuals were willing to go in the pursuit of knowledge.

English Equivalents:

As a reminder, we are focusing on the idiom: “Burning the Midnight Oil”

Pronunciation Guide (Approximate):

• Burn-ing The Mid-Night Oil

The Two Stories Behind “懸樑刺股” (and How they relate to “Burning the Midnight Oil”):

The idiom 懸樑刺股 is actually a combination of two separate stories, each illustrating incredible dedication to studying:

• Story 1: 懸樑 (hyun4 loeng4) – “Hanging from the Beam”: This tale recounts the life of Sun Jing (孫敬), a dedicated scholar from the Eastern Han Dynasty. Despite his strong commitment to learning, Sun Jing faced a significant hurdle—he frequently dozed off during his studies! In a bid to conquer this issue, he devised an extreme yet inventive solution: he tied his hair to a wooden beam in the ceiling above him. This clever mechanism ensured that whenever he began to drift into slumber, the tug on his hair would jolt him awake. This method exemplifies the phrase “burning the midnight oil,” as he literally fought against sleep to pursue his studies with fervor!
• Story 2: 刺股 (chi3 gu2) – “Awakening with a Needle”: This story is about Su Qin (蘇秦) from the Warring States Period. Su Qin was an ambitious strategist who traveled to many states seeking to offer his services. He failed repeatedly and returned home in disgrace. Ashamed of his failures, he resolved to study harder than ever before. However, like Sun Jing, he struggled with sleep. To combat this, he devised an even more painful method: he would prick his thigh with an awl (a small pointed tool) whenever he felt himself getting drowsy. The sharp pain would jolt him awake, allowing him to continue studying late into the night. Once again, this is someone going to extreme lengths – “burning the midnight oil” with a vengeance!

Combining the Stories:

Over time, these two compelling stories became intertwined, ultimately evolving into the single, powerful idiom 懸樑刺股 (hyun4 loeng4 chi3 gu2). This idiom symbolizes the utmost dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and the relentless effort to conquer obstacles through sheer willpower and unwavering self-discipline. Both individuals illustrated a profound commitment to their studies, exemplifying the phrase ‘Burn the midnight oil.’ Their remarkable journeys serve as enduring testaments to the lengths one can go to achieve their goals, inspiring future generations to embrace hard work and perseverance in their own educational endeavors.

Examples of Use in English:

• “To pass the exam, he tied his hair to the ceiling and poked himself with a needle so that he could continue burning the midnight oil.”
• “They studied so hard, burning the midnight oil and tying their hair to the ceiling.”
• “She was so determined to make good grades, she was burning the midnight oil everyday!”

Key Takeaways:

• “Burning the midnight oil” is a great English expression for capturing the spirit of 懸樑刺股 (hyun4 loeng4 chi3 gu2).
• The idiom 懸樑刺股 (hyun4 loeng4 chi3 gu2) comes from two separate stories of extreme dedication to studying.
• Sun Jing tied his hair to the ceiling, and Su Qin pricked his thigh with an awl, all to stay awake and study harder.
• These stories illustrate the importance of perseverance and overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of knowledge.