头悬梁，锥刺股 in English tou2 xuan2 liang2 , zhui1 ci4 gu3 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) with his head attached to a beam and stabbing his thigh with an awl (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically to study assiduously and tirelessly

Simplified Characters

头 悬 梁 ， 锥 刺 股

Traditional Characters

頭 懸 梁 ， 錐 刺 股

Pinyin

tou2 xuan2 liang2 , zhui1 ci4 gu3

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

头tou2head 悬xuan2to hang or suspend 梁liang2Liang Dynasty (502-557) ， 锥zhui1cone 刺ci4(onom.) whoosh 股gu3thigh