恨鐵不成鋼
简 恨铁不成钢 · 繁 恨鐵不成鋼Meanings
- lit. disappointed that iron does not turn into steel (idiom)
- fig. frustrated with sb who has failed to meet one's expectations
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Mandarin tones
4–3–4–2–1 · hen4 tie3 bu4 cheng2 gang1
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
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Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
恨鐵不成鋼 · find source passages ↗ · 恨铁不成钢 · find source passages ↗
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 2 Cantonese readings
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
han6 tit3 bat1 sing4 gong1 · han6 tit3 bat1 sing4 gong3
Cantonese word readings for 恨鐵不成鋼. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
phrase
- (figurative) to feel resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations; to be impatient to see improvement
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
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