cin1 ceoi4 baak3 lin6千錘百鍊千锤百炼

Jyutpingcin1 ceoi4 baak3 lin6

Yalechīn chèuih baak lihn

名詞

Definition

The process of being tried, tested, and refined over and over again.

neutraldescriptionswork

How it's used

This idiom is used to describe something that has reached a high level of quality or maturity through rigorous effort, repeated practice, or harsh experience. It carries a sense of respect for the process of overcoming difficulties rather than just achieving a result. While it is a formal idiom, it is frequently used in professional or artistic contexts to praise someone's dedication.

Examples

le1呢gin2件zok3作ban2品hai6係ging1經gwo3過cin1千ceoi4錘baak3百lin6鍊sin1先zi3至jyun4完sing4成㗎。

This work was only completed after being refined through countless trials.

keoi5佢ge3嘅jin2演gei6技hai6係ging1經gwo3過cin1千ceoi4錘baak3百lin6鍊sin1先jau5有gam1今jat6日gam3咁hou2好。

His acting skills are this good today because they have been tempered over and over.

Common phrases

ging1經gwo3過cin1千ceoi4錘baak3百lin6鍊

to have gone through rigorous tempering

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of metalwork, but it is almost exclusively used metaphorically for skills, character, or creative works. Do not use it to describe simple physical tasks or everyday chores.