Proverb / Kotowaza
読書百遍意自ずから通ず
If you read a difficult text many times, its meaning will eventually become clear on its own.
Read a book a hundred times and the meaning will naturally become clear.
Quick Answer
If you read a difficult text many times, its meaning will eventually become clear on its own.
- Literal Image
- Read a book a hundred times and the meaning will naturally become clear.
- Closest Equivalent
- Repeated reading makes the meaning clear.
- How to Use It
- Used to encourage students or researchers who are struggling with difficult texts, or to advise someone to find an answer through their own repeated effort.
Meaning
This proverb emphasizes that persistence and deep focus are the keys to understanding difficult material. Rather than rushing through many books superficially, one should read a single challenging text repeatedly until its logic and nuances are fully grasped. It also suggests that individuals should put in the effort to understand something independently before relying on others for explanations.
Literal Image
Read a book a hundred times and the meaning will naturally become clear.
Equivalent Proverbs
Repeated reading makes the meaning clear.
A direct explanation of the core concept found in English sources.
How to Use It
Used to encourage students or researchers who are struggling with difficult texts, or to advise someone to find an answer through their own repeated effort.
Tone
Formal and encouraging with a literary register.
Examples
難解な古典も繰り返し読めば理解できる。読書百遍意自ずから通ずだ。
Even difficult classics can be understood if read repeatedly. It is associated with the saying goes: read a hundred times and the meaning will naturally become clear.
読書百遍意自ずから通ずと信じて、毎日同じ経典を音読している。
Believing that repeated reading leads to understanding, I read the same scriptures aloud every day.
一度読んで分からなくても諦めない。読書百遍意自ずから通ずである。
Do not give up even if you do not understand after one reading; persistence in reading will eventually make the meaning clear.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The proverb is lengthy and utilizes the classical verb form 'tsuuzu' (from tsuuzuru) instead of the modern 'tsuujiru'. The kanji compounds are advanced academic vocabulary.
読書
どくしょ / dokusho
reading books
百遍
ひゃっぺん / hyappen
a hundred times; repeatedly
意
い / i
meaning; intent
通ず
つうず / tsuuzu
to be understood; to communicate
Usage Profile
Usage note: This expression refers to deep study and intellectual effort; it is not used for simple everyday tasks.
Misread Risk
Do not take the number 'one hundred' literally; it represents the concept of exhaustive repetition rather than a strict count.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.