Proverb / Kotowaza
一念、岩をも徹す
With strong will and mental focus, one can manifest the power to overcome even the greatest difficulties.
A single focused thought can even pierce through a rock
Quick Answer
With strong will and mental focus, one can manifest the power to overcome even the greatest difficulties.
- Literal Image
- A single focused thought can even pierce through a rock
- Closest Equivalent
- Where there is a will, there is a way
- How to Use It
- Used when describing someone who has achieved a difficult goal through sheer persistence and willpower.
Meaning
This expression suggests that having an unwavering determination allows a person to achieve feats as seemingly impossible as piercing a solid rock. It emphasizes that mental resolve is the key to breaking through barriers and succeeding in difficult endeavors.
Literal Image
A single focused thought can even pierce through a rock
Equivalent Proverbs
Where there is a will, there is a way
Both emphasize that determination leads to a solution.
How to Use It
Used when describing someone who has achieved a difficult goal through sheer persistence and willpower.
Tone
Inspirational and encouraging.
Examples
毎日諦めずに練習を続けた結果、ついに全国大会で優勝できた。一念、岩をも徹すとはこのことだと思った。
As a result of continuing to practice every day without giving up, I finally won the national tournament. I felt that this was exactly what 'a focused mind pierces even rock' means.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji for 'pierce' (徹) and the classical particle 'wo mo' structure make it slightly less transparent for beginners than basic proverbs.
一念
いちねん / ichinen
a single focused thought; determination
岩
いわ / iwa
rock; boulder
徹す
とおす / toosu
to pierce through; to penetrate
Usage Profile
Usage note: While positive, it emphasizes extreme mental intensity, not just casual effort.
Misread Risk
This focuses on the power of the mind and will, not just physical strength or accidental success.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Derived from a story about the Han dynasty general Li Guang (李広). One night, believing a tiger was hiding in the grass, Li Guang shot an arrow at it. The next morning, he discovered that the arrow had deeply pierced a solid rock. It is said that his intense conviction (ichinen) that the target was a tiger generated the power to pierce through the stone.
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