Proverb / Kotowaza
継続は力なり
Persistence and steady effort lead to success and mastery.
Continuance is power
Quick Answer
Persistence and steady effort lead to success and mastery.
- Literal Image
- Continuance is power
- Closest Equivalent
- Practice makes perfect.
- How to Use It
- Used to encourage someone facing a long-term challenge or to explain how success was achieved through steady, daily work.
Meaning
It is important to continue a task carefully without stopping or taking breaks along the way. Sustaining small efforts over time is the surest way to improve skills and reach your ultimate goals.
Literal Image
Continuance is power
Equivalent Proverbs
Practice makes perfect.
Emphasizes that repetition leads to mastery.
How to Use It
Used to encourage someone facing a long-term challenge or to explain how success was achieved through steady, daily work.
Tone
An encouraging and positive expression can be used as a personal motto or life lesson.
Examples
継続は力なりで、毎日少しずつ練習を重ねた結果、ようやくピアノが弾けるようになった。
Through the spirit of 'persistence is power,' I practiced a little every day and finally became able to play the piano.
継続は力なりと信じて、地道にコツコツと努力を続けてきた彼がついに大きな成果を手にした。
Believing that persistence is power, he continued his steady, diligent efforts and finally achieved great results.
英語は一朝一夕には上達しない。継続は力なりの精神で取り組むべきだ。
English doesn't improve overnight. You should approach it with the spirit that persistence is power.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses simple vocabulary, though the 'nari' ending is a classical grammar form that adds a formal, aphoristic tone.
継続
けいぞく / keizoku
continuation, persistence
力
ちから / chikara
power, strength, ability
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Ensure you don't confuse it with just 'doing something for a long time' without effort; the nuance is about the cumulative power of steady application.
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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.