Chinese idiom · 成语
金石为开
Meaning
Metal and stone yield; sincerity overcomes obstacles.
Character by character
Origin and story
Traditional illustrative taleIn the Xinxu's fourth collection of miscellaneous affairs, Xiong Quzi of Chu travels at night and mistakes a rock for a crouching tiger. He shoots so forcefully that his arrow penetrates it. After realizing it is stone, he tries again, but the arrow breaks without leaving a mark. The account interprets the first shot as the power of wholehearted conviction and asks how much more such sincerity might affect people.
This is an illustrative marvel, not a physical principle. Similar stone-shooting stories circulate about other archers, including Li Guang. The idiom draws from this tradition to praise sincerity and resolve that overcome seemingly immovable resistance.
In everyday life
她一次次耐心沟通，终于让双方愿意坐下来谈，真是金石为开。
Through repeated, patient communication, she finally persuaded both sides to sit down and talk—sincerity overcame their resistance.
Often paired with 精诚所至; praises earnest effort rather than promising literal miracles.