wear out an iron inkslab—study assiduously ❍ 他一生发扬了～的精神，在学术上有很高的造诣。He displayed the spirit of wearing out an iron inkslab all his life and became a man of great academic attainments.
磨穿铁砚mo chuan tie yan
wear out an iron inkslab—study assiduously
磨穿铁砚mó chuān tiě yàn
铁砚：铁铸的砚台。磨穿了铁铸的砚台。形容用功读书，持久不懈。long years of ardent study, study assiduously, grind away at one’s studies