A good proverb page should not hide the Chinese image behind one polished English sentence. Literal translation, explanation, and equivalent each perform a different job.
Literal translation preserves the image
滴水穿石 literally means ‘dripping water penetrates stone.’ That image shows why small repeated actions matter.
Natural meaning explains the lesson
A natural explanation might be: ‘Small, repeated efforts can overcome a formidable obstacle.’ It is not intended as a word-for-word translation.
An equivalent compares cultural expressions
‘Constant dripping wears away the stone’ is a close English equivalent. Other comparisons are only related, and the page should say so rather than presenting a false one-to-one match.
Difference is part of the answer
When two sayings differ in tone or typical use, explaining that difference is more valuable than simply naming the nearest English proverb.
Editorial note
This article is written for language and cultural education. Expression labels and origin notes are reviewed cautiously; if you spot an error or have a stronger primary source, please send a correction.