下手へたな鉄てっ砲ぽうも数かず撃うちゃ当あたる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

even a poor marksman will hit the target with enough shots; persistence can lead to accidental success

Proverb meaning that even someone unskilled can succeed by chance if they try many times. Often used to encourage persistence. The literal image is of a bad shooter who eventually hits the target by firing enough bullets.

See also: 下手な鉄砲も数撃てば当たる

• 下手へたな鉄てっ砲ぽうも数かず撃うちゃ当あたるというから、とにかく応おう募ぼしてみよう。

  They say even a poor marksman hits the target with enough shots, so let's just apply anyway.

• 下手へたな鉄てっ砲ぽうも数かず撃うちゃ当あたるで、何なん度ども挑ちょう戦せんすればいつか成せい功こうするかもしれない。

  As the saying goes, even a bad shooter can hit the target with enough tries; if you keep challenging yourself, you might succeed someday.