| Proverbs and idioms are integral components of the Chinese language. Passed down through the ages, these concise sayings often aim to impart inherited wisdom, historical tales, and even moral insights. Chinese proverbs about learning are perhaps the most profound of them all. Read on to learn 12 great Chinese sayings about the world of learning and education.  授人以鱼不如授人以渔 (shòu rén yǐ yú bùrú shòu rén yǐ yú) English: Give a man a fish and you feed him for one day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Explanation: Easily translated between Chinese and English, this ancient insight emphasizes that teaching someone a skill, rather than simply procuring the reward for them, is the best way to help them achieve lifelong success. 学如登山 (xué rú dēng shān) English: Studying is like climbing a mountain. Explanation: Encourage your Chinese friends to keep working hard with this inspiring adage. Remember, while the road ahead may be steep like a mountain trail, the view from the top will surely be worth it! 念念不忘 (niànniàn-bùwàng) English: Study hard and don’t forget. Explanation: This proverb is similar to the English saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” It encourages the recipient to continue pondering a problem and not to quickly forget something learned by neglecting one’s studies. 三人行，必有我师 (sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī) English: In a group of three people, there will always be one person I can learn from. Explanation: Confucius made many sagacious statements about learning in his life and works. As one of the most famous quotes from the Confucian Analects, this positive anecdote reminds us to stay open-minded when interacting with and learning from others. Everyone (or at least one of the two people you are ‘walking’ with) has something unique to teach you. 师傅领进门，修行在个人 (shīfù lǐng jìnmén, xiūxíng zài gèrén) English: Teachers open the door; you enter by yourself. Explanation: Remember to take responsibility for your own learning with the help of this proverb, which demonstrates how education is a duty shared between the teacher and student. Note that 修行 (xiū xíng) means to devote oneself to perfecting a craft or spiritual practice. 活到老，学到老 (huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo) English: Live until you're old, study until you're old. Pinyin: Never stop learning! This charming saying reminds us that one is never too old to learn something new. 严师出高徒 (yánshī chū gāotú) English: Strict teachers produce brilliant students. Explanation: If you’ve ever been an educator or had a really tough teacher, you may either agree or disagree with this sentiment. Either way, this proverb speaks to the traditional Chinese notion that tough love and rigor is the most effective method for educating students and children. 读万卷书不如行万里路 (dú wàn juǎn shū bùrú xíng wàn lǐ lù) English: Reading ten thousand books is not as good as walking a thousand miles. Explanation: For all the adventurers with a bad case of wanderlust out there, be sure to quote this proverb next time your friends or family tell you to stay indoors and study when you would rather be outside exploring. This philosophy validates the notion that life experience may, in fact, be more important than purely conceptual knowledge. 学无止境 (xué wú zhǐ jìng) English: Learning is limitless. Explanation: Literally meaning “study has no boundaries,” this proverb speaks to the infinite universe of knowledge that awaits you. In life, there is always something new to study—we think this saying is especially true when it comes to learning Chinese! 学然后知不足 (xué ránhòu zhī bùzú) English: To learn is to encounter one’s own ignorance. Explanation: A quote from the Confucian classic Book of Rites, 学然后知不足 (xué ránhòu zhī bùzú) is an important proverb for remembering humility and translates literally as “learn, then know your deficiencies.” In the original text, this quote is followed by the parallel clause 教然后知困 (jiāo ránhòu zhī kùn), meaning “teach, then know your difficulties.” 教学相长 (jiàoxué-xiāngzhǎng) English: When you teach someone, both teacher and student benefit. Explanation: This proverb is a helpful reminder that teaching can be a great way to continue learning. As the familiar theory goes, teaching someone is a useful way to learn and retain new information. 温故而知新 (wēngù’érzhīxīn) English: Studying the past helps to understand the present. Explanation: Another idiom derived directly from the Confucian Analects, this proverb advocates for the importance of considering the past in order to apply lessons to the present and future. |
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