程门立雪
程门立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě) literally means “cheng door stand snow” and expresses “show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: cheng men li xue, cheng men li xue,程门立雪 meaning, 程门立雪 in english
Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom
Pronunciation: chéng mén lì xuě Literal meaning: Cheng door stand snow
Origin & Usage
A Song Dynasty tale of devotion immortalized student Yang Shi, who stood in snow (立雪) outside philosopher Cheng Yi's door (程门), awaiting his teacher's wisdom. Yuan Dynasty scholars adopted it as the model for ideal student-teacher relationships. The image of a scholar enduring physical discomfort in pursuit of knowledge perfectly captured the Confucian ideal of learning. Modern usage celebrates those who demonstrate profound respect for knowledge through patient dedication.
Examples
English: "The young researcher spent hours outside the professor's office seeking mentorship"
Chinese: 这位年轻研究人员在教授办公室外花费数小时寻求指导
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 程门立雪 mean in English?
程门立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě) literally translates to “Cheng door stand snow” and is used to express “Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 程门立雪 used?
Situation: The young researcher spent hours outside the professor's office seeking mentorship
What is the pinyin for 程门立雪?
The pinyin pronunciation for 程门立雪 is “chéng mén lì xuě”.
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