10 Chinese Idioms for Wishing Students Success in the New Year

Master something completely

Literal: Merge and flow through completely

Emerging from Buddhist meditation texts of the Tang Dynasty, this idiom describes the moment when scattered knowledge merges (融会) and flows through (贯通) one's understanding completely. The metaphor originates from the practice of metal casting, where separate elements melt and flow together to form ...

Learning is limitless

Literal: Ocean of learning has no shores

This idiom comes from a longer phrase '学海无涯，苦作舟渡' - the sea (海) of learning (学) has no shores (无涯), but hard work is the boat that crosses it. First appearing in Song Dynasty scholarly texts, it gained prominence during the Ming period when private academies flourished. The ocean metaphor was especi...

Student surpasses master

Literal: Blue comes from indigo plant

This idiom comes from a statement by Xunzi, noting that while blue (青) dye comes from (出于) the indigo plant (蓝), it surpasses its source in depth of color. The metaphor gained prominence during the Han Dynasty in discussions of education and generational progress. It celebrates how students can surp...

Learn many from one example

Literal: Raise one reflect three

This idiom stems from Confucius's teaching methodology, where he described the ideal student as one who could infer (反) three (三) things when taught one (举一). The concept appears in the Analects, where Confucius praised students who could extrapolate broader principles from specific examples. During...

Learn new through studying old

Literal: Review old know new

This idiom comes directly from Confucius's teaching that by reviewing (温) the old (故), one can understand (知) the new (新). The metaphor originally referred to warming up old food to make it fresh again, suggesting that knowledge requires regular review to remain vital. During the Tang Dynasty, it be...

Success after long preparation

Literal: Thick accumulation thin launch

This idiom compares patient accumulation (积) of deep (厚) knowledge with the eventual release (发) that requires minimal (薄) effort. It emerged during the Tang Dynasty literary circles, where scholars emphasized sustained preparation over hasty creation. Historical accounts describe how poet Du Fu spe...

Reach highest attainable level

Literal: Climb peak reach limit

This expression describes climbing (登) to the mountain peak (峰) and reaching (造) the ultimate limit (极), originating from Daoist geographical texts of the Han Dynasty. It first described pilgrimages to sacred mountains believed to connect heaven and earth. During the Tang Dynasty, it evolved beyond ...

Add crucial finishing touch

Literal: Dot dragon's eyes

This vivid idiom comes from a story of the legendary painter Zhang Sengyou during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. After painting (画) four dragons (龙) on a temple wall, he deliberately left them without pupils. When questioned, he explained that dotting (点) the eyes (睛) would bring them t...

Surpass one's teacher; outdoing predecessors

Literal: Blue emerges from indigo

This idiom describes blue (青) emerging (出) from (于) indigo (蓝). Blue dye derived from indigo plants becomes more vivid than the source. The phrase celebrates students surpassing teachers. Modern usage describes successors exceeding their predecessors, the ideal outcome of teaching where disciples ac...

Have many successful students

Literal: Peaches and plums fill the gate

This idiom describes peaches (桃) and plums (李) filling (满) the gate (门). Students are metaphorically called peach and plum trees because teachers cultivate them like gardeners. A teacher with many successful students has peaches and plums everywhere. Modern usage describes successful educators whose...