善始善终

Pronunciation: shàn shǐ shàn zhōng Literal meaning: Good start good end

Origin & Usage

The idiom 善始善终 (shàn shǐ shàn zhōng) originates from the classical text 《庄子》 (Zhuangzi), where it is used to describe a sage who manages to handle both the beginning and the end of things well. The phrase was later popularized by the historian 司马迁 (Sima Qian) in 《史记》 (Records of the Grand Historian), where he praised the Western Han chancellor 陈平 (Chen Ping) for his ability to navigate through political turmoil and maintain his honor and position throughout his life. The characters 善 (shàn) mean 'good' or 'well,' 始 (shǐ) means 'beginning,' and 终 (zhōng) means 'end.' In modern usage, this idiom describes someone who sees a task through from start to finish with consistent excellence, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and thoroughness.

Examples

English: "He always believes that a good plan leads to a successful outcome, embodying the principle of starting and finishing well."

Chinese: 他总是相信善始善终，好的计划会带来成功的结果。