玉汝于成

Pronunciation: yù rǔ yú chéng Literal meaning: Works you like jade into completion

Origin & Usage

This comes from Zhang Zai's Western Inscription of the Song dynasty: 贫贱忧戚，庸玉女于成 — poverty, low station, worry and grief are the means by which you (汝) are worked like jade (玉) into completion (成). Jade is not found finished; it is cut and ground, and the phrase treats hardship as that grinding rather than as misfortune. It is a consolation, but an unsentimental one. Modern usage tells someone that what they are enduring is what will make them.

Examples

English: "The artisan spent years perfecting his craftsmanship"

Chinese: 这位工匠花了多年时间完善他的工艺