10 Chinese Sayings About Success & Hard Work

Heaven rewards diligence

Literal meaning: Heaven's way rewards diligence

This idiom encapsulates the belief that Heaven's way (天道) rewards (酬) diligence (勤). Emerging from Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian teachings, it reflects the synthesis of cosmic order with human effort. The concept challenged both fatalistic acceptance and the belief in pure luck, suggesting instead that...

Work day and night

Literal meaning: Wear stars crown moon

This poetic idiom paints a picture of wearing (披) stars (星) and crowning (戴) oneself with the moon (月), describing dedication that extends from dawn to dusk. It originated from descriptions of diligent scholars during the Tang Dynasty who studied through the night. Historical records note how succes...

Constantly improve

Literal meaning: Perfect seek more perfect

This philosophy traces back to the Spring and Autumn period's craftsman traditions, where artisans (精) would continuously refine (益) their work while seeking (求) even greater refinement. The concept gained prominence during the Song Dynasty when unprecedented technological advances drove craftsmen t...

Success after long preparation

Literal meaning: 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...

Invest utmost effort and emotion

Literal meaning: Vomit heart drip blood

This visceral idiom describes effort so intense it's like vomiting (呕) one's heart (心) and dripping (沥) blood (血), first appearing in Tang Dynasty literary criticism. It originally described the suffering of poets who created through intense emotional labor. Scholar Han Yu used it to explain how gre...

So absorbed as to neglect basic needs

Literal meaning: Abandon sleep forget food

Han Dynasty biographers first celebrated this level of dedication where scholars abandoned sleep (废寝) and forgot food (忘食). The phrase gained immortality through Sima Qian's complete absorption in compiling the 'Records of the Grand Historian.' The neglect of basic biological needs demonstrated how ...

Build up from nothing; self-made

Literal meaning: White hands start a family/business

This idiom describes starting a family or business with white/empty (白) hands (手) - meaning no inherited wealth or resources. The phrase celebrates self-made success achieved through one's own efforts without external help or initial capital. It appeared in texts describing merchants and officials w...

Practice makes perfect

Literal meaning: Familiarity can produce skill

This idiom states that familiarity/practice (熟) can (能) produce (生) skill (巧). It emphasizes that expertise comes from repeated practice rather than innate talent alone. The phrase originated from a Song Dynasty story about an oil seller who could pour oil through a coin's hole - not from genius, bu...

Work tirelessly and diligently

Literal meaning: Diligently, without fatigue

This idiom describes working diligently (孜孜) without (不) becoming weary (倦). The doubled character 孜 emphasizes continuous effort. The phrase praises sustained dedication that doesn't diminish over time. Modern usage describes tireless workers who maintain their diligence and enthusiasm despite long...

Achieve success and fame

Literal meaning: Merit achieved, name established

This idiom describes merit (功) achieved (成) and name (名) established (就). It depicts the completion of one's life work and the establishment of lasting reputation. The phrase represents the culmination of a successful career. Modern usage describes reaching the pinnacle of one's profession, achievin...