天道酬勤
天道酬勤 (tiān dào chóu qín) literally means “heaven's way rewards diligence” and expresses “effort is eventually repaid”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: tian dao chou qin, tian dao chou qin,天道酬勤 meaning, 天道酬勤 in english
Effort is eventually repaid
Pronunciation: tiān dào chóu qín Literal meaning: Heaven's way rewards diligence
Origin & Usage
Heaven's way (天道) repays (酬) diligence (勤). 酬 is the word for requiting a debt or returning a toast, so the claim is transactional: the effort is owed something, and the universe is the party that settles. That is a stronger position than simply hoping hard work pays off, and it is close to the argument of the Book of Changes that the noble person imitates heaven's unceasing motion. It is one of the most commonly written phrases in Chinese calligraphy, and it hangs in a great many classrooms and offices.
Examples
English: "Her years of hard work finally paid off with a major breakthrough"
Chinese: 她多年的努力终于带来了重大突破
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
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一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
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百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
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破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
Commit with no retreat
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守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīn
Value time preciously
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青出于蓝
qīng chū yú lán
Student surpasses master
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逆水行舟
nì shuǐ xíng zhōu
Progress needs constant effort
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众志成城
zhòng zhì chéng chéng
Unity creates strength
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 天道酬勤 mean in English?
天道酬勤 (tiān dào chóu qín) literally translates to “Heaven's way rewards diligence” and is used to express “Effort is eventually repaid”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 天道酬勤 used?
Situation: Her years of hard work finally paid off with a major breakthrough
What is the pinyin for 天道酬勤?
The pinyin pronunciation for 天道酬勤 is “tiān dào chóu qín”.
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