諺語 · a single proverb
寶劍鋒從磨礪出
Simplified: 宝剑锋从磨砺出
What does 寶劍鋒從磨礪出 (bǎo jiàn fēng cóng mó lì chū) mean?
寶劍鋒從磨礪出 (bǎo jiàn fēng cóng mó lì chū) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "a precious sword's edge comes from grinding." In use it means: Excellence emerges from rigorous refinement; the sharpest abilities are forged through hardship. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Tiger.
Literally: "a precious sword's edge comes from grinding."
The reading
The sword did not leave the forge sharp. It left the forge rough, and then someone sat with it for hours, drawing stone against metal, over and over, removing everything that was not edge. Talent is the metal. Discipline is the stone. Neither alone produces anything that cuts.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common folk couplet; often paired with 梅花香自苦寒來
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Perseverance & the Long Road, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 寶劍鋒從磨礪出 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 寶劍鋒從磨礪出 (bǎo jiàn fēng cóng mó lì chū) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common folk couplet; often paired with 梅花香自苦寒來. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 寶劍鋒從磨礪出?
In Mandarin it is bǎo jiàn fēng cóng mó lì chū. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 寶劍鋒從磨礪出 aloud in Mandarin.