諺語 · a single proverb
工欲善其事，必先利其器
What does 工欲善其事，必先利其器 (gōng yù shàn qí shì bì xiān lì qí qì) mean?
工欲善其事，必先利其器 (gōng yù shàn qí shì bì xiān lì qí qì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "a craftsman who wishes to do good work must first sharpen his tools." In use it means: To do any task well, you must first ensure your tools, preparation, and conditions are properly in place. 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 Rooster.
Literally: "a craftsman who wishes to do good work must first sharpen his tools."
The reading
The hour spent sharpening is not time taken from the work-it is time given to the work before the work begins. The craftsperson who knows this is never in a hurry at the start, and rarely in trouble in the middle.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Analects 論語, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong 衛靈公)
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 Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 工欲善其事，必先利其器 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 工欲善其事，必先利其器 (gōng yù shàn qí shì bì xiān lì qí qì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Analects 論語, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong 衛靈公). 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 工欲善其事，必先利其器?
In Mandarin it is gōng yù shàn qí shì bì xiān lì qí qì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 工欲善其事，必先利其器 aloud in Mandarin.