諺語 · a single proverb
敬業樂群
Simplified: 敬业乐群
What does 敬業樂群 (jìng yè lè qún) mean?
敬業樂群 (jìng yè lè qún) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "respect work, find joy in the community." In use it means: Take your work seriously and find delight in your community; professional dedication combined with social joy. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "respect work, find joy in the community."
The reading
The person who takes their work seriously and loves the people around the work has found the complete version of a professional life. Neither alone is sufficient: grave work without social warmth is lonely, and sociability without seriousness about the work is shallow. The combination produces the particular fullness of someone who is both good at what they do and glad to be doing it among others.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Li Ji 禮記·學記 (Xué Jì, Record of Learning)
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 Monkey, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 敬業樂群 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 敬業樂群 (jìng yè lè qún) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Li Ji 禮記·學記 (Xué Jì, Record of Learning). 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 敬業樂群?
In Mandarin it is jìng yè lè qún. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 敬業樂群 aloud in Mandarin.