諺語 · a single proverb
名師出高徒
Simplified: 名师出高徒
What does 名師出高徒 (míng shī chū gāo tú) mean?
名師出高徒 (míng shī chū gāo tú) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Renowned teachers produce outstanding students." In use it means: A great teacher's skill and reputation naturally cultivate exceptional students. The quality of instruction directly determines the caliber of the pupil. 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 Goat.
Literally: "Renowned teachers produce outstanding students.."
The reading
A teacher's greatness is measured not by their own fame but by the students they produce. The fire in a mentor lights a thousand torches that burn long after the original has dimmed. Seeking the best instruction is not vanity but responsibility. The student who finds a great teacher has found the rarest kind of luck.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional proverb, commonly paired with 嚴師出高徒
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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Goat, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 名師出高徒 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 名師出高徒 (míng shī chū gāo tú) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional proverb, commonly paired with 嚴師出高徒. 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 名師出高徒?
In Mandarin it is míng shī chū gāo tú. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 名師出高徒 aloud in Mandarin.