諺語 · a single proverb
青出於藍而勝於藍
Simplified: 青出于蓝而胜于蓝
What does 青出於藍而勝於藍 (qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán) mean?
青出於藍而勝於藍 (qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "blue comes from indigo yet surpasses indigo." In use it means: The student surpasses the teacher; the new generation exceeds the old. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dragon.
Literally: "blue comes from indigo yet surpasses indigo."
The reading
The indigo plant does not resent the deeper blue it produces; it is fulfilled by it. The teacher who raises a student beyond their own ceiling has completed their purpose and should feel the particular satisfaction of having been surpassed. This is how knowledge grows past any single vessel.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Xun Zi 荀子·勸學 (Quàn Xué, Encouraging 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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dragon, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 青出於藍而勝於藍 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 青出於藍而勝於藍 (qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Xun Zi 荀子·勸學 (Quàn Xué, Encouraging 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 青出於藍而勝於藍?
In Mandarin it is qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 青出於藍而勝於藍 aloud in Mandarin.