諺語 · a single proverb
學海無涯，勤為徑
Simplified: 学海无涯，勤为径
What does 學海無涯，勤為徑 (xué hǎi wú yá qín wéi jìng) mean?
學海無涯，勤為徑 (xué hǎi wú yá qín wéi jìng) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "ocean of learning has no shore, diligence is the path." In use it means: The ocean of knowledge is boundless; diligence is the way to navigate it. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Water note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "ocean of learning has no shore, diligence is the path."
The reading
The sea of learning has no far shore, which means the only vessel that makes sense is one equipped for a permanent voyage rather than a destination. Diligence is not the engine of arrival but the engine of the ongoing motion. The ship that stays seaworthy keeps discovering new water, and this is the whole point.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Han Yu 韓愈·《進學解》 (Jìn Xué Jiě, Explanation on Advancing in 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 Snake, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 學海無涯，勤為徑 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 學海無涯，勤為徑 (xué hǎi wú yá qín wéi jìng) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Han Yu 韓愈·《進學解》 (Jìn Xué Jiě, Explanation on Advancing in 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 學海無涯，勤為徑?
In Mandarin it is xué hǎi wú yá qín wéi jìng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 學海無涯，勤為徑 aloud in Mandarin.