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事在人为

事在人為
shìzàirénwéi
idiom #52,197

Meanings

  1. 1 it's up to human effort
  2. 2 success depends on the person
  3. 3 where there's a will there's a way

Examples

别灰心，事在人为。
Bié huīxīn, shì zài rén wéi.
Don't lose heart — it's up to you to make it happen.
事在人为，只要肯干就有希望。
Shì zài rén wéi, zhǐyào kěn gàn jiù yǒu xīwàng.
Effort decides everything; as long as you work at it, there's hope.

Tips

history
From 《东周列国志》 chapter 69: "事在人为耳" — "whether it is done depends on people". Frequently quoted as an anti-fatalism proverb.
usage
Used to encourage someone who feels results are out of their hands.

Stroke Order

事 shì
在 zài
人 rén
为 wèi