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仕而优则学

仕而優則學
shì ér yōu zé xué
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 when one has spare capacity in office, one studies
  2. 2 officials should keep learning once their duties allow
  3. 3 complement of 学而优则仕 — study and service as a continuous cycle

Examples

他仕而优则学，在任期间还拿到了博士学位。
Tā shì'éryōuzéxué, zàirèn qījiān hái nádào le bóshì xuéwèi.
Serving in office with capacity to spare, he also earned a PhD during his tenure.
学而优则仕，仕而优则学，君子终身不离学习。
Xué'éryōuzéshì, shì'éryōuzéxué, jūnzǐ zhōngshēn bù lí xuéxí.
Excel in study and then serve; serve with capacity to spare and then keep studying — the gentleman never leaves learning.

Tips

history
From 《论语·子张》, the words of Confucius's disciple Zixia (子夏): 仕而优则学，学而优则仕 — 'When one serves with capacity to spare, one studies; when one studies with capacity to spare, one serves.' 优 here means 'having surplus / ease,' NOT 'excellent' — a common misreading. The saying structured Confucian scholar-official life for two millennia.
usage
Read 优 as 'spare capacity / ease,' not 'excellence.' Usually cited alongside the more famous half 学而优则仕. Classical, still quoted in educational and civil-service discussions.

Stroke Order

仕 shì
而 ér
优 yōu
则 zé
学 xué