p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Translate Flashcards

博学而笃志

博學而篤志
bóxué ér dǔzhì
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 study broadly and hold firmly to one's resolve
  2. 2 pair wide learning with single-minded commitment
  3. 3 broadly-learn and firmly-resolve

Examples

HSK 2
老师要求我们博学而笃志，不能只会背书。
Lǎoshī yāoqiú wǒmen bóxué'érdǔzhì, bùnéng zhǐ huì bèishū.
The teacher demands that we 'study broadly and hold firm' - we can't just memorize.
HSK 7-9
大学的校训就是博学而笃志，切问而近思。
Dàxué de xiàoxùn jiùshì bóxué'érdǔzhì, qièwèn'érjìnsī.
The university's motto is 'study broadly and hold firm; question earnestly and think close at hand.'

Tips

history
From 《论语·子张》 (Analects, Zizhang 19:6), quoted from 子夏 (Zixia, Confucius' disciple): 博学而笃志，切问而近思，仁在其中矣 (study broadly and hold to your resolve, question earnestly and think close at hand - humaneness lies within this). Famously adopted as the motto of 复旦大学 (Fudan University, established 1905) and many other Chinese schools.
usage
Always quoted together with 切问而近思 as the full four-phrase motto. 而 = and (classical conjunction). 笃 = firm, sincere, committed - not 'thick.' 志 here = resolve, direction of will. The phrase prescribes a balance: breadth and depth.

Stroke Order

博 bó
学 xué
而 ér
笃 dǔ
志 zhì