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吾将上下而求索

吾將上下而求索
wú jiāng shàng xià ér qiú suǒ
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 I shall seek high and low - I will pursue truth / the ideal tirelessly in every direction
  2. 2 literally: I will, above and below, seek and search

Examples

HSK 5
真理的道路漫长，吾将上下而求索。
Zhēnlǐ de dàolù màncháng, wújiāngshàngxià'érqiúsuǒ.
The road to truth is long - I will seek it high and low.
HSK 7-9
研究工作没有尽头，吾将上下而求索。
Yánjiū gōngzuò méiyǒu jìntóu, wújiāngshàngxià'érqiúsuǒ.
Research has no end - I shall keep searching in every direction.

Tips

history
From Qu Yuan's (屈原) 离骚 (Li Sao, 'Encountering Sorrow'), Warring States period, c. 3rd century BCE. The famous couplet: 路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索 - 'The road is long and far; I will seek up and down for it.' Qu Yuan, slandered out of the Chu court, expresses his undimmed pursuit of high ideals; later committed suicide by drowning, commemorated by Dragon Boat Festival.
usage
Paired couplet, standardly preceded by 路漫漫其修远兮. Elevated register, commonly quoted in scientific research, graduation speeches, and statements of lifelong dedication. 吾 is a classical first-person pronoun, equivalent to modern 我.

Stroke Order

吾 wú
将 jiāng
上 shàng
下 xià
而 ér
求 qiú
索 suǒ