善始善终

善始善終

shànshǐ-shànzhōng

idiom #31,643

Meanings

1 to finish well what one has started
2 to see something through from start to finish
3 to carry a task through to completion

Characters

good; to do well

beginning; to start

Examples

HSK 6

他承诺的项目都能善始善终，所以大家都信任他。

Tā chéngnuò de xiàngmù dōu néng shànshǐshànzhōng, suǒyǐ dàjiā dōu xìnrèn tā.

He sees every project he commits to through to the end, which is why everyone trusts him.

HSK 7-9

做事要善始善终，不能半途而废。

Zuòshì yào shànshǐshànzhōng, bùnéng bàntú'érfèi.

When doing things, you should see them through from start to finish - you can't give up halfway.

Tips

history

From 《庄子·大宗师》 (Warring States): 善妖善老，善始善终 - 'good in youth and in age, good at the start and at the end.' Also cited in Sima Qian's 《史记·陈丞相世家赞》 praising Chen Ping's whole career as 善始善终.

usage

Natural pairing with 半途而废 ('to give up halfway') as its opposite.

Stroke Order

善 shàn

始 shǐ

终 zhōng