水善利万物而不争

水善利萬物而不爭

shuǐ shàn lì wànwù ér bù zhēng

quotation

Meanings

1 water benefits all things without contending
2 water nourishes the ten thousand creatures yet strives with none
3 water well benefits the myriad things yet does not contend

Characters

thing / creature

contend / fight for

Examples

HSK 7-9

他为人低调，颇有水善利万物而不争的风范。

Tā wéirén dīdiào, pō yǒu shuǐshànlìwànwù'érbùzhēng de fēngfàn.

He keeps a low profile, with the grace of water that benefits all things without contending.

HSK 7-9

领导风格讲究水善利万物而不争，润物无声。

Lǐngdǎo fēnggé jiǎngjiū shuǐshànlìwànwù'érbùzhēng, rùn wù wúshēng.

The leadership style values the quiet generosity of water - nourishing without making a sound.

Tips

history

From 《道德经》 (Daodejing / Tao Te Ching) chapter 8, by Laozi (老子). Full passage: 『上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道』 - 'the highest good is like water: it benefits all things and contends with none, settling in places people disdain - so it is close to the Dao.' The chapter is the source of the idiom 上善若水.

usage

Used in business, leadership, and self-cultivation writing to praise selfless, unobtrusive effectiveness. Compare with 上善若水 (highest virtue is like water), often quoted together.

Stroke Order

水 shuǐ

善 shàn

利 lì

万 wàn

物 wù

而 ér

不 bù

争 zhēng