百尺竿头

百尺竿頭
bǎichǐ-gāntóu
idiom #53,495

Meanings

  1. 1 the top of a 100-foot pole
  2. 2 the pinnacle of achievement (often used with 更进一步 - even at the top, keep advancing)

Examples

HSK 5
Xīwàng nǐ bǎichǐ-gāntóu, gèngjìnyíbù.
I hope you keep pushing forward even from the top.
HSK 5
Suīrán yǐjīng shì guànjūn, tā réng xiǎng bǎichǐ-gāntóu gèngjìnyíbù.
Though already champion, he still wants to climb higher.

Tips

history
From Tang poet Wu Rong's 《商人》: 百尺竿头五两斜. Originally a Buddhist metaphor for spiritual progress - even at the top of a hundred-foot pole, one more step is possible.
usage
Almost always paired with 更进一步 (gèng jìn yī bù, 'advance one more step'). Common in graduation speeches and award ceremonies.

Stroke Order

百 bǎi
尺 chǐ
竿 gān
头 tóu