书山有路勤为径

書山有路勤為徑

shū shān yǒu lù qín wéi jìng

quotation

Meanings

1 on the mountain of books, diligence is the path
2 there is a road up the mountain of learning - hard work is that road
3 lit. book-mountain has a road - diligence is the path

Characters

to be, serve as

Examples

HSK 7-9

教室墙上写着书山有路勤为径，学海无涯苦作舟。

Jiàoshì qiángshàng xiě zhe shūshānyǒulùqínwéijìng, xuéhǎiwúyákǔzuòzhōu.

On the classroom wall is written: "on the mountain of books diligence is the path; on the sea of learning suffering is the boat".

HSK 7-9

他用书山有路勤为径来勉励学生。

Tā yòng shūshānyǒulùqínwéijìng lái miǎnlì xuéshēng.

He used "on the mountain of books, diligence is the path" to encourage his students.

Tips

history

Traditionally attributed to Han Yu (韩愈, Tang dynasty): 书山有路勤为径，学海无涯苦作舟 - 'The mountain of books has a road: diligence is its path. The sea of learning has no shore: suffering is its boat.' Whether truly by Han Yu is debated, but it has become the canonical Chinese school motto - a near-universal poster in classrooms and libraries.

usage

Always paired with its twin 学海无涯苦作舟 (next entry in this batch). 为 here = 'to be / serve as' (classical copula).

Stroke Order

书 shū

山 shān

有 yǒu

路 lù

勤 qín

为 wéi

径 jìng