力争上游

力爭上游

lìzhēng-shàngyóu

idiom

Meanings

同学们都在力争上游，谁也不想落后。

Tóngxué men dōu zài lìzhēngshàngyóu, shéi yě bù xiǎng luòhòu.

The students are all striving for the top — no one wants to fall behind.

这家公司一直力争上游，创新不断。

Zhèjiā gōngsī yīzhí lìzhēngshàngyóu, chuàngxīn bùduàn.

The company has always pushed to excel, innovating constantly.

culture

上游 literally means 'upper reaches of a river' — the image is of a boat fighting against the current to reach the headwaters.

history

From 清·赵翼《瓯北诗话》: 力欲争上游，性灵乃其要 — on poets striving for excellence.

力 lì

争 zhēng

上 shàng

游 yóu