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吾将上下而求索

吾將上下而求索
wújiāngshàngxià'érqiúsuǒ
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 I shall seek high and low — I will pursue truth / the ideal tirelessly in every direction
  2. 2 literally: I will, above and below, seek and search

Examples

真理的道路漫长，吾将上下而求索。
Zhēnlǐ de dàolù màncháng, wú jiāng shàng xià ér qiú suǒ.
The road to truth is long — I will seek it high and low.
研究工作没有尽头，吾将上下而求索。
Yánjiū gōngzuò méiyǒu jìntóu, wú jiāng shàng xià ér qiú suǒ.
Research has no end — I shall keep searching in every direction.

Tips

history
From Qu Yuan's (屈原) 《离骚》 (Li Sao, 'Encountering Sorrow'), Warring States period, c. 3rd century BCE. The famous couplet: 路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索 — 'The road is long and far; I will seek up and down for it.' Qu Yuan, slandered out of the Chu court, expresses his undimmed pursuit of high ideals; later committed suicide by drowning, commemorated by Dragon Boat Festival.
usage
Paired couplet — standardly preceded by 路漫漫其修远兮. Elevated register, commonly quoted in scientific research, graduation speeches, and statements of lifelong dedication. 吾 is a classical first-person pronoun, equivalent to modern 我.

Stroke Order

吾 wú
将 jiāng
上 shàng
下 xià
而 ér
求 qiú
索 suǒ