工欲善其事，必先利其器

gōngyùshànqíshì,bìxiānlìqíqì

idiom

Meanings

1 to do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools
2 good preparation is the prerequisite for success
3 sharpen your tools before tackling the work

Characters

worker; craftsman

，

tool; implement

Examples

HSK 7-9

工欲善其事，必先利其器，做项目前先把开发环境配好。

Gōngyùshànqíshì, bìxiānlìqíqì, zuò xiàngmù qián xiān bǎ kāifā huánjìng pèi hǎo.

Sharpen your tools first - before starting the project, set up the development environment properly.

HSK 7-9

学外语也讲究工欲善其事，必先利其器，一本好词典少不了。

Xué wàiyǔ yě jiǎngjiu gōngyùshànqíshì, bìxiānlìqíqì, yī běn hǎo cídiǎn shǎobuliǎo.

Learning a foreign language also follows the principle of sharpening your tools first - a good dictionary is indispensable.

Tips

history

From the 《论语·卫灵公》 (Analects, Wei Linggong chapter), where Confucius answers Zigong's question on practicing benevolence (仁): a craftsman wanting to do his work well must first sharpen his tools - likewise, to cultivate virtue one must first associate with worthy ministers and benevolent scholars.

memory

Literal: 工 (worker) 欲 (wants to) 善 (do well) 其事 (his job), 必 (must) 先 (first) 利 (sharpen) 其器 (his tool). Modern parallel: 'a bad workman blames his tools' - but stated positively.

Stroke Order

工 gōng

欲 yù

善 shàn

其 qí

事 shì

必 bì

先 xiān

利 lì

器 qì