成由勤俭破由奢

成由勤儉破由奢

chéngyóuqínjiǎnpòyóushē

phrase

Meanings

1 success comes from diligence and thrift; ruin comes from extravagance
2 (fig.) households and dynasties are built by frugality and destroyed by luxury
3 (lit.) accomplishment through diligence-and-thrift, ruin through luxury

Characters

成

chéng

to succeed / accomplishment

thrifty (勤俭 = diligent and thrifty)

luxurious / extravagant

Examples

爷爷常说成由勤俭破由奢，提醒我们别乱花钱。

Yéye cháng shuō chéng yóu qínjiǎn pò yóu shē, tíxǐng wǒmen bié luàn huā qián.

Grandpa often says 'success comes from thrift, ruin from extravagance,' to warn us not to waste money.

读历史才懂得成由勤俭破由奢的道理。

Dú lìshǐ cái dǒngde chéng yóu qínjiǎn pò yóu shē de dàolǐ.

Only by reading history does one grasp the principle 'success from thrift, ruin from luxury.'

Tips

history

From 李商隐《咏史》(Li Shangyin, Late Tang, 9th c.): 历览前贤国与家，成由勤俭破由奢 (Surveying past worthies' states and households — success came from diligence and thrift, ruin from extravagance). Written as a verdict on dynastic collapse, the line became a standard household motto and has been cited by Chinese leaders into the modern era as an anti-corruption slogan.

usage

Strictly parallel: 成/破 (succeed/fail), 勤俭/奢 (thrift/luxury), with 由 (by, due to) pivoting each clause. A staple of 家训 (family precepts) — carved on ancestral halls and printed in school textbooks.

Stroke Order

成 chéng

由 yóu

勤 qín

俭 jiǎn

破 pò

奢 shē