授业解惑

授業解惑

shòuyèjiěhuò

idiom

Meanings

1 to impart knowledge and resolve doubts
2 (of a teacher) to teach and clear up confusion

Characters

to impart; to teach

study; profession

to solve; to resolve

doubt; confusion

Examples

老师的职责就是传道授业解惑。

Lǎoshī de zhízé jiùshì chuándào shòuyèjiěhuò.

A teacher's duty is to transmit the way, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts.

他一生授业解惑，桃李满天下。

Tā yīshēng shòuyèjiěhuò, táolǐ-mǎntiānxià.

He spent his life teaching and clearing up confusion, with students all across the land.

导师不仅授业解惑，还指引我们的人生方向。

Dǎoshī bùjǐn shòuyèjiěhuò, hái zhǐyǐn wǒmen de rénshēng fāngxiàng.

Our mentor not only teaches and resolves doubts but also guides the direction of our lives.

Tips

history

Lifted from Han Yu's Tang essay 《师说》: '师者，所以传道授业解惑也' — 'a teacher is the one who transmits the Way, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts.' Still the standard definition of a teacher's role in Chinese pedagogy.

usage

Often quoted in full as 传道授业解惑 (three couplets), especially on Teacher's Day or in essays about mentorship.

Stroke Order

授 shòu

业 yè

解 jiě

惑 huò