百尺竿头

百尺竿頭

bǎichǐgāntóu

idiom #53,495

Meanings

1 the top of a 100-foot pole
2 the pinnacle of achievement (often used with 更进一步 — even at the top, keep advancing)

Characters

foot (unit of length)

Examples

希望你百尺竿头，更进一步。

Xīwàng nǐ bǎichǐgāntóu, gèng jìn yī bù.

I hope you keep pushing forward even from the top.

虽然已经是冠军，他仍想百尺竿头更进一步。

Suīrán yǐjīng shì guànjūn, tā réng xiǎng bǎichǐgāntóu gèng jìn yī bù.

Though already champion, he still wants to climb higher.

Tips

history

From Tang poet Wu Rong's 《商人》: 百尺竿头五两斜. Originally a Buddhist metaphor for spiritual progress — even at the top of a hundred-foot pole, one more step is possible.

usage

Almost always paired with 更进一步 (gèng jìn yī bù, 'advance one more step'). Common in graduation speeches and award ceremonies.

Stroke Order

百 bǎi

尺 chǐ

竿 gān

头 tóu