他山之石 stones from other hills
Explanation
比喻能帮助自己改正缺点的人或意见，也可指可以借鉴的经验或方法。
A metaphor for people or opinions that help to correct one's mistakes; it can also refer to experience or methods that can be learned from.
Origin Story
春秋时期，齐国有个贤明的国君，名叫齐桓公。他十分爱才，广招贤士，辅佐他治理国家。有一次，他向大臣们征求治国良策。管仲首先站出来，向齐桓公推荐了鲍叔牙。管仲说："鲍叔牙是我的老朋友了。他为人正直，胸怀坦荡，对人诚恳，从不夸耀自己。他办事公正，总是把别人的利益放在自己的利益之上。他是一个忠诚正直的人，可以担当重任。"齐桓公听后，立即召见了鲍叔牙，并委以重任。在鲍叔牙的辅佐下，齐桓公励精图治，成就了一番霸业。后来，鲍叔牙去世，齐桓公悲痛不已，为鲍叔牙修建了陵墓，并写下了感人至深的祭文。后人为了纪念鲍叔牙的功绩，便将齐国的宝剑命名为“鲍叔剑”。
During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a wise ruler in Qi named Qi Huan Gong. He was very talented and gathered talented people to assist him in governing the state. Once, he asked his ministers for good governing strategies. Guan Zhong was the first to stand up and recommend Bao Shuya to Qi Huan Gong. Guan Zhong said: "Bao Shuya is my old friend. He is upright, has a broad mind, is sincere to others, and never boasts about himself. He is a just and upright person, capable of shouldering great responsibility."
Usage
常用作主语、宾语；指可以借鉴的东西；多用于书面语。
Often used as the subject or object; refers to things that can be learned from; mainly used in written language.
Examples
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学习要善于借鉴他人的经验，不能闭门造车。
xuéxí yào shàn yú jièjiàn tārén de jīngyàn, bùnéng bìmén zàochē.
We should be good at learning from others' experiences and not be self-sufficient.
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我们可以从别人的成功和失败中吸取教训，他山之石，可以攻玉。
wǒmen kěyǐ cóng biérén de chénggōng hé shībài zhōng xīqǔ jiàoxun, tāshān zhī shí, kěyǐ gōng yù
We can learn from the successes and failures of others; other mountains’ stones can polish jade (figurative meaning).