青出于蓝 qīng chū yú lán Outdo one's teacher

Explanation

这个成语的意思是，比喻学生超过老师或后人胜过前人。意思是指，后人或学生在学习和工作中，通过努力可以超越前人或老师，取得更大的成就。

The idiom means that students surpass their teachers or that later generations surpass their predecessors. It means that later generations or students can achieve greater achievements through their efforts in learning and work, surpassing their predecessors or teachers.

Origin Story

战国时期，齐国有一位名叫邹衍的学者，学问渊博，在当时名声很大。他有一个学生叫做淳于髡，淳于髡学习非常刻苦，常常向邹衍请教问题。经过几年的学习，淳于髡的学问已经超过了他的老师邹衍，甚至在一些问题上，邹衍还要向淳于髡请教。有一次，邹衍和淳于髡在街上散步，看到一群年轻人围在一起讨论问题，邹衍就笑着对淳于髡说：“这些年轻人真是青出于蓝而胜于蓝，我这个老家伙真是要退休了。”淳于髡听了，连忙说：“老师您过谦了，您的学问我们永远都赶不上。”邹衍摇了摇头，说：“不，时代在进步，我们这些老家伙要不断地学习，才能跟上时代的发展，否则就会被时代淘汰。”

zhàn guó shí qī, qí guó yǒu yī wèi míng jiào zōu yán de xué zhě, xué wèn yuān bó, zài dāng shí míng shēng hěn dà. tā yǒu yī gè xué shēng jiào chún yú kūn, chún yú kūn xué xí fēi cháng kè kǔ, cháng cháng xiàng zōu yán qǐng jiào wèn tí. jīng guò jǐ nián de xué xí, chún yú kūn de xué wèn yǐ jīng chāo guò le tā de lǎo shī zōu yán, shèn zhì zài yī xiē wèn tí shàng, zōu yán hái yào xiàng chún yú kūn qǐng jiào. yǒu yī cì, zōu yán hé chún yú kūn zài jiē shàng sàn bù, kàn dào yī qún nián qīng rén wéi zài yī qǐ tǎo lùn wèn tí, zōu yán jiù xiào zhe duì chún yú kūn shuō: “zhè xiē nián qīng rén zhēn shì qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán, wǒ zhè gè lǎo gū gū zhēn shì yào tuì xiū le.” chún yú kūn tīng le, lián máng shuō: “lǎo shī nín guò qiān le, nín de xué wèn wǒ men yǒng yuǎn dōu gǎn bù shàng.” zōu yán yáo le yáo tóu, shuō: “bù, shí dài zài jìn bù, wǒ men zhè xiē lǎo gū gū yào bù duàn de xué xí, cái néng gēn shàng shí dài de fā zhǎn, fǒu zé jiù huì bèi shí dài táo tài.”

During the Warring States period, there was a scholar named Zou Yan in the state of Qi, who was knowledgeable and famous at the time. He had a student named Chunyu Kun, who studied diligently and often asked Zou Yan questions. After several years of study, Chunyu Kun's knowledge had surpassed that of his teacher Zou Yan, and in some cases, Zou Yan even had to ask Chunyu Kun for advice. Once, Zou Yan and Chunyu Kun were walking on the street and saw a group of young people discussing something. Zou Yan smiled at Chunyu Kun and said, “These young people are really surpassing their predecessors. I, the old man, should retire.” Chunyu Kun immediately replied, “Teacher, you are too humble. We will never be able to catch up to your knowledge.” Zou Yan shook his head and said, “No, times are changing, we old guys need to constantly learn to keep up with the development of the times, otherwise we will be eliminated by the times.”

Usage

这个成语常用来赞扬后人超过前人，也用来鼓励人们要不断学习，努力进步。

zhè gè chéng yǔ cháng yòng lái zàn yáng hòu rén chāo guò qián rén, yě yòng lái gǔ lì rén men yào bù duàn xué xí, nǔ lì jìn bù.

The idiom is often used to praise later generations for surpassing their predecessors, and also to encourage people to constantly learn and make progress.

Examples

• 他刻苦钻研，学问大有长进，真是青出于蓝而胜于蓝。

  tā kè kǔ zuàn yán, xué wèn dà yǒu zhǎng jìn, zhēn shì qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán.

  He studied hard and made great progress in his studies, truly surpassing his teacher.

• 这位年轻作家作品的思想深度和艺术水准都超过了他的老师，真是青出于蓝胜于蓝。

  zhè wèi nián qīng zuò jiā zuò pǐn de sī xiǎng shēn dù hé yì shù shuǐ zhǔn dōu chāo guò le tā de lǎo shī, zhēn shì qīng chū yú lán shèng yú lán.

  This young writer's work has surpassed his teacher in terms of both intellectual depth and artistic standards. He truly is a case of the student surpassing the master.

Related Idioms

• 后来居上

• 长江后浪推前浪

Opposite Idioms

• 江河日下

• 每况愈下