學而優則仕

See also: 学而优则仕

Chinese

learn; study; science
learn; study; science; ‑ology
 
and; as well as; but (not)
and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast)
 
 excellent; superior
(expresses contrast with a previous sentence or clause); standard; norm
(expresses contrast with a previous sentence or clause); standard; norm; rule; to imitate; to follow; then; principle
 
 an official
trad. (學而優則仕) 學 而 優 則 仕
simp. (学而优则仕) 学 而 优 则 仕

Etymology

From the Analects, Book 19 (《論語·子張》):

子夏曰：『仕而優則學，學而優則仕。』 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
子夏曰：『仕而优则学，学而优则仕。』 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐxià yuē: ‘Shì ér yōu zé xué, xué ér yōu zé shì.’ [Pinyin]
Zixia said, "The officer, having discharged all his duties, should devote his leisure to learning. The student, having completed his learning, should apply himself to be an officer."

Pronunciation

Proverb

學而優則仕

  1. The student, having completed his studies, should enter into government service.

Usage notes

學而優則仕 is both a proverb and a chengyu.

Derived terms

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