Need motivation to begin (or continue) studying Chinese? We’ve got you.

Here are 10 popular proverbs and idioms about learning:

The Mandarin language is full of "analogical" proverbs and idioms. Learning is often compared with something that is difficult to overcome and sometimes unpredictable.

1. 学如登山。

xué rú dēng shān

Studying is like climbing a mountain. (Really true!)

2. 学如逆水行舟，不进则退。

xué rú nì shuǐ xíng zhōu, bù jìn zé tuì

Learning is like rowing upstream, not to advance is to drop back.

3. 道山学海。

dào shān xué hǎi

Learning is as high as the mountains and as wide as the seas.

Literally, this means "Mountain of Dao, sea of learning". Dao is a Chinese concept signifying "way" or "doctrine". To become "one with the Dao" is the object of spiritual practice in Chinese Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Understanding the underlying natural order of the whole Universe, which is also described as "achieving Dao", definitely requires a "sea of learning".

4. 玉不琢，不成器。

yù bù zhuó, bù chéng qì

One cannot become useful without being educated.

Literally, this old saying means "If a jade is not cut and polished, it can’t be made into anything." So, training and discipline are necessary to bring up children properly.

Confucius was a very influential Chinese philosopher and teacher. Not surprisingly, some wise sayings about learning are attributed to him. For example：

5. 三人行，必有我师。

sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī

In a group of three people, there will always be one person I can learn from.

This quotation encourages people to keep learning and increasing their knowledge.

6. 学然后知不足。

xué rán hòu zhī bù zú

To learn is to know one's ignorance.

This means that through learning one understands his/her ignorance. The more you learn, the more you want to know.

Behind some of the Chinese idioms, there are interesting legends and stories.

7. 悬梁刺骨

xuán liáng cì gǔ

To study hard

This idiom originates from two ancient Chinese stories. One of them is about Sun Jing (孙敬) who studied very hard – often until morning. Since he was always afraid of falling asleep, he tied his hair to the ceiling beam with a rope. So, he would wake up painfully if he began to doze off.

The second story is about Su Qin (苏秦), who often studied until late, too. To keep himself awake, he jabbed his hip with a needle.

8. 凿壁偷光

záo bì tōu guāng

To study diligently

This saying literally means "to bore a hole in the wall to make use of the neighbor's light to study". Kuang Heng (匡衡) who lived during the Western Han period ((206 BC-24 AD)) was eager to learn but his family was very poor, so he had to borrow books from other people. And not only books! Kuang Heng studied at night, so he needed a light source. Once he noticed a glimpse of light from his neighbor’s house coming through a small hole in the wall. Kuang Heng then dug a bigger hole to let more light rough, allowing him read and learn late into the night.

9. 学以致用

xué yǐ zhì yòng

To put into practice what has been learned

10. 为时不晚

wéi shí bù wǎn

It is not too late.

This phrase is not related directly to studying. However, since so many people all over the world still think that learning is only for young people, it may be useful to remember that.

Source: Yoyo Chinese