4 characters Idiom and proverb 12 782

The Chinese journey moves from characters to idioms. This free tool explores 「青出於藍」, detailing its meaning and use.

Introducing the Chinese idiom 「青出於藍」: its meaning and application are provided for your understanding.

Green: indigo; Blue: grass such as indigo that can be used as dye. Cyan is extracted from indigo grass, but its color is darker than blue. A metaphor for students surpassing their teachers or later generations surpassing their predecessors.

The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :

qīng chū yú lán

while its Cantonese pinyin is :

ching1/cheng1 cheut1 yu1 laam4

Chinese idioms are vast in number, each carrying unique meanings and usages. With such variety, there’s a lot to learn and appreciate. Hopefully, these resources will aid you on your journey to mastering Chinese.