Chinese characters and pinyin
Simplified: 青出于蓝而胜于蓝
Traditional: 青出於藍而勝於藍
Pinyin: qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán
Literal translation
Blue dye comes from indigo yet is bluer than indigo.
Natural English meaning
A student or later generation can surpass the teacher or predecessor.
Closest English equivalent
The student has surpassed the master.
The Chinese saying uses dye-making as a vivid natural metaphor for improvement beyond one’s source.
When to use it
Use it to praise a student, child, or successor who exceeds a predecessor.
When not to use it
It need not belittle the teacher whose instruction made the achievement possible.
Example sentence
她的作品已经超过老师，真是青出于蓝而胜于蓝。
Her work now surpasses her teacher’s—the student has exceeded the master.
Origin and cultural context
Based on an analogy in the Xunzi about learning transforming the learner.
Classification: classical quotation. This label distinguishes a complete proverb or popular saying from a compact idiom or a quotation preserved from a classical text.
