登堂入室 (dēng táng rù shì) — to reach a higher level of proficiency through gradual progress; to attain mastery step by step

Definition

An idiom from Confucius meaning to progress from beginner to mastery step by step. Implies steady, gradual improvement rather than sudden achievement.

idiom
to reach a higher level of proficiency through gradual progressto attain mastery step by step

Examples

  • ，登堂入室。
    Tā zài shū fǎ shàng kǔ liàn shí nián, rú jīn zhōng yú dēng táng rù shì.
    After ten years of hard practice in calligraphy, he has finally reached a higher level of proficiency.
  • 登堂入室，。
    Xué xí hàn yǔ cóng jī chǔ dào dēng táng rù shì, xū yào chí zhī yǐ héng de nǔ lì.
    Learning Chinese from the basics to a high level requires persistent effort.
  • 登堂入室，。
    Zhè wèi nián qīng kē xué jiā yǐ jīng dēng táng rù shì, zài liàng zǐ wù lǐ lǐng yù zuò chū le zhòng yào gòng xiàn.
    This young scientist has reached a high level of mastery and made important contributions in the field of quantum physics.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

登堂ascend the hall
登dēngascend堂tánghall
动宾Verb + object
入室enter the room
入rùenter室shìroom
动宾Verb + object

Ascending the hall and entering the room describes gradual progress to mastery.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 癶癶bōleft and right feet
  • 豆豆dòupictogrammic of raised object; stepping stone

登 pairs 癶, left and right feet, with 豆, a raised object or stepping stone; its older form also showed two hands at the bottom, which later dropped.

Open 登 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng堂táng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堂 uses 土 as a ground/earth part and 尚 for sound.

Open 堂 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

入 is drawn as an arrowhead, indicating 'to enter'.

Open 入 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì室shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

室 puts 宀 (roof) over 至, the spot where someone stops, giving the meaning of a house or residence.

Open 室 →

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