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精益求精 (jīng yì qiú jīng) — to strive for perfection; to constantly improve something that is already excellent

Definition

An idiom meaning to refine something already excellent, pushing it further toward perfection. Self-focused on the work/craft itself, unlike 自强不息 which stresses tireless self-improvement of the person.

phrase
to strive for perfectionto constantly improve something that is already excellent

Examples

  • 精益求精，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de chǎn pǐn yì zhí jīng yì qiú jīng, shēn shòu yòng hù xǐ ài.
    This company's products always strive for perfection and are well loved by users.
  • ，精益求精。
    Wú lùn zuò shén me gōng zuò, dōu yào xué huì jīng yì qiú jīng.
    No matter what job you do, you must learn to constantly improve.
  • ，精益求精。
    Tā de huà jì yǐ jīng hěn hǎo, dàn tā hái shì jiān chí jīng yì qiú jīng.
    His painting skills are already excellent, but he still insists on pursuing further perfection.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

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

益 puts 水 (water) above 皿 (a vessel), originally showing water overflowing the vessel.

Open 益 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

求 began as a drawing of a centipede.

Open 求 →

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.