事在人为 (shì zài rén wéi) — success depends on human effort; people make things happen

Definition

A chengyu meaning outcomes depend on human effort — used to encourage perseverance when a task seems hard. It frames success as a matter of will, not fate.

idiom
success depends on human effortpeople make things happen

Examples

  • ，事在人为，。
    Bié dān xīn, shì zài rén wéi, zhǐ yào nǔ lì jiù néng chéng gōng.
    Don't worry, success depends on effort; as long as you work hard, you can succeed.
  • 事在人为，。
    Tā xiāng xìn shì zài rén wéi, suǒ yǐ cóng bú fàng qì rèn hé jī huì.
    He believes that human effort determines outcomes, so he never gives up any opportunity.
  • ，事在人为，。
    Zhè jiàn shì suī rán kùn nan, dàn shì zài rén wéi, wǒ men shì shì kàn.
    This task is difficult, but success depends on effort — let's give it a try.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

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

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

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