百尺竿頭,更進一步

Chinese

hundred
a Chinese foot (M); one-third of a metre; a ruler
a Chinese foot (M); one-third of a metre; a ruler; a note musical note on traditional Chinese scale
 
bamboo pole's uppermost tip; acme
to change; more; even more
to change; more; even more; further; still; still more
 
advance; enter; to come in one step; a single step
trad. (百尺竿頭,更進一步) 竿頭 一步
simp. (百尺竿头,更进一步) 竿头 一步
alternative forms 百尺竿頭更進一步百尺竿头更进一步

Etymology

Literally: Even a 100 foot stalk of bamboo can progress one more step.

Pronunciation

  • Mandarin
    (Pinyin): bǎi chǐ gāntóu, gèng jìn yībù
    (Zhuyin): ㄅㄞˇ ㄔˇ ㄍㄢ ㄊㄡˊ , ㄍㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ
  • Cantonese (Jyutping): baak3 cek3 gon1 tau4, gang3 zeon3 jat1 bou6

  • Mandarin
    • (Standard Chinese)+
      • Hanyu Pinyin: bǎi chǐ gāntóu, gèng jìn yībù [Phonetic: báichǐgāntóu,gèngjìnbù]
      • Zhuyin: ㄅㄞˇ ㄔˇ ㄍㄢ ㄊㄡˊ , ㄍㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ
      • Tongyong Pinyin: bǎi chǐh gantóu, gèng jìn yibù
      • Wade–Giles: pai3 chʻih3 kan1-tʻou2, kêng4 chin4 i1-pu4
      • Yale: bǎi chř gān-tóu-, gèng jìn yī-bù
      • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: bae chyy gantour, genq jinn ibuh
      • Palladius: бай чи ганьтоу, гэн цзинь ибу (baj či ganʹtou, gɛn czinʹ ibu)
      • Sinological IPA (key): /paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹/
  • Cantonese

Proverb

百尺竿頭,更進一步

  1. Even though one has reached great heights of success, one should still strive to improve oneself.