百尺竿头，更进一步 — “At the top of a hundred-foot pole, take another step forward”
百尺竿头，更进一步 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to strive for further improvement even after achieving a high level of success or attainment; to make further progress after reaching the highest point”. Literally, “At the top of a hundred-foot pole, take another step forward”.
百尺竿头，更进一步 Pronunciation and Pinyin
百尺竿头，更进一步 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 百尺竿头，更进一步
Origin and Story of 百尺竿头，更进一步
During the Song Dynasty, Jingcen, an eminent Buddhist monk from Changsha, was renowned for his profound understanding of Buddhist scriptures. He frequently traveled to teach and explain Buddhist principles, making complex ideas accessible and engaging.
Once, when his disciples and followers discussed the ultimate state of enlightenment, he presented a gatha (Buddhist verse) that read: 'One who remains still at the top of a hundred-foot pole, though admired, has not yet reached true enlightenment. From the top of a hundred-foot pole, one must take another step forward, for the entire world in all ten directions is the true self.'
This gatha later evolved into the idiom '百尺竿头，更进一步,' encouraging continuous effort and improvement even after reaching a high level of achievement.
Idioms Related to 百尺竿头，更进一步
Synonyms of 百尺竿头，更进一步
Antonyms of 百尺竿头，更进一步
More idioms starting with 百
- bǎi百wàn万mǎi买zhái宅，，qiān千wàn万mǎi买lín邻Good neighbors are priceless
- bǎi百wàn万xióng雄bīng兵a vast and mighty army
- bǎi百wàn万xióng雄shī师a vast and mighty army
- bǎi百zhàng丈gān竿tóu头pinnacle of achievement, strive for more
- bǎi百xià下bǎi百quán全perfectly accurate and unfailingly successful
- bǎi百xià下bǎi百zháo着unfailingly successful
- bǎi百bù不yī一cún存not one in a hundred remains
- bǎi百bù不yī一shuǎng爽always accurate and reliable
- bǎi百bù不yī一dài贷make no exceptions
- bǎi百bù不yī一yù遇extremely rare
- bǎi百bù不wèi为duō多，，yī一bù不wèi为shǎo少Excellent things are always valuable
- bǎi百bù不shī失yī一unerringly accurate
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Open the tool →Questions about 百尺竿头，更进一步
What does 百尺竿头，更进一步 mean?
百尺竿头，更进一步 (bǎi chǐ gān tóu ， gèng jìn yí bù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to strive for further improvement even after achieving a high level of success or attainment; to make further progress after reaching the highest point”.
How do you pronounce 百尺竿头，更进一步?
百尺竿头，更进一步 is pronounced bǎi chǐ gān tóu ， gèng jìn yí bù in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 百尺竿头，更进一步 literally mean?
Literally, 百尺竿头，更进一步 means “at the top of a hundred-foot pole, take another step forward”. It is used to mean “to strive for further improvement even after achieving a high level of success or attainment; to make further progress after reaching the highest point”.
Where does 百尺竿头，更进一步 come from?
百尺竿头，更进一步 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 百尺竿头，更进一步?
佛家语，比喻道行、造诣虽深，仍需修炼提高。比喻虽已达到很高的境地，但不能满足，还要进一步努力。