Dictionary › 他山之石可以攻玉

他山之石可以攻玉

tā shān zhī shí kě yǐ gōng yù

8-character word

What 他山之石可以攻玉 means

1. lit. the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiom); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside
2. to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively

The characters in 他山之石可以攻玉

• 他tā(third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his…
• 山shānmountain; hill; (colloquial) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on
• 之zhī(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的; him; her
• 石shírock; stone; stone inscription
• 可kě(prefix) can; may; able to; -able; to approve; to permit; to suit
• 以yǐto use; by means of; according to
• 攻gōngto attack; to accuse; to study
• 玉yùjade