IgnoredOne
Well-known member
生命有限, 学海无涯
The Chinese proverb above means, on a basic level, "life is limited, [but] learning is endless." This fascinates me, not only because I ascribe my life significantly by this adage, but also the construction of the overall meaning by the symbols used.
In a language that is as much drawn as it is sounded out, there is a great deal of visualization that is missed by the simple translation. And it is a beauty, like revelation, that I'm glad that I came to understand as I began to study the language.
The first part is essentially direct: Life has limit, with the symbol 限 indicating 'border' much akin to the borders of a nation or of an estate. Life is indicated to have a finite, limited quality.
But the second part is marvelously unique: " 学海" is not as much 'knowledge' as it is, 'sea of learning' for which is to be understood that knowledge is as vast and as deep as the ocean, from with it is without 'end' and 'without shore', as "无涯". This meaning, indeed, is further reinforced by the small 'droplets' implied over 学海 and 涯.
In the manner by which it is both a symbolic and visual metaphor, it reinforces its ultimate message - that in life so limited and with knowledge so vast, it behooves us to try to learn as quickly, and as much as possible while we yet can.
The Chinese proverb above means, on a basic level, "life is limited, [but] learning is endless." This fascinates me, not only because I ascribe my life significantly by this adage, but also the construction of the overall meaning by the symbols used.
In a language that is as much drawn as it is sounded out, there is a great deal of visualization that is missed by the simple translation. And it is a beauty, like revelation, that I'm glad that I came to understand as I began to study the language.
The first part is essentially direct: Life has limit, with the symbol 限 indicating 'border' much akin to the borders of a nation or of an estate. Life is indicated to have a finite, limited quality.
But the second part is marvelously unique: " 学海" is not as much 'knowledge' as it is, 'sea of learning' for which is to be understood that knowledge is as vast and as deep as the ocean, from with it is without 'end' and 'without shore', as "无涯". This meaning, indeed, is further reinforced by the small 'droplets' implied over 学海 and 涯.
In the manner by which it is both a symbolic and visual metaphor, it reinforces its ultimate message - that in life so limited and with knowledge so vast, it behooves us to try to learn as quickly, and as much as possible while we yet can.
I like that sentence.
