youzhizheshijngcheng: 有志者事竟成 - Where there's a will, there's a way

• Keywords: 有志者事竟成, you zhi zhe shi jing cheng, Chinese proverb for perseverance, where there's a will there's a way in Chinese, meaning of youzhizheshijngcheng, Chinese idiom for determination, famous Chinese sayings, Geng Yan, chengyu for success.
• Summary: The Chinese proverb 有志者事竟成 (yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng) is the direct equivalent of the English saying, “Where there's a will, there's a way.” This famous idiom is a powerful expression of encouragement, emphasizing that a person with strong ambition, determination, and relentless perseverance will ultimately achieve their goals, no matter the difficulty. It's a cornerstone of motivational culture in China, used in education, business, and personal life to inspire hard work and resilience.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (成语) - A Chinese four-character idiom or proverb.
• HSK Level: N/A (This is a well-known Chengyu, often learned outside the standard HSK curriculum).
• Concise Definition: A person with determination will ultimately succeed in their endeavors.
• In a Nutshell: This isn't just a hopeful platitude; it's a statement about the power of human will. The proverb breaks down into “one who has will” (有志者) and “their matters will be accomplished” (事竟成). It suggests that ambition (`志`) is the necessary ingredient that, when combined with action, inevitably leads to success (`成`). It’s a call to action, reminding you that your goals are achievable if you are determined enough to see them through.

• 有 (yǒu): To have; to possess.
• 志 (zhì): Will; ambition; aspiration. This character often implies a noble or long-term goal.
• 者 (zhě): A particle that turns the preceding words into a noun, meaning “the person who…” or “one who…”. So, `有志 (yǒu zhì)` means “to have will,” and `有志者 (yǒu zhì zhě)` means “the person who has will.”
• 事 (shì): A matter; an affair; a task; a project.
• 竟 (jìng): In the end; finally; ultimately.
• 成 (chéng): To succeed; to accomplish; to complete.

The characters literally combine to mean: “The person who possesses ambition—their task will ultimately be accomplished.”

This proverb originates from the Book of the Later Han (《后汉书》), a historical record of the Han Dynasty. The story involves a general named Geng Yan (耿弇) who was a loyal follower of Emperor Guangwu. Geng Yan repeatedly proposed a difficult, large-scale military strategy that the emperor initially thought was too ambitious and unrealistic. However, through sheer persistence and successful smaller campaigns, Geng Yan proved his strategy was viable. Impressed, the emperor praised him, saying: “有志者事竟成也” (Truly, for one who has will, their tasks are accomplished). This origin story cements the proverb's meaning in Chinese culture. It's not about blind hope, but about well-laid plans combined with unwavering determination. Comparison to Western Culture: While “Where there's a will, there's a way” is a near-perfect translation, the Chinese proverb carries a slightly heavier cultural weight. In the West, the phrase can be a light, casual encouragement. In China, 有志者事竟成 is deeply connected to values like:

• Perseverance (毅力 - yìlì): The ability to endure hardship and suffering (吃苦 - chī kǔ) in pursuit of a goal.
• Ambition (志向 - zhìxiàng): It is culturally valued to have high aspirations, not just for oneself, but often for the honor of one's family or community.
• Pragmatism: The proverb implies that success is a direct result of methodical hard work, not just luck or divine intervention.

It is less about “following your passion” and more about “achieving your goal through grit.”

This idiom is formal but extremely common and understood by everyone. It's used to offer serious encouragement.

• In Education: A teacher might write 有志者事竟成 on the blackboard before the grueling Gaokao (高考), China's national college entrance exam, to motivate students. Parents often say it to children struggling with their studies.
• In Business: It's a popular motto in startup culture and corporate environments. A manager might use it to rally a team facing a difficult deadline or a challenging project, reminding them that their hard work will pay off.
• In Personal Life: Friends and family say it to someone undertaking a major life challenge, such as starting a business, training for a marathon, or overcoming a personal setback. It conveys sincere belief in their ability to succeed.

• Example 1:
  • 别担心，继续努力，有志者事竟成。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, jìxù nǔlì, yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng.
  • English: Don't worry, keep working hard. Where there's a will, there's a way.
  • Analysis: A classic and direct use of the proverb to offer encouragement.
• Example 2:
  • 他自学了编程，现在找到了一份好工作，真是有志者事竟成啊！
  • Pinyin: Tā zìxué le biānchéng, xiànzài zhǎodào le yí fèn hǎo gōngzuò, zhēn shì yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng a!
  • English: He taught himself programming and has now found a good job; it's really true that where there's a will, there's a way!
  • Analysis: Used to comment on someone else's success, attributing it to their determination.
• Example 3:
  • 老师告诉我们，只要我们不放弃，就一定能成功，因为有志者事竟成。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī gàosù wǒmen, zhǐyào wǒmen bú fàngqì, jiù yídìng néng chénggōng, yīnwèi yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng.
  • English: The teacher told us that as long as we don't give up, we can definitely succeed, because where there's a will, there's a way.
  • Analysis: Here, the proverb is used as a justification or a concluding principle.
• Example 4:
  • 虽然创业很难，但我相信有志者事竟成。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán chuàngyè hěn nán, dàn wǒ xiāngxìn yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng.
  • English: Although starting a business is very difficult, I believe that where there's a will, there's a way.
  • Analysis: Expressing personal belief and self-motivation in the face of a known challenge.
• Example 5:
  • 你看，那个登山队终于登上了珠穆朗玛峰，这证明了有志者事竟成。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, nàge dēngshān duì zhōngyú dēng shàng le Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng, zhè zhèngmíng le yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng.
  • English: Look, that mountaineering team finally summited Mount Everest. This proves that where there's a will, there's a way.
  • Analysis: Used as a concluding observation after witnessing a great achievement.
• Example 6:
  • 准备高考的学生们，请记住：有志者事竟成！
  • Pinyin: Zhǔnbèi gāokǎo de xuéshēngmen, qǐng jìzhù: yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng!
  • English: Students preparing for the Gaokao, please remember: Where there's a will, there's a way!
  • Analysis: A formal, motivational command, often seen in written form on banners or in speeches.
• Example 7:
  • 他花了十年时间才成为一名成功的作家，他的故事就是有志者事竟成的最好例子。
  • Pinyin: Tā huā le shí nián shíjiān cái chéngwéi yī míng chénggōng de zuòjiā, tā de gùshì jiùshì yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng de zuì hǎo lìzi.
  • English: It took him ten years to become a successful writer; his story is the best example of “where there's a will, there's a way.”
  • Analysis: Using the proverb as a noun phrase to label a story or example.
• Example 8:
  • A: “这个项目太复杂了，我们可能完不成。” B: “不能这么想，有志者事竟成，我们一起加油！”
  • Pinyin: A: “Zhège xiàngmù tài fùzá le, wǒmen kěnéng wán bù chéng.” B: “Bùnéng zhème xiǎng, yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng, wǒmen yìqǐ jiāyóu!”
  • English: A: “This project is too complex, we might not be able to finish it.” B: “You can't think like that! Where there's a will, there's a way. Let's work hard together!”
  • Analysis: Used as a direct rebuttal to doubt and a call for collective effort.
• Example 9:
  • 为了家人的幸福，他什么苦都愿意吃，他坚信有志者事竟成。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiārén de xìngfú, tā shénme kǔ dōu yuànyì chī, tā jiānxìn yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng.
  • English: For the sake of his family's happiness, he is willing to endure any hardship; he firmly believes that where there's a will, there's a way.
  • Analysis: Connecting the proverb to the cultural concept of enduring hardship (吃苦 - chī kǔ) for a collective (family) goal.
• Example 10:
  • 从一个贫穷的村庄到现在的国际大都市，这个城市的发展本身就诠释了有志者事竟成的道理。
  • Pinyin: Cóng yí ge pínqióng de cūnzhuāng dào xiànzài de guójì dà dūshì, zhège chéngshì de fāzhǎn běnshēn jiù quánshì le yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng de dàolǐ.
  • English: From a poor village to the international metropolis it is today, this city's development itself interprets the principle of “where there's a will, there's a way.”
  • Analysis: Applying the proverb on a grand scale to describe the development of a city or nation.

• Not a Guarantee for Trivial Things: This proverb is reserved for significant, difficult goals. Using it for something minor, like wanting to find a parking spot, would sound strange and overly dramatic.
  • Incorrect: 我好想吃蛋糕，有志者事竟成，我一定能买到！(I really want to eat cake, where there's a will there's a way, I'll definitely be able to buy it!)
• Emphasis on Effort, Not Just Wishing: A common misunderstanding for learners is to think it's about passively wanting something. The proverb's power comes from the implied hard work and action. The `志` (will) must be followed by `行` (action). It's a statement about the result of perseverance, not just desire.
• Formal Tone: While universally understood, it's not typically used in very lighthearted, slang-filled conversations. It carries a tone of seriousness and sincerity.

• 滴水穿石 (dī shuǐ chuān shí): “Dripping water penetrates stone.” A proverb that highlights the power of constant, steady effort over a long period. It's similar but focuses more on persistence.
• 铁杵磨成针 (tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn): “An iron pestle can be ground into a needle.” Another famous proverb with a similar meaning, based on a story about the poet Li Bai, emphasizing that patience and hard work can achieve the seemingly impossible.
• 坚持不懈 (jiān chí bù xiè): “To persevere unremittingly.” This is a verb phrase that describes the *action* implied by 有志者事竟成.
• 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi): “To give up halfway.” This is a direct antonym, describing the failure to persevere.
• 愚公移山 (yú gōng yí shān): “The foolish old man moves the mountains.” A fable about a man who decided to dig away two mountains in front of his house. It symbolizes the power of sheer, unrelenting will to accomplish a monumental task.
• 毅力 (yìlì): Perseverance; willpower. This is the core personal quality celebrated by the proverb.
• 雄心壮志 (xióng xīn zhuàng zhì): “Lofty ambitions and great aspirations.” This describes the `志` (will) part of the proverb in more detail.