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Definition
To be dedicated to one's work or studies and to enjoy socializing and learning from peers.
How it's used
This idiom is frequently used as a motto for schools or professional organizations to emphasize the balance between individual diligence and communal harmony. It carries a formal and positive tone, often appearing in speeches or written commendations rather than casual daily chatter. It implies that one's personal success is deeply intertwined with the support and intellectual exchange found within a group.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say someone is a hard worker, but it specifically requires the element of social interaction and mutual learning. Using it to describe someone who works hard in total isolation misses the core meaning of the second half of the phrase.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
