海阔凭鱼跃

海闊憑魚躍

hǎikuò píng yú yuè

quotation

Meanings

1 the sea is vast, the fish leaps freely
2 a wide stage lets talent flourish
3 part of the couplet 海阔凭鱼跃，天高任鸟飞

Characters

to let, rely on

Examples

HSK 7-9

公司给年轻人很大空间，真是海阔凭鱼跃。

Gōngsī gěi niánqīngrén hěn dà kōngjiān, zhēnshì hǎikuò píng yú yuè.

The company gives young people plenty of room - a true case of 'the sea is vast, the fish leaps freely.'

HSK 7-9

到了大城市，海阔凭鱼跃，他很快闯出一片天地。

Dào le dà chéngshì, hǎikuò píng yú yuè, tā hěnkuài chuǎng chū yí piàn tiāndì.

Once he reached the big city, with room to roam, he quickly carved out his own path.

Tips

history

Recorded in the Song-dynasty Buddhist text 《景德传灯录》 (volume 15), where it is attributed to Chan master Xuanlan. The full couplet 海阔凭鱼跃，天高任鸟飞 ('the sea is vast, the fish leaps freely; the sky is high, the bird flies at will') figures a boundless space for talent to flourish.

usage

Usually used together with its second line 天高任鸟飞 to form a parallel couplet.

Stroke Order

海 hǎi

阔 kuò

凭 píng

鱼 yú

跃 yuè