左右逢源

Chinese

left and right; left and right sides; both sides every time; meet by chance root; source; origin
trad. (左右逢源) 左右
simp. #(左右逢源) 左右
alternative forms 左右逢原

Etymology

From Mencius (《孟子·離婁下》):

孟子:「君子深造左右逢君子。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
孟子:「君子深造左右逢君子。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Mèngzǐ yuē: “Jūnzǐ shēnzào zhī yǐ dào, yù qí zì dé zhī yě. Zì dé zhī, zé jū zhī ān; jū zhī ān, zé zī zhī shēn; zī zhī shēn, zé qǔ zhī zuǒyòu féngyuán, gù jūnzǐ yù qí zì dé zhī yě.” [Pinyin]
Mencius said, "The superior man makes his advances in what he is learning with deep earnestness and by the proper course, wishing to get hold of it as in himself. Having got hold of it in himself, he abides in it calmly and firmly. Abiding in it calmly and firmly, he reposes a deep reliance on it. Reposing a deep reliance on it, he seizes it on the left and right, meeting everywhere with it as a fountain from which things flow. It is on this account that the superior man wishes to get hold of what he is learning as in himself."

Pronunciation


Idiom

左右逢源

  1. (figurative) to be able to achieve success one way or another; to have everything going one's way
  2. (figurative) to butter one's bread on both sides; to be tactful and win advantage from both sides
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