他山之石可以攻玉 in English ta1 shan1 zhi1 shi2 ke3 yi3 gong1 yu4 Meaning

Meanings

• literally (word for word) the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiomatic expression); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside
• to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively

Pinyin

ta1 shan1 zhi1 shi2 ke3 yi3 gong1 yu4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

他ta1he or him 山shan1surname Shan 之zhi1(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) 石shi2surname Shi 可ke3can 以yi3old variant of 以[yi3] 攻gong1to attack 玉yu4jade