勤有功，戲無益

Chinese

		diligent; frequent	to have; there is; there are to have; there is; there are; to exist; to be	merit; achievement; result merit; achievement; result; service; accomplishment		trick; drama; play trick; drama; play; show	to be in vain; to have no benefit; to not be helpful
trad. (勤有功，戲無益)		勤	有	功	，	戲	無益
simp. (勤有功，戏无益)		勤	有	功	，	戏	无益

Etymology

From the Three Character Classic:

勤有功，戲無益。戒之哉，宜勉力。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]

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勤有功，戏无益。戒之哉，宜勉力。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

From: Three Character Classic, circa 13^th century CE

Qín yǒu gōng, xì wúyì. Jiè zhī zāi, yí miǎnlì. [Pinyin]

Diligence has its reward; play has no advantages. Oh, be on your guard, and put forth your strength.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): qínyǒugōng, xìwúyì

  (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄥ , ㄒㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄧˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): kan⁴ jau⁵ gung¹, hei³ mou⁴ jik¹

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: qínyǒugōng, xìwúyì
    • Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄥ , ㄒㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄧˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: cínyǒugong, sìwúyì
    • Wade–Giles: chʻin²-yu³-kung¹, hsi⁴-wu²-i⁴
    • Yale: chín-yǒu-gūng-, syì-wú-yì
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chynyeougong, shihwuyih
    • Palladius: циньюгун, сиуи (cinʹjugun, siui)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰin³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: kan⁴ jau⁵ gung¹, hei³ mou⁴ jik¹
    • Yale: kàhn yáuh gūng, hei mòuh yīk
    • Cantonese Pinyin: kan⁴ jau⁵ gung¹, hei³ mou⁴ jik⁷
    • Guangdong Romanization: ken⁴ yeo⁵ gung¹, héi³ mou⁴ yig¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʰɐn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ mou̯²¹ jɪk̚⁵/

Proverb

勤有功，戲無益

1. diligence has its reward while play has no benefit