青出於藍而勝於藍 qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. the color blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than indigo (idiom)
  2. fig. the student surpasses the master

CHARACTERS

青 qīng
HSK 5
blue, green, black; young
出 chū
HSK 1
go out, send out; stand; produce
於 yú in, at, on; interjection alas!
藍 lán blue; indigo plant; surname
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
勝 shèng victory; excel, be better than
於 yú in, at, on; interjection alas!
藍 lán blue; indigo plant; surname