Chinese Idiom: 专心致志 (Zhuan Xin Zhi Zhi)
English Translation: Devoted and Focused
pīn yīn: zhuān xīn zhì zhì
Idiom Meaning: To concentrate one’s attention and energy on a particular task or subject with dedication and single-mindedness.
Historical Source: Mencius (《孟子·告子上》)
Idiom Story
During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a renowned chess player named Yi Qiu. He had two disciples learning chess from him. Yi Qiu noticed that while both were learning, their approaches were different.
One disciple was completely focused and dedicated to learning the game, listening attentively to Yi Qiu’s teachings. The other disciple, although present and ostensibly learning, was distracted, constantly thinking about hunting birds and imagining a flock of wild geese flying by, as if he were readying his bow and arrows.
Yi Qiu observed that even though both disciples were learning at the same time, the results were markedly different. The disciple who was distracted did not perform as well as the one who was fully engaged. This raised the question: was it due to a lack of intelligence on the distracted disciple’s part?
Mencius explained that the difference in their learning outcomes was not due to a difference in intelligence but rather to the level of concentration and dedication. He stated, “Chess is a minor skill; without focused attention, one cannot master it.”
From this, the idiom “专心致志” (devoted and focused) emerged, signifying the importance of concentrating one’s energy and attention on a task to achieve success.
