他山之石可以攻玉

Traditional form:

他山之石可以攻玉

Pinyin (reading):

tāshānzhīshíkěyǐgōngyù

Definitions:

• lit. the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiom); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside
• to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively

Characters:

• 他 - other, another; he, she, it
• 山 - mountain, hill, peak
• 之 - marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
• 石 - stone, rock, mineral
• 可 - may, can, -able; possibly
• 以 - according to; so as to; because of; then
• 攻 - to accuse; to assault; to criticize
• 玉 - jade, gem, precious stone

Traditional characters:

• 他 - other, another; he, she, it
• 山 - mountain, hill, peak
• 之 - marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
• 石 - stone, rock, mineral
• 可 - may, can, -able; possibly
• 以 - according to; so as to; because of; then
• 攻 - to accuse; to assault; to criticize
• 玉 - jade, gem, precious stone