名师出高徒
A famous teacher raises up a brilliant student.
This phrase means that accomplished disciples owe their accomplishments to their teachers.

 

师父领进门，修行在个人。
The master teaches the trade, but the perfection of the apprentice’s skill depends on his own efforts.
The proverb means that a master introduces his apprentices to the craft, but their skill depends on their own efforts.

 

艺不压身
A skill is never a burden.
The proverb is used to highlight the benefits of acquiring skills.

 

艺高人胆大
When one’s skill is high, one is bold.
The phrase indicates that a highly skilled person becomes more confident.

 

艺者,德之枝叶也;德者,人之根干也
The arts are the leaves and branches of virtue, while virtue forms the roots and trunk of man.
The phrase indicates that it is important for artists to have virtue.

 

三百六十行，行行出状元
There are three hundred and sixty trades, and in every trade there is a senior master.
The phrase is commonly used to mean that every profession has its own leading authority and no trade is to be despised.

 

内行看门道，外行看热闹
An expert thinks mainly of the path to secrets or special skills, but a layman is just watching for excitement in the crowd.
This phrase indicates that a layman cannot disguise themselves as an expert.

 

台上一分钟，台下十年功
One minute on the stage and ten years of practice off the stage.
This proverb highlights the importance of practice for mastering an art.

 

学而不能行，谓之病
He who cannot put what he has learned into practice has a drawback.
The phrase indicates that he who learns without being able to practice will not reach his potential.