# 力争上游

lì zhēng shàng yóu

Strive for excellence and advancement

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Strive to reach upstream

**Traditional Chinese:** 力爭上游

**Register:** Positive · general

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Encourage determined improvement toward a higher level.

Healthy ambition need not mean defeating everyone.

## Understanding the expression

Moving upstream requires effort against the current, making progress seem active rather than automatic. The expression encourages a person or group to seek a better level of performance. It can describe studying, training, or improving an organization. The direction is upward in achievement, not necessarily toward wealth or authority. It works best when a clear standard guides the effort, allowing ambition to mean better work rather than endless comparison with other people.

## Examples

她力争上游，努力提高成绩。

### Traditional Chinese

她力爭上游，努力提高成績。

tā lì zhēng shàng yóu ， nǔ lì tí gāo chéng jì 。

She strives to improve her grades.

球队力争上游，增加了训练。

### Traditional Chinese

球隊力爭上游，增加了訓練。

qiú duì lì zhēng shàng yóu ， zēng jiā le xùn liàn 。

The team trains more to reach a higher level.

新员工力争上游，主动学习。

### Traditional Chinese

新員工力爭上游，主動學習。

xīn yuán gōng lì zhēng shàng yóu ， zhǔ dòng xué xí 。

The newcomer eagerly learns to advance.

我们力争上游，也尊重彼此的节奏。

### Traditional Chinese

我們力爭上游，也尊重彼此的節奏。

wǒ men lì zhēng shàng yóu ， yě zūn zhòng bǐ cǐ de jié zòu 。

We strive for improvement while respecting individual pace.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%8A%9B%E7%88%AD%E4%B8%8A%E6%B8%B8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=555&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [龙飞凤舞 lóng fēi fèng wǔ Show bold, flowing movement in calligraphy ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/long-fei-feng-wu)

- [炉火纯青 lú huǒ chún qīng Reach a highly refined level of skill ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lu-huo-chun-qing)

- [漫不经心 màn bù jīng xīn Act without paying proper attention ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/man-bu-jing-xin)

- [毛遂自荐 máo suì zì jiàn Volunteer or recommend oneself for a role ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mao-sui-zi-jian)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 离乡背井 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/li-xiang-bei-jing) [Next idiom 理直气壮 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/li-zhi-qi-zhuang)