# 学富五车

xué fù wǔ chē

Exceptionally learned

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Learning filling five carts

**Traditional Chinese:** 學富五車

**Register:** Formal · literary

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Praise extensive scholarship.

Usually literary praise, not a literal quantity.

## Understanding the expression

Five carts create an image of knowledge so extensive that it would take heavy transport to carry its written records. The expression praises broad learning and scholarship, often in a literary or respectful tone. It concerns what someone has studied and understands, rather than wealth or social rank. A learned person may still need practical judgment; the phrase does not automatically claim excellence in every activity.

## Examples

这位教授学富五车。

### Traditional Chinese

這位教授學富五車。

zhè wèi jiào shòu xué fù wǔ chē 。

This professor is exceptionally learned.

学富五车的爷爷爱讲历史。

### Traditional Chinese

學富五車的爺爺愛講歷史。

xué fù wǔ chē de yé ye ài jiǎng lì shǐ 。

My widely learned grandfather loves discussing history.

她虽学富五车，说话却很朴实。

### Traditional Chinese

她雖學富五車，說話卻很樸實。

tā suī xué fù wǔ chē ， shuō huà què hěn pǔ shí 。

Although deeply learned, she speaks simply.

那位学富五车的学者也乐于提问。

### Traditional Chinese

那位學富五車的學者也樂於提問。

nà wèi xué fù wǔ chē de xué zhě yě lè yú tí wèn 。

That erudite scholar also enjoys asking questions.

## 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%AD%B8%E5%AF%8C%E4%BA%94%E8%BB%8A)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=720&webMd=1&la=0)

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