expression
a student must never forget to honor their teacher
Proverb emphasizing deep respect for one's teacher, literally meaning 'walk three feet behind so as not to step on the teacher's shadow'. Used to remind students of proper reverence and humility.
See also: 三尺去って師の影を踏まず
「三尺下がって師の影を踏まず」という言葉があるように、師を敬う心を忘れてはいけない。
As the saying goes, 'A student must never forget to honor their teacher,' you must not forget to respect your teacher.
Variant using 去って (leave, depart) instead of 下がって (step back); similar meaning but less common.
A traditional Japanese proverb derived from the strict teacher-student relationship in martial arts and other disciplines, where students were expected to maintain a respectful distance.