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
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.
Standard kanji spelling of the proverb.
Variant with 下がって written in kana; less common but still encountered.
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.