expression
the student has become the master; the pupil surpasses the teacher
Proverb meaning that a student can surpass their teacher through diligent study. The literal image is that indigo dye, made from the indigo plant, becomes a deeper blue than the plant itself. Used to praise a student's growth or to encourage further effort.
彼の作品は師匠のものを超えている。まさに青は藍より出でて藍より青しだ。
His work surpasses his master's. Truly, the student has become the master.
「青は藍より出でて藍より青し」という言葉があるように、努力すれば師を超えることもできる。
As the saying goes, 'blue dye comes from the indigo plant and is bluer than indigo' — with effort, you can surpass your teacher.
From the Chinese philosopher Xunzi's 'Encouraging Learning' (『荀子』勧学篇). The original Chinese is '青取之於藍而青於藍'. The Japanese reading is a classical Japanese rendering of the Chinese text.