"Step by step" is a commonly used commendatory idiom in Chinese, meaning to advance gradually according to a certain order and sequence of steps. It emphasizes that one should be methodical and patient in doing things, and should not rush for quick success. This idiom originates from educational ideas such as "Do not complain against Heaven, nor blame others. As you learn from what is near at hand, you come to understand what is above; and perhaps it is only Heaven that knows me" in The Analects: Xian Wen, and "Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew" in The Analects: Wei Zheng. It was later elucidated by Neo-Confucian scholars such as Zhu Xi and became an important method of learning and self-cultivation in Confucianism. It is often used in fields such as study, work, teaching, and personal growth to describe following objective laws and gradually going deeper from the shallow to the profound and from the easy to the difficult. Its emotional tone is positive and commendatory, praising a down-to-earth and steady style of work while opposing rash advancement and impetuosity. Culturally, it embodies the wisdom of "haste makes waste" in traditional Chinese philosophy, emphasizes the importance of accumulation and process, and remains an important principle guiding people in learning and doing things today.
📝 Example
1. Learning a foreign language should be done step by step: first master basic vocabulary and grammar, and then gradually improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. (meaning to deepen or improve gradually according to certain steps)
2. This research project must proceed step by step, starting with basic experiments, and one should not seek major breakthroughs right from the beginning. (meaning to advance gradually according to a certain order and steps)