善始善终
shàn shǐ shàn zhōng
to begin well and end well
Character by character
善shàn
well
well
始shǐ
begin
begin
善shàn
well
well
终zhōng
end
end
Example
做任何事都要善始善终。
Whatever you do, see it through properly from start to finish.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From Zhuangzi (大宗师); today a stock exhortation to finish what you start.
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