有教无类
yǒu jiào wú lèi
to teach everyone, without distinction of class
Character by character
有yǒu
have
have
教jiào
teaching
teaching
无wú
no
no
类lèi
classes
classes
Example
这所夜校坚持有教无类,从十几岁的打工仔到六十多岁的退休老人,都能来上课。
This night school teaches anyone: from teenage migrant workers to pensioners in their sixties, all are welcome.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the 《论语》. When schooling belonged to the nobility, it was a radical idea; today it is often quoted as a founding ideal of Chinese education, often with 坚持 or 体现.
Learn this in Lesson 86 · HSK 6–7: 孔子其人 (Confucius the man)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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