“Keep Working—Past Achievements Don’t Count” in Chinese
«菜就多练，以前是以前» (cai jiu duo lian, yiqian shi yiqian) — «Not good enough? Practice! The past doesn’t count»
This expression became popular on the Chinese internet among athletes, gamers, and young people as a response to excuses for failure. Literally, it means: «If you’re weak (菜 cài), practice more (多练 duō liàn), and the past (以前 yǐqián) is in the past (是以前 shì yǐqián)». The phrase mocks those who invoke past achievements or outside circumstances instead of working on themselves.
Meaning and parallels
- Context: It is often used in basketball communities (打篮球的人找借口 dǎ lánqiú de rén zhǎo jièkǒu — «basketball players look for excuses») when players complain about being out of form but do not practice.
- Russian equivalents:
- «What’s done is done; improve yourself now!»
- «Excuses won’t score a goal» (as in sports: «Want to score? Practice your shot!»).
Usage examples
-
In a sports chat:
— A: «今天手感不好，都怪这破鞋!»
«Jīntiān shǒugǎn bù hǎo, dōu guài zhè pò xié!»
— «I can’t get a feel for the ball today — it’s my shoes’ fault!»
B: «菜就多练，以前是以前！»
«Cài jiù duō liàn, yǐqián shì yǐqián!»
— «Not good enough? Practice! Past victories won’t help». -
In an online game:
— 队友: «这角色现在弱了，以前我随便赢…»
Duìyǒu: «Zhè juésè xiànzài ruò le, yǐqián wǒ suíbiàn yíng…»
— «This character is weak now; I used to win easily…»
你: «菜就多练，别找借口！»
«Cài jiù duō liàn, bié zhǎo jièkǒu!»
— «Stop whining — practice!» -
As a motivational meme:
— #菜就多练挑战
#Cài jiù duō liàn tiǎozhàn#
— «Challenge: admit your weakness and start practicing!»
Why did it become popular?
- A culture of self-improvement: In China, perseverance and discipline are valued, while complaints are seen as weakness.
- The gaming environment: In esports, the phrase became a response to endless excuses about «lag», «unbalanced characters», and so on.
- Viral videos: Bloggers use it in memes comparing «whiners» with those who «work hard in silence».
Why should learners of Chinese know this?
— To understand attitudes toward responsibility: in Chinese culture, it is important to «save face» (面子 miànzi), but excuses cost you respect.
— To recognize youth and gamer slang: the phrase appears in streams, chats, and comments.
— To use it for motivation: for example, write to a friend: «别抱怨考试难，菜就多练！» (Bié bàoyuàn kǎoshì nán, cài jiù duō liàn! — «Don’t whine that the exam is hard — study!»).
Conclusion: «菜就多练，以前是以前» is a cure for excuses. Like the Russian «Don’t whine, do something», only with Chinese persistence. If someone says this to you, don’t take offense: perhaps they simply believe you’re capable of more! 🏀💪