How to Read “Better to spend three years choosing a teacher than to study for three years without learning”
Sannen tsutome manaban yori wa sannen shi wo erabu beshi
Meaning of “Better to spend three years choosing a teacher than to study for three years without learning”
This proverb teaches that choosing a good teacher is the most important thing in learning. No matter how long or hard you study, you cannot achieve true growth if your teacher is not suitable.
Instead, you should first take time to carefully identify and select an excellent teacher. That is what truly matters.
This expression is used when someone is about to start learning something, or when they are choosing a teacher or instructor. It conveys the importance of thinking carefully about who to learn from, rather than rushing into study.
In modern times, this teaching applies to many situations. These include choosing school teachers, selecting classes for hobbies, and even picking bosses or mentors at work.
In today’s world overflowing with information, the choice of who to learn from greatly affects the direction and quality of your growth.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb is unclear. However, it is believed to have spread through craftsman society and the academic world during the Edo period.
In Japan at that time, the apprenticeship system was common. Young people would become disciples under one master and spend many years learning skills and knowledge.
The first half, “three years studying without learning,” means even if you spend a long time learning. Notice the expression “manaban yori wa.”
This is not simply “rather than learning.” It includes the intention “rather than trying to learn,” showing a serious attitude toward learning.
The second half, “spend three years choosing a teacher,” teaches that you should take time to identify a good teacher. Here, “three years” is not a specific period.
It carries a metaphorical meaning of taking sufficient time.
This saying was born from a reality where choosing the wrong master greatly affected a disciple’s life. In an era when skills and knowledge were transmitted through oral teaching and demonstration, the quality of the master decisively determined the quality of learning.
Therefore, the importance of carefully evaluating teachers rather than choosing them carelessly was strongly emphasized.
Usage Examples
- Rather than rushing to get certified, he followed the spirit of “Better to spend three years choosing a teacher than to study for three years without learning” and took time to find a well-regarded instructor
- Before starting to learn programming on my own, I remembered “Better to spend three years choosing a teacher than to study for three years without learning,” so I spent six months researching which online course would suit me best
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down because it touches on a fundamental truth about human growth. We all want to believe that effort alone will always be rewarded.
However, in reality, if you mistake the direction of your effort, you cannot reach your desired result no matter how much time you spend.
Humans have a psychology of wanting to feel secure by taking action. Starting to learn something feels like progress, and the preparation stage of choosing a teacher seems like a waste of time.
But our ancestors saw through this psychological trap. They knew that hasty action becomes a major detour in the long run.
A deeper insight is that the essence of learning is not merely acquiring knowledge. It is absorbing the teacher’s way of life and thinking.
An excellent teacher transmits not just techniques and knowledge. They also share their perspective on things, their approach to problems, and their attitude toward life. This can never be learned from textbooks.
This proverb shows a universal truth. For humans to truly grow, quality human relationships and appropriate environments are essential.
We are beings who cannot grow alone. Who we meet and who we learn from determines the quality of our lives.
When AI Hears This
In information theory, communication channels have “an upper limit on the amount of information that can be transmitted per unit time.” This is called Shannon’s channel capacity.
For example, with a noisy radio broadcast, accurate information does not come through no matter how many hours you listen. Meanwhile, a clear fiber optic line can send massive amounts of data in an instant.
This difference lies not in the length of time, but in the quality of the channel itself.
When we view the teacher-student relationship as this information channel, a striking fact emerges. An excellent teacher has an extremely high “signal-to-noise ratio.”
In other words, there are few useless elements or misleading factors relative to the essential information they want to convey. Under a low-quality teacher, large amounts of noise mix in as incorrect techniques and unnecessary customs.
According to information theory calculations, when noise exceeds a certain level, the amount of correct information transmitted approaches zero no matter how much time you spend.
Even more important is “coding efficiency.” Excellent teachers have a high ability to compress complex knowledge and convert it into forms disciples can easily understand.
This corresponds to the technology of efficiently packaging information. Even with the same three years, if the channel capacity differs by ten times, the total amount of knowledge transmitted becomes ten times greater.
This proverb strikes at the core of information theory. In learning, the quality of the transmission path is decisively more important than time.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of being unhurried and careful in life’s important choices. Modern society emphasizes speed and demands immediate results.
However, for truly valuable growth, the initial choice is decisively important.
When you try to learn something new, first stop and think. Who will you learn from? What environment will you place yourself in?
That choice shapes your future. Research reputations and track records. If possible, meet people in person and listen to them. Feel their values and attitudes.
This teaching applies not only to teachers. It extends to choosing workplaces, friendships, and even life partners.
Taking time to choose people and environments that will give you good influence is never a waste. It is the best investment in your future.
Suppress your impatience and have the courage to choose carefully. That caution will make your life rich and fruitful.
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