A proverb meaning that a student can surpass the teacher; literally, blue dye comes from the indigo plant but is bluer than the indigo itself.
若い研究者が指導教官を凌ぐ成果を出したと聞き、『青は藍より出でて藍より青し』と言われた。
When the young researcher produced results that surpassed his supervisor, people said, 'The pupil has outdone the master.'
このことわざは師弟関係や教育の場面でよく引用される。
This proverb is often quoted in teacher–student or educational contexts.
芸術の世界では、弟子が師匠の技法を超えるときに『青は藍より出でて藍より青し』と言うことがある。
In the art world, when a disciple surpasses the master's technique, people sometimes say, 'The pupil has outshone the master.'