| 三不朽 | sān bù xiǔ | the three imperishables, three ways to distinguish oneself that aren't forgotten by history: through one's virtue 立德[li4 de2], one's service 立功[li4 gong1] and one's writings 立言[li4 yan2] (from the Zuo Zhuan 左傳|左传[Zuo3 Zhuan4]) |
| 立功 | lì gōng | to render meritorious service (one the three imperishables 三不朽[san1 bu4 xiu3]) / to make worthy contributions / to distinguish oneself |
| 立言 | lì yán | to distinguish oneself through one's writing (one the three imperishables 三不朽[san1 bu4 xiu3]) / to expound one's theory |
| 立德 | lì dé | to distinguish oneself through virtue (one the three imperishables 三不朽[san1 bu4 xiu3]) |