台上一分钟，台下十年功

臺上一分鐘，臺下十年功
táishàngyīfēnzhōng,táixiàshíniángōng
ten years of practice for one minute on the stage (idiom)

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 台上 táishàng on stage
2 一分 yīfēn a few
=3 钟 zhōng
  1. handleless cup; goblet
  2. (bound form) to concentrate (one's affection etc)
  3. variant of 钟 zhōng
=3 钟 zhōng
  1. (historical) metal ceremonial percussion instrument hung from a rack and struck with a mallet
  2. a surname
  3. alternative form of 鍾 /钟 (zhōng, “unit of capacity”)
  4. bell (Classifier: 架; 座)
  5. clock (Classifier: 架; 座)
  6. metal ceremonial percussion instrument hung from a rack and struck with a mallet
  7. time measured in hours and minutes

classifiers: 架, 座, 點, 分, 秒
4 台下 táixià
  1. off the stage
  2. in the audience
5 十年 shínián ten years; decade
6 功 gōng
  1. meritorious deed or service
  2. achievement
  3. result
  4. service
  5. accomplishment
  6. work (physics)