Literal meaning

study (学) — no (无) — stop (止) — boundary (境)

Origin

The phrase took its modern four-character form in late-imperial Chinese, but the idea is much older — it crystallises a strand of Confucian thought that scholarly pursuit is a lifelong practice, not a degree to be checked off. The closest classical anchor is in Xunzi (《荀子·劝学》), which opens with 学不可以已 — "learning must never cease" — and develops the image of knowledge as something that compounds across a whole life rather than something that arrives at a finish line.

Examples

Usage & nuances

Slightly elevated register — it shows up in graduation speeches, motivational posters, and the closing line of essays, more than in everyday chat. Saying it lightly to a friend is fine, but it lands with a touch of formality.