熟能生巧

First attested in the novel Flowers in the Mirror, published in 1827, according to the Hanyu Da Cidian.

Parables ascribed to the message came later, such as 賣油翁 (The Oil Peddler) by Ouyang Xiu.

陳康肅公堯咨善射，當世無雙，公亦以此自矜。嘗射於家圃，有賣油翁釋擔而立，睨之，久而不去。見其發矢十中八九，但微頷之。康肅問曰：「汝亦知射乎？吾射不亦精乎？」翁曰：「無他，但手熟爾。」康肅忿然曰：「爾安敢輕吾射！」翁曰：「以我酌油知之。」乃取一葫蘆置於地，以錢覆其口，徐以杓酌油瀝之，自錢孔入，而錢不濕。因曰：「我亦無他，惟手熟爾。」康肅笑而遣之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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陈康肃公尧咨善射，当世无双，公亦以此自矜。尝射于家圃，有卖油翁释担而立，睨之，久而不去。见其发矢十中八九，但微颔之。康肃问曰：「汝亦知射乎？吾射不亦精乎？」翁曰：「无他，但手熟尔。」康肃忿然曰：「尔安敢轻吾射！」翁曰：「以我酌油知之。」乃取一葫芦置于地，以钱覆其口，徐以杓酌油沥之，自钱孔入，而钱不湿。因曰：「我亦无他，惟手熟尔。」康肃笑而遣之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Oil Peddler (賣油翁) by Ouyang Xiu

Chén Kāngsù gōng Yáozī shàn shè, dāngshì wúshuāng, gōng yì yǐ cǐ zìjīn. Cháng shè yú jiā pǔ, yǒu mài yóu wēng shì dān ér lì, nì zhī, jiǔ ér bù qù. Jiàn qí fā shǐ shí zhōng bā jiǔ, dàn wēihàn zhī. Kāngsù wèn yuē: “Rǔ yì zhī shè hū? Wú shè bù yì jīng hū?” Wēng yuē: “Wútā, dàn shǒu shú ěr.” Kāngsù fèn rán yuē: “Ěr ān gǎn qīng wú shè!” Wēng yuē: “Yǐ wǒ zhuó yóu zhī zhī.” Nǎi qǔ yī húlú zhì yú dì, yǐ qián fù qí kǒu, xú yǐ biāo zhuó yóu lì zhī, zì qián kǒng rù, ér qián bù shī. Yīn yuē: “Wǒ yì wú tā, wéi shǒu shú ěr.” Kāngsù xiào ér qiǎn zhī. [Pinyin]

Chen Kangsu, Duke Yaozi, was good at archery. He was unparalleled at the time, so he boasted of his achievements. Once, he was shooting in the yard at home when an oil peddler put down his load and stood up, watched, and did not leave for a long time. The peddler saw him hit eight to nine arrows in ten, but nodded slightly. Kangsu asked saying: "do you know how to shoot? isn't my shooting great?" The peddler said: "I have no others, but proficient hands." Kangsu angrily said: "how dare you underestimate my archery?" The peddler said: "through my knowledge in pouring oil." Hence, he took out a bottle gourd, placing it on the ground, and covered the mouth with a coin, slowly using a ladle and dripped the oil in. The oil drips through the hole on the coin, but the coin wasn't wet. So, he said: "I have no others too, my hands are merely proficient." Kangsu sent him away with a smile.

熟能生巧

1. practice makes perfect