大智若愚
大智若愚 (dà zhì ruò yú) literally means “great wisdom appears foolish” and expresses “wisdom in humility”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
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Wisdom in humility
Pronunciation: dà zhì ruò yú Literal meaning: Great wisdom appears foolish
Origin & Usage
The idiom 大智若愚 (dà zhì ruò yú) originates from a letter by the Song dynasty scholar Su Shi (苏轼) to Ouyang Xiu (欧阳修), a prominent statesman and literary figure. In his letter, Su Shi praised Ouyang Xiu's wisdom and virtue, noting that true wisdom (智, zhì) often appears as simplicity or foolishness (愚, yú). This reflects the idea that those with great intelligence do not flaunt their abilities, appearing modest and unassuming. The idiom illustrates the concept that genuine wisdom is characterized by humility and the ability to see beyond superficial matters. In modern usage, it describes individuals who possess deep insight and understanding but choose to remain humble and understated.
Examples
English: "His seemingly naive approach often led to the most effective solutions."
Chinese: 他看似天真的方法常常导致最有效的解决方案。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 大智若愚 mean in English?
大智若愚 (dà zhì ruò yú) literally translates to “Great wisdom appears foolish” and is used to express “Wisdom in humility”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 大智若愚 used?
Situation: His seemingly naive approach often led to the most effective solutions.
What is the pinyin for 大智若愚?
The pinyin pronunciation for 大智若愚 is “dà zhì ruò yú”.