见贤思齐
见贤思齐 (jiàn xián sī qí) literally means “see worthy wish equal” and expresses “learn from the worthy”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: jian xian si qi, jian xian si qi,见贤思齐 meaning, 见贤思齐 in english
Learn from the worthy
Pronunciation: jiàn xián sī qí Literal meaning: See worthy wish equal
Origin & Usage
Confucius in the Analects: seeing (见) a worthy man (贤), think of (思) matching him (齐) — and seeing an unworthy one, turn inward and examine yourself. The second clause is normally left off and is the sharper half, since it makes every encounter instructive regardless of who you meet. What the phrase asks for is specifically the conversion of admiration into effort — where English reaches for a role model, this comes with rather more obligation attached.
Examples
English: "Reading about innovative leaders motivated her to enhance her skills"
Chinese: 阅读创新领袖的事迹激励她提升自己的技能
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
三思而行
sān sī ér xíng
Weigh it before you move
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虚怀若谷
xū huái ruò gǔ
Stay humble and open
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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集思广益
jí sī guǎng yì
Gather wisdom from many
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饮水思源
yǐn shuǐ sī yuán
Remember your roots
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举案齐眉
jǔ àn qí méi
Married couple with great mutual respect
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见义勇为
jiàn yì yǒng wéi
Courageous moral action
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金玉良言
jīn yù liáng yán
Valuable, lasting advice
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 见贤思齐 mean in English?
见贤思齐 (jiàn xián sī qí) literally translates to “See worthy wish equal” and is used to express “Learn from the worthy”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 见贤思齐 used?
Situation: Reading about innovative leaders motivated her to enhance her skills
What is the pinyin for 见贤思齐?
The pinyin pronunciation for 见贤思齐 is “jiàn xián sī qí”.
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