实事求是
实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) literally means “seek truth from facts” and expresses “be practical and realistic; seek truth from facts”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: shi shi qiu shi, shi shi qiu shi,实事求是 meaning, 实事求是 in english
Be practical and realistic; seek truth from facts
Pronunciation: shí shì qiú shì Literal meaning: Seek truth from facts
Origin & Usage
This idiom means seeking (求) truth (是) from actual facts (实事). It originated from the Han Dynasty 'Book of Han' describing the scholarly approach of Emperor Xian of Han. The phrase emphasizes basing conclusions on evidence rather than theory or wishful thinking. It became a guiding principle in modern Chinese political philosophy, particularly promoted by Deng Xiaoping. Modern usage advocates for pragmatic, evidence-based approaches in research, policy, and decision-making.
Examples
English: "Scientific research must be based on evidence rather than assumptions."
Chinese: 科学研究必须实事求是，以证据为基础。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Master something completely
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juǎn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 实事求是 mean in English?
实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) literally translates to “Seek truth from facts” and is used to express “Be practical and realistic; seek truth from facts”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 实事求是 used?
Situation: Scientific research must be based on evidence rather than assumptions.
What is the pinyin for 实事求是?
The pinyin pronunciation for 实事求是 is “shí shì qiú shì”.