实事求是
实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) literally means “seek truth from facts” and expresses “judge by evidence, not doctrine”. 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
Judge by evidence, not doctrine
Pronunciation: shí shì qiú shì Literal meaning: Seek truth from facts
Origin & Usage
This is from the Book of Han, in its account of Liu De, Prince Xian of Hejian, praised for loving antiquity and seeking (求) what is so (是) from actual matters (实事) — that is, for checking texts against evidence rather than accepting received readings. He is not to be confused with Emperor Xian, the last Han emperor, who is a different person entirely. The phrase later became a watchword for evidential scholarship. Modern usage means grounding conclusions in the facts as they are.
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
天外有天
tiān wài yǒu tiān
Always someone better
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三省吾身
sān xǐng wú shēn
Self-reflect daily
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庖丁解牛
páo dīng jiě niú
Effortless skill through perfect practice
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欲速不达
yù sù bù dá
Haste makes waste; more haste less speed
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急流勇退
jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
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头头是道
tóu tóu shì dào
Logical and organized
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刻舟求剑
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
Using outdated methods foolishly
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不求甚解
bù qiú shèn jiě
Content with superficial understanding
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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 “Judge by evidence, not doctrine”. 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”.