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. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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。
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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: This idiom applies when describing situations involving be practical and realistic; seek truth from facts.
What is the pinyin for 实事求是?
The pinyin pronunciation for 实事求是 is “shí shì qiú shì”.