无师自通
无师自通 (wú shī zì tōng) literally means “learn without a teacher” and expresses “self-taught mastery”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: wu shi zi tong, wu shi zi tong,无师自通 meaning, 无师自通 in english
Self-taught mastery
Pronunciation: wú shī zì tōng Literal meaning: Learn without a teacher
Origin & Usage
Without (无) a teacher (师), understanding (通) by oneself (自). The phrase carries a particular weight in a culture that has traditionally organised knowledge around lineages of transmission, where the question asked of a scholar or a craftsman was whose student they had been. To arrive without that is genuinely remarkable and slightly irregular. Self-taught programmers and musicians, and it praises the aptitude rather than the effort, which is why it can sound faintly like an excuse for gaps.
Examples
English: "She mastered the piano entirely on her own, showcasing her incredible talent."
Chinese: 她完全自学成才，展现了惊人的天赋。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Integrate many strands into one understanding
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博古通今
bó gǔ tōng jīn
Wise and learned
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触类旁通
chù lèi páng tōng
Apply knowledge broadly
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一窍不通
yī qiào bù tōng
Completely ignorant
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无地自容
wú dì zì róng
Extremely ashamed; wish to disappear
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通宵达旦
tōng xiāo dá dàn
Work through the entire night
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四通八达
sì tōng bā dá
Extending in all directions; well-connected
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各显神通
gè xiǎn shén tōng
Each shows their special skills
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 无师自通 mean in English?
无师自通 (wú shī zì tōng) literally translates to “Learn without a teacher” and is used to express “Self-taught mastery”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 无师自通 used?
Situation: She mastered the piano entirely on her own, showcasing her incredible talent.
What is the pinyin for 无师自通?
The pinyin pronunciation for 无师自通 is “wú shī zì tōng”.