先见之明
先见之明 (xiān jiàn zhī míng) literally means “the clarity to see in advance” and expresses “visionary foresight”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: xian jian zhi ming, xian jian zhi ming,先见之明 meaning, 先见之明 in english
Visionary foresight
Pronunciation: xiān jiàn zhī míng Literal meaning: The clarity to see in advance
Origin & Usage
Cao Cao asked Yang Biao why he had grown so thin. Yang Biao answered that he lacked Jin Midi's clarity (明) of seeing (见) in advance (先) and still carried the old cow's love of licking her calf. Jin Midi, generations earlier, had killed his own son on discovering his misconduct, before it could destroy the family. Yang Biao's son was Yang Xiu, whom Cao Cao had just executed. The whole reproach is in the phrase, delivered to the man responsible, and it is used now for foresight that others lacked.
Examples
English: "His ability to predict market trends showed his remarkable foresight."
Chinese: 他的市场趋势预测能力展现了先见之明。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
先知先觉
xiān zhī xiān jué
Foresight and insight
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未卜先知
wèi bǔ xiān zhī
Foresight or intuition
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先入为主
xiān rù wéi zhǔ
Preconceived notions
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明枪易躲
míng qiāng yì duǒ
Open threats easier than hidden
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明察秋毫
míng chá qiū háo
Perceive tiny details
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明镜止水
míng jìng zhǐ shuǐ
Clear and calm mind
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耳聪目明
ěr cōng mù míng
Perceptive and insightful
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见微知著
jiàn wēi zhī zhù
Foresee big from small signs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 先见之明 mean in English?
先见之明 (xiān jiàn zhī míng) literally translates to “The clarity to see in advance” and is used to express “Visionary foresight”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 先见之明 used?
Situation: His ability to predict market trends showed his remarkable foresight.
What is the pinyin for 先见之明?
The pinyin pronunciation for 先见之明 is “xiān jiàn zhī míng”.