以貌取人
以貌取人 (yǐ mào qǔ rén) literally means “judge people by appearance” and expresses “superficial judgment”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: yi mao qu ren, yi mao qu ren,以貌取人 meaning, 以貌取人 in english
Superficial judgment
Pronunciation: yǐ mào qǔ rén Literal meaning: Judge people by appearance
Origin & Usage
The idiom 以貌取人 (yǐ mào qǔ rén) originates from the historical text 《史记》 (Shǐjì) by Sima Qian, specifically from the chapter on Confucius' disciples. The story involves two of Confucius' students: Zai Yu, who was handsome, and Zi Yu, who was not. Confucius initially judged Zi Yu unfavorably due to his appearance, while he had high hopes for the eloquent Zai Yu. However, Zi Yu became a renowned scholar through diligence, while Zai Yu's laziness led to his downfall. This idiom literally means 'judge people by appearance' (以, by; 貌, appearance; 取, judge; 人, people) and serves as a caution against superficial judgments. In modern usage, it highlights the importance of looking beyond outward appearances to understand a person's true character.
Examples
English: "She was dismissed for her looks, showing how superficial judgments can be misleading."
Chinese: 他以貌取人，错过了很多优秀的人才。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 以貌取人 mean in English?
以貌取人 (yǐ mào qǔ rén) literally translates to “Judge people by appearance” and is used to express “Superficial judgment”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 以貌取人 used?
Situation: She was dismissed for her looks, showing how superficial judgments can be misleading.
What is the pinyin for 以貌取人?
The pinyin pronunciation for 以貌取人 is “yǐ mào qǔ rén”.