因材施教
因材施教 (yīn cái shī jiào) literally means “teach according to ability” and expresses “adapt teaching to student abilities”. 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: yin cai shi jiao, yin cai shi jiao,因材施教 meaning, 因材施教 in english
Adapt teaching to student abilities
Pronunciation: yīn cái shī jiào
Literal meaning: Teach according to ability
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes teaching (施教) according to (因) ability (材). It embodies Confucius' educational philosophy of tailoring instruction to individual students' talents and needs. The phrase recognizes that different people learn differently. Modern usage praises adaptive teaching methods that recognize individual differences and adjust accordingly for optimal learning outcomes.
Examples
English: "Good teachers adapt their methods to each student's learning style."
Chinese: 好老师会因材施教，根据每个学生的学习方式调整方法。
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Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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Perfectly appropriate; fitting exactly
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Just right; perfectly appropriate
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Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 因材施教 mean in English?
因材施教 (yīn cái shī jiào) literally translates to “Teach according to ability” and is used to express “Adapt teaching to student abilities”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 因材施教 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving adapt teaching to student abilities.
What is the pinyin for 因材施教?
The pinyin pronunciation for 因材施教 is “yīn cái shī jiào”.