温故知新
温故知新 (wēn gù zhī xīn) literally means “review old know new” and expresses “learn new through studying old”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: wen gu zhi xin, wen gu zhi xin,温故知新 meaning, 温故知新 in english
Learn new through studying old
Pronunciation: wēn gù zhī xīn Literal meaning: Review old know new
Origin & Usage
Confucius, in the Analects: 温故而知新，可以为师矣 — one who warms (温) the old (故) and thereby knows (知) the new (新) is fit to be a teacher. 温 is the word for reheating food, so the image is of returning to what you already have rather than acquiring more. The claim is specific and quite demanding: review alone is not enough, and the test is whether something new comes out of it. The final clause is why the phrase belongs to teaching, and it is usually left off in modern use.
Examples
English: "By reviewing past projects, she found solutions for current challenges"
Chinese: 通过回顾过去的项目，她找到了解决当前挑战的方法
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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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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三思而行
sān sī ér xíng
Weigh it before you move
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见贤思齐
jiàn xián sī qí
Learn from the worthy
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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不知所措
bù zhī suǒ cuò
At a loss; not knowing what to do
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明知故犯
míng zhī gù fàn
Knowingly commit a violation
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 温故知新 mean in English?
温故知新 (wēn gù zhī xīn) literally translates to “Review old know new” and is used to express “Learn new through studying old”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 温故知新 used?
Situation: By reviewing past projects, she found solutions for current challenges
What is the pinyin for 温故知新?
The pinyin pronunciation for 温故知新 is “wēn gù zhī xīn”.
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