Delve into Chinese idioms about knowledge, education, and intellectual growth. These sayings honor the pursuit of wisdom and lifelong learning.
74 idioms in this category
máng rén mō xiàng
“Blind person touches elephant”
Mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom
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chéng qián qǐ hòu
“Receive past, initiate future”
Linking tradition with innovation
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ěr rú mù rǎn
“Ears soaked, eyes dyed”
Learning unconsciously through constant exposure
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dōng shī xiào pín
“Dongshi imitates Xishi's frown”
Failed imitation lacking understanding
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bān mén nòng fǔ
“Show carpentry to Lu Ban”
Showing amateur skills to masters
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jiǎo tù sān kū
“Clever rabbit has three burrows”
Always have backup plans
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jǐng dǐ zhī wā
“Frog at well bottom”
Narrow-minded from limited experience
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yǎn ěr dào líng
“Cover ears while stealing bell”
Self-deception through ignoring reality
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bì mén zào chē
“Build cart behind closed doors”
Creating without practical feedback
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yà miáo zhù zhǎng
“Pull seedlings to help growth”
Harmful interference ruins growth
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guò yóu bù jí
“Excess equals deficiency”
Moderation in all things
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mǎi dú huán zhū
“Buy case, return pearl”
Valuing packaging over content
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kè zhōu qiú jiàn
“Mark boat to find sword”
Using outdated methods foolishly
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yǎn gāo shǒu dī
“Eyes high hands low”
Standards exceed abilities
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gé xuē sāo yǎng
“Scratch itch through boot”
Ineffective indirect solution
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guā mù xiāng kàn
“Scrape eyes look anew”
Reassess someone who has improved
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rù mù sān fēn
“Enter wood three tenths”
Profoundly penetrating insight
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běn mò dào zhì
“Root branch reversed position”
Prioritize minor over fundamental matters
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duì niú tán qín
“Play zither to cow”
Present to wrong audience
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zuò jǐng guān tiān
“Sit in well view sky”
Judge with limited perspective
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hú lún tūn zǎo
“Swallow dates whole”
Accept without proper understanding
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bá miáo zhù zhǎng
“Pull seedlings help growth”
Ruin through impatient intervention
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guǎn kuī lí cè
“Tube view gourd measure”
Limited perspective on vast subject
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yì qǔ tóng gōng
“Different tune same effect”
Different methods, equally good results
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jiān shōu bìng xù
“Gather all store together”
Embrace diverse ideas inclusively
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biān pì rù lǐ
“Whip strikes into core”
Penetrating deeply to the essence
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dòng ruò guān huǒ
“Clear as watching fire”
Understand with absolute clarity
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fáng wēi dù jiàn
“Prevent small stop gradual”
Stop problems before they grow
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qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn
“Take strengths fix weaknesses”
Combine strengths to overcome weaknesses
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zì xiāng máo dùn
“Spear shield contradict self”
Contradict oneself
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rú shǔ jiā zhēn
“Count like family treasures”
Know something thoroughly
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wáng yáng bǔ láo
“Fix pen after lost sheep”
Never too late to fix
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jiàn xián sī qí
“See worthy wish equal”
Learn from the worthy
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diào yǐ qīng xīn
“Drop heart light”
Lower one's guard
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lǎo mǎ shí tú
“Old horse knows way”
Experience brings wisdom
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sān rén chéng hǔ
“Three people make tiger real”
Repeated lie becomes truth
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yí zūn jiù jiào
“Move wine jar seek teaching”
Humbly seek guidance
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zhǐ shàng tán bīng
“Discuss war on paper”
All theory no practice
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kāi mén jiàn shān
“Open door see mountain”
Get straight to point
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xuán yá lè mǎ
“Pull horse at cliff edge”
Stop before too late
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sān xǐng wú shēn
“Examine self three times”
Self-reflect daily
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shēn móu yuǎn lǜ
“Deep plan far thought”
Plan far ahead
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míng jìng zhǐ shuǐ
“Clear mirror still water”
Clear and calm mind
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hàn niú chōng dòng
“Sweat ox fill house”
Vast amount of knowledge
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yī yè zhī qiū
“One leaf know autumn”
Small signs show big picture
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tiān wài yǒu tiān
“Skies beyond skies”
Always someone better
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sì mǎ nán zhuī
“Four horses can't catch”
Cannot undo what's done
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xū huái ruò gǔ
“Empty heart like valley”
Stay humble and open
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míng chá qiū háo
“See autumn down clear”
Perceive tiny details
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tuī chén chū xīn
“Push old produce new”
Create new from old
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huà shé tiān zú
“Draw snake add feet”
Ruin by adding extras
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chá yán guān sè
“Watch words observe face”
Read between lines
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shùn téng mō guā
“Follow vine find melon”
Follow clues to solution
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yī yè zhàng mù
“Leaf blocks eye”
Miss big picture
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bào xīn jiù huǒ
“Carry wood save fire”
Make situation worse
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pī shā jiǎn jīn
“Sift sand pick gold”
Find value among worthless
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náng yíng yìng xuě
“Firefly in bag snow reflection”
Study despite hardship
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míng qiāng yì duǒ
“Bright spear easy dodge”
Open threats easier than hidden
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jīn shí liáng yán
“Gold and stone good words”
Valuable, lasting advice
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zhuī běn sù yuán
“Chase root trace source”
Trace back to source
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jí sī guǎng yì
“Gather thoughts wide benefit”
Gather wisdom from many
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jiàn wēi zhī zhù
“See small know large”
Foresee big from small signs
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mò míng qí miào
“Cannot name its wonder”
Makes no sense
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sān sī ér xíng
“Think three times then act”
Think thrice before acting
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yī shí èr niǎo
“One stone two birds”
Two goals with one action
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rù xiāng suí sú
“Enter village follow customs”
Follow local customs
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pāo zhuān yǐn yù
“Throw brick attract jade”
Offer modest view to inspire better
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dú wàn juǎn shū
“Read ten thousand scrolls”
Read extensively for knowledge
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huà lóng diǎn jīng
“Dot dragon's eyes”
Add crucial finishing touch
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wēn gù zhī xīn
“Review old know new”
Learn new through studying old
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jǔ yī fǎn sān
“Raise one reflect three”
Learn many from one example
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zhī xíng hé yī
“Knowledge and action unite as one”
Practice what you know
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xué hǎi wú yá
“Ocean of learning has no shores”
Learning is limitless
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róng huì guàn tōng
“Merge and flow through completely”
Master something completely
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