諺語 · a single proverb
三人行必有我師
What does 三人行必有我師 (sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī) mean?
三人行必有我師 (sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "three walking there must be my teacher." In use it means: Among any three people walking together, at least one has something to teach. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "three walking there must be my teacher."
The reading
The one who carries arrogance into the room has already closed the classroom. In any grouping of people, someone is better at something than you are, has seen something you have not seen, or has made a mistake you have not yet made that could save you from making it. The humble eye finds teachers everywhere, because it is still looking for them.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Analects of Confucius 論語·述而 (Shù Ér VII)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 三人行必有我師 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 三人行必有我師 (sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Analects of Confucius 論語·述而 (Shù Ér VII). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 三人行必有我師?
In Mandarin it is sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 三人行必有我師 aloud in Mandarin.