諺語 · a single proverb
兼聽則明，偏信則暗
Simplified: 兼听则明，偏信则暗
What does 兼聽則明，偏信則暗 (jiān tīng zé míng piān xìn zé àn) mean?
兼聽則明，偏信則暗 (jiān tīng zé míng piān xìn zé àn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "listen to all sides and you see clearly; believe one side and you are in the dark." In use it means: Good judgement requires hearing every perspective. One-sided information produces one-sided decisions. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "listen to all sides and you see clearly; believe one side and you are in the dark."
The reading
The person who listens only to the person they agree with is not listening at all. They are confirming. Clarity comes from the uncomfortable moment when the other side makes a point you cannot easily dismiss. That is the point worth sitting with.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Book of Tang 資治通鑒 (唐太宗 discussion with Wei Zheng 魏徵)
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 Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 兼聽則明，偏信則暗 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 兼聽則明，偏信則暗 (jiān tīng zé míng piān xìn zé àn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Book of Tang 資治通鑒 (唐太宗 discussion with Wei Zheng 魏徵). 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 兼聽則明，偏信則暗?
In Mandarin it is jiān tīng zé míng piān xìn zé àn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 兼聽則明，偏信則暗 aloud in Mandarin.