諺語 · a single proverb
見賢思齊
What does 見賢思齊 (jiàn xián sī qí) mean?
見賢思齊 (jiàn xián sī qí) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "see the worthy, think to equal them." In use it means: When you see someone virtuous, aspire to be like them. 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 Dog.
Literally: "see the worthy, think to equal them."
The reading
The worthy person is not a source of envy but of aspiration, a signal of what is possible rather than a reminder of what is lacking. The instinct to equal rather than to diminish is the one that grows. What is excellent in another is a map drawn in flesh and behavior, showing that the destination is real and reachable.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Analects of Confucius 論語·里仁 (Lǐ Rén IV)
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 Humility & Self-Mastery, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 見賢思齊 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 見賢思齊 (jiàn xián sī qí) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Analects of Confucius 論語·里仁 (Lǐ Rén IV). 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 見賢思齊?
In Mandarin it is jiàn xián sī qí. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 見賢思齊 aloud in Mandarin.