三思而行 sān sī ér xíng
to think carefully before acting; look before you leap
Literally: three think then act
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Origin
From the Analects: Ji Wenzi thought three times before acting, and Confucius remarked that twice would be enough.
How to use it
Predicate, often as advice; positive. Often 你要三思而行 / 凡事三思而行.
Example sentences
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- 换工作是大事，你要三思而行。Huàn gōngzuò shì dàshì, nǐ yào sān sī ér xíng.Changing jobs is a big decision; think it over carefully first.change job is big-matter, you must three think then act
- 花这么多钱买车，最好三思而行。Huā zhème duō qián mǎi chē, zuì hǎo sān sī ér xíng.Spending this much money on a car, you'd best think it through carefully.spend so much money buy car, best three think then act
More chengyu about wisdom & judgement
- 入乡随俗rù xiāng suí súwhen in Rome, do as the Romans do
- 一目了然yī mù liǎo ránclear at a glance; obvious
- 因人而异yīn rén ér yìto vary from person to person
- 举一反三jǔ yī fǎn sānto infer the rest from one example; to learn by analogy
- 心中有数xīn zhōng yǒu shùto know what's what; to have a clear idea of the situation
- 想方设法xiǎng fāng shè fǎto try every possible means; by hook or by crook
- 不可思议bù kě sī yìunbelievable; inconceivable
- 井底之蛙jǐng dǐ zhī wāa person of narrow outlook; someone who cannot see beyond their own small world