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jiàn 见 wēi 微 zhī 知 zhù 著

见微知著 jiàn wēi zhī zhù

to see the significant in the small; to foresee developments from small signs

Literally: see tiny know obvious

Advanced 🦉 Wisdom & judgement
🃏 Practise advanced chengyu

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Origin

From the Han Feizi story of Jizi, who on seeing King Zhou use ivory chopsticks foresaw the extravagance that would ruin the dynasty.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; positive. Often 见微知著的洞察力.

Example sentences

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  1. 优秀的医生能见微知著，从细小的症状发现严重的疾病。
    Yōuxiù de yīshēng néng jiàn wēi zhī zhù, cóng xìxiǎo de zhèngzhuàng fāxiàn yánzhòng de jíbìng.
    A good doctor can read the significant in the small, detecting serious illness from minor symptoms.
    excellent (particle) doctor can see tiny know obvious, from tiny (particle) symptoms discover serious (particle) disease
  2. 投资者需要见微知著的能力，才能在市场变化前做出判断。
    Tóuzīzhě xūyào jiàn wēi zhī zhù de nénglì, cái néng zài shìchǎng biànhuà qián zuòchū pànduàn.
    Investors need the ability to spot big trends in small signs in order to judge before the market shifts.
    investor need see tiny know obvious (particle) ability, only-then can at market change before make judgement

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