每天成语
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三思而后行

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: sān sī ér hòu xíng
  • English Translation: Think twice before you act (Look before you leap)
  • Idiom Composition: 「三」（Three; used figuratively here to mean "repeatedly" or "thoroughly" rather than a literal count.）＋「思」（To think, reflect, or deliberate.）＋「而」（A conjunction used here to indicate a sequence, meaning "and then."）＋「后」（After or afterwards.）＋「行」（To act, do, or carry out an action.）
  • Meaning: To think carefully and repeatedly before taking action. It is a common expression used to warn against impulsive behavior and to encourage prudence.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「三思而后行」 contains the following nuances:

  • The Interpretation of "Three": In classical Chinese, the number "three" often represents "many" or "repeatedly." Therefore, the idiom does not literally mean to think exactly three times, but rather to give a matter exhaustive consideration.
  • Encouraging Prudence: The idiom emphasizes the importance of planning and evaluation before starting a project to mitigate risks and prevent avoidable failures.

3. Usage

「三思而后行」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Advice and Warnings: Used when urging someone who is about to make a major decision to avoid haste and consider all possibilities.
    • Example:「这是一个重大的决定，希望你能三思而后行。」
      （This is a major decision; I hope you will think twice before you act.）
  • Personal Principles: Used to describe a steady, prudent personality or a professional approach to work.
    • Example:「他做事一向稳重，凡事都会三思而后行。」
      （He is always steady in his work and thinks carefully before taking any action.）
  • Reflection and Regret: Used when looking back on a failure and realizing it was caused by acting too impulsively.
    • Example:「这次失败是因为太冲动了，以后一定要三思而后行。」
      （This failure was due to being too impulsive; from now on, I must look before I leap.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 遇到突发情况不要慌张，要冷静下来，三思而后行。
    （Don't panic when encountering unexpected situations; stay calm and think things through before acting.）
  2. 投资有风险，入市需谨慎，请务必三思而后行。
    （Investment carries risk, and entering the market requires caution; please be sure to deliberate thoroughly before you act.）
  3. 俗话说“三思而后行”，但这并不意味着要犹豫不决。
    （As the saying goes, "think three times before acting," but this does not mean one should be indecisive.）
  4. 为了避免不必要的误会，说话之前最好三思而后行。
    （To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, it is best to think twice before speaking.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Source: This idiom comes from the Analects (论语), specifically the Gongye Chang chapter. It records that a high official named Ji Wenzi (季文子) would 'think three times before acting.'
  • Confucius's Critique: Interestingly, Confucius (孔子) did not entirely praise this behavior. When he heard about Ji Wenzi's extreme caution, he remarked, 'Twice is enough.' Confucius (孔子) believed that over-deliberation could lead to hesitation and missed opportunities.
  • Modern Evolution: Despite the original context where Confucius (孔子) warned against overthinking, the modern usage of 三思而后行 (sān sī ér hòu xíng) has evolved into a standard piece of advice praising the virtue of being thorough and cautious.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

三思而后行 (sān sī ér hòu xíng) is a didactic idiom advising that one should deliberate thoroughly before acting. It is frequently used in business and life to caution against rash decisions. While it originated in the Analects (论语) with a nuance that overthinking can be counterproductive, in modern Chinese, it has become a purely positive endorsement of prudence and careful planning.

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