举一反三

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jǔ yī fǎn sān
• English Translation: To infer many things from one instance (learning by analogy)
• Idiom Composition: 「举」（To lift or present (an example)）＋「一」（One (instance or corner of a square)）＋「反」（To infer or deduce (literally 'to return')）＋「三」（Three (the remaining corners or many other instances)）
• Meaning: To understand other related matters by analogy after being presented with one single instance or piece of knowledge. It is a commendatory term used to describe high learning ability and resourcefulness.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「举一反三」 contains the following nuances:

• Emphasis on Adaptability: It refers to flexible thinking that allows one to 'apply' knowledge to other situations, rather than just possessing a large volume of information.
• Active Learning Attitude: It implies an active learning stance where one expands their own thinking, rather than a passive attitude of only remembering what is taught.

3. Usage

「举一反三」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Learning & Education: Used to praise a student's high level of understanding or recommended by teachers as an effective learning method.
  • Example:「学习不能死记硬背，要学会举一反三，灵活运用。」
    （Learning shouldn't be about rote memorization; one should learn to infer many things from one instance and apply knowledge flexibly.）
• Work & Problem Solving: Used to evaluate the ability to apply a single solution to other similar problems.
  • Example:「这位工程师很聪明，解决了一个技术难题后，就能举一反三，处理好其他相关故障。」
    （This engineer is very clever; after solving one technical difficulty, he can apply that logic to handle other related malfunctions.）

Additional Examples:

1. 老师讲了一个例子，他马上就能举一反三，想出更多类似的用法。
   （When the teacher gives one example, he can immediately apply it by analogy to think of many more similar usages.）
2. 只要掌握了基本原理，遇到新问题时就能举一反三。
   （As long as you master the basic principles, you can apply them to various situations when facing new problems.）
3. 他在设计上很有天赋，总是能从生活细节中举一反三，获得灵感。
   （He is very talented in design and always manages to draw inspiration from life's details to expand his creative ideas.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: From the Analects (论语), in the 'Shu Er' chapter. It comes from a saying by Confucius (孔子) regarding his teaching philosophy: 'If I raise one corner (举一隅) and the student cannot return the other three (三隅反), I will not repeat the lesson.'
• Educational Philosophy: This quote reflects the importance of 'heuristic education,' where the teacher does not spoon-feed everything but expects the learner to think and realize truths independently. It is frequently cited in modern Chinese education to encourage critical thinking.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 触类旁通 (chù lèi páng tōng): To understand a whole category of things by grasping a single point.
  • 闻一知十 (wén yī zhī shí): To hear one and know ten; describing someone who is extremely intelligent and quick-witted.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 囫囵吞枣 (hú lún tūn zǎo): To swallow a date whole; to read or learn without understanding or analysis.
  • 照本宣科 (zhào běn xuān kē): To read from the text; lacking creativity, flexibility, or the ability to apply knowledge.
  • 生吞活剥 (shēng tūn huó bō): To learn or use something without understanding its true meaning or context.link

6. Summary

举一反三 (jǔ yī fǎn sān) is an idiom that describes the ability to apply a single principle to various other situations. Rather than just accumulating facts, it emphasizes 'flexible thinking' and the 'power of self-realization.' It is a highly positive expression used in education and professional settings to praise smart problem-solving skills that go beyond rote memorization.