耳闻目睹

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: ěr wén mù dǔ
• English Translation: To see with one's own eyes and hear with one's own ears; to witness or experience something firsthand
• Idiom Composition: 「耳」（Ear）＋「闻」（To hear）＋「目」（Eye）＋「睹」（To see）
• Meaning: To hear with one's own ears and see with one's own eyes. This expression emphasizes direct observation and experience rather than relying on hearsay.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「耳闻目睹」 contains the following nuances:

• Direct experience: Emphasizes information obtained directly through one's own senses.
• Credibility: Suggests that the information is reliable because it is based on firsthand observation rather than hearsay.
• Sense of presence: Conveys the vividness and immediacy of having been present and experienced something directly.

3. Usage

「耳闻目睹」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Emphasizing facts: Used when emphasizing that one has personally witnessed or heard about an event or situation.
  • Example:「我耳闻目睹了整个事件的过程，可以证明他没有说谎。」
    （I witnessed and heard the entire process of the incident and can prove that he did not lie.）
• Sharing experiences: Used when you want to convey to others what you have personally experienced.
  • Example:「在旅行中，我耳闻目睹了许多不同的文化习俗。」
    （During the trip, I witnessed and experienced many different cultural customs.）
• Testimony and reporting: Used when giving testimony or reporting what one has personally seen and heard.
  • Example:「作为目击者，我将把耳闻目睹的一切如实告诉警方。」
    （As a witness, I will truthfully tell the police everything I have seen and heard.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他耳闻目睹了战争的残酷，内心受到了极大的震撼。
   （He witnessed firsthand the cruelty of war and was deeply shocked.）
2. 通过这次实地考察，我们耳闻目睹了当地居民的生活状况。
   （Through this field study, we observed and experienced the living conditions of the local residents.）
3. 老人们常常回忆起他们年轻时耳闻目睹的那些激动人心的故事。
   （The elderly often recall the moving stories they witnessed and heard in their youth.）
4. 虽然我没有亲身经历过那个时代，但从长辈们的讲述中，也能耳闻目睹到当时的社会风貌。
   （Although I did not personally experience that era, I can gain insight into the social conditions of the time through the accounts of elders.）
5. 新闻记者应该深入现场，耳闻目睹事件的真相，而不是道听途说。
   （Journalists should go deep into the scene and witness and report the truth of the event, rather than relying on hearsay.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The concept of 'seeing is believing': In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on direct experience, as reflected in the proverb 'Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once.' The idiom '耳闻目睹' embodies this cultural value.
• Objectivity and subjectivity: '耳闻目睹' is used not only to convey objective facts but also to express personal, subjective experiences.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 亲眼所见 (qīn yǎn suǒ jiàn): What one has seen with one's own eyes.
  • 亲身经历 (qīn shēn jīng lì): What one has personally experienced.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 道听途说 (dào tīng tú shuō): To hear rumors or secondhand information.

6. Summary

'耳闻目睹' is a highly insightful idiom in today's information-rich society for judging the credibility and importance of information. When using this phrase, it is important to emphasize not just that something was heard or seen, but that it was experienced directly with one's own eyes and ears. Additionally, understanding the cultural background of the Chinese proverb 'Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once' is essential when using this idiom.