举一反三 (jǔ yī fǎn sān) — to deduce many things from one case; to draw in…

Definition

A chéngyǔ meaning to infer many cases from one example — i.e. learn by analogy, not by rote.

phrase

to deduce many things from one caseto draw inferences about other cases from one instance

举一反三，。
Lǎo shī xī wàng wǒ men xué huì jǔ yī fǎn sān, ér bú shì sǐ jì yìng bèi.
The teacher wants us to learn by analogy, not just by rote memorization.
举一反三，。
Tā zuò shù xué tí zǒng néng jǔ yī fǎn sān, suǒ yǐ chéng jì hěn hǎo.
He can always deduce more from one math problem, so his grades are very good.
举一反三，。
Xué huì jǔ yī fǎn sān zhī hòu, nǐ xué xīn dōng xī jiù huì kuài hěn duō.
Once you learn to draw inferences, you'll learn new things much faster.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

與

與yǔ舉jǔ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

厂

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

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