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先见之明 (xiān jiàn zhī míng) — foresight; prophetic vision; ability to see ahead

Definition

A formal, written phrase for 'foresight' — the ability to judge what will happen before it does. Used in formal writing and speeches, more literary than everyday 远见.

noun
foresightprophetic visionability to see ahead

Examples

  • ，先见之明。
    Tā zǎo jiù yù cè dào shì chǎng huì biàn huà, zhēn yǒu xiān jiàn zhī míng.
    He predicted the market would change long ago — he really has foresight.
  • 先见之明。
    Méi yǒu xiān jiàn zhī míng de rén hěn nán zài tóu zī zhōng chéng gōng.
    People without foresight find it hard to succeed in investing.
  • 先见之明。
    Zhè wèi lǐng dǎo yīn wèi tā de xiān jiàn zhī míng ér shòu dào zūn jìng.
    This leader is respected for his foresight.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

先 combines 止 (foot) and 儿 (person) to show someone moving forward.

Open 先 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →
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