Definition
自知之明 is a four-character idiom that refers to the ability to accurately evaluate one's own strengths and weaknesses — 'knowing oneself'. It's often used in the patterns 有自知之明 ('have self-awareness') and 缺乏自知之明 ('lack self-awareness'). The word carries a literary tone but is common in both formal and everyday contexts. The literal breakdown is 'self-knowledge + possess + bright', but the meaning is a holistic concept of wise self-assessment.
n.
self-knowledgethe wisdom to know one's own abilities and limitations
Examples
- 自知之明，。Tā hěn yǒu zì zhī, zhīdào zìjǐ bù shàncháng guǎnlǐ.He has good self-knowledge and knows he is not good at management.
- 自知之明。Quēfá zì zhī de rén wǎngwǎng gāogū zìjǐ de nénglì.People who lack self-knowledge often overestimate their abilities.
- ：“，自知之明。”Kǒngzǐ shuō: “Zhī rén zhě zhì, zì zhī zhě míng.”Confucius said: 'He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.'
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