言传身教 (yán chuán shēn jiào) — teach by personal example as well as by verbal instruction

Definition

A chengyu for teaching through both words (言传) and one's own behavior (身教) — the idea that a teacher or parent leads by example, not just instructions.

idiom
teach by personal example as well as by verbal instruction

Examples

  • 言传身教，。
    Zhè wèi lǎo shī tōng guò yán chuán shēn jiào, yíng dé le xué shēng de zūn jìng.
    This teacher earned students' respect through teaching by words and example.
  • 言传身教，。
    Fù mǔ yīng gāi yán chuán shēn jiào, gěi hái zi zuò hǎo bǎng yàng.
    Parents should teach by words and example, setting a good example for their children.
  • ，言传身教，。
    Zuò wéi lǐng dǎo, tā jiān chí yán chuán shēn jiào, suǒ yǐ tuán duì fēi cháng tuán jié.
    As a leader, he insists on teaching by words and example, so the team is very united.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

言传teach by words
言yánwords传chuánteach
偏正Modifier + head
身教teach by example
身shēnpersonal conduct教jiàoteach
偏正Modifier + head

言传 and 身教 stand side by side: teaching through 言 and through one's own 身.

Characters in this word

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

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

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 傳; 传 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān傳chuán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傳 puts 人 (man) beside 專, which gives the sound; the simplified 传 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 传 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →

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
子子zǐchild
攵Written in full as攴pūteaching cane; stick that represents authority
Sound part声符shēngfú
爻
爻yáo教jiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

教 uses 爻 for its sound and puts 子 (child) with 攵 (攴), a teaching cane, to show teaching a child.

Open 教 →

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