兼听则明
jiān tīng zé míng
hear all sides and you will see clearly
Character by character
兼jiān
both
both
听tīng
listen
listen
则zé
then
then
明míng
clear-sighted
clear-sighted
Example
兼听则明，这件事我们还得听听另一方怎么说。
Hear every side and you see clearly: we still need to hear what the other party says.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From 魏征’s answer to 唐太宗 in 《资治通鉴》: 兼听则明，偏信则暗, “listen widely and you see; trust one side and you are in the dark.”
Learn this in Lesson 110 · HSK 7–9: 信息从哪儿来 (Where the news comes from)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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