老马识途
lǎo mǎ shí tú
an old horse knows the way; experience is the surest guide
Character by character
老lǎo
old
old
马mǎ
horse
horse
识shí
knows
knows
途tú
way
way
Example
这条山路他走了四十年，老马识途，天黑了也能把我们带下山。
He has walked this mountain path for forty years and knows it like an old horse knows its road; even after dark he could lead us down.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From 韩非子 (说林上): marching home in winter from a campaign against 孤竹, the army of 齐 lost its way, and 管仲 said 老马之智可用也 (the wisdom of an old horse can be used), so they let the old horses go ahead and followed them home. Praise for long experience, on its own or as 对…老马识途 (he knows the place inside out); people also use it modestly of themselves when offering to guide others. 识 is shí, to know.
Learn this in Lesson 161 · HSK 7–9: 忘了回家的路 (Forgetting the way home)
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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