身体力行
shēn tǐ lì xíng
to practise what one preaches; to set an example by doing
Character by character
身shēn
oneself
oneself
体tǐ
embody
embody
力lì
strive
strive
行xíng
act
act
Example
想让孩子少玩手机，父母首先要身体力行。
If you want your children to spend less time on their phones, you have to set the example yourself first.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
身体 here is not the modern word for “body”: 身 means “in one’s own person” and 体 “to experience for oneself”. Said of leaders, parents and teachers who do what they ask of others; often paired with 以身作则 (4-5) or 带头.
Learn this in Lesson 98 · HSK 6–7: 王阳明与知行合一 (Wang Yangming: knowing is doing)
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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