一分为二
yī fēn wéi èr
to see both sides of a thing; (literally) to split in two
Character by character
一yī
one
one
分fēn
divide
divide
为wéi
into
into
二èr
two
two
Example
对待别人的批评要一分为二，有道理的就接受。
Take criticism with both sides in mind, and accept what makes sense.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
An old phrase that 毛泽东 made famous in 1957 as the heart of dialectics. Today 一分为二地看问题 means weighing the good and the bad; it can also be literal: 把蛋糕一分为二.
Learn this in Lesson 219 · HSK 9+: 俗语打架 (When proverbs disagree)
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.
Open the lesson →