📖 Meaning
To examine oneself first, then assess others. It advocates fair self-reflection before judging or criticizing other people. The implied lesson is that one should understand one's own strengths and faults before evaluating anyone else.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from 'Dianlun: Lunwen' (《典论·论文》) by Cao Pi (曹丕), first emperor of the Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period. In this foundational work of Chinese literary criticism, Cao Pi observed that writers tend to disparage each other, each valuing their own work above others'. He wrote that the noble person 'examines himself and estimates others,' and so avoids such pettiness—which is why he composed the essay. The idiom endures as a call to self-awareness before passing judgment.
💡 Example Usage
他善于审己度人，既能正视自身不足，也能客观评价同事的功过。
He excels at examining himself before judging others, facing his own shortcomings honestly while assessing his colleagues' merits and faults objectively.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 审己度人
- Pinyin: shěn jǐ duó rén
- Literal Translation: examine, self, estimate, others
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4