📖 Meaning
The ability to foresee events before they happen; keen foresight or prophetic vision. It describes someone who can anticipate future developments and prepare accordingly, often saving themselves from trouble.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom comes from the 'Book of the Later Han' (《后汉书》), in the biography of Yang Biao (杨彪). Yang Biao humbly compared himself unfavorably to Jin Midi (金日磾), a Western Han official known for his foresight in executing his own misbehaving son to prevent future disaster. Yang Biao said he felt ashamed for lacking 'Jin Midi's foresight' (先见之明), while still harboring the doting love of an old cow licking its calf. The phrase later became a set idiom praising anyone with remarkable prescience.
💡 Example Usage
他早就预料到这次合作会失败，真是有先见之明。
He predicted this partnership would fail long ago — he truly had foresight.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 先见之明
- Pinyin: xiān jiàn zhī míng
- Literal Translation: before, see, of, clarity
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4