📖 Meaning
A preconceived notion or prejudice formed before properly investigating a matter. It refers to an opinion one accepts prematurely, before examining the facts. Essentially synonymous with a fixed bias or preconception.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase derives from the 'Book of Han' (汉书), in the biography of Xi Fu Gong (息夫躬), a scholar-official of the Western Han dynasty. Xi Fu Gong admonished the emperor, urging him to study history and carefully cross-reference information rather than being swayed by whatever he heard first. He warned the ruler not to treat 'first-heard words' (先入之语) as authoritative, advocating thorough investigation before forming conclusions.
💡 Example Usage
我们在做判断之前，应避免带有先入之见。
Before making a judgment, we should avoid holding preconceived notions.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 先入之见
- Pinyin: xiān rù zhī jiàn
- Literal Translation: first, enter, of, view
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4