📖 Meaning
Refers to a person who understands and perceives things earlier than others — someone with exceptional foresight and insight. It describes those who grasp truths, trends, or principles before the general public catches on.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the "Wan Zhang II" chapter of the classic Confucian work *Mencius* (《孟子·万章下》), dating to the Warring States period. Mencius stated: "Let those who know first enlighten those who know later; let those who awaken first awaken those who awaken later" (使先知觉后知，使先觉觉后觉也). The phrase originally described sages and wise leaders whose role was to guide and educate the common people. Over time, it evolved into a four-character idiom praising anyone with prescient judgment.
💡 Example Usage
他在行业风口来临前就已布局，真是先知先觉。
He had already positioned himself before the industry boom arrived — truly a person of foresight.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 先知先觉
- Pinyin: xiān zhī xiān jué
- Literal Translation: before know, before perceive
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4