📖 Meaning
This idiom states that carrying out an action is easy, but truly understanding the underlying principles is difficult. It emphasizes that practical knowledge and deep comprehension require far more effort than mere execution. The phrase challenges the common assumption that knowing is easier than doing.
📜 Origin Story
This concept was articulated by Sun Yat-sen in his 'Principle of People's Power' (Lectures on the Three Principles of the People), where he argued that knowing is harder than doing. Sun used this to encourage people to take action rather than waiting for complete understanding. The idea also echoes earlier philosophical discussions in Chinese thought about the relationship between knowledge and action, notably debated by Wang Yangming in the Ming dynasty.
💡 Example Usage
他常说行易知难，做起来不难，真正弄懂道理才费力。
He often says that doing is easy but knowing is hard—execution is not the challenge, truly grasping the principle is what takes effort.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 行易知难
- Pinyin: xíng yì zhī nán
- Literal Translation: 行, easy, know, difficult
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4