Chinese word

举一反三

Pronunciation

Pinyinjǔ yī fǎn sān

Meaning

  • idiominfer from one example

Example

老师希望学生能举一反三。lǎo shī xī wàng xué shēng néng jǔ yì fǎn sān

The teacher hopes the students can infer further points from one example.

Illustration for 举一反三 (infer from one example)

More examples

通过练习，他逐渐能够举一反三。tōng guò liàn xí tā zhú jiàn néng gòu jǔ yì fǎn sān

Through practice, he gradually became able to infer further points from one example.

Core concept

One clear case becomes a pattern that reaches several related cases.

Common phrases

  • 能够举一反三néng gòu jǔ yì fǎn sān

    be able to infer further points from one example

  • 举一反三的能力jǔ yì fǎn sān de néng lì

    ability to infer further points from one example

  • 善于举一反三shàn yú jǔ yì fǎn sān

    be good at inferring further points from one example

Similar words

触类旁通chù lèi páng tōng: Applying a rule learned from one case to other cases of a similar type.
举一通百jǔ yí tòng bǎi: Taking what one example shows and using it to understand many related things.
融会贯通róng huì guàn tōng: Bringing separate knowledge and experience together into a complete understanding.

Definition in Chinese

以已知的一点为依据，归纳或类推出其他相关事物或规律，表现出由少及多的思维能力。yǐ yǐ zhī de yì diǎn wèi yī jù guī nà huò lèi tuī chū qí tā xiāng guān shì wù huò guī lǜ biǎo xiàn chū yóu shǎo jí duō de sī wéi néng lì

Word origin

举一反三 (jǔyīfǎnsān, "raise one and infer three") echoes a passage in the Analects in which a teacher presents one corner and expects a student to work out the other three.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, this idiom often praises a learner who carries a principle from class into new situations, while English "make connections" is broader and less specific.

Opposites

  • 墨守成规mò shǒu chéng guīrigidly follow old rulesidiom

Word lists with this word