以理服人

yǐlǐfúrén
idiom #62,832

Meanings

  1. 1 to persuade others with reason
  2. 2 to win people over through logic, not force

Examples

Jiějué zhēngyì yào yǐ lǐ fú rén, ér bùshì kào sǎngmén dà.
Settle disputes with reason, not by who shouts loudest.
Tā zǒngshì yǐ lǐ fú rén, cóng bù qiǎngpò biérén.
He always persuades with reason and never forces others.
Hǎo lǎoshī dǒngde yǐ lǐ fú rén.
A good teacher knows how to win people over through reasoning.

Tips

usage
Positive idiom for persuasion style. Often contrasted with ('bully by force/position') and ('subdue by force'). Common in education, management, debate contexts.
grammar
The X frame is productive: 以理服人 (with reason), (with virtue), (with force). introduces the means; here is the causative 'to make [others] submit/convinced.'

Stroke Order

rén