先知先觉

先知先覺

xiānzhī-xiānjué

idiom #43,791

Meanings

HSK 4

真正的先知先觉往往不被理解。

Zhēnzhèng de xiānzhī-xiānjué wǎngwǎng bù bèi lǐjiě.

True visionaries are often misunderstood.

HSK 5

他是这个行业的先知先觉者。

Tā shì zhège hángyè de xiānzhī-xiānjué zhě.

He is a visionary in this industry.

history

From 《孟子·万章下》: 先知觉后知，先觉觉后觉 - those who know first help the later-knowing to awaken. Mencius frames visionary teachers as a duty of care.

usage

Sometimes used sincerely (a real visionary), sometimes ironically (someone who "just knew" after the fact).

先 xiān

知 zhī

觉 jué