可以正衣冠

kěyǐzhèngyīguān

phrase

Meanings

1 can be used to straighten one's cap and robes
2 one can use it to correct one's appearance (figuratively: one's conduct)

Characters

used to / by means of

to straighten / correct

clothing / robe

Examples

以铜为镜，可以正衣冠。

Yǐ tóng wéi jìng, kěyǐ zhèng yīguān.

Using bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one's cap and robes.

批评与自我批评，是可以正衣冠的好方法。

Pīpíng yǔ zìwǒ pīpíng, shì kěyǐ zhèng yīguān de hǎo fāngfǎ.

Criticism and self-criticism are good methods by which one can straighten one's 'cap and robes.'

Tips

history

From Emperor Taizong of Tang's famous remark in 《旧唐书·魏徵传》 on the death of his minister Wei Zheng: 以铜为镜，可以正衣冠；以古为镜，可以知兴替；以人为镜，可以明得失。 The triple 'three mirrors' passage — bronze mirror for appearance, history for dynastic rise and fall, and other people for one's own merits and faults.

usage

Almost never quoted alone — it's the first of three parallel clauses. Modern political speeches (notably Xi Jinping's) frequently revive the full 三镜 passage as a metaphor for self-examination.

Stroke Order

可 kě

以 yǐ

正 zhèng

衣 yī

冠 guān