温故知新

溫故知新

wēngù-zhīxīn

idiom #66,727

Meanings

1 review the old to understand the new
2 gain new insights by revisiting what you already know
3 learn from the past

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

温故知新是最有效的学习方法之一。

Wēngù-zhīxīn shì zuì yǒuxiào de xuéxí fāngfǎ zhīyī.

Reviewing old material to gain new insight is one of the most effective study methods.

HSK 4

老师让我们温故知新，把上学期的内容复习一遍。

Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen wēngù-zhīxīn, bǎ shàng xuéqī de nèiróng fùxí yí biàn.

The teacher had us revisit last term's content to gain deeper understanding.

Tips

history

From 论语·为政: Confucius says 温故而知新，可以为师矣 - 'one who can review the old and gain new understanding is fit to teach.' One of the most-quoted learning aphorisms in Chinese education.

Stroke Order

温 wēn

故 gù

知 zhī

新 xīn