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

温故知新是最有效的学习方法之一。

Wēngùzhīxīn shì zuì yǒuxiào de xuéxí fāngfǎ zhīyī.

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

老师让我们温故知新，把上学期的内容复习一遍。

Lǎoshī ràngwǒ men wēngùzhīxīn, bǎ shàngxué qī 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