现身说法

現身說法

xiànshēn-shuōfǎ

idiom #33,306

Meanings

1 to use one's own experience as an example
2 to testify from personal experience

Characters

to appear; manifest

dharma; law; method

Examples

HSK 7-9

戒毒成功者现身说法，警示青少年。

Jièdú chénggōngzhě xiànshēn-shuōfǎ, jǐngshì qīngshàonián.

Former addicts testify from personal experience to warn teenagers.

HSK 7-9

她现身说法讲述了创业的艰辛。

Tā xiànshēn-shuōfǎ jiǎngshù le chuàngyè de jiānxīn.

She drew on her own experience to describe the hardships of starting a business.

HSK 7-9

老师请校友现身说法。

Lǎoshī qǐng xiàoyǒu xiànshēn-shuōfǎ.

The teacher invited alumni to share from personal experience.

Tips

history

Originally Buddhist - from the 《楞严经》, where bodhisattvas appear in different forms (现身) to preach the Dharma (说法). Now secularized to mean 'teaching by personal example'.

Stroke Order

现 xiàn

身 shēn

说 shuō

法 fǎ