登高望远

登高望遠

dēnggāowàngyuǎn

idiom

Meanings

1 to climb high and look far (idiom)
2 to take the long view
3 to have broad vision and foresight

Characters

to ascend; climb

Examples

领导者应该登高望远，放眼未来。

Lǐngdǎozhě yīnggāi dēnggāowàngyuǎn, fàngyǎn wèilái.

Leaders should take the long view and look to the future.

只有登高望远，才能看清大局。

Zhǐyǒu dēnggāowàngyuǎn, cáinéng kàn qīng dàjú.

Only by taking a broad perspective can you see the whole picture.

Tips

history

Based on 《荀子·劝学》: 我尝跂高而望矣，不如登高之博见也 — Xunzi argued that standing on tiptoe is no match for actually climbing high. The idiom extracts the metaphor: height of position yields breadth of vision.

usage

Literal use (mountain climbing, observation decks) exists but figurative political/strategic use dominates in modern writing: 登高望远，谋划长远. Common in speeches by officials and executives.

Stroke Order

登 dēng

高 gāo

望 wàng

远 yuǎn