知行合一

zhīxíng-héyī

idiom

Meanings

1 the unity of knowledge and action
2 to practise what one knows

Characters

to join; to unite

Examples

HSK 5

学了道理就要去做，这才叫知行合一。

Xué le dàoli jiù yào qù zuò, zhè cái jiào zhīxíng-héyī.

If you learn a principle you have to act on it; that is what unity of knowing and doing means.

HSK 5

王阳明提出“知行合一”，认为真正懂得道理的人一定会去做。

Wáng Yángmíng tíchū " zhīxíng-héyī ", rènwéi zhēnzhèng dǒngde dàoli de rén yídìng huì qù zuò.

Wang Yangming put forward the "unity of knowing and acting", holding that anyone who truly understands a principle will act on it.

Tips

history

王阳明 (1472–1529) taught it against 朱熹's view that one must know first and act later: knowing that is not acted on is not yet knowing. It is a common school motto today.

Stroke Order

知 zhī

行 xíng

合 hé

一 yī