耳提面命

ěrtí-miànmìng

idiom #83,172

Meanings

1 to tug at the ear and instruct face to face
2 to teach earnestly and repeatedly
3 patient, heartfelt instruction

Characters

to instruct / command

Examples

HSK 6

老师对学生耳提面命，非常用心。

Lǎoshī duì xuéshēng ěrtí-miànmìng, fēicháng yòngxīn.

The teacher coached her students patiently and devotedly.

HSK 7-9

父亲耳提面命，再三叮嘱他要诚实。

Fùqīn ěrtí-miànmìng, zàisān dīngzhǔ tā yào chéngshí.

His father earnestly drilled into him again and again that he must be honest.

HSK 7-9

经过师傅耳提面命的教导，他终于学成了这门手艺。

Jīngguò shīfu ěrtí-miànmìng de jiàodǎo, tā zhōngyú xué chéng le zhè mén shǒuyì.

After his master's patient, hands-on teaching, he finally mastered the craft.

Tips

history

From the 诗经 (Greater Odes, Yi): 匪面命之，言提其耳 - 'it is not only face-to-face instruction; they also pull my ear to tell me.' The original image is a parent holding a child's ear gently while teaching - the warmest, most devoted form of discipline.

Stroke Order

耳 ěr

提 tí

面 miàn

命 mìng