其不善者而改之

qí bú shàn zhě ér gǎi zhī

quotation

Meanings

1 and correct in oneself what is bad in them
2 take their faults as things to fix in oneself
3 second half of Confucius' 'three men walking' maxim

Characters

things that / ones who

Examples

HSK 7-9

三人行，必有我师焉：择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。

Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī yān: zé qí shàn zhě ér cóng zhī, qí bù shàn zhě ér gǎi zhī.

Three walking together, one must be my teacher: choose their virtues to follow, and their faults to mend in myself.

HSK 7-9

看同事的缺点也是学习，择其不善者而改之。

Kàn tóngshì de quēdiǎn yě shì xuéxí, zé qí bù shàn zhě ér gǎi zhī.

Noting colleagues' faults is also learning - take their shortcomings as things to fix in oneself.

Tips

history

From 《论语·述而》: '三人行，必有我师焉。择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之.' Confucius' self-cultivation method: from others, simultaneously learn virtues and correct faults - the direct expression of the Confucian principle 'when seeing the worthy, think to equal them; when seeing the unworthy, examine yourself within.'

usage

Always paired with the preceding line 择其善者而从之. The 其 here refers to 'others.' Used in modern speech for self-reflection and learning from others' mistakes.

Stroke Order

其 qí

不 bù

善 shàn

者 zhě

而 ér

改 gǎi

之 zhī