温故而知新

溫故而知新

wēngù'érzhīxīn

idiom

Meanings

1 review the old to know the new
2 revisiting what you've learned deepens fresh understanding
3 classic phrase from the Analects of Confucius

Characters

to review, warm

Examples

HSK 4

老师要我们温故而知新，每周复习一次旧知识。

Lǎoshī yào wǒmen wēngù'érzhīxīn, měizhōu fùxí yí cì jiù zhīshi.

The teacher wants us to 'review the old to know the new' by going back over prior material each week.

HSK 5

再读一遍这本书，温故而知新，总有新的体会。

Zài dú yí biàn zhè běnshū, wēngù'érzhīxīn, zǒng yǒu xīn de tǐhuì.

Re-reading this book always brings fresh insights - reviewing old things yields something new.

Tips

history

From the Analects (论语·为政): 温故而知新，可以为师矣 - 'one who can find something new by reviewing the old is fit to be a teacher.' Confucius held that drawing fresh insight from old knowledge is the core of learning.

Stroke Order

温 wēn

故 gù

而 ér

知 zhī

新 xīn