见贤思齐焉

見賢思齊焉
jiànxiánsīqíyān
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 on seeing the worthy, think of matching them
  2. 2 when you see someone virtuous, aim to be their equal
  3. 3 (lit.) see the worthy, think to be equal

Examples

Xuéxí yào jiàn xián sī qí yān, yùdào yōuxiù de rén jiù gāi xūxīn qǐngjiào.
In study, when you see someone admirable, aim to match them — humbly seek their counsel.
Tā zuòshì zǒngshì jiàn xián sī qí yān, cóng bù jídù biérén de chéngjiù.
In his work he always strives to match the virtuous — never envying others' achievements.

Tips

history
From 《·》 (Analects: Li Ren). Confucius says: 『见贤思齐』— 'when you see the worthy, think of matching them; when you see the unworthy, examine yourself inwardly.' The template for self-improvement through observing others. The more common four-character form is the chengyu 见贤思齐.
usage
is a classical sentence-final particle here, roughly equivalent to or a soft assertion — it is not pronounced as a separate semantic word. Modern prose usually uses the 4-char 见贤思齐 instead of the 5-char form.

Stroke Order

jiàn
xián
yān