风物长宜放眼量

風物長宜放眼量

fēngwùchángyífàngyǎnliáng

phrase

Meanings

1 one should take the long view of things — look at matters with a broad, far-sighted perspective
2 literally: of the world's affairs, one should always measure with a far-reaching eye

Characters

Examples

眼下的得失不必太计较，风物长宜放眼量。

Yǎnxià de déshī búbì tài jìjiào, fēngwù cháng yí fàng yǎn liáng.

Don't fret too much over present gains and losses — take the long view.

对国际关系要风物长宜放眼量，不能只看一时一事。

Duì guójì guānxì yào fēngwù cháng yí fàng yǎn liáng, bùnéng zhǐ kàn yīshí yīshì.

International relations must be viewed with a long horizon, not judged by a single event.

Tips

history

From Mao Zedong's 1949 poem 《七律·和柳亚子先生》 (A Reply to Mr. Liu Yazi, in the seven-word regulated style). The couplet reads: 牢骚太盛防肠断，风物长宜放眼量 — 'Too much grievance is harmful; one should always take the long view of worldly affairs.' Written to console his friend Liu Yazi, who was frustrated after moving to Beijing.

usage

Register is elevated, classical. Common in op-eds, speeches and admonitions urging patience and big-picture thinking — about careers, politics, cross-border relations.

Stroke Order

风 fēng

物 wù

长 cháng

宜 yí

放 fàng

眼 yǎn

量 liàng