举一反三

• Pinyin: jǔ yī fǎn sān
• Hanzi breakdown: 举 = 兴 (raise/present); 一 = one; 反 = 又 (turn/reverse/infer); 三 = three

Meaning

To draw inferences; to learn from one example and apply the principle broadly. The ability to extrapolate and generalise from a single instance to many others.

A chengyu originating from The Analects of Confucius, where Confucius said he would not continue teaching a student who could not举一反三. Used to praise intellectual versatility and the capacity for analogical reasoning.

Examples

1. 优秀的学生能够举一反三，将所学知识灵活运用于各种不同场合。 Outstanding students can draw inferences from one example and flexibly apply what they’ve learned in many different situations.
2. 老师鼓励学生不要死记硬背，而要真正理解规律，做到举一反三。 The teacher encouraged students not to memorize mechanically, but to truly grasp the patterns and learn to apply them broadly.
3. 他悟性极高，总能从一个具体案例中举一反三，归纳出背后的普遍规律。 He is exceptionally perceptive and can always generalize from a single case to identify the underlying universal principles.

Usage Guide

Context: education, learning, intellectual ability

Tone: approving

Do Say

• 学语言最关键的是掌握内在规律，做到举一反三，而非逐条机械背诵语法。(The key to learning a language is to grasp underlying rules and apply them broadly, rather than mechanically memorising grammar point by point.)
• 他读完这本书后举一反三，撰写了一篇见解深刻的读书报告。(After reading this book, he drew broad inferences from it and wrote a deeply insightful reading report.)

Don't Say

• 我举一反三了这道题 — 举一反三 is not used transitively with a direct object; say 他举一反三，解出了相关的几道题目 or 他能对这类题目举一反三

Origin & History

From The Analects of Confucius: 举一隅不以三隅反，则不复也 — raise one corner, and if the student cannot respond with the other three, do not teach further

Cultural Context

Era: 春秋时期至今

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal