以身作则

• 拼音: yǐ shēn zuò zé
• 汉字拆解: 以 = function word (by means of); 身 = pictograph of a pregnant woman — oneself, one's own person; 作 = 人 + 乍 (person + sudden action — to do, to perform); 则 = 贝 + 刂 (value/shell + knife — a standard, a rule)

含义

To lead by example; to set an example through one's own conduct. Describes the practice of demonstrating correct behaviour through personal action rather than mere words.

A four-character idiom (成语) emphasising that leaders and authority figures have a responsibility to model the behaviour they expect of others. Widely used in educational, managerial, political, and family contexts. Positive and aspirational in tone. Contrast with 只说不做 (all talk, no action).

例句

1. 校长每天提前半小时到校，以身作则地向全体教职员工展示对待工作应有的敬业态度。
2. 在家庭教育中，父母的言传不如身教，真正能影响孩子一生的，往往是父母以身作则的日常行为。
3. 军队领导者须以身作则，在艰苦条件下与士兵同甘共苦，方能树立起真实可信的威望。

用法指南

语境: education, management, politics, parenting

语气: positive

正确说法

• 公司危机时，创始人主动降薪，还承诺不拿绩效奖金，以身作则鼓舞全员。(When the company was in crisis, the founder voluntarily cut his salary and promised not to take any performance bonus, leading by example to encourage the whole team.)
• 教师是否真爱读书、能否以身作则把阅读融入生活，往往决定学生阅读习惯的养成。(Whether teachers truly love reading and can lead by example by making reading part of daily life often determines whether students develop reading habits.)

错误说法

• 他以身作则地睡懒觉 — 以身作则 exclusively describes setting a positive example of correct or virtuous behaviour; using it for negative behaviour produces an absurd contradiction

起源与历史

以 (by means of/using) + 身 (body/person/oneself — 身 depicts a pregnant woman, extended to one's own person) + 作 (to do/act — 人 person + 乍 suddenly, to create/perform) + 则 (rule/standard — 贝 shell/value + 刂 knife, cutting to a standard)

文化背景

时代: Classical/Modern

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal