溫故知新 Old wisdom, today’s insight — ONGO
선견지명 先見之明
The brilliant wisdom to foresee events before they occur and understand the hidden trajectory of the future.
선견지명 (先見之明) means "The brilliant wisdom to foresee events before they occur and understand the hidden trajectory of the future.". This idiom originates from the 'Biography of Yang Xiu' in the Book of the Later Han. Yang Xiu, a sub
1 Meaning
선견지명 (先見之明) means “The brilliant wisdom to foresee events before they occur and understand the hidden trajectory of the future.”.
Seongyeonjimyeong (先見之明) refers to the exceptional foresight to anticipate outcomes before they manifest. It represents more than just a lucky guess; it is the wisdom to accurately predict the future by understanding the underlying principles and flow of the world.
The Western Equivalent
No exact match — here's why
No proverb, but a direct concept: "the wisdom of foresight" — the clear-sighted ability to see what is coming. English renders it as "foresight" or "prescience"; the preventive "a stitch in time saves nine" is related but narrower.
2 Examples
The IT industry before Artificial Intelligence became mainstream
Recognizing it was a fundamental paradigm shift rather than a passing fad and dedicating oneself to mastering the technology early on.
An overheated real estate or stock market environment
Detecting signs of economic instability while the majority remained optimistic and diversifying assets into safer havens.
Identifying consumer needs during the product planning phase
Introducing innovative features tailored to future lifestyle changes rather than simply following current market hits.
Mediating a growing conflict between colleagues
Foreseeing that a minor friction could escalate into a major dispute and proactively coordinating between both parties.
Which situation fits this idiom?
Pick the everyday scene where “선견지명” fits best.
3 Origin
4 Key Lessons
Cultivate the habit of silent observation to grasp the hidden essence behind surface-level phenomena.
Analyze past data and historical trends to find the clues necessary for predicting future directions.
Develop the decisiveness to act boldly when you have conviction, even while others are still hesitating.
5 English Expression
English Vocabulary
lucky guess
운 좋게 맞힌 추측
"It wasn't just a lucky guess; I had studied for the exam."
proof
증거
"There is no scientific proof to support that theory."
fade away
서서히 사라지다
"The music began to fade away as the parade moved down the street."
cast a shadow
그림자를 드리우다
"The tall building began to cast a long shadow over the park."
6 Learn with Music
Related Idioms
선견지명
Memorize idiom meanings and examples with various music genres
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