从善如流 cóng shàn rú liú To follow the good as water flows

Explanation

形容能迅速地接受别人的好意见，多用于褒义。

Describes the ability to quickly accept good advice from others, often used in a positive sense.

Origin Story

战国时期，魏文侯在位期间，国家政治清明，社会安定，百姓安居乐业，魏国国力强盛，成为了当时最强大的诸侯国之一。魏文侯之所以能取得如此成就，和他善于听取意见，从善如流有很大关系。魏文侯在位期间，经常召集各路贤士前来议政，并虚心听取他们的意见和建议。他认为，一个人的智慧是有限的，只有集思广益，才能做出正确的决策。他还特别注意从一些看起来不起眼的人那里吸取经验教训，有一次，他外出巡视，遇到一个老农夫，老农夫看到魏文侯的队伍浩浩荡荡，就笑着说：“你们这些人，整天忙忙碌碌，不知疲倦，你们这样辛苦地劳作，究竟是为了什么？难道是为了把国君的粮食都搬到自己的家里去吗？”魏文侯听了老农夫的话，顿时警觉起来，他意识到自己以前的治国理念存在问题，于是他下令减轻百姓的赋税，鼓励百姓发展农业。不久，魏国的经济迅速发展，国力更加强盛。

zhàn guó shí qī, wèi wén hóu zài wèi qí jiān, guó jiā zhèng zhì qīng míng, shè huì ān dìng, bǎi xìng ān jū lè yè, wèi guó guó lì qiáng shèng, chéng wéi le dāng shí zuì qiáng dà de zhū hóu guó zhī yī。wèi wén hóu zhī suǒ yǐ néng qǔ dé rú cǐ chéng jiù, hé tā shàn yú tīng qǔ yì jiàn, cóng shàn rú liú yǒu hěn dà guān xì。wèi wén hóu zài wèi qí jiān, jīng cháng zhào jí gè lù xián shì lái zhèng zhì, bìng xū xīn tīng qǔ tā men de yì jiàn hé jiàn yì。tā rèn wéi, yī gè rén de zhì huì shì yǒu xiàn de, zhǐ yǒu jí sī guǎng yì, cái néng zuò chū zhèng què de jué cè。tā hái tè bié zhù yì cóng yī xiē kàn qǐ lái bù qǐ yǎn de rén nà lǐ xī qǔ jīng yàn jiào xùn, yǒu yī cì, tā wài chū xún shì, yù dào yī gè lǎo nóng fū, lǎo nóng fū kàn dào wèi wén hóu de duì wǔ hào hào dàng dàng, jiù xiào zhe shuō:“nǐ men zhè xiē rén, zhěng tiān máng máng lù lù, bù zhī pí juàn, nǐ men zhè yàng xīn kǔ de láo zuò, jiù jìng shì wèi le shén me？nán dào shì wèi le bǎ guó jūn de liáng shí dōu bān dào zì jǐ de jiā lǐ qù ma？”wèi wén hóu tīng le lǎo nóng fū de huà, dùn shí jǐng jué qǐ lái, tā yì shí dào zì jǐ yǐ qián de zhì guó lǐ nián cún zài wèn tí, yú shì tā xià lìng jiǎn qīng bǎi xìng de fù shuì, gǔ lì bǎi xìng fā zhǎn nóng yè。bù jiǔ, wèi guó de jīng jì sù dù fā zhǎn, guó lì gèng jiā qiáng shèng。

During the Warring States period in China, Duke Wen of Wei reigned. During his reign, the politics were transparent, the society stable, the people lived in peace and prosperity, and Wei became one of the most powerful principalities of the time. The achievements of Duke Wen of Wei are largely due to his willingness to listen to advice and be guided by good ideas. During his reign, he often invited wise men from all parts of the country to make policy decisions, and listened attentively to their opinions and suggestions. He believed that the wisdom of an individual was limited and that only through collective brainstorming could correct decisions be made. He also made a point of learning experiences and lessons from seemingly insignificant people. Once, on a tour of inspection, he encountered an old farmer. The old farmer saw the large procession of Duke Wen of Wei and said with a smile: “You people, you are busy all day and work hard. Why do you work so hard? Do you want to move all of the Duke's wealth into your own house?” Duke Wen of Wei was alarmed after hearing the old farmer's words. He realized that his previous governance had been flawed. So he ordered the taxes for the people to be reduced and the development of agriculture to be promoted. Soon after, Wei's economy experienced rapid growth and the country became even more powerful.

Usage

这个成语形容人能够虚心接受别人的意见和建议，多用于褒义。

zhè ge chéng yǔ xíng róng rén néng gòu xū xīn jiē shòu bié rén de yì jiàn hé jiàn yì, duō yòng yú bāo yì。

This idiom describes the ability to humbly accept the opinions and advice of others, often used in a positive sense.

Examples

• 他是一位虚心学习，从善如流的人，我们应该学习他的优点。

  tā shì yī wèi xū xīn xué xí, cóng shàn rú liú de rén, wǒ men yīng gāi xué xí tā de yōu diǎn。

  He is a humble learner who readily accepts good advice, we should learn from his strengths.

• 面对批评，我们应该虚心接受，从善如流，不断改进。

  miàn duì pī píng, wǒ men yīng gāi xū xīn jiē shòu, cóng shàn rú liú, bù duàn gǎi jìn。

  In the face of criticism, we should humbly accept it, readily accept good advice, and constantly improve.

• 优秀的领导者善于听取意见，从善如流，才能凝聚人心，取得成功。

  yōu xiù de lǐng dǎo zhě shàn yú tīng qǔ yì jiàn, cóng shàn rú liú, cái néng níng jù rén xīn, qǔ dé chéng gōng。

  Excellent leaders are good at listening to opinions, readily accept good advice, and only then can they unite people and achieve success.

Related Idioms

• 虚心

• 谦虚

• 纳谏

• 接受意见

Opposite Idioms

• 固执己见

• 固执己见

• 墨守成规

• 冥顽不灵