任人唯贤 rèn rén wéi xián Appoint people on merit

Explanation

任人唯贤，意思是选拔人才只看才能和品德，不考虑其他因素。

Ren Ren Wei Xian means selecting talents only based on their abilities and moral character, without considering other factors.

Origin Story

春秋时期，齐国国君齐桓公在鲍叔牙的辅佐下，励精图治，成就了“春秋五霸”之一的霸业。齐桓公能够成就霸业，与他能够任人唯贤，用贤纳谏密不可分。齐桓公早年流亡在外，饱受艰辛，深知人才对国家的兴旺发达至关重要。回国即位后，他广开言路，虚心纳谏，破格提拔了许多有才能的人才。他任用管仲为相，管仲曾与齐桓公争夺君位，但齐桓公不计前嫌，赏识管仲的才能，最终使齐国强盛。在用人方面，他坚持任人唯贤，不拘一格降人才。他提拔的那些人，有的出身低微，有的曾犯过错误，但只要他们有才能，有德行，他都愿意给他们机会。正是由于齐桓公这种任人唯贤的用人策略，才使得齐国在当时诸侯国中脱颖而出，成为一方霸主。

chūnqiū shíqī, qí guó guójūn qí huángōng zài bàoshūyá de fǔzuǒ xià, lìjīng túzhì, chéngjiù le “chūnqiū wǔ bà” zhī yī de bàyè. qí huángōng nénggòu chéngjiù bàyè, yǔ tā nénggòu rèn rén wéi xián, yòng xián nàjiàn mì kěfēn. qí huángōng zǎonián liúwáng zài wài, bǎoshòu jiānxīn, shēnzhī réncái duì guójiā de xīngwàng fādá zhì guānzhòngyào. huí guó jí wèi hòu, tā guǎngkāi yánlù, xūxīn nàjiàn, pò gé tíbá le xǔduō yǒu cáinéng de réncái. tā rèn yòng guǎnzhòng wèi xiāng, guǎnzhòng céng yǔ qí huángōng zhēngduó jūnwèi, dàn qí huángōng bù jì qiányán, shǎngshí guǎnzhòng de cáinéng, zuìzhōng shǐ qí guó qiángshèng. zài yòng rén fāngmiàn, tā jiānchí rèn rén wéi xián, bù jū yī gé jiàng réncái. tā tíbá de nàxiē rén, yǒude chūshēn dīwēi, yǒude céng fàn guò cuòwù, dàn zhǐyào tāmen yǒu cáinéng, yǒu déxíng, tā dōu yuànyì gěi tāmen jīhuì. zhèngshì yóuyú qí huángōng zhè zhǒng rèn rén wéi xián de yòng rén cèlüè, cái shǐdé qí guó zài dāngshí zhūhóu guó zhōng tuōyǐng ér chū, chéngwéi yīfāng bàzhǔ.

During the Spring and Autumn period, the ruler of Qi, Duke Huan, with the assistance of Bao Shuya, devoted himself to governing the state and achieved the hegemony among the five hegemons. His success is inseparable from his ability to appoint talents and accept advice. In his early years, Duke Huan was exiled and suffered hardships. He deeply understood the importance of talents to the prosperity of the country. After returning to power, he opened up channels for speaking out, humbly accepted advice, and exceptionally promoted many talented people. He appointed Guan Zhong as his prime minister, although Guan Zhong had once competed with him for the throne. However, Duke Huan ignored past grievances, appreciated Guan Zhong's ability, and ultimately made Qi a powerful state. In terms of personnel appointments, he adhered to the principle of appointing talents based on merit and did not adhere to conventions when promoting talents. The people he promoted came from humble backgrounds or had made mistakes, but as long as they were talented and virtuous, he was willing to give them opportunities. It was precisely because of Duke Huan's policy of appointing talents based on merit that Qi stood out among the vassal states at that time and became a hegemon.

Usage

形容选拔人才只注重德才，不考虑其他因素。常用于政府机关、企事业单位选拔人才的场合。

xiáozhuāng réncái zhǐ zhòngzhù dé cái, bù kǎolǜ qítā yīnsù. cháng yòng yú zhèngfǔ jīguān, qǐshì yè dānwèi xuǎnbá réncái de chǎnghé.

To describe selecting talents only based on virtue and ability, without considering other factors. Often used in the context of government agencies and enterprises selecting talents.

Examples

• 公司提拔人才，必须任人唯贤。

  gōngsī tíbá réncái, bìxū rèn rén wéi xián

  The company must select the right person for the right job.

• 选拔干部要任人唯贤，不能搞亲友介绍。

  xuǎnbá gànbu yào rèn rén wéi xián, bù néng gǎo qīn yǒu jièshào

  The selection of cadres should be based on merit, not on personal connections

Related Idioms

• 量才录用

• 知人善用

• 德才兼备

Opposite Idioms

• 任人唯亲

• 营私舞弊