洋为中用 Use the foreign for the Chinese
Explanation
这个成语的意思是批判地吸收外国优秀文化，为我所用。它强调的是取其精华去其糟粕，而不是盲目照搬。
This idiom means to critically absorb the excellent foreign culture and use it for one's own benefit. It emphasizes taking the essence and discarding the dross, instead of blindly copying.
Origin Story
清朝末年，国力衰弱，列强入侵，国人痛感落后挨打，开始寻求救国之路。洋务派提出“师夷长技以制夷”，主张学习西方先进技术，发展近代工业，以增强国家实力。然而，洋务运动也存在着一些问题，例如，只学习西方技术，而忽略了文化和制度建设。戊戌变法则试图学习西方政治制度，但由于种种原因最终失败。辛亥革命推翻了清朝统治，开启了新的历史篇章。新中国成立后，中国共产党吸取了历史经验教训，提出“古为今用，洋为中用”的方针，既要继承和发扬中华优秀传统文化，又要批判地吸收外国优秀文化，为中国特色社会主义建设服务。
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the national strength was weak, foreign powers invaded, and the people felt the pain of backwardness and being beaten. They began to look for ways to save the country. The Self-Strengthening Movement advocated "learning from the West to control the West", proposing to learn advanced Western technologies, develop modern industry, and enhance national strength. However, the Self-Strengthening Movement also had problems, such as learning only Western technologies while ignoring cultural and institutional construction. The Hundred Days' Reform attempted to learn from Western political systems, but ultimately failed due to various reasons. The Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing Dynasty and opened a new chapter in history. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Communist Party of China absorbed historical experiences and lessons, proposing the policy of "using the old for the new and the foreign for the Chinese", inheriting and carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture, while critically absorbing excellent foreign cultures to serve the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Usage
通常用于评论学习借鉴外国先进文化和技术的情况。
It is usually used to comment on the situation of learning from and learning from advanced foreign culture and technology.
Examples
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我们应该学习西方先进技术，为我所用。
wǒmen yīnggāi xuéxí xīfāng xiānjìn jìshù, wèi wǒ suǒ yòng
We should learn from advanced Western technologies and use them for our own benefit.
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在改革开放中，我们既要学习外国先进经验，也要坚持自己的特色。
zài gǎigé kāifàng zhōng, wǒmen jì yào xuéxí wàiguó xiānjìn jīngyàn, yě yào jiānchí zìjǐ de tèsè
In the reform and opening up, we should learn advanced foreign experience, but also uphold our own characteristics.