自知之明 self-knowledge
Explanation
指了解自己的情况，对自己有正确的估计。拥有自知之明的人，能够客观评价自己的能力，不妄自尊大，也不妄自菲薄。
Refers to understanding one's own situation and having a correct self-assessment. People with self-knowledge can objectively evaluate their abilities without being arrogant or self-deprecating.
Origin Story
战国时期，齐国大臣邹忌以自身经历劝谏齐威王，要他多听取别人的意见，不要只听好话。邹忌先从自身形象入手，指出自己和城北徐公相比，各有千秋，但因为妻子、妾侍、客人都说自己比城北徐公漂亮，说明他们受自己身份地位的影响而有所偏颇，进而引申到治国理政方面，劝谏齐威王要广泛听取各种意见，才能明辨是非，从而避免“朝堂之上，群臣皆言好”的现象，最终齐威王采纳了邹忌的建议，广开言路，齐国国力日渐强盛。邹忌的故事告诉我们，要善于从自身做起，有自知之明，才能真正认识自己，才能认识他人，才能更好的认识世界。
During the Warring States period, the Qi minister Zou Ji used his own experience to advise King Wei, urging him to listen to the opinions of others more often and not to only listen to compliments. Zou Ji started from his own image, pointing out that he and Xu Gong from the north of the city had their own strengths and weaknesses. However, since his wife, concubines, and guests all said that he was more handsome than Xu Gong, it showed that they were influenced by his status and position and were biased. He further extended this to state governance and politics, advising King Wei to widely listen to various opinions in order to distinguish right from wrong, thus avoiding the phenomenon of "all the ministers in the court speaking well." Ultimately, King Wei adopted Zou Ji's suggestions, opened up communication, and the state of Qi grew stronger. Zou Ji's story teaches us that we should be good at starting from ourselves, having self-knowledge, in order to truly understand ourselves, to know others, and to better know the world.
Usage
常用来形容一个人对自身能力、水平的认识和评价准确客观。多用于褒义。
Often used to describe a person's accurate and objective understanding and evaluation of their own abilities and level. Mostly in a positive sense.
Examples
-
他做事总是缺乏自知之明，总是好高骛远。
tā zuòshì zǒngshì quēfá zì zhī zhī míng, zǒngshì hǎo gāo wù yuǎn.
He always lacks self-awareness in his work and always sets his sights too high.
-
要成功，首先要有自知之明，了解自己的优势和劣势。
yào chénggōng, shǒuxiān yào yǒu zì zhī zhī míng, liǎojiě zìjǐ de yōushì hé lièshì
To succeed, you must first have self-knowledge and understand your strengths and weaknesses.