sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī: 三人行，必有我师 - Everyone has something to teach me

• Keywords: san ren xing bi you wo shi, 三人行必有我师, Confucius, The Analects, Chinese proverb, learn from others, humility in learning, Chinese philosophy, everyone is a teacher, lifelong learning.
• Summary: The famous Chinese proverb 三人行，必有我师 (sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī), originating from the Analects of Confucius, translates to “When three people walk together, one of them is surely my teacher.” This essential piece of Chinese philosophy champions the values of humility, open-mindedness, and lifelong learning. It teaches that wisdom and knowledge can be found in everyone we meet, regardless of their status, encouraging us to learn from both the good and bad examples set by others.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī
• Part of Speech: Proverb (谚语, yànyǔ) / Classical Saying
• HSK Level: N/A (This is a cultural phrase beyond the scope of HSK levels, but widely recognized by educated speakers).
• Concise Definition: Among any group of people, I can surely find a teacher.
• In a Nutshell: This proverb is not literally about a group of three people. It's a metaphor for any social situation. The core idea is that everyone you encounter has something to teach you. You can learn from their strengths and positive qualities, or you can learn from their flaws and mistakes, seeing them as a reminder of what to avoid in yourself. It is a powerful statement about the importance of constant self-improvement and humility.

• 三 (sān): three. Here, it functions metaphorically to mean “a few,” “a small group,” or simply “others.”
• 人 (rén): person, people.
• 行 (xíng): to walk, to go, to travel together.
• ，(dòuhào): A comma, separating the two clauses.
• 必 (bì): must, surely, certainly, inevitably.
• 有 (yǒu): to have, there is/are.
• 我 (wǒ): I, me.
• 师 (shī): teacher, master, a role model.

The phrase combines these characters to create a vivid image: “Three people walking together” (any social interaction), “there will certainly be my teacher” (a guaranteed opportunity for learning exists).

This saying comes directly from the Analects of Confucius (《论语·述而》, Lúnyǔ·Shù'ér), one of the most foundational texts in East Asian philosophy. The full, original quote provides even deeper insight:

子曰：“三人行，必有我师焉。择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。”
The Master said: “When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, and see their bad qualities and correct them in myself.”

This proverb is a cornerstone of the Confucian emphasis on humility (谦虚, qiānxū) and lifelong self-cultivation (修身, xiūshēn). It promotes an active, not passive, learning mindset. One must constantly observe others, reflect on their actions, and use those observations to improve oneself.

• Comparison to a Western Concept: A similar English idea is, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't.” While the sentiment is related, the Chinese proverb is much more deeply embedded in the cultural psyche. It is not just a modern motivational quote but a 2,500-year-old moral instruction that is taught from a young age. It carries the weight of classical wisdom and implies a moral duty to learn, whereas the English version is more of a simple observation.

This phrase is formal and conveys education and wisdom. It's used frequently in situations related to learning, personal development, and showing respect.

• In Education: A teacher might use it to encourage students to form study groups, emphasizing that they can learn as much from their peers as from their instructor.
• In the Workplace: A new employee might say this to senior colleagues to express their eagerness to learn from them. A manager might use it to foster a collaborative environment where every team member's perspective is valued.
• As a Form of Humility: It is often used to politely deflect a compliment. If someone praises your expertise, you might respond with “哪里，哪里，三人行，必有我师,” which means “Not at all, I still have much to learn from everyone.” This shows modesty and respect.

• Example 1:
  • 在我们团队里，每个人都有自己的专长，真是三人行，必有我师。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen tuánduì lǐ, měi ge rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de zhuāncháng, zhēn shì sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī.
  • English: In our team, everyone has their own special skills. It truly is a case of “everyone has something to teach me.”
  • Analysis: Used in a professional context to describe a collaborative team where members learn from each other's strengths.
• Example 2:
  • 别小看任何人，要记住三人行，必有我师，哪怕是孩子也能教给我们很多东西。
  • Pinyin: Bié xiǎo kàn rènhé rén, yào jìzhù sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī, nǎpà shì háizi yě néng jiāo gěi wǒmen hěn duō dōngxi.
  • English: Don't look down on anyone; remember that you can always learn from others. Even a child can teach us many things.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the proverb as a piece of moral advice, emphasizing its core message of humility and open-mindedness.
• Example 3:
  • 老师鼓励我们说：“三人行，必有我师焉。择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。”
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī gǔlì wǒmen shuō: “Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī yān. Zé qí shàn zhě ér cóng zhī, qí bù shàn zhě ér gǎi zhī.”
  • English: The teacher encouraged us by saying: “When three people walk together, my teacher is surely among them. I select their good qualities to emulate, and their bad qualities to correct in myself.”
  • Analysis: This example quotes the full, classical phrase from the Analects, often used in educational or formal settings to convey the complete meaning.
• Example 4:
  • A: 你的中文说得真好！ B: 哪里哪里，三人行，必有我师，我还在努力向大家学习。
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ de Zhōngwén shuō de zhēn hǎo! B: Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ, sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī, wǒ hái zài nǔlì xiàng dàjiā xuéxí.
  • English: A: Your Chinese is so good! B: Not at all! Everyone has something to teach, and I'm still working hard to learn from everybody.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using the proverb to show humility when receiving a compliment.
• Example 5:
  • 这次旅行我认识了很多新朋友，他们每个人都让我学到了新东西，三人行，必有我师这句话一点没错。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì lǚxíng wǒ rènshi le hěn duō xīn péngyou, tāmen měi ge rén dōu ràng wǒ xuédào le xīn dōngxi, sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī zhè jù huà yīdiǎn méi cuò.
  • English: I met many new friends on this trip, and every one of them taught me something new. The saying “one can always learn from others” is absolutely right.
  • Analysis: This shows the proverb being used reflectively to summarize a personal experience of learning from others.
• Example 6:
  • 保持谦虚的心态很重要，因为三人行，必有我师。
  • Pinyin: Bǎochí qiānxū de xīntài hěn zhòngyào, yīnwèi sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī.
  • English: It's very important to maintain a humble attitude, because you can learn from everyone.
  • Analysis: A direct and concise use of the proverb to justify the value of humility.
• Example 7:
  • 他虽然犯了错误，但他的经历也提醒了我们不要重蹈覆辙。三人行，必有我师，我们也能从他的失败中学习。
  • Pinyin: Tā suīrán fàn le cuòwù, dàn tā de jīnglì yě tíxǐng le wǒmen bú yào chóng dǎo fù zhé. Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī, wǒmen yě néng cóng tā de shībài zhōng xuéxí.
  • English: Although he made a mistake, his experience also reminds us not to repeat it. As the saying goes, “there is always a teacher,” we can also learn from his failure.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the second half of the proverb's original meaning: learning from others' negative examples.
• Example 8:
  • 这位领导总是说“三人行，必有我师”，所以他非常尊重下属的意见。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi lǐngdǎo zǒngshì shuō “sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī”, suǒyǐ tā fēicháng zūnzhòng xiàshǔ de yìjiàn.
  • English: This leader always says “everyone has something to teach me,” so he really respects the opinions of his subordinates.
  • Analysis: This highlights how the philosophy behind the proverb can influence leadership style and corporate culture.
• Example 9:
  • 我参加了一个书法班，同学中有老人也有小孩，我发现三人行，必有我师，每个人的笔法都有值得我学习的地方。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ cānjiā le yí ge shūfǎ bān, tóngxué zhōng yǒu lǎorén yě yǒu xiǎohái, wǒ fāxiàn sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī, měi ge rén de bǐfǎ dōu yǒu zhídé wǒ xuéxí de dìfang.
  • English: I joined a calligraphy class with both elderly people and children as classmates. I discovered that everyone is a teacher; each person's brushwork had something worth learning from.
  • Analysis: This shows the proverb applied to a situation with diverse people, reinforcing that age or status is irrelevant to one's ability to be a “teacher.”
• Example 10:
  • 不要把自己封闭起来，多和人交流，你会发现三人行，必有我师。
  • Pinyin: Bú yào bǎ zìjǐ fēngbì qǐlái, duō hé rén jiāoliú, nǐ huì fāxiàn sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī.
  • English: Don't close yourself off. Communicate more with people, and you will find that you can learn from everyone.
  • Analysis: Used as encouragement to be more social, with the promise of personal growth as the benefit.

• Not Literally Three People: The most common mistake for learners is to interpret “三人 (sān rén)” literally. It does not mean you need a group of exactly three people to learn something. It's a classical Chinese way of saying “a few people” or “people in general.” Think of it as “wherever people are.”
• Learning from Negative Examples: English speakers often focus only on the positive aspect—learning good things from good people. However, the full Confucian context is crucial: you also learn by observing others' faults and using them as a mirror to correct your own behavior. This is a vital part of its meaning.
• Incorrect Usage (Overly Casual): Using this formal, classical phrase in a very slangy or flippant context can sound odd. For example, if a friend fails a level in a video game, sarcastically saying “三人行，必有我师，I've learned what not to do” would be an awkward and jarring use of the proverb. It is best reserved for sincere contexts of learning and self-reflection.

• 学无止境 (xué wú zhǐjìng) - “Learning has no end.” This concept of lifelong learning is the philosophical foundation of “sān rén xíng…”.
• 不耻下问 (bù chǐ xià wèn) - To not be ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates or people of lower status. This is a specific application of the humility expressed in the main proverb.
• 能者为师 (néng zhě wéi shī) - “Whoever is capable can be the teacher.” This focuses on skill and ability rather than age or status, a very similar idea.
• 教学相长 (jiàoxué xiāngzhǎng) - “Teaching and learning promote one another.” A related concept from classical texts that suggests the act of teaching is also an act of learning.
• 谦虚 (qiānxū) - Modesty, humility. The core personal virtue that this proverb advocates for.
• 活到老，学到老 (huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo) - “Live until you're old, learn until you're old.” A more colloquial and modern-sounding proverb expressing the same ideal of lifelong learning.
• 取长补短 (qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn) - “Draw on others' strengths to make up for one's own weaknesses.” This phrase describes the specific action one takes when following the principle of “sān rén xíng…”.
• 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ) - Confucius, the philosopher credited with this saying.
• 论语 (Lúnyǔ) - The Analects, the classical text where this proverb is recorded.
• 三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ) - A completely different proverb meaning “three people talking about a tiger makes it real” (a repeated rumor can be mistaken for the truth). It's a useful contrast to show that “三人 (sān rén)” is a common component in proverbs but can have different symbolic meanings.