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識時務者為俊傑

简识时务者为俊杰 · 繁識時務者為俊傑

Mandarin · pinyin shí shí wù zhě wéi jùn jié

(idiom) a wise person adapts to changing circumstances

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Characters in this entry

識: Look up this written character
時: shí · time, season; era, age, period
務: Look up this written character
者: zhě · that which; he who; those who
為: Look up this written character
俊: jùn · talented, capable; handsome
傑: Look up this written character
识: shí · shì · recognize, understand, know
时: shí · time, season; era, age, period
务: wù · affairs, business; must, should
为: wèi · do, handle, govern, act; be
杰: jié · hero; heroic, outstanding

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–2–4–3–2–4–2 · shi2 shi2 wu4 zhe3 wei2 jun4 jie2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

識時務者為俊傑 · find source passages ↗ · 识时务者为俊杰 · find source passages ↗

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) a wise man submits to circumstances; he who can suit his actions to the time is wise

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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