Meaning
“To infer three from one” refers to the ability to deduce or understand many things by learning just one. It praises someone who is quick to learn and capable of applying knowledge flexibly in different situations.
Word breakdown
- 举 (jǔ) – to raise, to cite
- 一 (yī) – one
- 反 (fǎn) – to infer, to deduce
- 三 (sān) – three
Together, it means: “Given one example, infer three more.” It celebrates intelligence and the ability to generalize from limited information.
Historical Origin
The idiom comes from the Analects of Confucius (《论语》).
In one passage, Confucius says that his student Yan Hui was such a gifted learner that when taught one thing, he could infer and understand three more on his own. This observation became the origin of the idiom 举一反三.
It highlights the ideal of deep understanding rather than rote memorization.
Modern Usage
This idiom is often used to:
- Compliment quick learners or intelligent students
- Encourage people to apply knowledge flexibly
- Describe the value of understanding principles instead of only examples
Example situations
- A student learns one grammar rule and applies it to multiple sentences
- An employee understands one part of a process and quickly grasps the rest
- Someone applies skills from one field to another successfully
Example sentences
- 他理解能力很强，老师一讲他就能举一反三。
(He has great comprehension. As soon as the teacher explains something, he can infer more by himself.) - 学习要懂得举一反三，不能只靠死记硬背。
(Learning requires the ability to infer and apply, not just memorize.)
Short Story
小张在学数学时，老师教了他一个公式。他立刻明白了，并用它解决了三个不同类型的问题。
老师高兴地说：“你真是会举一反三！”
小张也因此对学习越来越有信心。
English Translation
When Xiao Zhang was learning math, the teacher taught him one formula. He quickly understood it and used it to solve three different types of problems.
The teacher smiled and said, “You really know how to infer three from one!”
As a result, Xiao Zhang became more confident in his studies.
Traditional Chinese Characters
舉一反三
Conclusion
举一反三 refers to the ability to deduce or understand many things by learning just one.