Ji-haeng-hab-il

知

알 지

行

다닐 행

合

합할 합

一

한 일

Character by character

Meaning

Knowing and doing are one.

Origin

The thesis of Wang Yangming of Ming China: knowledge that does not show in action is not knowledge.

How it is used

Used to criticise theory without practice, or to urge acting on what one has learned.

Hanja知行合一

Simplified知行合一

Korean reading지행합일

Pinyinzhī xíng hé yī

Frequently asked questions

Q. What does Ji-haeng-hab-il mean?

知行合一 · Knowing and doing are one.

Q. Where does Ji-haeng-hab-il come from?

The thesis of Wang Yangming of Ming China: knowledge that does not show in action is not knowledge.

Q. How is Ji-haeng-hab-il used?

Used to criticise theory without practice, or to urge acting on what one has learned.

Idioms in the same group

刮目相對 Gwal-mok-sang-daeRub your eyes and look again — someone’s ability has grown astonishingly.敎學相長 Gyo-hak-sang-jangTeaching and learning grow each other.多多益善 Da-da-ik-seonThe more, the better.聞一知十 Mun-il-ji-sipHear one thing and know ten — exceptional quickness of mind.格物致知 Gyeong-mul-chi-jiInvestigate things to reach knowledge.學而時習 Hak-i-si-seupLearn, and practise it in due time.

The idioms used in Korea mix phrases from the Chinese classics with ones coined in Korea. Where an expression is not used in China, the entry says so.