Analects 5.10 · Gongye Chang
“Listen to a person’s words, and observe that person’s actions.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
聽其言而觀其行 (tīng qí yán ér guān qí xíng) means “Listen to a person’s words, and observe that person’s actions.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 10.
聽其言而觀其行
- Pinyin
- tīng qí yán ér guān qí xíng
- Translation
- Listen to a person’s words, and observe that person’s actions.
- Source
- Analects, Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 10
What does this passage mean?
In Gongye Chang, Confucius explains why he changed his method of judging people. He had once heard a person’s words and assumed the actions would match, but his disciple Zai Yu spoke well while behaving lazily. Confucius therefore learned to examine conduct as well as speech before reaching a judgment. The episode became the source of a traditional expression meaning “listen to words and observe actions.”
How can we apply it today?
At an interview, meeting, or first encounter, another person’s speech strongly shapes us. Yet we need time to see whether words and actions agree: whether promises are kept, stated intentions carried out, and character revealed in small acts. A consistent pattern of behavior is a more accurate basis for judgment than a first impression.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have you made a mistake by judging someone from words alone?
- ·Do you make a habit of evaluating conduct?
- ·How closely do your own words and actions agree?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 聽 | tīng | hear | 22 | 耳 (ear) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 觀 | guān | see | 25 | 見 (see) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 行 | xíng | practice | 6 | 行 (walk) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Listen to a person’s words, and observe…” mean?
聽其言而觀其行 (tīng qí yán ér guān qí xíng) means “Listen to a person’s words, and observe that person’s actions.” It comes from the Analects, Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 10.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 5.10: Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 10.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
At an interview, meeting, or first encounter, another person’s speech strongly shapes us.