Examples from Confucian classics

Study & Teaching Ideals (Analects)

• 温故知新 (wēn gù zhī xīn) — review the old, know the new → Consolidate past learning to gain new insight.
  Use: 复盘一周所学，做到温故知新。
• 学而不厌 (xué ér bù yàn) — study without weariness → Be tireless in learning.
  Use: 她对语言学学而不厌。
• 诲人不倦 (huì rén bù juàn) — teach others without fatigue → Be tireless in teaching.
  Use: 老师诲人不倦，学生受益匪浅。
• 因材施教 (yīn cái shī jiào) — teach according to the student → Differentiate instruction.
  Use: 班级水平不同，要因材施教。
• 举一反三 (jǔ yī fǎn sān) — infer three from one → Generalize from a single example.
  Use: 通过一个题型举一反三。

Moral Self-Cultivation & Conduct (Analects)

• 克己复礼 (kè jǐ fù lǐ) — conquer the self, return to ritual propriety → Restrain the self to meet ethical/ritual norms.
  Use: 公共场合注意克己复礼。
• 见贤思齐 (jiàn xián sī qí) — see the worthy and think to equal them → Emulate the virtuous.
  Use: 身边有榜样，自然见贤思齐。
• 择善而从 (zé shàn ér cóng) — choose the good and follow it → Adopt what is right.
  Use: 面对意见分歧，我们择善而从。
• 三思而行 (sān sī ér xíng) — thrice consider, then act → Deliberate before acting.
  Use: 关键决定要三思而行。
• 一以贯之 (yī yǐ guàn zhī) — one thread runs through it → A guiding principle unifies all.
  Use: 团队价值一以贯之，执行才稳定。

Social Order, Names, and Governance (Analects/Mencius)

• 名正言顺 (míng zhèng yán shùn) — when names are correct, words flow smoothly → With roles/terms properly defined, action is justified and smooth.
  Use: 先明确职责，做到名正言顺。
• 礼崩乐坏 (lǐ bēng yuè huài) — rituals collapse, music decays → Moral/cultural order in disarray.
  Use: 若失去共识，社会易至礼崩乐坏。

Ritual Propriety & Reciprocity (Book of Rites)

• 礼尚往来 (lǐ shàng wǎng lái) — ritual esteems reciprocity → Courtesy should be returned.
  Use: 承蒙招待，这次我请客，礼尚往来。
• 慎终追远 (shèn zhōng zhuī yuǎn) — be careful at the end, pursue the distant past → Respect rites for the deceased; honor ancestors.
  Use: 传统节日里人们慎终追远。
• 中庸之道 (zhōng yōng zhī dào) — the Way of the Mean → Balance and appropriateness as a guiding path.
  Use: 处理分歧要守中庸之道。

How to Learn These Efficiently

• Triad method: Source line → four-character form → modern usage sentence.
• Contrast pairs: 如 学而不厌 vs 诲人不倦（学与教）；见贤思齐 vs 择善而从（榜样与抉择）。
• Minimal set for fluency: 温故知新、因材施教、见贤思齐、三思而行、名正言顺、礼尚往来—掌握这 6 条，即可在学习、合作、礼仪场景中自然使用。

Micro-Practice (Fill & Paraphrase)

1. 老师针对不同学生调整方法，这叫＿＿＿＿。→ 因材施教
2. 做决定前别冲动，应当＿＿＿＿。→ 三思而行
3. 项目职责明确后推进更顺，这就是＿＿＿＿。→ 名正言顺

Takeaway: Confucian classics supply a core toolbox of chengyu that guide learning, self-discipline, social roles, and ritual propriety. Learn each with its story, then practice in short, modern sentences.