眼见为实，耳听为虚

yǎn jiàn wéi shí , ěr tīng wéi xū

Save to list

Definitions

1. to believe what one sees, not what one hears (idiom). Don't believe what people tell you until you see if for yourself.
2. It ain't necessarily so.

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial $9.99 / year

Lifetime for $19.99 Try the 30-second demo

Child Words of 眼见为实，耳听为虚

• 听 听 yǐn: smile (archaic)
• 为 为 wéi: as (in the capacity of)
• 为 为 wèi: because of
• 眼 眼 yǎn: eye
• 听 听 tīng: to listen to; to hear
• 虚 虚 xū: emptiness
• 见 见 jiàn: to see
• 见 见 xiàn: to appear
• 实 实 shí: real
• 眼见 眼见 yǎn jiàn: to see with one's own eyes
• 眼见为实 眼见为实 yǎn jiàn wéi shí: seeing is believing
• 耳 耳 ěr: ear