Hear One Know Ten[문일지십 / 聞一知十]

4-character idioms are also known as 사자성어[四字成語] in Korea and Koreans have compiled numerous idioms of this kind.  These idioms by themselves are thought-provoking sayings, and yet sometimes, one will also find out that some of these idioms make references to Classical Chinese works, in which case they are also called as 고사성어[古事成語], an idiom which originated from an ancient happening/event.  

Today, I came across the idiom 문일지십[聞一知十].  A literal translation would be “Hear One Know Ten” but also naver dictionary gives “A word is enough to the wise.” and also “Judge the whole by a part, infer the whole from a single.” as an explanation for this.  Following this line, we can relate this idiom to a person who is quick-witted and smart.  This person, by hearing from only a piece of information, will be able to gain knowledge ten-fold from it.  The other interpretation as mentioned is one wherein someone is able to infer the whole from the parts.  Anyhow, this idiom is mentioned in 《Chapter 5 공야장[公冶長]》 of the Analects of Confucius, 《논어 / 論語》.

『子謂子貢曰: “女與回也, 孰愈?”對曰: “賜也, 何敢望回. 回也, 聞一以知十, 賜也, 聞一以知二.”子曰: “弗如也. 吾與女弗如也.”』

『자위자공왈: “여여회야, 숙유?”대왈: “사야, 하감망회. 회야, 문일이지십, 사야, 문일이지이.”자왈: “불여여. 오여여불여야.”』

『[子 – Confucius][謂 – call on][子貢 – 자공][曰 – ask]: “[女 – you][與 – and][回 – 안회][也 – noun marker], [孰 – who][愈 – superior]?”[對曰 – reply]: “[賜 – me/단목사][也 – noun marker], [何 – how][敢 – dare][望 – hope][回 – 안회]. [回 – 안회][也 – as for], [聞 – hear][一 – one][以 – in this way][知 – know][十 – ten], [賜 – me/단목사][也 – as for], [聞 – hear][一 – one][以 – in this way][知 – know][二 – two].”[子 – Confucius][曰 – said]: “[弗 – not][如 – comparable][也 – indeed]. [吾 – I][與 – and][女 – you][弗 – not][如 – comparable][也 – indeed].”』

『Confucius called on 자공 and asked him: “Between you and 안회, who is superior?”자공 replied: “How can I dare hope to be like 안회? As for 안회, whenever he hears one thing, in this way, he will know ten things, but as for me, whenever I hear one thing, in this way, I would only know two things.” Confucius said: “Indeed you are not comparable to him. Indeed I and you together are still not comparable to him.”』

In here, 자공[子貢] and 안회[顔回] are disciples of Confucius.  Also, 자공[子貢]’s real name is 단목사[端木賜].  Confucius regarded안회[顔回] dearly as evidenced by what he said.  Indeed, there was no other better disciple for Confucius other than him, and so when he died, Confucius lamented and felt great sorrow.  Confucius lamented, “Heaven has bereft me! Heaven has bereft me!”  Today, 안회[顔回] is venerated at his temple, “Temple of 顔回”, located in 취푸시[曲阜市].

안회[顔回]

Temple of 안회[顔回], 취푸시[曲阜市]