# 大智若愚

dà zhì ruò yú

Appear unassuming despite profound wisdom

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Great wisdom seems like foolishness

**Register:** Appreciative · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Praise wisdom that does not advertise itself.

Actual ignorance is not concealed wisdom by default.

## Understanding the expression

A deeply wise person may not display cleverness at every opportunity. Their plain speech, patience, or willingness to ask basic questions can be mistaken for foolishness. The expression praises substance beneath an unassuming manner. It should not be used to excuse errors without evidence of insight. The contrast becomes convincing when a modest person makes a sound judgment that others overlooked, showing that appearance and understanding were never the same thing.

## Examples

他大智若愚，总先听别人说。

### Traditional Chinese

他大智若愚，總先聽別人說。

tā dà zhì ruò yú ， zǒng xiān tīng bié rén shuō 。

He is deeply wise despite seeming simple and always listens first.

老人看似迟钝，实则大智若愚。

### Traditional Chinese

老人看似遲鈍，實則大智若愚。

lǎo rén kàn sì chí dùn ， shí zé dà zhì ruò yú 。

The older man seems slow but possesses unassuming wisdom.

她用简单办法解难题，颇有大智若愚之风。

### Traditional Chinese

她用簡單辦法解難題，頗有大智若愚之風。

tā yòng jiǎn dān bàn fǎ jiě nán tí ， pō yǒu dà zhì ruò yú zhī fēng 。

Her simple solution to the difficult problem showed understated wisdom.

大智若愚不是不懂装懂。

### Traditional Chinese

大智若愚不是不懂裝懂。

dà zhì ruò yú bú shì bù dǒng zhuāng dǒng 。

Unassuming wisdom is not pretending to know what one does not understand.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A4%A7%E6%99%BA%E8%8B%A5%E6%84%9A)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=969&webMd=1&la=0)

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