# 设身处地

shè shēn chǔ dì

Consider a situation from another person's position

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Place oneself in that person's circumstances

**Traditional Chinese:** 設身處地

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Encourage empathy and attention to another person's experience.

Imagining their position should accompany listening to what they actually say.

## The image & its use

An instruction that seems obvious to an experienced person may be confusing to a beginner. This expression asks the speaker to consider the other person's circumstances rather than treating their own experience as universal. It can support considerate teaching, cooperation, and everyday conversation. Imagination is useful, but it does not give direct access to someone else's thoughts. Ask questions and listen to the answer. That turns an empathetic intention into a better understanding of the person's actual needs.

## Examples

设身处地地想一想，新同学可能还不熟悉流程。

### Traditional Chinese

設身處地地想一想，新同學可能還不熟悉流程。

shè shēn chǔ dì dì xiǎng yi xiǎng ， xīn tóng xué kě néng hái bù shú xī liú chéng 。

Consider the newcomer's position; they may not yet know the process.

她设身处地为别人着想，解释得很耐心。

### Traditional Chinese

她設身處地為別人著想，解釋得很耐心。

tā shè shēn chǔ dì wèi bié rén zhuó xiǎng ， jiě shì dé hěn nài xīn 。

She patiently explained things with others' circumstances in mind.

讨论安排时，我们应设身处地考虑每个人的时间。

### Traditional Chinese

討論安排時，我們應設身處地考慮每個人的時間。

tǎo lùn ān pái shí ， wǒ men yìng shè shēn chǔ dì kǎo lǜ měi gè rén de shí jiān 。

When discussing arrangements, consider each person's available time.

设身处地之后，也要认真听取对方的意见。

### Traditional Chinese

設身處地之後，也要認真聽取對方的意見。

shè shēn chǔ dì zhī hòu ， yě yào rèn zhēn tīng qǔ duì fāng de yì jiàn 。

After imagining another person's position, also listen carefully to their views.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1356&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%A8%AD%E8%BA%AB%E8%99%95%E5%9C%B0)

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