# 未卜先知

wèi bǔ xiān zhī

Seem to know something before it happens

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Know beforehand without divination

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe unusually accurate anticipation, often playfully.

Usually figurative; observation or preparation explains the anticipation.

## The image & its use

Someone brings extra paper just before the group discovers it needs more. A friend may jokingly say that the person knew in advance without needing a prediction. This expression often presents ordinary foresight as an almost extraordinary ability. It can also be used in a negative statement to explain that no one could have known every detail beforehand. For a factual explanation, distinguish a well-informed expectation from certainty about an event that has not yet happened.

## Examples

你提前带了备用纸，简直像未卜先知。

### Traditional Chinese

你提前帶了備用紙，簡直像未卜先知。

nǐ tí qián dài le bèi yòng zhǐ ， jiǎn zhí xiàng wèi bǔ xiān zhī 。

You brought spare paper in advance, almost as if you knew what would happen.

谁也不能未卜先知，所以计划要留有余地。

### Traditional Chinese

誰也不能未卜先知，所以計劃要留有餘地。

shuí yě bù néng wèi bǔ xiān zhī ， suǒ yǐ jì huà yào liú yǒu yú dì 。

No one can foresee everything, so plans need room for adjustment.

她总能预想到大家需要什么，仿佛未卜先知。

### Traditional Chinese

她總能預想到大家需要什麼，彷彿未卜先知。

tā zǒng néng yù xiǎng dào dà jiā xū yào shén me ， fǎng fú wèi bǔ xiān zhī 。

She anticipates what everyone will need as if she already knew.

这不是未卜先知，而是认真观察后的判断。

### Traditional Chinese

這不是未卜先知，而是認真觀察後的判斷。

zhè bú shì wèi bǔ xiān zhī ， ér shì rèn zhēn guān chá hòu de pàn duàn 。

That is not mysterious foreknowledge but judgment based on careful observation.

## 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=1290&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%9C%AA%E5%8D%9C%E5%85%88%E7%9F%A5)

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