# 以貌取人

yǐ mào qǔ rén

Judge a person by appearance

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Choose people by their looks

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Criticize judgments based on outward appearance alone.

Usually appears in advice against superficial judgment.

## The image & its use

A person's clothing or face gives only a small amount of information about their knowledge, kindness, or reliability. This expression describes treating that limited appearance as the basis for a judgment. It is commonly used in a negative instruction: do not make an assessment that way. Listening, observing conduct, and allowing people to show their abilities provide a fairer basis. The phrase is useful when correcting a superficial assumption, especially if the explanation names the relevant qualities that were overlooked.

## Examples

认识新同学时，不要以貌取人。

### Traditional Chinese

認識新同學時，不要以貌取人。

rèn shi xīn tóng xué shí ， bú yào yǐ mào qǔ rén 。

Do not judge a new classmate by appearance.

选择合作伙伴应了解能力，不能以貌取人。

### Traditional Chinese

選擇合作伙伴應瞭解能力，不能以貌取人。

xuǎn zé hé zuò huǒ bàn yìng liǎo jiě néng lì ， bù néng yǐ mào qǔ rén 。

Choose collaborators by understanding their abilities rather than their looks.

他提醒大家，朴素的衣着不该成为以貌取人的理由。

### Traditional Chinese

他提醒大家，樸素的衣著不該成為以貌取人的理由。

tā tí xǐng dà jiā ， pǔ sù de yī zhuó bù gāi chéng wéi yǐ mào qǔ rén de lǐ yóu 。

He reminded everyone that plain clothing should not determine their judgment.

读完他的作品后，我才发现自己先前以貌取人。

### Traditional Chinese

讀完他的作品後，我才發現自己先前以貌取人。

dú wán tā de zuò pǐn hòu ， wǒ cái fā xiàn zì jǐ xiān qián yǐ mào qǔ rén 。

Reading his work made me realize I had previously judged him by appearance.

## 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=1337&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%BB%A5%E8%B2%8C%E5%8F%96%E4%BA%BA)

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