CHENGYU
一视同仁(yī shì tóng rén)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- formal, approving
- Source:
- 唐·韩愈《原人》
MEANING
- Literal
- to look on all with the same benevolence
- Figurative meaning
- to treat everyone equally, without favoritism
ORIGIN STORY
Han Yu wrote of the sage: "He looks on all with the same benevolence — kind to the near and raising up the far." The phrase became the standard of fair, even-handed treatment.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to be even-handed”
EXAMPLES
老师对学生一视同仁。Lǎoshī duì xuésheng yī shì tóng rén.HSK6
The teacher treats every student with the same care.
公司制度对所有人都一视同仁。Gōngsī zhìdù duì suǒyǒu rén dōu yī shì tóng rén.HSK6
The company rules apply equally to everyone.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is about equal, fair treatment — not about liking everyone or being lenient.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01