不能正己,焉能正人 不能正己,焉能正人 不能正己,焉能正人

if you can't set yourself straight, how can you set others straight

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · Widely known

Meaning
You can't correct others if your own conduct is poor. Said critically of hypocrites. Compare "practise what you preach."
Simplified
不能正己,焉能正人
Pinyin
bùnéng zhèng jǐ, yān néng zhèng rén
Bopomofo
ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄐㄧˇ,ㄧㄢ ㄋㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ

Written with HSK 2 vocabulary, at CEFR level A1.

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