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明智 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
明智míngzhìsensibleHSK 7, nr, rank #3717, Hard
明智míngzhìwiseHSK 7, nr, rank #3717, Hard
明智míngzhìjudiciousHSK 7, nr, rank #3717, Hard
明智míngzhìsagaciousHSK 7, nr, rank #3717, Hard
míngzhì(ming2zhi4) T2
  1. 1sensible
  2. 2wise
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March 24, 2026
明智míngzhì(ming2zhi4)

明智 (míngzhì) means 'wise' or 'sensible,' often referring to someone who makes sound judgments based on clear understanding and insight. This term is commonly used in both personal and professional contexts to describe decisions or actions that demonstrate good sense and prudence.

Frequency#3717DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, wisdom is highly valued, often associated with elders or philosophers who are seen as having gathered knowledge and experience over time. The concept of 明智 reflects the cultural admiration for thoughtful decision-making and moral integrity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise owl perched on a branch, with its eyes wide open (明, 'bright') and a thoughtful expression (智, 'wisdom'). The brightness of the owl's eyes symbolizes clarity of thought, making it a fitting image for '明智,' representing wise and sensible judgments.

Meanings of 明智

míngzhì(ming2zhi4)
1sensible
2wise
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 明智

明智Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3717Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 明智

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Podcast: 明智

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AI Study Notes for 明智

Quick Contrast

聪明 (cōngmíng) refers to being smart or clever, often in terms of intelligence or quick thinking, while 明智 (míngzhì) emphasizes wisdom and sound judgment in decision-making.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wise owl perched on a branch, with its eyes wide open (明, 'bright') and a thoughtful expression (智, 'wisdom'). The brightness of the owl's eyes symbolizes clarity of thought, making it a fitting image for '明智,' representing wise and sensible judgments.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 明智 with 聪明 (cōngmíng), which means 'smart' or 'clever.' 明智 specifically emphasizes wisdom in judgment rather than mere intelligence. It is generally used in more formal contexts, such as discussions about decision-making.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 明智 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to judgment and decision-making, such as 决策 (juécè, 'decision-making'). Students should focus on using it in practical scenarios, especially in discussing wise choices in their lives or work.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, wisdom is highly valued, often associated with elders or philosophers who are seen as having gathered knowledge and experience over time. The concept of 明智 reflects the cultural admiration for thoughtful decision-making and moral integrity.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes incorrectly use 明智 as a direct translation for 'smart' in informal contexts. For example, saying '他非常明智' (tā fēicháng míngzhì) in a casual setting may sound overly formal; '他很聪明' (tā hěn cōngmíng) is more appropriate for that context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 明智

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Component Characters

明míngMing Dynasty (1368-1644)
HSK 18 strokes日
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智zhìwisdom
HSK 512 strokes日
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Write 明智

明
智

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Grammar Patterns of 明智

明智 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他们过于谨慎也许是____的。

They may be wise to err on the side of caution.

Example Sentences for 明智 (10)

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1
他们过于谨慎也许是明智的。

tā mén guò yú jǐn shèn yě xǔ shì míng zhì de。

They may be wise to err on the side of caution.
2
这对于杜鲁门来说似乎是一项特别不明智的事业。

zhè duì yú dù lǔ mén lái shuō sì hū shì yī xiàng tè bié bù míng zhì de shì yè。

It seemed a singularly ill-judged enterprise for Truman to undertake.
3
他们都说“这太不靠谱了，一点儿都不明智”。

tā mén dū shuō“ “ zhè tài bù kào pǔ， le ， yī diǎn ér dū bù”。

They all said "This is crazy, this makes no sense".
4
在减肥过程中保持饮食的营养相对均衡是明智的。

zài jiǎn féi guò chéng zhōng bǎo chí yǐn shí de yíng yǎng xiāng duì jūn héng shì míng zhì de。

It makes sense to eat a reasonably balanced diet when slimming.
5
在挑选长筒靴的时候，购买上等的好皮靴将是明智的选择。

zài tiāo xuǎn cháng tǒng xuē de shí hòu， ， gòu mǎi shàng děng de hǎo pí xuē jiāng shì míng zhì de xuǎn。

When selecting boots, fine, quality leather will be a wise investment.
6
很多立陶宛人对该决定是否明智表示了怀疑。

hěn duō lì táo wǎn rén duì gāi jué dìng shì fǒu míng zhì biǎo shì le huái yí。

Many Lithuanians have expressed doubts about the wisdom of the decision.
7
有人会质疑把她排除在队伍之外是否明智。

yǒu rén huì zhì yí bǎ tā pái chú zài duì wǔ zhī wài shì fǒu míng zhì。

Some would question the wisdom of leaving her out of the team.
8
他们不妨停止在电视上做广告，这样做可能是明智之举。

tā mén bù fáng tíng zhǐ zài diàn shì shàng zuò guǎng gào， ， zhè yàng zuò kě néng shì míng zhì zhī。

They might be wise to stop advertising on television.
9
布莱克看得出他已经惹怒了杰罗尔德，这也许并不是什么明智之举。

bù lái kè kàn dé chū tā yǐ jīng rě nù le jié luó ěr dé， ， zhè yě xǔ bìng bù shì shí mó míng zhì zhī。

Blake could see he had needled Jerrold, which might be unwise.
10
既然对你起作用，这就是个明智的决定。

jì rán duì nǐ qǐ zuò yòng， ， zhè jiù shì gè míng zhì de jué。

This was a good decision inasmuch as it worked for you.

Cultural Notes for 明智

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, wisdom is highly valued, often associated with elders or philosophers who are seen as having gathered knowledge and experience over time. The concept of 明智 reflects the cultural admiration for thoughtful decision-making and moral integrity.

Frequently Asked Questions about 明智

You can say, '他的决定很明智' (tā de juédìng hěn míngzhì), meaning 'His decision is very wise.'