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先見の明 (せんけんのめい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

先せん見けんの明めい

せ

ん

け

ん

の

め

い

Meanings

1

expression, noun

foresight; prescience

A set phrase meaning the ability to foresee future events or trends. Often used in the pattern 先見の明がある.

彼かれは先せん見けんの明めいがあるから、投とう資しで成せい功こうした。
He has foresight, so he succeeded in investing.
先せん見

けん

の

明めい

を

持も

っ

た

リーダー

が

必ひつ

要よう

だ

。

We need a leader with foresight.

Kanji

先before, ahead, previous
見see, hopes, chances
明bright, light

Similar words

予よ見けん
予見 is a general noun/verb for foreseeing, while 先見の明 specifically refers to the quality or ability of foresight.
洞どう察さつ力りょく
洞察力 means insight or perceptiveness about present situations, whereas 先見の明 is about future-oriented vision.

Etymology

A yojijukugo (four-character idiom) composed of 先見 (foresight) and 明 (clarity, wisdom). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a classical Chinese-derived expression.