Japanese meaning of 一を聞いて十を知る
Reading:
いちをきいてじゅうをしる (ichi o kiite jū o shiru)
English Translation:
A word to the wise is sufficient
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Grasping the whole from a small clue.
一部の情報から全体を素早く理解するという意味。
Cultural Context:
Praised in schooling and corporate training; ties to reading context and nonverbal cues.
学校教育や企業研修で評価。文脈読解・非言語コミュニケーションの重視と親和。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 一を聞いて = “hearing one” (numeral + verb in te-form)
• 十を知る = “to know ten” (numeral + verb in plain form)
Parallel structure indicating the ability to infer much from little.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be taken as actually about numbers; it’s about inferring the whole from a small clue.
Example
Basic Example
一つのことを聞いただけで多くを理解できる人がいる、一を聞いて十を知るだ。
Some can understand a lot from a little—a word to the wise is sufficient.
Applied Example
彼女の一言で全部察した、一を聞いて十を知るタイプだ。
From her one hint, I understood everything—a word to the wise is sufficient.