Chinese idiom · 成语
三思而行
Meaning
To think thrice before acting; to proceed with caution.
Character by character
Origin and story
Confucian sayingThe Analects (論語), Gongye Chang chapter, says that Ji Wenzi considered matters three times before acting. Hearing of this, Confucius responds that twice would be enough. This short exchange is important: the original does not simply present Confucius ordering everyone to think exactly three times.
The later idiom drops the word 後 and becomes a general reminder to reflect before acting. Its conventional meaning emphasizes prudence, while the source also leaves room to question excessive deliberation. Three is commonly understood as repeated consideration rather than a mandatory count. In everyday advice, the expression asks someone to examine consequences and avoid an impulsive decision, not to repeat the same thought a fixed number of times.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
辞职前还是三思而行，先想清楚下一步要做什么。
Think carefully before resigning; first work out what you want to do next.
A familiar caution before a consequential decision, not an instruction to think exactly three times.