Chinese idiom · 成语
以貌取人
Meaning
To judge by appearance; to value looks over substance.
Character by character
Origin and story
Contrasting traditional accountsThe Shiji account of Confucius's disciples says that Tantai Mieming, also called Ziyu, looked so unprepossessing that Confucius initially underestimated his abilities. Ziyu nevertheless cultivated his conduct and later attracted many pupils. Hearing of his reputation, Confucius acknowledged his mistake in judging him by appearance.
An earlier account in the Han Feizi's Xian Xue chapter reverses the situation: Ziyu looks like a gentleman, but his conduct disappoints. These versions should not be blended into a single biography. Both use Confucius's alleged misjudgment to show that outward appearance is an unreliable guide. The Shiji version contains the familiar exact phrase 以貌取人.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
面试时别以貌取人，先听听应聘者怎样解决实际问题。
Don't judge applicants by their appearance; first hear how they solve practical problems.
Usually used critically or with a warning such as 别 or 不要.