Chinese idiom · 成语
知人善任
Meaning
Know people, appoint wisely; astute leadership.
Character by character
Origin and story
Dramatic attestationAn identifiable use occurs in scene 17 of Shen Cai's Ming play Qian Jin Ji. Zhang Liang brings Han Xin to meet the senior minister and asks that his abilities be recognized and put to use. The minister replies that Zhang Liang knows how to judge and employ talented people, using the exact expression 知人善任. The ensuing conversation lets Han Xin discuss the relative prospects of Chu and Han.
The scene dramatizes events from the founding of the Han dynasty, but its wording belongs to a much later play. The expression praises more than spotting talent: it includes assigning people responsibilities suited to their strengths, so that recognition becomes effective employment.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
新经理知人善任，让善于沟通的同事负责客户联络。
The new manager makes good use of people's strengths, assigning customer contact to a colleague who communicates well.
Complimentary; requires both recognizing ability and assigning an appropriate role.