只知其然，而不知其所以然 — “To know what something is but not why it is”
只知其然，而不知其所以然 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to know what something is but not why it is”. To understand the superficial facts but not the underlying reasons or essence. Literally, “Only know its thus, but do not know its why it is thus”.
只知其然，而不知其所以然 Pronunciation and Pinyin
只知其然，而不知其所以然 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 只知其然，而不知其所以然
Idioms Related to 只知其然，而不知其所以然
Synonyms of 只知其然，而不知其所以然
More idioms starting with 只
- zhǐ只zhēng争dàn旦xī夕seize every minute and second
- zhǐ只zhēng争zhāo朝xī夕Seize every minute and second
- zhǐ只zhǔn准zhōu州guān官fàng放huǒ火，，bù不zhǔn准bǎi百xìng姓diǎn点dēng灯Double standards for those in power
- zhǐ只zhǔn准zhōu州guān官fàng放huǒ火，，bù不xǔ许bǎi百xìng姓diǎn点dēng灯double standard for powerful vs ordinary
- zhǐ只fèng凤gū孤huáng凰a single person without a partner
- zhǐ只kě可yì意huì会，，bù不kě可yán言chuán传understood intuitively, not expressed in words
- zhǐ只kě可zhì智qǔ取，，bù不kě可lì力dí敌Win by wisdom, not by force
- zhǐ只tīng听lóu楼tī梯xiǎng响，，bù不jiàn见rén人xià下lai来all talk and no action
- zhī只zì字bù不tí提not mention a single word
- zhī只zì字piàn片yán言a single word or a few remarks
- zhǐ只yǐng影dān单xíng形utterly alone
- zhǐ只yǐng影gū孤xíng形utterly alone and isolated
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Open the tool →Questions about 只知其然，而不知其所以然
What does 只知其然，而不知其所以然 mean?
只知其然，而不知其所以然 (zhǐ zhī qí rán ， ér bù zhī qí suǒ yǐ rán) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to know what something is but not why it is”.
How do you pronounce 只知其然，而不知其所以然?
只知其然，而不知其所以然 is pronounced zhǐ zhī qí rán ， ér bù zhī qí suǒ yǐ rán in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 只知其然，而不知其所以然 literally mean?
Literally, 只知其然，而不知其所以然 means “Only know its thus, but do not know its why it is thus”. It is used to mean “to know what something is but not why it is”.
What is the Chinese definition of 只知其然，而不知其所以然?
然：这样。只知道是这样，却不知道为什么是这样。形容只了解表面现象，不了解事物的本质或事情的根底。