rénwúwánrén: 人无完人 - Nobody's Perfect

• Keywords: 人无完人, ren wu wan ren, rén wú wán rén, nobody's perfect, no one is perfect, everyone has flaws, human imperfection, Chinese proverb, Chinese chengyu, forgive and forget, humility in Chinese culture.
• Summary: 人无完人 (rén wú wán rén) is a fundamental Chinese proverb that translates to “nobody's perfect.” It's a cornerstone of Chinese wisdom used to express humility, encourage forgiveness, and offer comfort after a mistake. More than just a casual saying, this chengyu reflects a deep cultural understanding of human imperfection and the importance of focusing on a person's overall character rather than their minor flaws. For any learner, understanding 人无完人 is key to navigating social interactions with grace and wisdom.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): rén wú wán rén
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (成语) / Proverb
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: No person is a perfect person; nobody's perfect.
• In a Nutshell: This four-character idiom is a gentle and profound reminder that every human being has shortcomings. It's not used as a cynical statement, but rather as a call for empathy, tolerance, and self-acceptance. It can be used to comfort someone who has failed, to excuse a minor fault in another person, or to express humility when receiving praise. The core feeling is one of mature, realistic wisdom.

• 人 (rén): Person, man, people. A simple pictograph of a walking person.
• 无 (wú): Without, no, not have. A classical negative character.
• 完 (wán): Complete, whole, perfect, finished.
• 人 (rén): Person, man, people. The repetition creates a balanced, poetic structure.

The characters literally combine to mean “Person without perfect person.” The structure is simple and elegant: Subject (人) + Verb/Negative (无) + Adjective (完) + Object (人). It paints a clear picture: among all people, there is no single “perfect person.”

• Philosophical Roots: The concept is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism and Daoism, which both emphasize self-cultivation and the acceptance of natural limitations. It’s not an excuse for bad behavior, but rather the starting point for improvement. By acknowledging that 人无完人, one can adopt a posture of 谦虚 (qiānxū) - humility - and strive to learn from others (取长补短, qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn).
• Comparison with “Nobody's perfect”: While the literal meaning is identical to the English phrase “Nobody's perfect,” 人无完人 often carries more weight and formality. In the West, “Nobody's perfect” can sometimes be a casual, even flippant, dismissal of a mistake. In contrast, 人无完人 is often cited as a piece of classical wisdom. It's used to give someone “face” (面子, miànzi) by graciously overlooking a mistake, thereby preserving harmony in the relationship. It's less of an excuse and more of a principle for fostering tolerance and understanding.

This chengyu is extremely common and versatile in daily life.

• Comforting Someone: When a friend or colleague makes a mistake and feels bad, you can use 人无完人 to reassure them that it's okay and a natural part of being human.
• Expressing Humility: If you receive a major compliment, you might say “哪里哪里，人无完人” (Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ, rén wú wán rén), meaning “Not at all, I have my flaws too,” to show you are not arrogant.
• In the Workplace: A manager might use this phrase to soften criticism of an employee's mistake. It signals that the error is not a fatal flaw, and the focus should be on learning and improving.
• Mediating a Conflict: When trying to get two people to forgive each other, you might say 人无完人 to encourage them to be more tolerant of each other's faults.

• Example 1:
  • 别太自责了，人无完人，下次注意就好了。
  • Pinyin: Bié tài zìzé le, rén wú wán rén, xià cì zhùyì jiù hǎo le.
  • English: Don't blame yourself too much. Nobody's perfect; just be more careful next time.
  • Analysis: A classic example of comforting someone. It's encouraging and focuses on future improvement rather than past failure.
• Example 2:
  • 虽然他有一些小缺点，但是人无完人，总体来说他还是一个很好的人。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā yǒu yīxiē xiǎo quēdiǎn, dànshì rén wú wán rén, zǒngtǐ lái shuō tā háishì yīgè hěn hǎo de rén.
  • English: Although he has some small shortcomings, nobody's perfect. Overall, he is still a very good person.
  • Analysis: This shows how the phrase is used to balance criticism with a positive overall assessment, preserving a favorable view of someone despite their flaws.
• Example 3:
  • 老板，这次项目我没做好。

— 没关系，人无完人，金无足赤。我们一起看看哪里能改进。

• Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, zhè cì xiàngmù wǒ méi zuò hǎo.

— Méi guānxì, rén wú wán rén, jīn wú zú chì. Wǒmen yīqǐ kàn kàn nǎlǐ néng gǎijìn.

• English: “Boss, I didn't do a good job on this project.”

— “It's alright, no man is perfect and no gold is 100% pure. Let's look at what we can improve together.”

• Analysis: Here, the manager uses the full, more formal two-part proverb to create a supportive and constructive atmosphere. It shows wisdom and leadership.
• Example 4:
• 你为什么不能原谅他呢？人无完人啊！
• Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme bùnéng yuánliàng tā ne? Rén wú wán rén a!
• English: Why can't you forgive him? Nobody's perfect!
• Analysis: Used as a plea for forgiveness and tolerance in an interpersonal conflict. The “啊 (a)” particle at the end adds an emotional, persuasive tone.
• Example 5:
• 谢谢您的夸奖，但我还有很多不足之处，毕竟人无完人。
• Pinyin: Xièxiè nín de kuājiǎng, dàn wǒ hái yǒu hěnduō bùzú zhī chù, bìjìng rén wú wán rén.
• English: Thank you for your praise, but I still have many areas for improvement. After all, nobody's perfect.
• Analysis: A very common and polite way to display humility (谦虚, qiānxū) when receiving a compliment, especially in a professional or formal setting.
• Example 6:
• 他是伟大的科学家，但这不代表他私生活没有问题，人无完人嘛。
• Pinyin: Tā shì wěidà de kēxuéjiā, dàn zhè bù dàibiǎo tā sīshēnghuó méiyǒu wèntí, rén wú wán rén ma.
• English: He was a great scientist, but that doesn't mean his private life was without problems. Nobody's perfect, you know.
• Analysis: This usage separates a person's professional achievements from their personal flaws, offering a more nuanced and realistic view of a public figure. The “嘛 (ma)” particle implies “of course” or “it's obvious.”
• Example 7:
• 你对男朋友的要求太高了，世界上没有那样的人，你要记住人无完人。
• Pinyin: Nǐ duì nánpéngyǒu de yāoqiú tài gāo le, shìjiè shàng méiyǒu nàyàng de rén, nǐ yào jì zhù rén wú wán rén.
• English: Your standards for a boyfriend are too high. That kind of person doesn't exist in the world; you have to remember that nobody's perfect.
• Analysis: Used as advice to someone to be more realistic in their expectations of others.
• Example 8:
• 我知道我搞砸了，但我希望你能再给我一次机会，人无完人，对吗？
• Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào wǒ gǎo zá le, dàn wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng zài gěi wǒ yīcì jīhuì, rén wú wán rén, duì ma?
• English: I know I messed up, but I hope you can give me another chance. Nobody's perfect, right?
• Analysis: Here, the speaker uses the phrase to ask for forgiveness for their own mistake, appealing to a shared understanding of human fallibility.
• Example 9:
• 在评价历史人物时，我们应该记住人无完人的道理，做到客观公正。
• Pinyin: Zài píngjià lìshǐ rénwù shí, wǒmen yīnggāi jì zhù rén wú wán rén de dàolǐ, zuò dào kèguān gōngzhèng.
• English: When evaluating historical figures, we should remember the principle that “nobody is perfect” in order to be objective and fair.
• Analysis: This demonstrates a more academic or formal application of the concept as a guiding principle for judgment.
• Example 10:
• 即使是我们的父母，也并非总是对的。人无完人，他们也会犯错。
• Pinyin: Jíshǐ shì wǒmen de fùmǔ, yě bìngfēi zǒng shì duì de. Rén wú wán rén, tāmen yě huì fàncuò.
• English: Even our parents aren't always right. Nobody's perfect; they make mistakes too.
• Analysis: This helps a person come to terms with the fallibility of authority figures, which can be an important part of maturing.

• Not an Excuse for Negligence: The most common mistake is using 人无完人 to justify laziness, repeated errors, or serious ethical lapses. If your colleague constantly misses deadlines and says, “哎，人无完人,” it will be seen as irresponsible, not wise. The phrase is for acknowledging unavoidable, minor human flaws, not for excusing a lack of effort or a bad character.
• False Friend: “To err is human”: While similar, “To err is human” focuses on the *action* of making a mistake. 人无完人 focuses on the *inherent state* of being an imperfect entity. It's a statement about a person's fundamental nature, not just a single action.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • (A CEO is caught embezzling funds from his company.)
  • 记者：您对挪用公款的行为有什么解释？

CEO：唉，人无完人嘛。

• (Journalist: “How do you explain your act of embezzling company funds?” CEO: “Alas, nobody's perfect.”)
• Why it's wrong: This is a gross misuse of the phrase. Embezzlement is a serious crime and a major ethical failing, not a minor, forgivable “flaw.” Using 人无完人 here sounds like a pathetic and insulting attempt to trivialize the offense.

• 金无足赤 (jīn wú zú chì) - “No gold is pure.” The second part of the full proverb (人无完人，金无足赤), used to reinforce the same idea.
• 瑕不掩瑜 (xiá bù yǎn yú) - “A flaw in the jade cannot obscure its beauty.” A more poetic and positive term used to say someone's virtues far outweigh their faults.
• 取长补短 (qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn) - “Learn from others' strengths to make up for one's weaknesses.” The proactive behavior that should follow the acceptance that 人无完人.
• 宽容 (kuānróng) - Tolerance; broad-mindedness. The attitude one should have towards others, based on the understanding that no one is perfect.
• 谦虚 (qiānxū) - Modesty; humility. A core virtue that is often expressed by admitting one's own imperfections with 人无完人.
• 圣人 (shèngrén) - A sage or a saint. The ideal “perfect person” that 人无完人 states does not exist in reality. To say “他又不是圣人” (tā yòu bùshì shèngrén) - “He's not a saint” - is a colloquial way of expressing the same idea.
• 原谅 (yuánliàng) - To forgive. Forgiveness is a primary application of the principle of 人无完人.