冷暖自知

lěngnuǎnzìzhī
see 如人飲水，冷暖自知，冷暖自知 rúrényǐnshuǐ,lěngnuǎnzìzhī

CEDICT

本指水的冷暖，飲用者自己才知道。語本《大毘盧遮那成佛經疏．卷一二》：「如飲水者，冷熱自知，尚不可為不飲人說，況如來境耶？」佛教禪宗比喻證悟的境界，不可言傳。《景德傳燈錄．卷四．袁州蒙山道明禪師》：「今蒙指授入處，如人飲水，冷暖自知。」後引喻對道理體會的深淺，全在自己本身的體驗。宋．蘇軾〈韓退之孟郊墓銘云以昌其詩舉此問王定國當昌其身耶抑昌其詩也來詩下語未契作此答之〉詩：「吾言豈須多，冷暖子自知。」

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 冷暖 lěngnuǎn
  1. lit. daily changes of temperature
  2. fig. well-being
  3. sb's comfort, health, prosperity etc
2 自知 zìzhī
  1. to be personally aware
  2. to know thyself

Containing this entry

如人飲水，冷暖自知 rúrényǐnshuǐ,lěngnuǎnzìzhī
  1. the person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold (Zen proverb); self-awareness comes from within
  2. to know best by personal experience