耳聽為虛，眼見為實 ěr tīng wéi xū ， yǎn jiàn wéi shí

DEFINITIONS

  1. Take what you hear to be false, only believe it when you see it (idiom). Don't believe what people tell you until you see if for yourself.
  2. It ain't necessarily so.

CHARACTERS

耳 ěr
HSK 3
ear; merely, only; handle
聽 tīng hear, listen; understand; obey
為 wéi do, handle, govern, act; be
虛 xū false, worthless; empty, hollow
眼 yǎn
HSK 2
eye; eyelet, hole, opening
見 jiàn see, observe, behold; perceive
為 wéi do, handle, govern, act; be
實 shí real, true, solid, honest