根據人的資質、志趣等實施教育、教學。“材”指人的資質、志趣、受教育程度等因素。這是孔子最早實踐、經后人總結概括而確立的教育、教學原則。《禮記·中庸》所說的“率性”（遵循人的天性）、《周易》所說的“盡性”（充分發揮天性），可以說是這一原則的基礎理念，它至今仍被廣為提倡，其要旨是：教育、教學在內容選擇、方法運用、目標設定等方面，要適應受教育者的個體差異，以期達到更好效果。這一原則得到心理學、教育學的論證，已經成為現代教育科學的基本理念。

This term means to educate and teach according to people's caliber and their interests. Cai (材) refers to factors such as people's caliber and interests, and their level of education. This is an educational and pedagogical principle first practiced by Confucius, and later summarized and established by others. We may say that the core concepts of this principle are shuaixing (率性 acting in accordance with human nature) as described in The Book of Rites, and jinxing (盡性 making full use of human nature) as described in The Book of Changes. It has been widely accepted to this day, and its gist is that in education and pedagogy, the choice of subject matter, methods and goals must vary according to the individual characteristics of the audience if they are to achieve better outcomes. This principle has been corroborated through psychology and pedagogy, and has become a fundamental concept in the modern science of education.

引例 Citations：

◎子曰：“中人以上，可以語上也；中人以下，不可以語上也。”（《論語·雍也》）

孔子說：“對資質中等以上的人，可以講高深的道理；對資質中等以下的人，不可以講高深的道理。”

Confucius said, "You can discuss profound issues with someone who is above average; you cannot discuss profound issues with someone who is below average." (The Analects)

◎天之生物，必因其材而篤焉。（《禮記·中庸》）

上天生養萬物，必定根據它們的資質天性而厚待它們。

Heaven gave birth to all living things, and it must treat them according to their characteristics. (The Book of Rites)

◎因材施教，士多因以得名，時有朱門弟子之目。（《清史稿·朱筠傳》）

（朱筠）因材施教，很多讀書人經過他的培養而成名，當時有“朱門弟子”之稱。

Because Zhu Jun adjusted his teaching to his audience, many scholars who studied with him achieved fame, and they were known at the time as "pupils of the school of Zhu." (Draft History of the Qing Dynasty)

推薦：教育部 國家語委

供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社

責任編輯：錢耐安