The four-character words used to describe humbly accepting the advice of others are: accept others with humility, choose the good and follow it, open up the world of speech, follow advice like a stream, follow the good like a stream, etc.
1. Humbly accept others' suggestions and opinions.
Source: Volume 2 of "Han Shi Wai Zhuan" by Han Ying of the Han Dynasty: "A gentleman is virtuous but humble, and makes himself empty in order to accept others."
Translation: A gentleman has low moral character and is humble. Be accepting of others.
2. Choose the good and follow it [zé shàn ér cóng]
Explanation: From: to follow, which extends to learning. It means choosing good things to learn and doing them accordingly. Later, "choose what is good and follow it" refers to adopting correct suggestions or choosing good methods to implement.
Source: "The Analects of Confucius·Shuer": "When three people walk, they must have my teacher. Choose the good ones and follow them, and change the bad ones."
Translation : When three people walk together, there must be someone among them who can learn from me. I choose those good aspects to learn it and correct those bad aspects.
3. Guangkailu [guǎng kāi yán lù]
Explanation: Guang: to expand; Yanlu: the way to advance words. It means trying to create conditions for those below to express their opinions. It is a metaphor for accepting other people's suggestions with an open mind.
Source: "Book of the Later Han Dynasty·Lai Li Zhuan": "The imperial court widely opened the way to speak out, so all false borrowings are allowed."
Translation: The imperial court widely opened the way to speak frankly, so Loan everything.
4. Congjianruliu [cóng jiàn rú liú]
Explanation: Admonishment: direct advice. Heeding advice is as natural as flowing water. Describes willingness to accept criticism and suggestions from others.
Source: Han Dynasty Ban Biao's "The Theory of Wang's Order": "Following advice is like going down the current, and following interesting times is like going with the sound."
Translation: Liu following advice is like going down the river, It sounded like it was going.
5. Cong shàn rú liú [cóng shàn rú liú]
Explanation: Cong: obey; Shan: good, correct; Ruliu: like running water downward, describing quickly. Describes being able to quickly accept good opinions or suggestions from others.
Source: "Zuo Zhuan·Eight Years of Chenggong": "A gentleman says: It is appropriate to follow good advice like a stream."
Translation: A gentleman says: One should quickly accept good opinions from others. Yes.