耳聞不如目見

seeing sth for oneself is better than hearing about it from others

ear / handle (archaeology) / and that is all (Classical Chinese)

to hear of / to hear about

surname Wen

to hear / news / well-known / famous / reputation / fame / to smell / to sniff at

no; not so / (bound form) not; un-

not equal to / not as good as / inferior to / it would be better to

as / as if / such as

eye / (literary) to look; to regard / eye (of a net); mesh / mesh size; grit size (abbr. for 目數|目数[mu4 shu4]) / item; section / list; catalogue / (taxonomy) order / name; title

to see / to meet / to appear (to be sth) / to interview / opinion / view

to appear / also written 現|现[xian4]