眼观四面，耳听八方
yǎn​guān​sì​miàn'ěr​tīng​bā​fāng

to be observant and alert

  1. 眼 yǎn noun
    eye
    eye; the visual organ of people or animals
  2. 观 觀 guān verb
    to look at
    to look at; to watch; to observe or behold
  3. 四面 sì​miàn noun
    all sides
    The four directions of north, south, east, and west; refers generally to all sides or the entire surrounding area.
  4. ， ěr
    non-Chinese
  5. 耳听八方 耳聽八方 ěr​tīng​bā​fāng
    extremely vigilant
    Extremely vigilant; sharp-eared. Often used alongside 眼观四路 yǎn​guān​sì​lù to describe someone alert to everything happening around them.