Chinese proverbs
From Wikiquote
This is a collection of Chinese proverbs (諺語 yànyŭ) and idioms (成語 chéngyŭ), given in and sorted by their pinyin transcription. Chinese proverbs and four-plus character idioms are developed from the formulaic or social dialect/saying/expression (歇後語 in pinyin: xiēhòuyŭ) and historical story in Chinese.
Some proverbs are literary; that is, from a written source. (See the historical written language or the more modern written language.) Others originated among families, street vendors, and other commoners--all walks of life. '
Proverbs [edit]
All proverbs/idioms are ordered by their pinyin transcription in the following order.
- First character
- Initial
- Ending
- Tone
- Radical strokes
- Total strokes
- Next character following the same procedure (if previous is the same)
- Least amount of character
Initials: B Ch D F G H J K R S Sh T Y Z
B [edit]
不 聞 不 若 聞 之 ，聞 之 不 若 見 之 ，見 之 不 若 知 之 ，知 之 不 若 行 之 ；學 至 於 行 之 而 止 矣 。- Transliteration (pinyin): Bù wén bù ruò wén zhī, wén zhī bù ruò jiàn zhī, jiàn zhī bù ruò zhīzhī, zhīzhī bù ruò xíng zhī; xué zhìyú xíng zhī ér zhǐ yǐ.
- Traditional: 不聞不若聞之，聞之不若見之，見之不若知之，知之不若行之；學至於行之而止矣
- Simplified: 不闻不若闻之，闻之不若见之，见之不若知之，知之不若行之；学至于行之而止矣
- Literally: Not hearing is not as good as hearing, hearing is not as good as seeing, seeing is not as good as mentally knowing, mentally knowing is not as good as acting; true learning continues up to the point that action comes forth
- Common: I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.
- Moral: You can only understand something by trying it yourself.
- Revised: Tell me and I [will] forget. Show me and I [will] remember. Involve me and I [will] understand.
- Also: You can't understand until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes.
- From Xun Zi (荀子 8.儒效 23）.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Bù wén bù ruò wén zhī, wén zhī bù ruò jiàn zhī, jiàn zhī bù ruò zhīzhī, zhīzhī bù ruò xíng zhī; xué zhìyú xíng zhī ér zhǐ yǐ.
Ch [edit]
長 江 後 浪 推 前 浪 - Transliteration (pinyin): Chángjiāng hòulàng tuī qiánlàng.
- Traditional: 長江後浪推前浪
- Simplified: 长江后浪推前浪
- Literally: the Changjiang River waves behind drive the waves ahead.
- Meaning: Each new generation excels the last one.
- 汉语成语俗语对照词典. 南京大学出版社. 2008. p. 162. ISBN 7305052116.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Chángjiāng hòulàng tuī qiánlàng.
D [edit]
讀 萬 卷 書 不 如 行 萬 里 路 - Transliteration (pinyin): Dú wàn juǎn shū bùrú xíng wànlǐ lù.
- Traditional: 讀萬卷書不如行萬里路
- Simplified: 读万卷书不如行万里路
- Literally: Reading ten thousand books is not as useful as traveling ten thousand miles.
- English equivalent: A pound of practice is more worth than an ounce of theory.
- Meaning: Practical experience is more useful than theory.
- 2010國立臺灣大學藝文年鑑. 國立臺灣大學出版中心. p. 27. ISBN 9860288844.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Dú wàn juǎn shū bùrú xíng wànlǐ lù.
F [edit]
防 人 之 心 不 可 無 - Transliteration (pinyin): Fáng rén zhī xīn bùkě wú.
- Traditional: 防人之心不可無
- Simplified: 防人之心不可无
- Literally: Careful with others is a must have.
- Meaning: Be cautious of people that may hurt you intentionally.
- 俗语词典. 商务印书馆. 1994. p. 93.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Fáng rén zhī xīn bùkě wú.
風 向 轉 變 時 ,有 人 築 牆 ,有 人 造 風 車 - Transliteration (pinyin): Fēng xiàng zhuàn biàn shí, yǒu rén zhú qiáng, yǒu rén zào fēng chē.
- Traditional: 風向轉變時,有人築牆,有人造風車
- Simplified: 风向转变时,有人筑墙,有人造风车
- Literally: When the wind of change blows, some build walls, while others build windmills.
- English equivalent: When one door closes, another opens.
- Meaning: When your life seems to be changing, it is better to adapt to the changes rather than be stubborn.
- Friedman (2009). 世界又熱、又平、又擠: 全球暖化、能源耗竭、人口爆炸危機下的新經濟革命. 天下遠見出版股份有限公司.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Fēng xiàng zhuàn biàn shí, yǒu rén zhú qiáng, yǒu rén zào fēng chē.
福 無 重 至 ,禍 不 單 行 - Transliteration (pinyin): Fú wú zhòng zhì, huòbùdānxíng.
- Traditional: 福無重至,禍不單行
- Simplified: 福无重至,祸不单行
- Literally: Fortune does not come twice. Misfortune does not come alone.
- English equivalent: Misery loves company.
- Meaning: The emphasis is on "misfortune doesn't come alone". It's often used as an opener or exclamation, when people talk about coincidental events of misfortune.
- Farhoomand (2005). 香港中小企業管理與創新: 案例滙編. 香港大學出版社. p. 64. ISBN 1.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Fú wú zhòng zhì, huòbùdānxíng.
父 債 子 還 - Transliteration (pinyin): Fù zhài zǐ huán.
- Traditional: 父債子還
- Simplified: 父债子还
- Literally: Father's debt, son to give back.
- Meaning: Each generation will reap what the former generation has sown.
- 把話說到心窩裡. 水雲齋文化事業有限公司. 2001. p. 154. ISBN 9579279551.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Fù zhài zǐ huán.
G [edit]
H [edit]
害 人 之 心 不 可 有 - Transliteration (pinyin): Hài rén zhī xīn bù kě yǒu.
- Traditional: 害人之心不可有
- Simplified: 害人之心不可有
- Literally: Do not harbour intentions to hurt others.
- Note: This is usually used before 防人之心不可無 (see above)
- 俗语词典 (dictionary). 商务印书馆 (The comercial press). 1994. p. 301.
- English translation: Do not desire to hurt others in the depths of your heart.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Hài rén zhī xīn bù kě yǒu.
J [edit]
今 日 事 ，今 日 畢 - Transliteration (pinyin): Jīnrì shì, jīnrì bì.
- Traditional: 今日事，今日畢
- Simplified: 今日事，今日毕
- Literally: Things of today, accomplished today.
- Meaning: Don't put off until tomorrow what can be finished today.
- Bahasa Cina. Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. p. 26. ISBN 9833531105.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Jīnrì shì, jīnrì bì.
K [edit]
空 穴 來 風 未 必 無 因 - Transliteration (pinyin): Kōngxuéláifēng, wèibì wú yīn
- Traditional: 空穴來風，未必無因
- Simplified: 空穴来风,未必无因
- Literally: If the wind comes from an empty cave, it's not without a reason.
- Meaning: Things don't happen for no reason; everything has a cause.
- English Equivalent: Where there's smoke, there's fire.
- 经略幽燕: (979-987) : 宋辽战争军事灾难的战略分析. 中文大學出版社. 2003. p. 120. ISBN 9629960532.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Kōngxuéláifēng, wèibì wú yīn
L [edit]
良 药 苦 口 - Transliteration (pinyin): Liángyào kǔkǒu
- Traditional: 良藥苦口
- Simplified: 良药苦口
- Translation: Good medicine tastes bitter.
- Meaning: We often don't heed good advice.
- English equivalent: Advice most needed is the least heeded.
- Po-Ching (2000). Chinese Lexicon. Taylor \& Francis. p. 127.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Liángyào kǔkǒu
- Yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ.
- Translation: Having such a fathere must be such a son.
- English equivalent: Like father, like son.
- Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
- Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
O [edit]
一 朝 被 蛇 咬 ，十 年 怕 井 绳 - Transliteration (pinyin): Yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo, shí nián pà jǐng shéng.
- Traditional: 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井繩
- Simplified: 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳
- Translation: One bitten by a snake for a snap dreads a rope for a decade.
- English equivalent: A burnt child dreads the fire; Once bitten, twice shy.
- 林鸿钦,佘振荣,陈添来,刘香云,郭唯真 & 黄慧羚. Bahasa Cina (Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd ed.). p. 106. ISBN 9833532489.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo, shí nián pà jǐng shéng.
R [edit]
人 算 不 如 天 算 - Transliteration (pinyin): Rén suàn bùrú tiān suàn
- Traditional: 人算不如天算
- Simplified: 人算不如天算
- Literally: Man's schemes are inferior to those made by heaven.
- Figuratively: Man proposes and God disposes.
- Compare: The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
- Along With Time. 秀威資訊科技股份有限公司. p. 246. ISBN 9862217340.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Rén suàn bùrú tiān suàn
肉 包 子 打 狗 - Transliteration (pinyin): Ròu bāozi dǎ gǒu.
- Traditional: 肉包子打狗
- Simplified: 肉包子打狗
- Literally: To hit a dog with a meat-bun.
- Interpretation: Punishment gives less incentive than a reward.
- Other possible interpretation: There might be a radically different and much more effective way to solve a problem.
- 歇后语词典. 上海大学出版社. 2007. p. 135. ISBN 7810588834.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Ròu bāozi dǎ gǒu.
S [edit]
三 個 和 尚 沒 水 喝 - Transliteration (pinyin): Sān gè héshàng méi shuǐ hē.
- Traditional: 三個和尚沒水喝
- Simplified: 三个和尚没水喝
- Literally: Three monks have no water to drink.
- Meaning: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
- 职业道德与就业创业指导. 清华大学出版社. 2005. p. 71. ISBN 1.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Sān gè héshàng méi shuǐ hē.
死 馬 當 活 馬 醫 - Transliteration (pinyin): Sǐ mǎ dāng huó mǎ yī.
- Traditional: 死馬當活馬醫
- Simplified: 死马当活马医
- Literally: Try to save the dead horse as if it is still alive.
- English equivalent: Nothing is impossible.
- Meaning: Do the impossible, for it may truly be possible.
- 俗语词典. 商务印书馆. 1994. p. 89.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Sǐ mǎ dāng huó mǎ yī.
Sh [edit]
師 傅 領 進 門 ，修 行 在 個 人 - Transliteration (pinyin): Shī fu lǐng jìn mén, xiū xíng zài gè rén.
- Traditional: 師傅領進門，修行在個人
- Simplified: 师傅领进门，修行在个人
- Meaning: Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.
- English equivalent: You can lead the horse to the water, but you can't make it drink.
- 紫檀與象牙——當代文人風範:. 秀威資訊科技股份有限公司. 2010. p. 130. ISBN 9862214619.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Shī fu lǐng jìn mén, xiū xíng zài gè rén.
授 人 以 魚 不 如 授 人 以 漁 - Transliteration (pinyin): Shòu rén yǐ yú bùrú shòu rén yǐ yú.
- Traditional: 授人以魚不如授人以漁
- Simplified: 授人以鱼不如授人以渔
- Literally: Teach a man to take a fish is not equal to teach a man how to fish.
- English equivalent: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
- 愿景. 中信出版社. 2003. p. VII. ISBN 7800736938.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Shòu rén yǐ yú bùrú shòu rén yǐ yú.
樹 倒 猢 猻 散 - Transliteration (pinyin): Shù dǎo húsūn sàn.
- Traditional: 樹倒猢猻散
- Simplified: 树倒猢狲散
- Literally: When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
- English equivalent: Rats desert a sinking ship.
- Usage: When a leader loses power, his followers become disorganized. This proverb is often used to describe fair-weather friends.[1]
- Transliteration (pinyin): Shù dǎo húsūn sàn.
水 能 載 舟 ，亦 能 覆 舟 - Transliteration (pinyin): Shuǐ néng zài zhōu, yì néng fù zhōu.
- Traditional: 水能載舟，亦能覆舟
- Simplified: 水能载舟，亦能覆舟
- Literally: Not only can water float a boat, it can sink it also.
- Moral: Nature can help and harm you. The people(water) can raise someone(boat) to power, but can also take it away(sink).
- English equivalent: The knife cuts both ways.
- Gao (2007). 金色俄羅斯:穿越時空之旅:. 臺灣商務印書館股份有限公司. p. 112. ISBN 9570521279.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Shuǐ néng zài zhōu, yì néng fù zhōu.
S [edit]
- Sān sī ér hòu xíng.
三思而后行
-
- Translation: Think three times before you move.
- English equivalent: Measure thrice, cut once.
- Meaning: One should always act only after due consideration. A hasty action may involve an improper consideration of important aspects.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.
T [edit]
天 高 皇 帝 遠 - Transliteration (pinyin): Tiān gāo huángdì yuǎn
- Traditional: 天高皇帝遠
- Simplified: 天高皇帝远
- Translation: The sky is big and the emperor is far away.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Tiān gāo huángdì yuǎn
Y [edit]
一 分 耕 耘 ，一 分 收 穫 - Transliteration (pinyin): Yī fēn gēngyún, yī fēn shōuhuò.
- Traditional: 一分耕耘，一分收穫
- Simplified: 一分耕耘，一分收获
- Literally: If one does not plow, there will be no harvest.
- English equivalent: You reap what you sow; Honey is sweet, but the bees sting.
- 中四普通(学术)课程华文课文强化复习四上Chinese Enrichment Revision for Secondary 4A (Normal Acdemic). 新亚出版社. p. 26. ISBN 9812558624.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Yī fēn gēngyún, yī fēn shōuhuò.
有 錢 能 使 鬼 推 磨 - Transliteration (pinyin): Yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò.
- Traditional: 有錢能使鬼推磨
- Simplified: 有钱能使鬼推磨
- Literally: If you have money you can make the devil push your grind stone.
- English equivalents: Money talks; Money makes the world go round.
- Meaning: Money is power.
- 《孽海情天》魔鏡三部曲之第一部. 澳门教育研究中心. 2010. p. 46. ISBN 9996580903.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò.
Z [edit]
自 助 者 天 助 - Transliteration (pinyin): Zìzhù zhě tiānzhù.
- Traditional: 自助者天助
- Simplified: 自助者天助
- Literally: Those who help themselves, God will help.
- Meaning: God will help those who help themselves.
- 水煮三国(白金版)(1 200 000册超级畅销书全新升级.华语圈最具影响力的管理学著作之一). 中信出版社. 2008. p. 11. ISBN 7508612493.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Zìzhù zhě tiānzhù.
早 起 的 鳥 兒 有 蟲 吃 - Transliteration (pinyin): Zǎoqǐ de niǎo er yǒu chóng chī.
- Traditional: 早起的鳥兒有蟲吃
- Simplified: 早起的鸟儿有虫吃
- Literally: Early bird gets the worm.
- Meaning: Pioneers will get much.
- ( ). 小五华文CA \& SA Continual Assessment \& Semestral Assessment Papers for Primary 5 Chinese. 新亚出版社. p. 19. ISBN 9812558888.
- Transliteration (pinyin): Zǎoqǐ de niǎo er yǒu chóng chī.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ↑ Learn Chinese the Fun Way 1, p119, Federal Press, Singapore
External links [edit]
- Chinese sayings and proverbs Large collection of Chinese Proverbs translated to English
- Oneaday.org - One Chinese idiom a day (simplified and traditional characters) with pinyin transliteration and English translation
- Chinese Aesop - Chinese proverbs, parables, fables, idioms and stories with illustrations
- GoldenProverbs.com A collection of Chinese proverbs
- Chinese proverbs and sayings translated into English equivalents
- Famous Chinese Sayings - Old Chinese sayings and idioms with Pinyin and English.[[w:Insert Wikipedia pagename|]]
