Proverbs

Proverbs

Annotation And Connotations

A An able horse will never come back to feed in the same stable. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hao3 ma3 bu4 chi1 hui2 tou2 cao3.) A capable employer never returns to the same employer after leaving him. Add a flower to a bouquet. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jin3 shang4 tian1 hua1.) Make improvements upon something good with an attempt at perfection. Add frost to snow. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Xue3 shang4 jia1 shuang1.) (Similar proverb: A weasel bit a sick duck. ????????: Huang2shu3lang2 dan1 yao3 bing4 ya1zi) Add insult to injury. Add legs to the snake one has just painted. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hua4 she2 tian1 zu2.) Do something that is totally unnecessary and spoil what you already have done. Add oil to a fire. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Huo3 shang4 jiao1 you2.) Isn't it "adding fuel to a flame?" Aged ginger is more pungent. (Chinese original: ??????Chinese Pinyin: Jiang1 shi4 lao3de la4.) Elderly people are more experienced. An aged steed confined to the stable still aspires after the glory of galloping a thousand miles. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Lao3 ji4 fu2 li4, zhi4 zai4 qian1 li3.) Ambition survives even in senior age. An ant may well destroy an entire dam. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Qian1 li3 zhi1 di1, kui4 yu2 yi3xue2.) If a small problem is overlooked, it could develop into a big disaster as ant can multiply, making tunnels in the dam to allow water soak in and consequently bring it to a collapse. Any book you open will benefit your mind. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Kai1 juan4 you3 yi4.) Approach heaven with a single stride. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi2 bu4 deng1 tian1.) Make an extremely fast progress or get a huge promotion. As a snipe and a clam are entangled in a fight, a fisherman catch them both. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yu4 bang4 xiang1 zheng1, yu2 weng1 de2 li4.) When two dogs fight for a bone, a third runs always with it. The proverb tells us that all parties in a dispute may end up being losers to the benefit of others.

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B A base person often thinks of a man of honor as mean as himself. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi3 xiao3ren2 zhi1 xin1 du4 jun1zi3 zhi1 fu4.) Be considerable to others and you will be treated likewise. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yu4 ren2 fang1bian4, zi4ji3 fang1bian4.) Begin to dig a well only when one feels thirsty. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Lin2 ke3 jue2 jing3.) Begin to take measures when it is too late. A book holds a house of gold. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shu1 zhong1 zi4 you3 huang2jin1 wu1.) It is a motto adults use to encourage youngsters to study. If you study hard, you'll have a good job and a chance to make good money. A bottle half filled (with vinegar) tends to rock. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ban3 ping2 cu4 - luan4 huang4dang1.) The moral of the proverb is something like "Still water runs deep." When someone has a lot of learning, he or she still wants to learn more; only those who know a little brag a lot. Burn a forest to farm and drain a pond to fish. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Fen2 lin2 er3 tian2, jie2 ze2 er3 yu2.) Isn't this what some of us doing today to our environment against the 3000-year old proverbial warning? In many other aspects we are also prone to such mistakes: in trying to achieve an end by all means, we wittingly or unwittingly ignore the consequences. Butcher the donkey after it finished his job on the mill. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Xie4 mo4 sha1 lü2.) Isn't that ungrateful and mean? There are people who after taking advantage of you turn their back to you. Go to top

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Proverbs


A camel standing amidst a flock of sheep. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yang2qun2 li3 tou2 chu1 luo4tuo.) A crane is too obvious when it stands among a flock of chickens and looks very awkward. It is also true with a camel amidst a flock of sheep and a flea when it stands on top of a hairless head. They all carry a pejorative tone: the thing that out stands others is something awkward if not necessarily bad. Carry out an execution before seeking the decree. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Xian1 zhan3 hou4 zou4.) There are situations when one has to act before reporting to his superior. Shouldn't it be avoided as much as possible? A chat with a friend is worth over ten years of schooling.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yu4 jun1 yi4 xi2 tan2, sheng4 du2 shi2 nian2 shu1.) This is a hyperbole. However, books may not be able to teach us everything. A clay figure fears rain; a lie fears truth. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ni2ren2 pa4 yu3, huang3yan2 pa4 li3.) A clay idol of bodhisattva fording a river can hardly save itself, let alone anyone else. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ni2 pu2sa4 guo4 he2, zi4shen1 nan2 bao3.) Bodhisattva is believed to be an enlightened Buddhist god (goddess in Chinese beliefs) who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others. However, such a savior made in clay could save nobody on the other side of a river as the water would soak and dissolve it. When one is in serious trouble, he may not be able to save his own tail, let alone others'. A clumsy bird that flies first will get to the forest earlier. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ben4 niao3 xian1 fei1 zao3 ru4 lin2.) Usually as an expression of modesty and humbleness, it means that one who is slow in learning should make extra efforts. Conjure up clouds with one turn of one's hand and rain with another. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Fan1 yun2 fu4 yu3.) To say that someone can conjure up clouds and rain with his turn of hand is to say that he is capricious or skillful at playing tricks. A crane standing amidst a flock of chickens. (Chinese original: Chinese Pin yin: He4 li4 ji1qun2.) A crane is too obvious when it stands among a flock of chickens and looks very awkward. It is also true with a camel amidst a flock of sheep and a flea when it stands on top of a hairless head. They all carry a pejorative tone: the thing that out stands others is something awkward if not necessarily bad. Crows everywhere are equally black. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tian1xia4 wu1ya1 yi1ban1 hei1.) It is a metaphorical statement of "Bad people are bad no matter where you find them because human nature never changes". Go to top

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Proverbs


A dagger can be concealed in a smile. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Xiao4 li3 cang2 dao1.) Beware of this "kiss of death." A deliberate inaction is better than a blind action. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 dong4 bu4 ru2 yi2 jing4.) Think before you leap. Diligence is the vehicle on the paths of Mountains of Books; endurance is the vessel on the courses of the Seas of Learning.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shu1 shan1 you3 lu4 qin2 wei2 jing4, xue2 hai3 wu2 ya2 ku3 zuo4 zhou1.) Disasters never come alone. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Huo4 bu4 dan1 xing2.) Talking of extremely bad luck. Similar to "Misery loves company.¡° A dish of carrot hastily cooked may still has soil not cleaned off the vegetable. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Luo2bo1 kuai4 le bu4 xi3 ni2.) When hurry through a job it is impossible to attend to the minute details. Dismantle the bridge after crossing it. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Guo4 he2 chai1 qiao2.) Isn't that ungrateful and mean? There are people who after taking advantage of you turn their back to you. Display one's proficiency of axe in front of the master carpenter. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ban1 men2 nong4 fu3.) Display one's minimal skill before an expert. Distant water won't help to put out a fire close at hand. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yuan3 shui3 jiu4 bu4 liao3 jin4 huo3.) A slow remedy can't meet an emergency. Distant water won't quench your immediate thirst. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yuan3 shui3 jie3 bu4 liao3 jin4 ke3.) Same as above. A dog will jump over a wall when cornered. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Gou3 ji2 tiao4 qiang2.) Avoid putting others in a very difficult position, or you'll get hurt yourself. Don't hit one on the face. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Da3 ren2 bu4 da3 lian3.) Disclose one's shortcomings in public would only antagonize him. Be diplomatic or tactic and he may accept your criticism. Don't mention the word "dwarf" in front of a short person. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Dang1 zhe ai3ren2 bie2 shuo1 ai3 hua4.) Mentioning a person's shortcomings will hurt his feelings. One needs to be tactful or diplomatic when communicating with others. Don't suspect your employee. If one is suspicious, don't employ him. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yong4 ren2 bu4 yi2, yi2 ren2 bu2 yong4.) Don't want others to know what you have done? Better not have done it anyway. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yao4 xiang3 ren2 bu4 zhi1, chu2fei1 ji3 mo4 wei2.) A donkey has limited abilities. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Qian2 lü2 ji4 qiong2.) The story goes that when a tiger sees a donkey for the first time it does not know whether the donkey is a threat. After a few teases, the tiger learned the limits of its ability. The result is apparent. The proverb is used to refer to someone who has exhausted his limited ability. Never use this proverb with your colleague or friends. It is derogatory: the slight of donkeys seems universal. Donkey's lips do not fit in with a horse's mouth.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Lü2chun2 bu2 dui4 ma3zui3.) It refers to something totally irrelevant. The dragon has nine sons, each different from the others. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 long2 sheng1 jiu3 zhong3, zhong3 zhong3 bu4 tong2.) Rarely do sibblings have the same temperament and characters. A dragon will be teased by a shrimp in a shoal water; a tiger will be bullied by a dog on a treeless plain. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Long2 you2 qian3 shui3 zao1 xia1 xi4, hu3 luo4 ping2 yang2 bei4 quan3 qi1.) (A similar proverb: A mighty dragon cannot subdue a local snake. : Qiang2 long2 bu1 an4 di4 tou2 she2.) One thrives in his or her own territory. An able person in an adverse environment cannot bring his talent into full play. Instead, he or she may become an underdog of a less able person who has been in that environment for a long time with a lot of connections. Draw a cake to satisfy one's hunger. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hua4 bing3 chong1 ji1.) An unrealistic solution to a problem serves no other purpose than self deception. Dripping water can eat through a stone. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Di1 shui3 chuan1 shi2.) Perseverance will lead to success. A dog won't forsake his master because of his poverty; a son never deserts his mother for her homely appearance. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Gou3 bu1 xian2 jia1 pin2, er2 bu1 xian2 niang2 chou3.) Don't despise something or someone that is close to you. Drinking with a bosom friend, a thousand shots are too few; Talking with a disagreeable person, half a sentence is too many. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jiu3 feng2 zhi1ji3 qian1 bei1 shao3, hua4 bu4 tou2 ji1 ban4 ju4 duo1.) Dream different dreams on the same bed. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tong2 chuang2 yi4 meng4.) Hide different purposes behind the semblance of accord. A dream that lasts merely a millet soup's cooking time. (Chinese original: or Chinese Pinyin: Huang2liang2 yi1 meng4 or Yi1 zhen3 huang2liang2.) Some got a magic pillow and dreamed all the happiness a human being could think of, but upon his awakening, he realized that the pot of millet soup was not yet ready next door. The proverb is akin to "day dreaming" - a fond hope that can never materialize. Drinking the water of a well, one should never forget who dig it. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Chi1 shui3 bu1 wang4 jue1 jing3 ren2.) One should always be grateful to those who helped him succeed. A drop of sweat spent in a drill is a drop of blood saved in a battle. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ping2shi2 duo1 liu2 han4, zhan4shi2 shao3 liu2 xue4.) More practice will give one a better chance of success in real situation. Go to top

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Proverbs


Each law suit is a fire; you can't avoid its burning flame. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 chang3 guan1si1 yi1 chang3 huo3, ren4 ni3 hao3han4 mei2 chu4 duo3.) It may not be true, but this is a traditional Chinese belief. People would rather suffer some loss than find themselves entangled in a law suit that could prove more costly. Each sovereign maintains his own courtiers. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 chao2 tian1zi1 yi1 chao2 chen2.) For instance, each president has his own cabinet. Eight Immortals cross the sea, each employing his or her theurgy. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ba1xian1 guo4 hai3, ge4 xian3 shen2tong1.) The Eight Immortals (Baxian) are legendary, each has a special miraculous power. The proverb describes a situation where people bring their diverse talents into play in accomplishing a task. Even a rabbit will bite when it is cornered. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tu4zi ji2 le ye3 yao3 ren2.) The evil is dreaded by men but not heaven; the kind-hearted is cheated by mortals but not God. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ren2 e4 ren2 pa4 tian1 bu2 pa4, ren2 shan4 ren2 qi1 tian1 bu4 qi1.) Go to top

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Proverbs


Fail to steal a chicken, which instead ate up your bait. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tou1 ji1 bu4cheng2 fan3 shi1 yi1ba3 mi3.) Kind of like "Shoot Your Own Feet". Starting out to hurt others but ending up in being hurt. A fall into a ditch, a gain in your wit. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Chi1 yi2 qian4 zhang3 yi2 zhi4.) People learn from their mistakes. Fallen leaves return to the root. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Luo4ye4 gui1 gen4.) Wherever they are, Chinese would like to return to their motherland in their senior ages. Fearing laws makes one happy every day; withholding truth from heaven worries one all the time. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ju4 fa3 tian1 tian1 le4, qi1 tian1 ri4 ri4 you1.) A feet can be shorter while an inch can be longer. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Chi3 duan3 cun4 chang2.) Compared with something longer, a feet may be shorter; compared with something shorter, an inch seems longer. Things are relative: everything has its merits and demerits. Fifty steps laugh at a hundred steps.

(Chinese original:

Chinese Pinyin: Wu3 shi2 bu4 xiao4 yi1 bai3 bu4.) Don't gloat over others' mistakes while you are making the same ones in a different fasion. A fierce dog ruins a liquor store business. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Gou3 meng3 jiu3 suan1.) A once successful liquor store suddenly sees its business faltering: customers stop coming. Finally the owner realizes that it was his fierce dog that has scared them away. A bad company may drive other friends away. Another dog-related proverb that does injustice to the animal. Fight poison with poison. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi3 du2 gong1 du2.) Use the opponent's tactics to attack the opponent. Similar to "Fight fire with fire." Fighting a wolf with a flex stalk - either side is afraid of the other. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ma2gan3 da3 lang2 - liang3tou2 pa4.) Each party is fearful of the other: the wolf thought the stalk could be a fatal weapon while the person fears the consequence of his trick seen through by the wolf. Are you ever caught in a situation like this? Fill in the eyes to a painted dragon. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hua4 long2 dian3 jing1.) A finishing touch. It is said that a famous Chinese painter painted four dragons without eyes. When asked, he explained that with eyes they would fly away. Incredulous, his friends insisted on his filling in the eyes. Sure enough, as soon as the painter added eyes to two of the dragons, they started flying away. This proverb is most often used to describe a situation where one who uses succinct remarks to summarize the gist of an article or a speech. Fish a needle in the sea. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Da4 hai3 lao2 zhen1.) Probably you have already thought of the English counterpart: looking for a "needle in a haystack." Fish cannot survive in absolutely clear water. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shui3 zhi4 qing1 ze2 wu2 yu2.) One should not demand absolute purity or perfectness. Fish for the moon in the water. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shui3 zhong1 lao1 yue4.) It is a useless attempt. A folklore goes that a kingdom of monkeys seeing the refection of the moon in a well thought it fell into it. They formed a monkey chain to fish it, only to find that the moon was still in the evening sky. Fish in muddled water. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hun2 shui3 mo1 yu2.) Take the advantage of a confused situation to make personal gains. A flea on the top of a bald head - it is only too apparent. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tu1zi tou2shang de shi1zi - ming2 bai3 zhe de shi4.) A crane is too obvious when it stands among a flock of chickens and looks very awkward. It is also true with a camel amidst a flock of sheep and a flea when it stands on top of a hairless head. They all carry a pejorative tone: the thing that out stands others is something awkward if not necessarily bad. Flies never infest an egg without cracks.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Cang1ying2 bu4 ding1 wu2 feng4 dan4.) Cracked eggs that yield odors are as vulnerable to flies as problem children to gangs or bad company. A flower you plant may not necessarily bloom; but the seed of a tree you happen to drop may grow into a forest. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: You3 yi4 zai1 hua1 hua1 bu4 kai1, wu2 yi4 cha1 liu3 liu3 cheng2 yin1.) This irony happens often in real life. For instance, one's spouse may not be the sweetheart one used to spent so much time and energy to woo. Some discoveries and inventions happen in the same manner: Coca Cola is for one. Flowers look different in different eyes. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ge4 hua1 ru4 ge4 yan3.) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Flowing water never goes bad; door hubs never gather termites. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Liu2shui3 bu4 fu3, hu4shu1 bu2 du4.) It means that people got to renew their knowledge not to stay behind. The English "Rolling stone gathers no moss" has a different meaning. A flying moth throws itself into a fire. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Fei1 e2 tou2 huo3.) To say one is a flying moth that throws itself into a fire is to say that he is looking for his own demise. "The Foolish Old Man" Removes a Mountain. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yu2gong1 yi2 shan1.) The legend goes that an old man was leading his family in picking away at a mountain in front of his house. When asked how he could accomplish this feat, the "Foolish Old Man" replied that if his family worked ceaselessly generation after generation, the mountain would eventually be leveled. He said, "An inch removed, it has an inch lesser." This proverb was once quoted by Mao Tse-tung to encourage the Chinese to fight the formidable Japanese invaders during WWII. The moral is, in dealing with a seemingly very difficult task, keep on working at it without fear, and you will eventually succeed. For the full story, please read my book Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales of the Han Chinese, to be published in spring 2006 by Libraries Unlimited. Force tells weak from strong for a moment; truth tells right from wrong all the time. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi4shi2 qiang2 ruo4 zai4yu2 li4, wan4gu3 sheng4 fu4 zai4yu2 li3.) Forget the fishing gear as soon as the fish is caught. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: De2 yu2 wang4 quan2.) (An annotation is available here.) Forget the means by which the end is attained. A fox borrows the tiger's might. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hu3 jia3 hu3 wei1.) A fox caught by a tiger struck an idea of survival. She led the tiger to parade among the other animals, who of course scampered for life as they saw the tiger coming. The fox, however, made the tiger believe that the animals feared her instead. As a result, the tiger let the fox go. The proverb says of a weaker soul borrowing a bigger one's might to accomplish something he can't do otherwise.

For a complete story, please read my book Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales of the Han Chinese, to be published in spring 2006 by Libraries Unlimited. Foxes grieve over the death of rabbits. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tu4 si3 hu2 bei1.) The proverb is used derogatorily to refer to the forlornness that bad people feel upon learning the misfortune of their like. A fragrant bloom is not necessarily a beautiful flower; an orator may not be a crackerjack. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hua1 xiang1 bu4 yi2ding4 mei3li4, neng2 shuo1 bu4 yi2ding4 hui4 zuo4.) Action is better than oration. Fragments of fox fur, sewn together, will make a robe. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ji2 ye4 cheng2 qiu2.) "Many a little makes a mickle." A friend made is a road paved; an enemy created is a wall built. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jiao1 ge4 peng2you3 duo1 tiao2 lu4, shu4 ge4 di2ren2 duo1 du3 qiang2.) How true: friends help while people you offend may turn out to be your liability. We should make more friends than enemies. A frog in a well shaft (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jing3 di2 zhi1 wa1.) A frog who lived in a well all his life never knew what the real body of waters was until a sea turtle told him about it. This proverb refers to somebody who has a very narrow-minded view of what they see or think. For a complete story, please read my book Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales of the Han Chinese, to be published in spring 2006 by Libraries Unlimited. Fruits of the same tree have different tastes; children of the same mother have various qualities. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi2 shu4 zhi1 guo3 you3 suan1 you3 tian2, yi1 mu3 zhi1 zi3 you3 yu2 you3 xian2.)

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Proverbs Connotations

Annotation

And

The gate of charity is hard to open nor close; a guest is easy to invite but hard to turn away. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shan4 men2 nan2 kai1, shan4 men2 nan2 bi4. Zhao1 zhi1 ze2 lai2, tui1 zhi1 bu2 qu4.) When offering charity or help, be cautious of people that may take advantage of you. A girl apes her neighbor's frowning.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Dong1shi1 xiao4 pin4.) A beauty is beautiful even when she was sick and frowned all day. A homely girl in her neighborhood tried to ape her frowning thinking that she could become pretty but instead made herself look uglier. Give it to the Yangtze that rambles east to the sea. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Fu4 zhu1 dong1 liu2.) When you give something to the Yangtze that brings it to the waters, then everything you have been doing is in vain. Give one fish and he's fed for only a day. Teach one how to fish and he'll be free from hunger all his life. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shou4 ren2 yi3 yu2 zhi3 jiu4 yi1 shi2 zhi1 ji2, shou4 ren2 yi3 yu2 ze2 jie3 yi1 sheng1 zhi1 xu1..) "God help those who help themselves." Wouldn't be better to enable one to help themselves? A good fortune may forebode a bad luck, which may in turn disguise a good fortune. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Huo4 xi1 fu2 suo3 yi1, fu2 xi1 huo4 suo3 yi1.) Do not over rejoice over good fortune and be over dejected by a mishap. There are always the unforeseeable turns for the better or worse. A governor may commit arson while the governed are not allowed to light a lamp. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Zhi3 xu3 zhou1guan1 fang4 huo3, bu4 xu3 bai3xing4 dian3 ding1.) One may steal a horse while another may not look over the hedge. A bully may do whatever he wants but won't bear the sight of others doing a fraction of what he is doing. Good will be rewarded with good and evil with evil; it is only a matter of time. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shan4 e4 dao4 tou2 zhong1 you3 bao4, zhi3 deng3 lai2 zao3 yu4 lai2 chi2.) "What goes around comes around." Guard against disgrace in times of favor; be prepared for danger in times of safety. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: De2 chong3 si1 ru3, an1 ju1 si1 wei1.) Go to top

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Proverbs


Harmony makes both a family and a nation prosperous. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jia1 he2 ri4zi4 wang4; guo2 he2 wan4 shi4 xing1.) Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger but a heart as soft as tofu. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Dao1zi zui3 dou4fu xin1.) Extremely difficulty and dangerous situation. Have one's ears pierced only before the wedding ceremony starts.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Lin2 shang4 jiao4 xian4 zha1 er3duo yan3r.) It is a criticism of procrastination. Like a bride who waited till the last minute to get things done that should have been done earlier. It also has the connotation that it might be too late to wait till the last minute. He who plays with fire may become its victim. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Wan2 huo3 zi4 fen2.) An evil doer will eventually end up being punished. He who stays near vermilion gets stained red; he who stays near ink gets stained black. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jin4 zhu1 zhe3 chi4, jin4 mo4 zhe3 hei1.) One takes on the color of his company. Help the needy but not the poor. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jiu4 ji2 bu4 jiu4 qiong2.) There are too many poor people to help. Those who are in dire need are the ones that need your help the most. A honeyed mouth hides a daggered heart. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Kou3 mi4 fu4 jian4.) Beware of this "kiss of death." Hidden dragons, crouching tigers. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Cang2 long2 wo4 hu3.) When you say some place has "hidden dragons and crouching tigers" you mean that that place has able people who are kept willingly or unwillingly in a low profile. The proverb is usually used to advise people not to take a place like that lightly. Hit a stone with an egg. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi3 luan3 tou2 shi2.) Overrate one's power and gets defeated because of it. Honing your hatchet will not delay your effort of wood cutting. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Mo2 dao1 bu2 wu4 kan3 chai2 gong1.) It seems to take some time to do a good preparation for doing, but it pays off in the long run. A horse cannot gain weight if not fed with extra fodder during the night; a man cannot become wealthy without earnings apart from his regular salaries. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ma3 wu2 ye4 cao3 bu4 fei2, ren2 wu2 wai4 kuai4 bu2 fu4.) One needs to find income beyond his regular salary. This proverb is often used by those who try to justify their efforts to get more wealth through unlawful means. How can you expect to find ivory in a dog's mouth? (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Gou3 zui3li3 tu3 bu1 chu1 xiang4ya2.) True, that is an impossibility. The connotation is you can not expect people of evil intent to utter anything good. By the way, in the Chinese culture, dogs are almost always negative in allusions. How can you put out a fire set on a cart-load of firewood with only a cup of water? (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Bei1 shui3 che1 xin1.) It is useless to apply minor remedies to a major problem. Go to top

I

Proverbs


If a son is uneducated, his dad is to blame. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Zi3 bu2 jiao4, fu4 zhi1 guo4.) Parents are important in their kids' education. If the lips are gone, the teeth will grow cold. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Chun2 wang2 chi3 han2.) Two parties share a common interest. If one is hurt, the other will, too. If you do not study hard when young you'll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shao4 xiao3 bu4 nu3li4, lao3 da4 tu2 shang1bei1.) Used to encourage children to study hard. If you have never done anything wrong, you should not be worrying about devils to knock at your door. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Wu2 shi4 bu2 pa4 gui3 jiao4 men2.) Same as "If you have not done anything evil, you should not worry too much": the good/regular always overwhelms the bad/irregular though in real life it is not necessarily so. An image of a bamboo has already been formed in mind before it is committed to the painting canvas. (Chinese original: or Chinese Pinyin: Xiong1 you3 cheng2 zhu2, or Cheng2 zhu2 zai4 xiong1.) One is certain about something to happen. Incidentally, it was said that there was once a translator who translated the proverb word for word as "a bamboo stick in the bosom" that made himself a laughing stock. In face of evil, one would rather be a jade broken than a brick intact. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Feng2 jian1 ning4 ke3 yu4 sui4, qi4 zheng4 bu4 qiu2 wa3 quan2.) One would rather die than surrender. An inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of time cannot be purchased for an inch of gold. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 cun4 guang1yin1 yi1 cun4 jin1; cun4 jin1 nan2 mai3 cun4 guang1yin1.) Disregard the different use of unit words describing nouns in different cultures. This proverb tells the truth that time is more valuable than money. Money spent or lost can be earned; time lost is lost for good. No money can buy it back. The motto is that we got to make good use of our time. It does not matter if your tavern sits in a remote location so long as the smell of your wine is appealing. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jiu3 xiang1 bu2 pa4 xiang4zi shen1.) Superb quality of your product or service compensates for other shortcomings. It is better to start weaving your fishing nets than merely coveting fish at the water. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Lin2 yuan1 mu4 yu2, bu4 ru2 tui4 er3 jie2 wang3.) One should act than daydream. It is easy to dodge a spear that comes in front of you but hard to avoid an arrow shot from behind.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ming2 qiang1 yi4 duo3, an4 jian4 nan2 fang2.) It is easier to guard against the obvious. It is impossible to add much weight with a single morsel; it is hard to travel afar with a single step. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi4 kou3 chi1 bu1 cheng2 pang4zi3, yi2 bu4 kua4 bu2 dao4 tian1 bian1.) One can't expect success overnight. Used to encourage people to work hard instead of seeking an impossible shortcut. It is too late for a galloping horse to stop at a clip; it is useless for a sinking boat to be mended in the middle of a river. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ma3 dao4 xuan2ya2 shou1 jiang1 wan3, chuan2 dao4 jiang1xin1 bu3 lou4 chi2.) Usually it is to advise people to quit bad habbits and behaviors before it is too late. It takes three years to learn to be a man of integrity; it only takes three days to degrade. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Xue2 hao3 san1nian2, xue2 huai4 san1tian1.) It is much easier to become corrupted. Go to top

J

Proverbs


A jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yu4 bu4 zhuo1 bu4 cheng2 qi4, ren2 bu2 jiao4 nan2 cheng2 cai2.) It is an emphasis on the need of education. Go to top

K

Proverbs


Return the jewelry but keep the box. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Mai3 du2 huan2 zhu1.) Whoever does this must lack judgment, appreciating things of lesser value. Kill a chicken before a monkey. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Sha1 ji1 gei3 hou2 kan4.) To warn the many by punishing a few. Kill a hen to get the egg. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Sha1 ji1 qu3 lüan3.) Same as above. Kill one to warn a hundred. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Sha1 yi1 jing3 bai3.) To warn the many by punishing a few. Kill two vultures with one arrow.

(Chinese original: birds with one stone.¡°

Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 jian4 shuang1 diao1.)

¡°Kill

two

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L

Proverbs


Learn from other's strong points to offset one's shortcomings. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Qu3 chang2 bu3 duan3.) Learning how the Handan residents walk. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Han2dan1 xue2 bu4.) A man hated the way he walked and decided to learn how people in the city of Handan carried themselves. The result was, however, not only did he fail to learn the new style, but he also forgot his own way of walking. He could only but crawl back to his hometown and became a laughing stock. The moral is that one should use critical thinking rather than blindly following others' models. Copying others without applying what is useful to one's practical needs can only make things worse. For a complete story, please read my book Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales of the Han Chinese, to be published in spring 2006 by Libraries Unlimited. A life with love is happy; a life for love is foolish. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Sheng1huo2 you3 ai4 xing4fu2, wei4 ai4 sheng1huo2 yu2chun3.) Lift a stone only to drop on your own feet. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ban1qi3 shi2tou2 za2 zi4ji3 de jiao3.) Isn't it similar to "Shoot your gun at your own foot"? Like neither a donkey nor a horse. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Fei1 lü2 fei1 ma3.) If something one has created is like neither animals, then it must be something awkward and laughable. Like ants gnawing at a bone. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ma3yi3 ken3 gu2tou2.) A metaphor describing a situation where people trying an overwhelmingly big task by doing bit by bit with perseverance. Like bamboo shoots after rain. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yu3 hou4 chun1 sun3.) Grow like mushrooms. Living at a river, one comes to know the nature of the fish therein; Dwelling by a mountain, one learns to recognize the language of the birds thereupon. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Jin4 shui3 zhi1 yu2 xing4, jin4 shan1 shi2 niao3 yin1.) Familiarity and vicinity breed more understanding. A long march starts from the very first step. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Qian1li3 zhi1 xing2 shi3 yu2 zu2 xia4.) Success does not come from nothing, instead it comes from concrete hard work. The longer the night lasts, the more our dreams will be.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ye4 chang2 meng4 duo1.) The longer we stay in a disadvantageous position, the more risks we'll take. Look at a leopard through a pipe. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Guan3 zhong1 kui4 bao4.) You can add to the rest through your imagination. This proverb means that one can tell the entirety by looking at part of it. Note, it has a commendatory rather than a derogatory connotation. Looking for a donkey on its very back. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Qi2 lü2 zhao3 lü2.) Looking for something as if it were missing while it is just under one's nose. Lord Ye's professed love of dragons turned into his worst fear. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ye4gong1 hao4 long2.) A Lord Ye professed that he loved dragons. To prove it, he drew dragons everywhere. When the real dragons paid him a visit, he was scared to death. One may not do what he claims to be interested in doing. For a complete story, please read my book Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales of the Han Chinese, to be published in spring 2006 by Libraries Unlimited. The lotus root may be severed, but its fibered threads are still connected. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ou3 duan4 si1 lian2.) Something apparently severed but actually connected, such as a human relationship." Love my house, love the crow on it. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ai4 wu1 ji2 wu1.) The crow may be ugly, but love it if your really love my house. A close English counterpart of this proverb is "Love me, love my dog." Lure a tiger out of its mountain. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Diao4 hu3 li2 shan1.) Lure an enemy out of its well defended base to annihilate it. This is one of Sunzi's thirty-six strategems in his Art of War. Go to top

M

Proverbs


Make a decision when a decision is called for. Hesitation only brings disaster. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Dang1 duan4 bu2 duan4, fan3 shou4 qi2 luan4.) A man's greed is like a snake that wants to swallow an elephant. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ren2 xin1 bu4 zu2 she2 tun1 xiang4.) You can never tell what one really thinks. Sincerity shows through one's actions rather than words and appearance. A man's heart is indiscernible behind his chest. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ren2 xin1 ge2 du4 pi2.) (A similar proverb: You may know someone by his appearance, but you may never know what he thinks. : Zhi1 ren2 zhi1 mian4 bu4 zhi1 xin1.)

You can never tell what one really thinks. Sincerity shows through one's actions rather than words and appearance. A man of honor will feel ashamed by a single question to which he does not know the answer. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 shi4 bu4 zhi1, jun1zi3 zhi1 chi3.) This is to encourage people to learn everything he can and be ashamed at not knowing even one bit of what they have learned. A mantis stalking a cicada is unaware of an oriole behind. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tang2lang2 bu3 chan2, huang2que4 zai4 hou4.) While coveting gains ahead, one should be aware of the danger behind. Making a thousand decisions, even the wise will make a mistake. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Zhi4zhe3 qian1 lü4, bi4 you3 yi1 shi1.) Homer sometimes nods. Marking the Boat to Seek One's Sword. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Ke4 zhou1 qiu2 jian4.) A man dropped his sword into the river from a boat. He make a mark on the side of the boat and began to fish the sword when the boat was in shore. Of course his effort was to no avail. This is to satirize those who take actions without regard to changes in circumstances. For a complete story, please read my book Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales of the Han Chinese, to be published in spring 2006 by Libraries Unlimited. A melon forced off its vine is not sweet. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Qiang2 niu3 de gua1 bu4 tian2.) "You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make it drink." For that matter, a forced marriage is not happy and examples can be listed endlessly. Mend the pen only after the sheep are all gone. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2.) Some say it is too late. Some say, well, if you learn a lesson, it is not necessarily late: no more sheep will flee. It is better than if you leave the pen broken at all. Therefore people use the proverb to either purpose. A minimal error at the start leads to a wide divergence in the distance. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Cha4 zhi1 hao2 li2, miu4 yi3 qian1 li3.) As in the launch of a rocket, a small error can lead to a serious result. Mistaking the reflection of a bow in a cup for a snake. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Bei1 gong1 she2 ying3.) A guest got sick after he was scared by what he had seen in a wine vessel at his friend's home. The snake he had seen was actually the shadow of a bow hanging on the wall. This proverb asks us not to scare ourselves with something we don't know. The more you try to cover things up, the more exposed they will be. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Yu4 gai4 mi2 zhang1.) A mountain of knives and a sea of fire. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Dao1 shan1 huo3 hai3.) Extremely difficulty and dangerous situation. A mouse-catching dog steps on the cats' paws.

(Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Gou3 na2 hao4zi4 -- duo1 guan3 xian2shi4.) Despite the fact that dogs do catch mice, people still believe that is the business of cats'. Therefore, this proverb refers to someone who is too inquisitive and cares about things that are none of his business. A mouse's vision is an inch long. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Shu3 mu4 cun4 guang1.) If one has such "vision," he sees only short-term benefits that may jeopardize long-term interests. Go to top

N

Proverbs


Never harbor the intent to victimize others; but never let guard down against being victimized. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Hai4 ren2 zhi1 xin1 bu4 ke3 you3, fang2 ren2 zhi1 xin1 bu4 ke3 wu2.) No banquet in the world that never ends. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Tian1xia4 mei2you3 bu4 san4 de yan4xi2.) Nothing in the world is eternal. Friendship, relations and a good time are no exceptions Notoriety travels farther away. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Chou4ming2 yuan3 yang2.) No wind, no waves. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Wu2 feng1 bu4 qi3 lang4.) How about "There is no fire without smoke."? The assumption here is that rumors may have some grounds. Go to top

O

Proverbs


Of all the thirty-six stratagems, to know when to quit is the best. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: San1-shi2 liu4 ji4, zou3 wei2 shang4 ce4.) The literary translation of the original is "Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best." "The Thirty-Six Stratagems" are believed to have covered almost all the military strategic thinking Sun Zi, another greatest military strategist in ancient Chinese history, expounded in his thirteen chapter monograph, which has been regarded as the bible of the military in Chinese history and has now been seen very useful in business in Asia as well. On the same boat in a tempest. (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: Feng1 yu3 tong2 zhou1.) Going through hardships together. Once bitten by a snake, one is scared all his life at the mere sight of a rope.

(Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 nian2 zao1 she2 yao3, shi2 nian2 pa4 jing3 sheng2.) A word by word translation of the original is "Bitten by a snake this year, he'll be scared of well ropes in the next ten." In days when people had to draw water from wells instead of getting it from the tab, ropes, which bear resemblance in appearance to snakes, were a dispensable utility. The proverb decries those who are discouraged by their first failure and are afraid of trying again. Once a tree falls, the monkeys on it will scatter. (Chinese original: ??????Chinese Pinyin: Shu4 dao3 hu2sun1 san4.) When a person of influence lost his favor, those associated with him will abandon him. Once on a tiger's back, it is hard to alight. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Qi2 hu3 nan2 xia4.) Once you take on a thorny task, you'll find it hard to get rid of it One bee makes no honey; one grain makes no rice soup. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Yi4zhi1 feng1 niang4 bu4 cheng2 mi4; yi4ke1 mi3 ao2 bu4 cheng2 zhou2.) An individual's effort is limited. One cannot refuse to eat just because there is a chance of being choked. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Yin1 ye4 fei4 shi2.) You can't refuse to do the thing you need to just because there is a slight chance to fail. One failure leads to another; so does success. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 sun3 ju4 sun3, yi1 rong2 ju4 rong2.) It is usually true among people who share the same interest and lot. One dog snarls at a shadow; a hundred howl at each other¡¯s barking. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 quan3 fei4 sheng1, bai3 quan3 fei4 sheng1.) Blindly follow a trend without even knowing what it is. One justice can overpower a hundred evils. (Chinese original: ??????Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 zheng4 ya1 bai3 xie2.) We always believe in the power of justice. One monk shoulders water by himself; two can still share the labor between them. When it comes to three, they have to go thirsty. (Chinese original: ???????,???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Yi2ge4 he2shang4 tiao1 shui3 he1, liang3ge4 he2shang4 tai2 shui3 he1, san1ge4 he2shang4 mei2 shui3 he1.) It is a scenario where lack of individual initiative could breed dependence upon each other so that the more people the lesser things are done. One never comes to pray in the Temple of Three Treasures if he is not in trouble. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Wu2 shi4 bu1 deng1 san1bao3dian4.) When someone who rarely contacts you suddenly comes to you and you know what he is come to, you will say this to yourself. One palm makes no applause; one actor finds it hard to performs a drama. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Yi2ge4 ba1zhang3 pai1 bu4 xiang3; yi2ge4 ren2 nan2 chang4 du2ban3xi4.) This is an admonishment against both parties in a dispute: the dispute would be impossible without either party. One¡¯s skills are his inexhaustible treasure keeping him from hunger wherever he goes. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Shou3yi4 shi4 huo2bao3, tian1xia4 e4 bu4 dao3.) (Similar proverb is One¡¯s skills never weigh him down: ????, Chinese Pinyin:

Yi4 bu4 ya1 shen1) Used to encourage people to acquire more skills so that they can always be marketable. One thing well done is a hundred done; one thing that fails dooms the rest. (Chinese original: ???,???;???,????Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 shi4 jing1, bai3 shi4 jing1; yi1 wu2 cheng3, bai3 wu2 cheng2.) If one is capable of accomplishing one thing, he is likely to accomplish many more or vice versa. One who knows the limit knows true happiness. (Chinese original: ??????Chinese Pinyin: Zhi1 zu2 zhe3 chang2 le4.) Insatiability is the source of unhappiness as one can never feel satisfied. One who walks along a river frequently cannot avoid getting his shoes wet. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Chang2 zai4 he2bian1 zou3, na3 neng2 bu4 shi1 xie2.) It happens. One¡¯s own meat dishes are not as delicious as other¡¯s vegetarian ones. (Chinese original: ??????,???????Chinese Pinyin: Zi4 jia1 de rou4 bu4 xiang1, ren2jia2 de cai4 you3 wei4.) One is always ungrateful for one already has. One¡¯s son is clever while the neighbor is suspicious. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Zhi4 zi3 yi2 lin2.) One¡¯s judgment is marred by his emotions. The story behind this proverb goes like this. A man of wealth found a wall of his house damaged by a heavy rain. His son warned him against theft if he procrastinated its repair. Meanwhile, a neighbor gave him the same warning. Sure enough, the house was broken in that night. Despite the same warning, the man of wealth thought of his son as intelligent while approached the neighbor as a suspect of the crime. Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a strong fire. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Zhong4ren2 shi2 chai2 huo3yan4 gao1.) Another way of saying "United and we can stand strong." An overcrowded chicken farm produce fewer eggs. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Ji1 duo1 bu2 xia4 dan4, ren2 duo1 da3 xia1 luan4.) Scientifically, it may not be true. But the connotation of this proverb is that when too many people try to do one thing, it proves less efficient. A similar English proverb goes: "The more the eggs, the worse the hatch." Go to top

P

Proverbs


Paper can't wrap up a fire. (Chinese original: ???????Chinese Pinyin: Zhi3 li3 bao1 bu2 zhu4 huo3.) true: it will burn it self out as truth will eventually reveals itself despite cover Pass off a fish eye for a pearl. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Yu2 mu4 hun4 zhu1.) Sell, use or the fake or sham instead of the genuine. Pass oneself off as one of the Yu pipe players in an ensemble. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Lan4 yu2 chong1 shu4.) Hold without adequate qualifications. Perseverance can reduce an iron rod to a sewing needle.

How ups. present a

post

(Chinese

original:

??????Chinese

Pinyin: Tie3 chu3 mo2 cheng2 zhen1.) Legend goes that young Li Bai, who later became one of the most renowned Tang poet in Chinese literary history, was tired of reading and wandered out. At a riverside he saw an elderly woman honing an iron rod. When he learned that the woman was trying to reduce the rod to a sewing needle, he was astonished. In replay to his doubtful query, the woman said that so long as she persevered in working at it, it would eventually become a needle. Li Bai learned the moral and began studying hard. And you? A person cannot be judged by his appearance in the same token as the sea cannot be measured with a bucket. (Chinese original: ?????,???????Chinese Pinyin: Ren2 bu4ke3 mao4 xiang4; hai3shui3 bu4ke3 dou3 liang2.) Appearance is deceiving: you¡¯ll never know how capable and/or how powerful he may be. A person moves up while water runs down. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Ren2 wang3 gao1 chu4 zou3, shui3 wang3 di1 chu4 liu2.) One should never give up efforts to improve oneself, whether morally or financially. (As rare as ) phoenix feather and unicorn horns. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Feng4 mao2 lin2 jiao3.) According to Chinese legends, phoenix's feather and unicorn's horns are the rarest things one can find in the world. Pick up a sesame seed only to lose a watermelon. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Jian3 le zhi1ma2, diu1 le xi1gua1.) Concentrate on small matters to the expense of more important ones. Play a harp before a cow. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Dui4 niu2 tan2 qin2.) Similar to "Cast pearls to a swine." Pluck flowers as they bloom; wait and you'll have only the twigs. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Hua1 kai1 kan1 zhe2 zhi2 xu1 zhe2, mo4 dai4 wu2 hua1 kong1 zhe2 zhi1.) Strike the iron while it is hot. Seize the opportunity that comes by; do not wait till it is gone. Point at the mulberry and abuse the pagoda tree. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Zhi3 sang1 ma4 huai2.) This is very subtle: the abuser tries to make his or her abuse felt by the abused and yet hopes to get away with it by pretending to abuse someone or something else. For instance, when a kid got into a fight with another in the neighborhood, the parent of the kid intervened pretending to scold her own child but the vituperation was actually meant for the neighbor's child. Pouring water from above the roof of a tall building. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Gao1 wu1 jian4 ling2.) If someone can pour water from the top of a roof, he is in an extremely advantageous position. Prescribe the right medicine for a symptom. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Dui4 zheng4 xia4 yao4.) Take the right measures to tackle a problem to achieve the best result. Present Buddha with borrowed flowers. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Jie4 hua1 xian4 fo2.) You say "I am presenting Buddha with borrowed flowers" to someone with whom you present a gift that someone else has given to you. It is a humorous way of mitigating the awkwardness. You get away easily as you compare the receiver of the gift to Buddha, which shows a lot of respect albeit its lack of seriousness. Put one person's hat on another's head.

(Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Zhang1 guan1 li3 dai4.) Confuse one thing with another. Putting out a fire while holding firewood. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Bao4 xin1 jiu4 huo3.) It only made the fire worse. Improper solution of a problem does not solve but instead aggravate the problem. Go to top

R

Proverbs


Rabbits do not eat the grass around their burrows. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Tu4zi bu4 chi1 wo1bian1 cao3.) The proverb is used derogatorily. It is believed that a villain usually does not harm his neighbors. Read critically, and you will find each word worth a thousand ounces of gold. (Chinese original: 2? ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Du2 shu1 xu1 yong4 yi4, yi1 zi4 zhi2 qian1 jin1.) Regular feet can't be affected by irregular shoes. (Chinese original: ???????Chinese Pinyin: Jiao3 zheng4 bu2 pa4 xie2 wai1.) Same as "If you have not done anything evil, you should not worry too much": the good/regular always overwhelms the bad/irregular though in real life it is not necessarily Rein in a horse at the edge of a cliff. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Xuan2ya2 le4 ma3.) Waken up to a danger at the last moment. Remove firewood from under a pot. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Fu3 di3 chou1 xin1.) Solve a problem thoroughly. Reshape one's feet to fit into new shoes. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Xue1 zu2 shi4 lü3.) The logic should be the other way round. Yet, in life there are people who try to sacrifice the big for the small, the important for the trivial. Steer one's boat where the winds lead. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Kan4 feng1 shi3 duo4.) This proverb critisizes the opportunists who make their decisions according to different situations. A resourceful man knows to avoid a disadvantageous situation close at hand. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Hao3 han4 bu4 chi1 yan3qian2 kui1.) An unprepared confrontation will only end up in one's defeat. In that situation, avoid it Respect out of fear is never genuine; reverence out of respect is never false. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Da3 pa4 de ren2 shi4 jia3 de; jing4 pa4 de ren2 shi4 zhen1 de.) Riddance of evil must be thorough. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Chu2 e4 wu4 jin4.) Ruthlessness is key to a man's accomplishment.

(Chinese original: ??????Chinese Pinyin: Wu2 du2 bu4 zhang4fu1.) Unfortunately history proves it to be true again and again, particularly among statesmen and politicians. Go to top

S

Proverbs


Sail when there is favorable wind; strike it when the iron is hot. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Xing2 chuan2 chen4 shun4feng1; da3tie3 chen4 hong2huo3.) Scholars are invaluable to a nation as the best course to a banquet. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Shi4 zhe3 guo2 zhong1 bao3, ru2 wei2 xi2 shang4 zhen1.) Scratching an itch from outside the boot. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Ge2 xue1 sao1 yang3.) To scratch one's itch with boots on is to attempt a very ineffective solution to a problem. Seek fish on a tree. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Yuan2 mu4 qiu2 yu2.) Apparently it is a fruitless effort. Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. (Chinese original: ???????Chinese Pinyin: Bai3 wen2 bu4 ru2 yi2 jian4.) Seeing is believing. Send charcoal in a snow storm. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Xue3 li3 song4 tan4.) Offer help when help is needed. Shed no tears until seeing the coffin. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Bu2 jian4 guan1cai2 bu2 luo4 lei4.) (Similar proverb: Not giving up until one reaches the Yellow River. ???????: Bu2 dao4 Huang2he2 bu4 si3xin1.) Will not give up an inevitably losing battle until the last minute. It is a burlesque of the stubbornness and stupidity of people who would not stop until it is too late Shoot at someone's shadow with sand. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Han2 sha1 she4 ying3.) A fairytale goes that a monster named Yu can make a person sick by shooting his shadow with sand it picked up from a river bed. If a person is said to do the trick, he is trying to frame someone while hiding himself in the dark. A single merit cannot make a hundred demerits fade; a hundred merits cannot hide a single demerit. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Yi4 hao3 zhe1 bu4 liao3 bai3 chou3; bai3 hao3 zhe1 bu4 liao3 yi4 chou3.) A single tree makes no forest; one string makes no music. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Du2 mu4 bu4 cheng2 lin2, dan1 xian3 bu4 cheng2 yin1.) This proverb illustrates the significance of team work Smash the pots and sink the boats. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Po4 fu3 chen2 zhou1.) It is said of a historical battle during the Qin dynasty. During an offensive march, a general ordered his men to smash their cooking pots and sink the boats with which they

crossed the river, making it clear that retreating was no longer an option. When someone claims he is going to do this figuratively, he is determined to carry out his task till it is finished no matter what. A smile woth a thousand ounces of gold. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Qian1 jin1 mai3 xiao4.) You describe a smile that is hard to come by as "a smile purchased for a thousand ounces of gold." There is a tragic story behind this proverb. In 780 B.C., Prince You of the Zhou State acquired a beautiful concubine named Bao Si, who unfortunately had a poker face. After many a frustrating trial to wring a smile from her, a minister came up with an idea. He suggested that Prince You start the signal fire on Mount Li. The fire was supposed to be used to call for help from the armies stationed away from the capital city in case of an enemy attack. Troups of the tributary countries all rushed to Prince You's rescue. When they learned that it was only a joke, the generals and troops was at a loss, not knowing to cry or to laugh. Seeing the awkward expresssions on their faces, Bao Si broke into a smile. Prince Zhou was so happy to see her smile that he awarded the minister with a thousand tael of gold. But the real price the prince had to pay later was his own life. When the real eneny attacked, he could no longer summon his armies with the signal fires, for they all thought that he was crying wolf. Consequently his state was ransacked and he himself sucumbed to the enemy's sword. A smile makes you ten years younger. (Chinese original: ???,????Chinese Pinyin: xiao4 yi2 xiao4, shi2 nian2 shao4.) A sly rabbit will have three openings to its den. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Jiao3 tu4 san1 ku1.) To succeed one must have several alternatives. So long as the green mountains are preserved, there will be no shortage of firewood supply. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Liu2 de2 qing1 shan1 zai4, bu2 pa4 mei2 cai2 shao1.) Used to encourage a person not to give up in face of great disaster or despair. The "green mountain" refers to the person himself. So long as he is ok, he can rebuild everything. Some prefer carrot while others like cabbage. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Luo2bo1 bai2cai4, ge4 you3 suo3 ai4.) "One man's meat is another's poison". People's preferences differ. A speck on a jade stone won't obscure its radiance. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Xia2 bu4 yan3 yu4.) A shortcoming will not write off one's merits. A spectator sees more than a player in the heat of a game. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Dang1 ju2 zhe3 mi2.) The third party usually has a better perspective than those deeply involved in a transaction. Steal a bell with one's ears plugged. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Yan3 er3 dao4 ling2.) A bell is supposed to be ringing when moved and alert the owner. The theft here thought if he covered up his own ears, no one else in the world will hear it either. That is stupid. Sure. This proverb is just to mock someone who takes it for granted that if he thinks others do not know what he is doing and they would surely do not know it. Steal beams and replace them with poles. (Chinese original:?????Chinese Pinyin: Tou1 liang2 huan4 zhu4.) In so doing, the devious contractors are perpetrating a fraud. The proverb is also extended to any deception involving the replacement of one thing with another. Stir the grass and alert the snake.

(Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Da3 cao3 jing1 che2.) An imprudent act can alert the enemy before the right moment comes. Survive the Jaw of a Tiger. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Hu3 kou3 yu2 sheng1.) Survive great difficulties, dangers and illness. Swallow a date with its stone. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Hu2lun2 tun1 zao3.) When someone does this, he is said to read without understanding. Go to top

T

Proverbs Tears cannot put out a fire. (Chinese original: ???????Chinese


Pinyin: Yan3lei4 jiu4 bu4 liao3 huo3.) Weakness will lead to nowhere. Ten years of oblivion in school may bring you fame overnight. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Shi2 nian2 han2 chuang1 wu2 ren2 wen4, yi4 ju3 cheng2 ming2 tian1 xia4 zhi1.) Used to encourage people to study hard. There's no insurmountable Mount of Flames. (Chinese original: ??????????Chinese Pinyin: Mei2 you3 guo4 bu1 qu4 de huo3yan4shan1.) There are no insurmountable difficulties. Three humble shoemakers brainstorming make a great statesman. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: San1ge4 chou4 pi2jiang4, cou4 ge4 Zhu1ge3 Liang4.) The literary translation of the original is "Three smelly leather shoemakers put together can be counted as a Zhuge Liang" , who was one of the greatest statesman as well as a military strategist in ancient Chinese history. There are always ears on the other side of the wall. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Ge2 qiang2 you3 er3.) Be wary of eavesdropping anywhere anytime. There is no silver here: three hundred taels. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1bai3 liang3.) Sounds paradoxical? True. Once upon a time, there were a couple, who got three hundred taels of silver, a big sum of currency. Worried that their money would be stolen, they decided to bury them in a jar behind their house. For fear that they might forget where they hid them, they put up a sign saying "There is no money here: three hundred taels". The result, of course, is only too apparent. This proverb is to tease those who say or do things blatantly self contradictory and consequently become an object of ridicule. Thick branches and big leaves. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Cu1 zhi1 da4 ye4.) To say is "Thick branches and big leaves" is to accuse him of being careless, failing to attend to details. A thief cries "Stop thief!". (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Zei2 han3 zhuo1 zei2.) This is a ploy criminals often use to divert the attention of investigators. Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme.

(Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Wu4 ji2 bi4 fan3.) The pendulum is also swing back and forth. Those who play with fire may become its victims. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Wan2 huo3 zi4 fen2.) An evil doer will eventually end up being punished. Throw in a rock as someone is drowning in the well. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Luo4 jing3 xia4 shi2.) Attack someone while he is already in trouble or difficulty. It is like "hitting one when he is down." Throw out a brick to attract a jade. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Pao1 zhuan1 yin3 yu4.) This is a Chinese way of showing modesty. When one tries to offer an opinion, he claims that his is but a commonplace one and with it he hopes that others may come up with better ideas. Thunder is louder than the little rain warrants. (Chinese original: ???,????Chinese Pinyin: Lei2 sheng1 da4, yu3 dian3 xiao3.) More words than action. A tiger's head and a snake's tail. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Hu3 tou2 she2 wei3.) A good beginning with a lousy ending. A tiger never returns to his prey he did not finish off. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Lao3hu3 bu4 chi1 hui2tou2shi2.) For fear that he may have exposed his trace, he will not take the risk of being caught in making the same trip a second time. A clever thief would not show up in the same spot soon again. Today¡¯s beneficiary is the incarnation of his preexisting well-doer; the fate of one¡¯s next existence lies in his existence today. (Chinese original: ????? ?????; ????? ??????Chinese Pinyin: Yao4 zhi1 qian2 shi4 yin1, jin1 sheng1 shou4 zhe3 shi4; yao4 zhi1 hou4 shi4 guo3, jin1 sheng1 zuo4 zhe3 shi4.) What goes around comes around. Doing good will benefit yourself eventually. Otherwise you¡¯ll get comeuppance. Trees have already been made into a boat. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Mu4 yi3 cheng2 zhou1.) (Similar proverb: Rice is already cooked. ?????: Sheng1 mi3 zhu3 cheng2 fan4.) What is done cannot be undone. The trees want to remain quiet, but the wind will not stop. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Shu4 yu4 jing4 er3 feng1 bu4 zhi3.) Trouble is brewing in the samblance of peace. To enjoy a grander sight, climb to a greater height. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Yu4 qiong2 qian1li3 mu4, geng4 shang4 yi4 ceng2 lou2.) To make a greater achievement on the basis of previous successes. Turn iron (or stone) into gold by the touch. (Chinese original: ???? or ?????Chinese Pinyin: Dian3 tie3 cheng2 jin1, or Dian3 shi2 cheng2 jin1.) To say one can turn iron into gold by the touch is to describe him as having superb editing skills that can turn a mediocre work into a masterpiece. Two tigers cannot share one mountain (forest). (Chinese original: ?????? or 3? ??????Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 sha1 bu4 rong2 er4 hu3. Or Yi1 lin2 bu2 er4 hu3.) Two equally talented or able employees cannot work well side by side in one unit . That may not be the case with everyone, but people do become jealous of their peers sometimes. Go to top

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Proverbs


An unfolded map reveals a dagger. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Tu2 qiong2 bi4 jian4.) An assassin of the First Emperor hid his dagger in a map. He planned to kill the emperor with the weapon as the map was unfolded but in vain. The proverb is used derogatorily to describe a secret plan has developed to such a degree that all the details of the plot are now under the sun. Go to top

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Proverbs


Vicious as a tigress can be, she never eats her own cubs. (Chinese original: ??????Chinese Pinyin: Hu3 du2 bu4 shi2 zi3.) Those parents who hurt their children are worse than beasts of prey. Visiting monks give better sermons. (Chinese original: ?????????Chinese Pinyin: Wai4 lai2 de he2shang4 hao3 nian4jing1.) People always value opinions coming from sources other than their fellow employees. Void of a long-term plan will bring you trouble soon. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Ren2 wu2 yuan3 lü4 bi4 you3 jin4 you1.) Go to top

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Proverbs


Wade through boiling water and scorching flame. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Fu4 tang1 dao3 huo3.) If one can do this, he is courageous enough to do anything. Walk sidewise and block the way. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Heng2 xing2 ba4 dao4.) When one does this, his playing the tyrant. Watch the fire burn on the other side of the river. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Ge2 an4 guan1 huo3.) Gloating over others' mishap instead of coming to their rescue. Water spilled can never be retrieved. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Fu4 shui3 nan2 shou1.) Things have developed to a degree that there is no turning back. We are not so much concerned if you are slow as when you come to a halt. (Chinese original: ???,????Chinese Pinyin: Bu2 pa4 man4, jiu4 pa4 zhan4.) As in the case of the race between the hare and the tortoise.

A weir close to completion left undone due to the shortage of a basket of earth. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Gong1 kui1 yi1 kui4.) A regrettable failure of something nearing accomplishment due to lack of perseverance. When good fortune finally comes, no one can ever stop it. (Chinese original: ?????,??????Chinese Pinyin: Yi1 zhao1 shi2 yun4 zhi4, ban4 dian3 bu4 you2 ren2.) When people are no longer afraid of death, there is no use threatening them with it? (Chinese original: Chinese Pinyin: ????,???????) When the head rope of a net is pulled up, all the meshes open. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Gang1 ju3 mu4 zhang1.) When a key problem is solved, the rest of the issues relating to it will also be unknotted. When you are poor, you will have no visitors even if you live in a crowded city; once you become rich, you'll be surprised by visitors from alleged relatives even if you live in a remote location. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Pin2 ju1 nao4shi4 wu2 ren2 wen4, fu4 ju1 shen1shan1 you3 yuan3 qin1.) The proverb criticizes snobbishness. The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountain. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Shan1yu3 yu4 lai2 feng1 man3 lou2.) Before a big event takes place, there will be a precursory atmosphere. Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook. (Chinese original: ?????????Chinese Pinyin: Qiao3fu4 nan2 wei2 wu2 mi3 zhi1 chui1.) It may not be true to American housewives who seldom cook rice. But rice is staple food in South China where the proverb may have originated. Without the right material, no matter how good you are, you may not accomplish the task. Would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Ning4 zuo4 ji1 tou2 bu1 dang1 feng4 wei3.) A head is a head and a tail is a tail. There are situations where you would rather be somebody in a small institution than a small potato of a large one. Would rather be betrayed by others than betraying them. (Chinese original: ????, ?????Chinese Pinyin: Ning4 ke3 fu4 wo3, qie4 mo4 fu4 ren2.) The wound caused by a sword can eventually be healed; the hurt resulted from vicious remarks can never be undone. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Li4jian4 shang1 ren2 you2 ke3 yu4, e4yu3 shang1 ren2 hen4 nan2 xiao1.) Avoid hurting people with vicious remarks when in anger or you will regret it. Go to top

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Proverbs


The Yangtze refuses no water from tributaries; Mount Tai discriminates no dirt from other rocks. (Chinese original: ??????,???????Chinese Pinyin: Chang2jiang1 bu2 ju4 xi4 liu2; Tai4shan1 bu4 ze2 tu3 shi2.) One who likes to learn never refuses suggestions and advices coming from anywhere. A year's harvest counts on spring; a man's success counts on his diligence. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Yi4nian2 zhi1 ji4 zai4yu2 chun1, yi4sheng1 zhi1 ji4 zai4yu2 qin2.) Used to encourage people to study hard. You can't catch a cub without going into a tiger's den. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Bu2 ru4 hu3xue2, yan1 de2 hu3 zi3.) Risky as it is, if you are afraid of taking chances, there is no way you can succeed. You can't tell the cost of food and fuel without being the head of a household; you can't appreciate the love of your parents without having children of your own. (Chinese original: ????????,?????????Chinese Pinyin: Bu4 dang1jia1 bu4 zhi1 chai2 mi3 gui4, bu4 yang3 er2 bu4 zhi1 fu4mu3 en1.) You looked high and low till your iron shoes were worn out but still to no avail. Then you chanced upon it without ever looking. (Chinese original: ???????,????????Chinese Pinyin: Ta4 po4 tie3xie2 wu2 mi4 chu4, de2lai2 quan2 bu4 fei4 gong1fu.) You looked for something everywhere but could not find it. All of a sudden you chanced upon it. Have you had this experience? I bet you have You will never lose a battle if you know your own situation as well as that of the enemy. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Zhi1 ji3 zhi2 bi3, bai3 zhan4 bu2 dai4.) You think you lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday. (Chinese original: ????,?????Chinese Pinyin: Sai4 weng1 shi1 ma3, an1 zhi1 fei1 fu2.) The story goes that an old man lost his horse. As he was bemoaning, the animal returned bringing at his heels a herd more. It is thus regarded as a "Blessing in disguise." Or "Every cloud has a silver lining." You won't help the new plants grow by pulling them up higher. (Chinese original: ?????Chinese Pinyin: Ya4 miao2 zhu4 zhang3.) Be patient and let nature run its course or you'll do a diservice. You can't expect both ends of a sugar cane are as sweet. (Chinese original: ????????Chinese Pinyin: Gan1zhe4 mei2you3 liang3tou2 tian2.) You can't have both: In order to get something, you have to sacrifice something else. Your fingers can't be of the same length. (Chinese original: ?????????Chinese Pinyin: Shi2ge4 zhi3tou2 bu2 yi1 ban1 qi3.) That is true. And that is true with life: we can't expect everything or everybody is perfect. • o o

Literally: A single member of a family eat, the whole family won't be hungry. Superficial meaning: If one member of the family eats, the rest of the family will be happy for him or her and won't be hungry.

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Actual usage: It refers to a person who is single. Without other family members to provide for, the person being full is the same as the family being full.

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指桑罵槐 (zhǐ sāng mà huái) (indicate+mulberry tree+blame+locust tree) o Translation: Reviling a locust tree when pointing at a mulberry tree. o Meaning: While one might appear to be cricizing someone or something, the intended criticism might refer to someone or something else completely.

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不耻下问 (bù chǐ xià wèn) (not+shame+down+inquire of) o Literally and morally: No shame in asking those of lower status.

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问兵必问 (jiao1 bing1 bi4 bai4) (arrogant+army+certain+be defeated) o Literally: The arrogant army will lose the battle for sure. o Moral: anyone who is arrogant/over-confident about their own abilities will fail indeed.

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掩耳盗问 (yan3 er3 dao4 ling2) (conceal+ear+steal+bell) o Literally: covering one's own ears while stealing a bell o Moral: Even if one ignores a shortcoming, others can still notice it. o Compare: Elephant in the room, The Emperor's New Clothes.

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画蛇添足 (hua4 she2 tian1 zu2) (draw+snake+add+foot) o Literally: adding legs when painting a snake o Moral: Don't overdo something. o English equivalent: to gild the lily

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以毒攻毒/(yi3 du2 gong1 du2) (by+poison+attack+poison/) o Literally: Fight poison with poison o Meaning: Fight fire with fire

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以牙问牙 (yi3 ya2 huan2 ya2) (by+teeth+return+teeth) o Literally: A tooth for a tooth o Meaning: An eye for an eye; to seek revenge in a manner in which one was injured

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自相矛盾 (zi4 xiang1 mao2 dun4) (self+mutually+spear+shield) o Literally: piercing one's shield with one's spear. o Self-contradiction. o The story about this is that a man was selling shields and spears at a marketplace. He raised up one of his spears and shouted, "This spear can pierce through any shield!" Then, he raised up one of his shields and shouted, "This shield can deflect any spear." When he was asked what would happen if he pierced his own shield with his own spear, he was speechless, since he had contradicted himself.

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福無重至 , 禍不單行 (fu2 wu2 chong2 zhi4, huo4 bu2 dan1 xing2) (blessing+not+double+arrive, misfortune+not+single+walk) o Meaning: Fortune seldom repeats; troubles never occur alone. o Compare: Shit happens

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三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ) (three+people+achieve+tiger) o Literally: Three people can make up a tiger. o Meaning: Unfounded rumors are dangerous in large numbers; see Three men make a tiger. o See also: Appeal to the majority.

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無念俱灰 (wu2 nian4 ju4 hui1) (no+thought+all+ashes)

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Others •

百世修来同船渡，千问修得共枕眠 (bai3 shi4 xiu1 lai2 tong2 chuan2 du4, qian1 zai4 xiu1 de2 gong4 zheng3 mian2)

(hundred+generations+cultivate+return+same+vessel+crossover, thousand+transport+cultivate+obtain+together+pillow+sleep) o Literally: It takes hundreds of reincarnations to bring two persons to ride on the same boat; it takes a thousand eons to bring two persons to share the same pillow. o Moral: It is fate and yuanfen that brings two persons together, value an encounter and treasure a relationship. o Note: These two phrases do not rhyme, but have parallel grammatical structure, i.e, subject to subject, verb to verb, etc. o Usage: Sometimes used in marriage counselling to advise the couples having problems to resolve it, before making any hasty decisions.

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冰封三尺，问非一日之寒 (bing1 feng1 san3 chi3, jue2 fei1 yi2 ri4 zhi1 han2) (ice+feud+three+units(~feet),never+not+one+sun(day)+(from)+chilly) o Literally: Three feet of ice does not result from one day of freezing weather. o Moral: A predicament is not formed without a period of events creating it. o Compare: Rome was not built in a day (Roma non fu fatta in un giorno, Italian proverb)

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此地无问三百两，隔壁阿二不曾问 (ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3, ge2 bi4 a1 er4 bu4 ceng2 tou1)(this+ground+not+silver+three+hundred+ounce, separate+partition+(nameprefix)+two+not+already+steal) o Literally: There isn't a stash of three hundred taels of silver buried here; your neighbor Ah-Er did not steal them o Moral: A nervous heart is prone to mistakes; overkill will worsen a situation rather than bettering it. o Note: The original story was this: A man had 300 taels of silver, which he buried. Not wanting others to find it, he puts a sign above it saying: There isn't a stash of 300 taels of silver buried here. Overnight, his neighbor, AhEr steals the silver. Not wanting others to suspect him, Ah-Er puts another sign there: Your neighbor Ah-Er did not steal them.

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大水冲了问王问 (da4 shui3 chong1 le long2 wang2 miao4) (big+water+poured over+finish+dragon+ruler+temple) o Literally: massive amounts of water flooded the dragon-king temple o Moral: even those who work to prevent something (bad) can be hurt or damaged by it

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Explanation: the dragon-king is a mystical creature that lives underwater and controls the natural bodies of water. People visit the dragon-king temple to placate him and prevent floods, thus this proverb is ironic situationally. (Sometimes this proverb is used as '大水冲了问王问，一家人不问一家人 ' (...yi1 jia1 ren2 bu4 ren4 yi1 jia1 ren2 ...one+home+person+not+know+one+home+person). You can use this idiom under such situation: You had some conflict/misunderstanding with a stranger, but finally you found that this stranger was your neighbor, or your sister's boy-friend, or any other person that had some relation with you. You two would use this idiom to cover your embarrassment and make peace with each other, because your conflict is just like the flooding of dragon-king's temple (dragon-king: rain god in some sense)

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空穴来问未必无因 (kong1 xue4 lai2 feng2 wei4 bi4 wu2 yin1) (empty+cave+come+wind+not yet+surely+not+cause) o Literally: If the wind comes from an empty cave, it's not without a reason. o Moral: Most seemingly strange events and actions have logical explainations.

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老问伏问，志在千里 (lao3 ji4 fu2 li4, zhi4 zai4 qian1 li3) (old+thoroughbred+hidden+stable,determined+be+thousand+distance (unit)) o Literally: The old horse in the stable still yearns to run 1000 li 1. o Moral: Don't underestimate experienced people, old people still may have great ambitions and potential. Another one is "The older the ginger the hotter the spice" o Note: 'stable' and 'li' rhyme in Mandarin 1

li: a Chinese unit of linear measure, corresponds to about .5 kilometers

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路遥知问力，日久问人心 (pinyin: lu4 yao2 zhi1 ma3 li4, ri4 jiu3 jian4 ren2 xin1) o Literally: Over a long distance, you learn about the strength of your horse; over a long time, you learn about the character of your friend. o Usage: This can be used positively to praise a true friend; or negatively to criticize friends that could not stand a test.

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人要问，问要皮; (pinyin: ren2 yao4 lian3 shu4 yao4 pi2)

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Literally: a person needs a face; a tree needs bark Meaning: a person needs a clean reputation to survive. Note: Face here is used metaphorically as the face (social custom). Usage: when someone behaves dishonorably (once or repeatedly), it can be said directly to that person as admonishment (as parents to an child).

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肉包子打狗 (pinyin: rou4 bao1 zi da3 gou3) (meat+bun+hit+dog) o Literally: to hit a dog with a meat-bun o Interpretation: the dog will not be driven off, but rather enjoy the meatbun instead o Moral: using the wrong method to approach a problem

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世上无问事，只怕有心人 (pinyin: shi4 shang4 wu2 nan2 shi4 zhi3 pa4 you3 xing1 ren2) o Literally: On this world there exists no such impossible tasks, they fear only those with perseverance. o Moral: No task in this world is impossible so long as there are willing hearts.

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问倒问问散 (pinyin: shu4 dao3 hu2 sun1 san4) o Literally: When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. o Usage: When a leader loses power, his followers become disorganized. This proverb is anti-anarchistic.

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水能问舟,亦能覆舟 (pinyin: shui3 neng2 zai4 zhou1, yi4 neng2 fu4 zhou1) o Literally: Not only can water float a craft, it can sink it also. o Moral: There are opposite aspects of any tool or power. o Note: This concept is related to yin-yang. (it can be used under such conditions as: the multitude can support the goverment or overthrow the goverment) 天下问问一问黑 (pinyin: tian1 xia4 wu1 ya1 yi2 yang4 hei1) o Literally: All crows in the world are black. o Meanings: There are several possible interpretations: 1. A natural interpretation: Some rules, like those natural forces of the Universe, are unbendable, regardless how much you may want it to change.

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2. A stereotypical interpretation: something or someone (bad) is no different from all the others. (e.g., All government officials are corrupt, all lawyers are snakes, etc.

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星星之火可以燎原 (pinyin: xing1 xing1 zhi1 huo3 ke3 yi3 liao2 yuan2) o Literally: A spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie. o Moral: don't underestimate the potential destructive power that a seemingly minor problems can spread.

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熊瞎子摘苞米，摘一个问一个 (pinyin: xiong2 xia1 zi zhai1 bao1 mi3, zhai1 yi2 ge4 diu1 yi2 ge4) o Literally: blind bear picks corn, picks one and throws one o Meaning: Inability to appreciate what you have. o Note: (Story) A bear (a bear, in Chinese culture, frequently symbolizes someone with little common sense) was picking corn and sticking the corn in his armpit. As he puts the next corn cob into his armpit, opening his arm, he drops the one he already had.

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也要问儿好，也要问儿不吃草 (pinyin: ye3 yao4 ma3 er2 hao3, ye3 yao4 ma3 er2 bu4 chi1 cao3) (also+want+horse+good, also+want+horse+not+eat+grass or hay, can be construed as both) o Literally: want the horse to be the best, also want the horse not to eat any hay o Moral: You can't have your cake and eat it too (English equivalent) o Usage: someone has an unrealistic expectation. o Note: 'best' and 'hay' rhyme in Mandarin

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有志者，事竟成 (pinyin: you3 zhi4 zhe, shi4 jing4 cheng2) o Literally: If a person has ambition, things will be accomplished. o Moral: Where there is a will, there is a way. (English equivalent)

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玉不琢不成器 (pinyin: yu4 bu4 zhuo2 bu4 chen2 qi4) o Literally: Jade requires chiselling before becoming a gem. o Moral: a person needs training and discipline to build character.

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问草不除根，春问吹又生 (pinyin: zhan3 cao3 bu4 chu2 gen1, chun1 feng1 chui1 you4 sheng1) o Literally: If the roots are not removed during weeding, the weeds will return when the winds of Spring season blows. o Moral: It is essential to finish a task thoroughly or the effort would be wasted, or a stitch in time saves nine (approximate English equivalent).

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知子莫若父 (pinyin: zhi1 zi3 mo4 ru2 fu4) o Literally: No one knows a son better than the father. o Moral: Having spent decades with each other, family members know what type of persons each other are like. "Sons" and "fathers" also apply to the female equivalents. o Usage: Character witness in a trial. Despite his/her denial, an honest parent can tell if their children are capable of heinous crimes, like murder.

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我看问我忘问。我听问我问住。我做我了解。 (pinyin: wǒ kàn jiàn wǒ wàng jì. wǒ tīng jiàn wǒ jì zhù. wǒ zuò wǒ liǎo jiě) o Literally: (When) I see I forget. (When) I hear I remember. (When) I do I understand. o Meaning: When you learn something new, you will not learn it only by observing others. You will remember it when it is explained to you. When you do it yourself, you will understand it. o Moral: Learn by doing.

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虎父无犬子 (pinyin: hǔ fù wú quǎn zǐ) o Literally: A tiger father has no canine sons. o Moral: The son of a great man is of no less valor than his father.

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人算不如天算 (pinyin: rén suàn bù rú tiān suàn) o Literally: Man's schemes are inferior to those made by heaven. o Figuratively: Man proposes and god disposes.

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有錢能使鬼推磨 (pinyin: yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò) o Literally: If you have money you can make the devil push your grind stone. o Note: English equivalent: When money talks, bull**** walks.

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八仙问海，各问神通 (pinyin: ba1 xian1 guo4 hai3 ge4 xian2 shen2 tong1) o Literally: like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each one displaying his/her special feats. o Moral: Everyone has his/her own powers.

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八字没一撇 (pinyin: ba1 zi4 mei2 yi4 pie3) o Literally: The character "eight" (八) does not have one stroke. o Figuratively: It takes two strokes to write the character "eight". o Moral: No prospects yet (No chance).

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不到黄河心不死 (pinyin: bu4 dao4 huang2 he2 xin1 bu4 si3) (or 不问黄河不落泪) o Literally: Not having arrived at the Yellow River, the heart is not dead. o Figuratively: Feeling despair only when one arrives at the Yellow River. o Moral: Only when there is no road left does one finally feel despair. o Similarly: 不问棺材不掉泪, meaning no tears until one sees one's own coffin.

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一將功成萬骨枯 (yi2 jiang4 gong1 cheng2 wan4 gu3 ku1) (one+general+accomplishment+succeed+myriad+bones+dry up) o Tens of thousands of bones will become ashes when one general achieves his fame.

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Add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it. After three days without reading, talk becomes flavorless. An ant may well destroy a whole dam. Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. Behind an able man there are always other able men. Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one. Better do a good deed near at home than go far away to burn incense. Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. A book holds a house of gold.

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Butcher the donkey after it finished his job on the mill. A camel standing amidst a flock of sheep. Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking. A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood A crane standing amidst a flock of chickens. Crows everywhere are equally black. A dish of carrot hastily cooked may still has soil uncleaned off the vegetable. Dismantle the bridge shortly after crossing it. Distant water won't help to put out a fire close at hand. Distant water won't quench your immediate thirst. Do not employ handsome servants. Do not want others to know what you have done? Better not have done it anyways. Donkey's lips do not fit onto a horse's mouth. A dog won't forsake his master because of his poverty; a son never deserts his mother for her homely appearance. Dream different dreams while on the same bed. Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think. Enough shovels of earth -- a mountain. Enough pails of water -- a river. Even a hare will bite when it is cornered. Experience is a comb which nature gives to men when they are bald. Fail to steal the chicken while it ate up your bait grain. A fall into a ditch makes you wiser. Fight a wolf with a flex stalk. A flea on the top of a bald head. Flowing water never goes bad; our door hubs never gather termites. A frog in a well shaft seeing the sky. Flies never visit an egg that has no crack. Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials. A good fortune may forbode a bad luck, which may in turn disguise a good fortune. Govern a family as you would cook a small fish -- very gently. Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes. Happiness is like a sunbeam, which the least shadow intercepts, while adversity is often as the rain of spring. Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger but a heart as soft as tofu. Have one's ears pierced only before the wedding ceremony starts. He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. He who hurries can not walk with dignity. He who sacrifices his conscience to ambition burns a picture to obtain the ashes. A horse cannot gain weight if not fed with extra fodder during the night; a man cannot become wealthy without earnings apart from his regular salaries. How can you expect to find ivory in a dog's mouth? How can you put out a fire set on a cart-load of firewood with only a cup of water? If a son is uneducated, his dad is to blame. If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.

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If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will escape a hindred days of sorrow. If you bow at all, bow low. If you do not study hard when young you'll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up. If you have never done anything evil, you should not be worrying about devils to knock at your door. If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of he game, the stakes, and the quitting time. If you see in your wine the reflection of a person not in your range of vision, don't drink it. If you suspect a man, don't employ him, and if ypu employ him, don't suspect him. If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people. If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words. In reviling, it is not necessary to prepare a preliminary draft. An inch of time is an inch of gold but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold. It is easy to dodge a spear that comes in front of you but hard to keep harms away from an arrow shot from behind. It is later than you think. A Jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Judge not the horse by his saddle. Keep your broken arm inside your sleeve. Kill a chicken before a monkey. Kill one to warn a hundred. Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. Life is a dream walking death is a going home. Like ants eating a bone. Lift a stone only to drop on your own feet. Listen to all, plucking a feather from every passing goose, but, follow no one absolutely. The longer the night lasts, the more our dreams will be. Looking for the ass on its very back. A Jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Judge not the horse by his saddle. Keep your broken arm inside your sleeve. Kill a chicken before a monkey. Kill one to warn a hundred. Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. Life is a dream walking death is a going home. Like ants eating a bone. Lift a stone only to drop on your own feet. Listen to all, plucking a feather from every passing goose, but, follow no one absolutely.

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The longer the night lasts, the more our dreams will be. Looking for the ass on its very back. The palest ink is better than the best memory. Paper can't wrap up a fire. Pick up a sesame seed but lose sight of a watermelon. Play a harp before a cow. Regular feet can't be affected by irregular shoes. Reshape one's foot to try to fit into a new shoe. The saving man becomes the free man. Shed no tears until seeing the coffin. A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study. A sly rabbit will have three openings to its den. A smile will gain you ten more years of life. Some prefer carrot while others like cabbage. Sow much, reap much; sow little, reap little. Steal a bell with one's ears covered. There are always ears on the other side of the wall. There is no silver here: three hundred taels. Those who have free seats at a play hiss first. Three humble shoemakers brainstorming will make a great statesman. A tiger never returns to his prey he did not finish off. To attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon. To know the road ahead, ask those coming back. To understand your parents' love you must raise children yourself. Use power to curb power. Vicious as a tigeress can be, she never eats her own cubs. Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it. We are not so much concerned if you are slow as when you come to a halt. A weasel comes to say Happy New Year to the chickens. With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown. When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them. When you are poor, neighbors close by will not come; once you become rich, you'll be surprised by visits from (alleged) relatives afar. When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. When you want to test the depths of a stream, don't use both feet. When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people. Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook. You can only go halfway into the darkest forest; then you are coming out the other side. You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent You can't catch a cub without going into the tiger's den. them from building nests in your hair. You can't expect both ends of a sugar cane are as sweet. You think you lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday.

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You won't help shoots grow by pulling them up higher. Your fingers can't be of the same length.

A bad word whispered will echo a hundred miles. Source: (Chinese) A bad worker quarrels with his tools. Source: (Chinese) A bad workman blames his tools. Source: (Chinese) A bar of iron continually ground becomes a needle. Source: (Chinese) A beautiful bird is the only kind we cage. Source: (Chinese) A bird can roost but on one branch, a mouse can drink not more than its fill from a river. Source: (Chinese) A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. Source: (Chinese) A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses. Source: (Chinese) A book holds a house of gold. Source: (Chinese) A bride received into the home is like a horse that you have just bought; you break her in by constantly mounting her and continually beating her. Source: (Chinese) A bridle for the tongue is a necessary piece of furniture. Source: (Chinese) A chicken is hatched even from such a well-sealed thing as an egg. Source: (Chinese) A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every passerby leaves a mark. Source: (Chinese) A clever person turns great troubles into little ones and little ones into none at all. Source: (Chinese) A client twixt his attorney and counselor is like a goose twixt two foxes. Source: (Chinese) A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood. Source: (Chinese) A cloth is not woven from a single thread. Source: (Chinese) A country where flowers are priced so as to make them a luxury has yet to learn the first principles of civilization. Source: (Chinese) A courageous foe is better than a cowardly friend. Source: (Chinese) A courtesy much entreated is half recompensed. Source: (Chinese) A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind. Source: (Chinese) A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy. Source: (Chinese) A dog in desperation will leap over a wall. Source: (Chinese) A dog won't forsake his master because of poverty; a son never deserts his mother because of her homely appearance. Source: (Chinese) A fall into a ditch makes you wiser. Source: (Chinese) A fallen lighthouse is more dangerous than a reef. Source: (Chinese) A false report rides post. Source: (Chinese) A flea on top of a bald head. Source: (Chinese) A flower cannot blossom without sunshine nor a garden without love. Source: (Chinese)

A fly before his own eye is bigger than an elephant in the next field. Source: (Chinese) A frog in a well-shaft seeing the sky. Source: (Chinese) A fu purse never lacks freends. Source: (Chinese) A fu' sack will tak a clout o' the side. Source: (Chinese) A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man made perfect without trials. Source: (Chinese) A good dog does not block the road. Source: (Chinese) A good neighbor is a found treasure. Source: (Chinese) A hasty man drinks his tea with a fork. Source: (Chinese) A hasty man never wants woe. Source: (Chinese) A hundred men may make an encampment, but it takes a woman to make a home. Source: (Chinese) A jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated. Source: (Chinese) A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Source: (Chinese) A maker of idols is never an idolater. Source: (Chinese) A man must despise himself before others will. Source: (Chinese) A man must make himself despicable before he is despised by others. Source: (Chinese) A man must plough with such oxen as he hath. Source: (Chinese) A man need never revenge himself; the body of his enemy will be brought to his own door. Source: (Chinese) A man's conversation is the mirror of his thoughts. Source: (Chinese) A man's discontent is his worst evil. Source: (Chinese) A nation's treasure: scholars. Source: (Chinese) A person who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the man doing it. Source: (Chinese) A person whose heart is not content is like a snake which tries to swallow an elephant. Source: (Chinese) A person with a bad name is already half-hanged. Source: (Chinese) A red-nosed man may be a teetotaler, but will find no one to believe it. Source: (Chinese) A reed before the wind lives on, while mighty oaks do fall. Source: (Chinese) A rumour goes in one ear and out many mouths. Source: (Chinese) A single beam cannot support a great house. Source: (Chinese) A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study. Source: (Chinese) A single untried popular remedy often throws the scientific doctor into hysterics. Source: (Chinese) A sly rabbit will have three openings to its den. Source: (Chinese) A smile will gain you ten more years of life. Source: (Chinese) A thorn defends the rose harming only those who would steal the blossom. Source: (Chinese)

A thousand cups of wine do not suffice when true friends meet, but half a sentence is too much when there is no meeting of minds. Source: (Chinese) A thousand pounds and a bottle of hay are all one at domesday. Source: (Chinese) A vacant mind is open to all suggestions, as a hollow mountain returns all sounds. Source: (Chinese) A whitewashed crow soon shows black again. Source: (Chinese) A wicked book cannot repent. Source: (Chinese) A wicked companion invites us all to hell. Source: (Chinese) A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion. Source: (Chinese) A young branch takes on all the bends that one gives it. Source: (Chinese) A young doctor makes a full graveyard. Source: (Chinese) Abroad we judge the dress; at home we judge the man. Source: (Chinese) Add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it. Source: (Chinese) After three days without reading, talk becomes flavorless. Source: (Chinese) All cats love fish but fear to wet their paws. Source: (Chinese) All people are your relatives, therefore expect only trouble from them. Source: (Chinese) All things at first appear difficult. Source: (Chinese) All things change, and we change with them. [Lat., Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.] Source: (Chinese) Alms given openly will be rewarded in secret. Source: (Chinese) Among ten matchmakers only nine will lie. Source: (Chinese) An ambassador bears no blame. Source: (Chinese) An ignorant doctor is no better than a murderer. Source: (Chinese) An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold. Source: (Chinese) An old friend met in a far country is like rain after drought. Source: (Chinese) Avoid suspicion: when you're walking through your neighbor's melon patch, don't tie your shoe. Source: (Chinese) Be in readiness for favorable winds. Source: (Chinese) Be just before you're generous. Source: (Chinese) Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. Source: (Chinese) Be not disturbed at being misunderstood; be disturbed at not understanding. Source: (Chinese) Be on a horse when you go in search of a better one. Source: (Chinese) Be resolved and the thing is done. Source: (Chinese) Beat your drum inside the house to spare the neighbors. Source: (Chinese) Beat your gong and sell your candles. Source: (Chinese) Because men do not like the cold, Heaven does not cause winter to cease. Source: (Chinese)

Before you beat a dog, find out who its master is. Source: (Chinese) Begin with an error of an inch and end by being a thousand miles off the mark. Source: (Chinese) Behind an able man there are always other able men. Source: (Chinese) Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. Source: (Chinese) Better a dinner of herbs than a stalled ox where hate is. Source: (Chinese) Better a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Source: (Chinese) Better be kind at home than burn incense in a far place. Source: (Chinese) Better be too credulous than too skeptical. Source: (Chinese) Better die ten years early than live ten years poor. Source: (Chinese) Better do a kindness near home than go far to burn incense. Source: (Chinese) Better do it than wish it done. Source: (Chinese) Better go than send. Source: (Chinese) Better go to heaven in rags than to hell in embroidery. Source: (Chinese) Better the cottage where one is merry than the palace where one weeps. Source: (Chinese) Better the devil you know than the devil you don't. Source: (Chinese) Better to do a kindness near home than go far away to burn incense. Source: (Chinese) Careless rat chewing on a cat's tail: beware lightning! Source: (Chinese) Ceremony is the smoke of friendship. Source: (Chinese) Cheap things are not good, good things are not cheap. Source: (Chinese) Cheat the earth and the earth will cheat you. Source: (Chinese) Clumsy birds have need of early flight. Source: (Chinese) Conquerors are kings; the beaten are bandits. Source: (Chinese) Corner a dog in a dead-end street and it will turn and bite. Source: (Chinese) Corporations have neither bodies to be punished nor souls to be damned. Source: (Chinese) Count not what is lost but what is left. Source: (Chinese) Covet wealth, and want it; don't, and luck will grant it. Source: (Chinese) Covetous men's chests are rich, not they. Source: (Chinese) Crows everywhere are equally black. Source: (Chinese) Curse your wife at evening, sleep alone at night. Source: (Chinese) Cursed cows have short horns. Source: (Chinese) Customers are jade; merchandise is grass. Source: (Chinese) Dangerous enemies will meet again in narrow streets. Source: (Chinese)

Dead songbirds make a sad meal. Source: (Chinese) Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own. Source: (Chinese) Deer-hunter, waste not your arrow on the hare. Source: (Chinese) Defeat isn't bitter if you don't swallow it. Source: (Chinese) Defer not till to-morrow what may be done to-day. Source: (Chinese) Despise learning and make everyone pay for your ignorance. Source: (Chinese) Despise not a small wound or a poor kinsman. Source: (Chinese) Deviate an inch, lose a thousand miles. Source: (Chinese) Devil take the hindmost. Source: (Chinese) Dig a well before you are thirsty. Source: (Chinese) Do not add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it. Source: (Chinese) Do not all you can; spend not all you have; believe not all you hear; and tell not all you know. Source: (Chinese) Do not allow the sheep to die for a halfpenny of tar. Source: (Chinese) Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Source: (Chinese) Do not anxiously hope for that which is not yet come; do not vainly regret what is already past. Source: (Chinese) Do not employ handsome servants. Source: (Chinese) Do not have each foot on a different boat. Source: (Chinese) Do not insult the crocodile until you've crossed the river. Source: (Chinese) Do not tear down the east wall to repair the west. Source: (Chinese) Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend's forehead. Source: (Chinese) Dogs do not dislike poor families. Source: (Chinese) Dogs have so many friends because they wag their tails, not their tongues. Source: (Chinese) Don't build a new ship out of old wood. Source: (Chinese) Don't consider your reputation and you may do anything you like. Source: (Chinese) Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. Source: (Chinese) Don't cross the bridge until you come to it. Source: (Chinese) Don't stand by the water and long for fish; go home and weave a net. Source: (Chinese) Don't waste good iron for nails or good men for soldiers. Source: (Chinese) Don't waste too many stones on one bird. Source: (Chinese) Donkey's lips don't fit onto a horse's mouth. Source: (Chinese) Dream different dreams while on the same bed. Source: (Chinese) Dream of a funeral and you hear of a marriage. Source: (Chinese)

Easier to bend the body than the will. Source: (Chinese) Easier to rule a nation than a son. Source: (Chinese) Easy to believe in heaven's law, but so hard to keep. Source: (Chinese) Easy to enroll a thousand soldiers. But, ah, one general!. Source: (Chinese) Easy to keep the castle that was never besieged. Source: (Chinese) Easy to know men's faces, not their hearts. Source: (Chinese) Easy to run downhill, much puffing to run up. Source: (Chinese) Empty the clear path to heaven, crowded the dark road to hell. Source: (Chinese) Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think. Source: (Chinese) Enough shovels of earth make a mountain, enough pails of water a river. Source: (Chinese) Enough's as good as a feast. Source: (Chinese) Even a hare will bite when it is cornered. Source: (Chinese) Every day cannot be a feast of lanterns. Source: (Chinese) Everyone pushes a falling fence. Source: (Chinese) Everyone rakes the fire under his own pot. Source: (Chinese) Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength. Source: (Chinese) Everyone speaks well of the bridge which carries him over. Source: (Chinese) Everyone stretches his legs according to the length of his coverlet. Source: (Chinese) Exaggeration is to paint a snake and add legs. Source: (Chinese) Fail to steal the chicken while it ate up your bait grain. Source: (Chinese) Failing to plan is planning to fail. Source: (Chinese) Falling hurts least those who fly low. Source: (Chinese) Far waters cannot quench near fires. Source: (Chinese) Far-fetched and dear-bought is good for ladies. Source: (Chinese) Farewell and be hanged; friends must part! Source: (Chinese) Fight a wolf with a flex stalk. Source: (Chinese) Fight fire with fire. Source: (Chinese) Flowers leave a part of their fragrance in the hands that bestow them. Source: (Chinese) Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them. Source: (Chinese) Flowing water never goes bad; our door hubs never gather termites. Source: (Chinese) For the sake of one good action, a hundred evil ones should be forgotten. Source: (Chinese) Forethought is easy, repentance hard. Source: (Chinese)

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. Source: (Chinese) Forget the favors you have given; remember those received. Source: (Chinese) Fortune and flowers do not last forever. Source: (Chinese) Four horses cannot overtake the tongue. Source: (Chinese) Four things come not back: the spoken word, the spent arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity. Source: (Chinese) Friend, do not try to borrow combs from shaven monks. Source: (Chinese) From the lowly perspective of a dog's eyes, everyone looks short. Source: (Chinese) Garden flowers larger, field flowers stronger. Source: (Chinese) Garlands are not for every brow. Source: (Chinese) Get the coffin ready and watch the man mend. Source: (Chinese) Girls marry to please parents, widows to please themselves. Source: (Chinese) Girls will be girls. Source: (Chinese) Give a beggar a bed and he'll repay you with a louse. Source: (Chinese) Going beyond is as bad as falling short. Source: (Chinese) Gold and silver are mingled with dirt, till avarice parted them. Source: (Chinese) Gold has its price; learning is beyond price. Source: (Chinese) Gold is tested by fire, man by gold. Source: (Chinese) Good fortune may forebode bad luck, which may in turn disguise good fortune. Source: (Chinese) Govern a family as you would cook a small fish--very gently. Source: (Chinese) Govern yourself and you can govern the world. Source: (Chinese) Grass fears the frost, frost fears the sun. Source: (Chinese) Great blessings come from heaven; small blessings come from man. Source: (Chinese) Great boast, small roast. Source: (Chinese) Great business is good; to sit and sip this glass is better. Source: (Chinese) Great cry and little wool, as the fellow said when he sheared his hogs. Source: (Chinese) Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes. Source: (Chinese) Habits are cobwebs at first, cables at last. Source: (Chinese) Happiness is like a sunbeam, which the least shadow intercepts, while adversity is often as the rain of spring. Source: (Chinese) Happy people never count hours as they pass. Source: (Chinese) Hatred corrodes the vessel in which it is stored. Source: (Chinese) Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger, but a heart as soft as tofu. Source: (Chinese)

Have but few friends though much acquaintance. Source: (Chinese) He comes with incense in one hand, in the other a spear. Source: (Chinese) He has too many lice to feel an itch. Source: (Chinese) He hath lived ill that knows not how to die well. Source: (Chinese) He painted a tiger, but it turned out a dog. Source: (Chinese) He that has no money might as well be buried in a rice tub with his mouth sewn up. Source: (Chinese) He that has no silver in his purse, should have silver on his tongue. Source: (Chinese) He that has not bread to spare should not keep a dog. Source: (Chinese) He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. Source: (Chinese) He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. Source: (Chinese) He who can predict winning numbers should not set off fire crackers. Source: (Chinese) He who cannot agree with his enemies is controlled by them. Source: (Chinese) He who carves the Buddha never worships him. Source: (Chinese) He who could foresee affairs three days in advance would be rich for thousands of years. Source: (Chinese) He who hurries cannot walk with dignity. Source: (Chinese) He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount. Source: (Chinese) He who sacrifices his conscience to ambition burns a picture to obtain the ashes. Source: (Chinese) He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves. Source: (Chinese) Hold back some goods for a thousand days and you will be sure to sell at a profit. Source: (Chinese) Honey in his mouth, knives in his heart. Source: (Chinese) How can you expect to find ivory in a dog's mouth? Source: (Chinese) How can you put out a fire set on a cart-load of firewood with only a cup of water. Source: (Chinese) I dreamed a thousand new paths. I woke and walked my old one. Source: (Chinese) If a son is uneducated, his father is to blame. Source: (Chinese) If a string has one end, then it has another end. Source: (Chinese) If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well. Source: (Chinese) If an enemy is annoying you by playing well, consider adopting his strategy. Source: (Chinese) If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him. Source: (Chinese) If his legs fail him, he fights on his knees. Source: (Chinese) If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come. Source: (Chinese) If there is a strong general, there will be no weak soldiers. Source: (Chinese) If there is a wave there must be a wind. Source: (Chinese)

If there is beauty in character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. Source: (Chinese) If what we see is doubtful, how can we believe what is spoken behind the back. Source: (Chinese) If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Source: (Chinese) If you always give, you will always have. Source: (Chinese) If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. Source: (Chinese) If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people. Source: (Chinese) If you are standing upright, don't worry if your shadow is crooked. Source: (Chinese) If you beat spice it will smell the sweeter. Source: (Chinese) If you bow at all, bow low. Source: (Chinese) If you can't change your fate, change your attitude. Source: (Chinese) If you don't scale the mountain, you can't view the plain. Source: (Chinese) If you don't speculate, you can't accumulate. Source: (Chinese) If you get up one more time than you fall you will make it through. Source: (Chinese) If you have never done anything evil, you should not be worrying about devils knocking at your door. Source: (Chinese) If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a lily. Source: (Chinese) If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time. Source: (Chinese) If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Source: (Chinese) If you see in your wine the reflection of a person not in your range of vision, don't drink it. Source: (Chinese) If you share a man's wealth, try to lessen his misfortune. Source: (Chinese) If you suspect a man, don't employ him, and if you employ him, don't suspect him. Source: (Chinese) If you want an audience, start a fight. Source: (Chinese) Illness comes in by mouth; ills come out by it. Source: (Chinese) In every family's cooking pot is one black spot. Source: (Chinese) In his decision the judge with seven reasons gives only one in court. Source: (Chinese) In reviling, it is not necessary to prepare a preliminary draft. Source: (Chinese) In shallow holes moles make fools of dragons. Source: (Chinese) In the broken nest there are no whole eggs. Source: (Chinese) In the coldest flint there is hot fire. Source: (Chinese) In the midst of great joy do not promise to give a man anything; in the midst of great anger do not answer a man's letter. Source: (Chinese) In the presence of princes the cleverest jester is mute. Source: (Chinese)

Insects do not nest in a busy door-hinge. Source: (Chinese) It is better to be entirely without a book than to believe it entirely. Source: (Chinese) It is easier to know how to do than it is to do. Source: (Chinese) It is harder to be poor without complaining than to be rich without boasting. Source: (Chinese) It is not economical to go to bed early to save the candles if the result is twins. Source: (Chinese) It is the beautiful bird which gets caged. Source: (Chinese) It takes little effort to watch a man carry a load. Source: (Chinese) It's as difficult to be rich without bragging as it is to be poor without complaining. Source: (Chinese) It's your own lantern; don't poke holes in the paper. Source: (Chinese) Jade and men, both are sharpened by bitter tools. Source: (Chinese) Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today. Source: (Chinese) Judge not the horse by his saddle. Source: (Chinese) Just as tall trees are known by their shadows, so are good men known by their enemies. Source: (Chinese) Just scales and full measure injure no man. Source: (Chinese) Keep your broken arm inside your sleeve. Source: (Chinese) Keep your chin up. Source: (Chinese) Kill a chicken before a monkey. Source: (Chinese) Kill one to warn a hundred. Source: (Chinese) Kill the chicken to frighten the monkey. Source: (Chinese) Know thyself to know others, for heart beats like heart. Source: (Chinese) Large demands on oneself and little demands on others keep resentment at bay. Source: (Chinese) Laws control the lesser man; right conduct controls the greater one. Source: (Chinese) Learn to handle a writing-brush and you'll never handle a begging-bowl. Source: (Chinese) Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. Source: (Chinese) Learning is a weightless treasure you always carry easy. Source: (Chinese) Learning is better than house and land. Source: (Chinese) Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back. Source: (Chinese) Learning is treasure no thief can touch. Source: (Chinese) Learning is weightless, treasure you can always carry easily. Source: (Chinese) Leave a bit of the tail to whisk off flies. Source: (Chinese) Let him who does not know what war is go to war. Source: (Chinese) Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose. Source: (Chinese)

Life isn't all beer and skittles. Source: (Chinese) Listen to all, plucking a feather from every passing goose, but, follow no one absolutely. Source: (Chinese) Long roads test the horse, long dealings the friend. Source: (Chinese) Look for a thing until you find it and you'll not lose your labor. Source: (Chinese) Looking for fish? Don't climb a tree. Source: (Chinese) Losing comes of winning money. Source: (Chinese) Love is blind, and greed insatiable. Source: (Chinese) Love is blind, friendship closes its eyes. Source: (Chinese) Love is blind. Source: (Chinese) Love is incompatible with fear. Source: (Chinese) Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come. Source: (Chinese) Make sure you leave some fat for the other side. Source: (Chinese) Mallet strikes chisel; chisel splits wood. Source: (Chinese) Man cannot stir one inch without the push of heaven's finger. Source: (Chinese) Man concocts a million schemes; god knows but one. Source: (Chinese) Man fools himself. He prays for a long life and he fears old age. Source: (Chinese) Man has a thousand plans, heaven but one. Source: (Chinese) Man is heaven and earth in miniature. Source: (Chinese) Man must be sharpened on man, like knife on stone. Source: (Chinese) Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not. Source: (Chinese) Mankind scorns a virtuous man, but heaven does not. Source: (Chinese) Manners maketh man. Source: (Chinese) Many a good face is under a ragged hat. Source: (Chinese) Many a little make a mickle. Source: (Chinese) Many books do not use up words; many words do not use up thoughts. Source: (Chinese) Married couples tell each other a thousand things without speech. Source: (Chinese) Married couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking. Source: (Chinese) Medicine can only cure curable disease, and then not always. Source: (Chinese) Men fated to be happy need not haste. Source: (Chinese) Men in the game are blind to what men looking on see clearly. Source: (Chinese) Men know not all their faults, oxen all their strength. Source: (Chinese) Misfortune is not that which can be avoided, but that which cannot. Source: (Chinese) Nature is better than a middling doctor. Source: (Chinese)

Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians. Source: (Chinese) Never answer a letter while you are angry. Source: (Chinese) Never argue with a man who buys ink by the barrel. Source: (Chinese) Never do anything standing that you can do sitting, or anything sitting that you can do lying down. Source: (Chinese) Never try to catch two frogs with one hand. Source: (Chinese) Never write a letter while you are angry. Source: (Chinese) No matter how stout one beam, it cannot support a house. Source: (Chinese) No matter how tall the mountain, it cannot block out the sun. Source: (Chinese) No medicines can cure the vulgar man. Source: (Chinese) No melon-peddler cries: Bitter melons! No wine-dealer says: Sour wine! Source: (Chinese) No mill, no meal. Source: (Chinese) No wind, no waves. Source: (Chinese) No wisdom like silence. Source: (Chinese) No wisdom to silence. Source: (Chinese) Not wine . . . men intoxicate themselves; not vice . . . men entice themselves. Source: (Chinese) O eggs, never fight with stones! Source: (Chinese) O man, you who do not live a hundred years, why fret a thousand minutes? Source: (Chinese) Of a dead leopard we keep the skin, of man his reputation. Source: (Chinese) Of a good beginning cometh a good end. Source: (Chinese) Of all meat in the world drink goes down the best. Source: (Chinese) Of all the thirty-six alternatives, running away is the best. Source: (Chinese) Often one finds one's destiny just where one hides to avoid it. Source: (Chinese) On entering a country, ask what is forbidden, on entering a village, ask what are the customs, on entering a private house, ask what should not be mentioned. Source: (Chinese) Once bitten by a snake, he is scared all his life at the mere sight of a rope. Source: (Chinese) Once on a tiger's back it is hard to alight. Source: (Chinese) One can care little for man, but we need a friend. Source: (Chinese) One cannot manage too many affairs; like pumpkins in water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other. Source: (Chinese) One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him. Source: (Chinese) One family builds the wall, two families enjoy it. Source: (Chinese) One generation plants the trees, another gets the shade. Source: (Chinese) One happiness scatters a thousand sorrows. Source: (Chinese)

One joy shatters a hundred griefs. Source: (Chinese) One monk shoulders water by himself; two can still share the labor among them. When it comes to three, they have to go thirsty. Source: (Chinese) One should be just as careful in choosing one's pleasures as in avoiding calamities. Source: (Chinese) One step at a time is good walking. Source: (Chinese) One step at a time. Source: (Chinese) One's shadow grows larger than life when admired by the light of the moon. Source: (Chinese) Only he that has traveled the road knows where the holes are deep. Source: (Chinese) Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a strong fire. Source: (Chinese) Out of a dog's mouth will never come ivory tusks. Source: (Chinese) Outside noisy, inside empty. Source: (Chinese) Paper can't wrap up a fire. Source: (Chinese) Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on their toes. Source: (Chinese) Patience and the mulberry leaf become a silk robe. Source: (Chinese) Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit. Source: (Chinese) Patience is a plaister for all sores. Source: (Chinese) Patience is a virtue. Source: (Chinese) Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry becomes silk. Source: (Chinese) Peace and tranquility are a thousand gold pieces. Source: (Chinese) Pick your inn before the dark; get on your road before the dawn. Source: (Chinese) Plan your year in the spring, your day at dawn. Source: (Chinese) Plant the crab-tree where you will it will never bear pippins. Source: (Chinese) Pleasures are shallow, sorrows deep. Source: (Chinese) Politeness wins the confidence of princes. Source: (Chinese) Politics makes strange bedfellows. Source: (Chinese) Practice no vice because it's trivial; neglect no virtue because it's so. Source: (Chinese) Present to the eye, present to the mind. Source: (Chinese) Priests return to the temple, merchants to the shop. Source: (Chinese) Pure gold does not fear the smelter. Source: (Chinese) Raise your sail one foot and you get ten feet of wind. Source: (Chinese) Rare commodities are worth more than good. Source: (Chinese) Rather once cry your heart out than always sigh. Source: (Chinese) Rats know the way of rats. Source: (Chinese)

Reform a gambler . . . cure leprosy. Source: (Chinese) Rein in the horse at the edge of the cliff. Source: (Chinese) Reshape one's foot to try to fit into a new shoe. Source: (Chinese) Rich men accumulate money; the poor accumulate years. Source: (Chinese) Rich not gaudy. Source: (Chinese) Riches add to the house, virtues to the man. Source: (Chinese) Riches: a dream in the night; fame: a gull floating on water. Source: (Chinese) Rivers and mountains may change; human nature, never. Source: (Chinese) Rotten wood cannot be carved. Source: (Chinese) Rule the roost. Source: (Chinese) Runaway son, a shining jewel; runaway daughter, tarnished. Source: (Chinese) Scholars talk books, butchers talk pigs. Source: (Chinese) Schoolmaster, stick to your books; farmer, to your pigs. Source: (Chinese) Seeking fish? Don't dive in the pond; go home and get a net. Source: (Chinese) Sending charcoal in the snow is better than adding flowers to a brocade. Source: (Chinese) Silly toad: planning a meal of goose! Source: (Chinese) Sit atop the mountain and watch the tigers fight. Source: (Chinese) Slander cannot destroy an honest man: when the flood recedes the rock is there. Source: (Chinese) Slow in word, swift in deed. Source: (Chinese) Sma' winnings mak a heavy purse. Source: (Chinese) Small ills are the fountains of most of our groans. Men trip not on mountains, they stumble on stones. Source: (Chinese) Small is beautiful. Source: (Chinese) Small men think they are small; great men never know they are great. Source: (Chinese) So long as a man is angry he cannot be in the right. Source: (Chinese) So lovers, to their fair one fondly blind, E'en on her ugliness with transport gaze. Source: (Chinese) Some prefer carrots while others like cabbage. Source: (Chinese) Some roads aren't meant to be travelled alone. Source: (Chinese) Sorrow is the child of too much joy. Source: (Chinese) Sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, all must be tasted. Source: (Chinese) Steal a bell with one's ears covered. Source: (Chinese) Swiftest horse cannot overtake the word once spoken. Source: (Chinese) Take a second look; it costs you nothing. Source: (Chinese)

Talk does not cook rice. Source: (Chinese) Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself. Source: (Chinese) Teaching others teacheth yourself. Source: (Chinese) Temptation wrings integrity even as the thumbscrew twists a man's fingers. Source: (Chinese) Thatch your roof before rainy weather, dig your well before you become parched with thirst. Source: (Chinese) The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names. Source: (Chinese) The best cure for drunkenness is whilst sober to observe a drunken person. Source: (Chinese) The best doctors are Dr. Diet, Dr, Quiet, and Dr. Merryman. Source: (Chinese) The best memory is not so firm as faded ink. Source: (Chinese) The best soldiers are not warlike. Source: (Chinese) The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today. Source: (Chinese) The black dog gets the food; the white dog gets the blame. Source: (Chinese) The broad-minded see the truth in different religions; the narrow-minded see only the differences. Source: (Chinese) The careful foot can walk anywhere. Source: (Chinese) The court official in one life has seven rebirths as a beggar. Source: (Chinese) The day your horse dies and your money's lost, your relatives change to strangers. Source: (Chinese) The delicacy of the feast is the learned guest. Source: (Chinese) The devil can quote Scripture for his own ends. Source: (Chinese) The diamond cannot be polished without friction, nor the man perfected without trials. Source: (Chinese) The emperor is rich, but he cannot buy one extra year. Source: (Chinese) The error of one moment becomes the sorrow of a whole life. Source: (Chinese) The evening crowns the days. Source: (Chinese) The father in praising the son extols himself. Source: (Chinese) The fire you kindle for your enemy often burns yourself more than him. Source: (Chinese) The first half of the night, think of your own faults; the second half, the faults of others. Source: (Chinese) The first hen that cackles is the one that laid the egg. Source: (Chinese) The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials. Source: (Chinese) The great question is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with failure. Source: (Chinese) The happiness in your pocket, don't spend it all. Source: (Chinese) The harder you fall, the higher you bounce. Source: (Chinese) The hardest step is over the threshold. Source: (Chinese) The house with an old grandparent harbors a jewel. Source: (Chinese)

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Source: (Chinese) The less power a man has, the more he likes to use it. Source: (Chinese) The loftiest towers rise from the ground. Source: (Chinese) The lone sheep is in danger of the wolf. Source: (Chinese) The longer the night lasts, the more our dreams will be. Source: (Chinese) The man who comes with a talk about others has himself an ax to grind. Source: (Chinese) The man who does not learn is dark, like one walking in the night. Source: (Chinese) The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. Source: (Chinese) The man who strikes first admits that his ideas have given out. Source: (Chinese) The man who wakes up and finds himself famous hasn't been asleep. Source: (Chinese) The man will surely fail, who dares delay, And lose to-morrow that has lost to-day. Source: (Chinese) The mind is the emperor of the body. Source: (Chinese) The net of heaven is large and wide, but it lets nothing through. Source: (Chinese) The older the ginger, the more it bites. Source: (Chinese) The one who first resorts to violence shows that he has no more arguments. Source: (Chinese) The one who plants the tree is not the one who will enjoy its shade. Source: (Chinese) The one who understands does not speak, the one who speaks does not understand. Source: (Chinese) The palest ink is better than the best memory. Source: (Chinese) The path of duty lies in what is near at hand, but men seek for it in what is remote. Source: (Chinese) The pen can kill a man; no knife is needed. Source: (Chinese) The pen of the tongue should be dipped in the ink of the heart. Source: (Chinese) The peony is beautiful, yet it is supported by a stalk. Source: (Chinese) The pine stays green in winter, wisdom in hardship. Source: (Chinese) The pitcher doth not go so often to the well, but it comes home broken at last. Source: (Chinese) The remedy for dirt is soap and water. The remedy for dying is living. Source: (Chinese) The remedy for love is--land between. Source: (Chinese) The rich man plans for tomorrow, the poor man for today. Source: (Chinese) The rose has thorns only for those who would gather it. Source: (Chinese) The saving man becomes the free man. Source: (Chinese) The sheep has no choice when in the jaws of the wolf. Source: (Chinese) The water that bears the ship is the same that engulfs it. Source: (Chinese) The way of a slothful man is as a hedge of thorns. Source: (Chinese)

The weasel comes to say "Happy New Year!" to the chickens. Source: (Chinese) The woman who tells her age is either too young to have anything to lose or too old to have anything to gain. Source: (Chinese) The Yangtze never runs backwards; man recaptures not his youth. Source: (Chinese) There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same. Source: (Chinese) There are two perfectly good men, one dead, and the other unborn. Source: (Chinese) There are two sides to every question. Source: (Chinese) There belongs more than whistling to going to plough. Source: (Chinese) There is no economy in going to bed early to save candles if the result is twins. Source: (Chinese) Think of your own faults the first part of the night when you are awake, and the faults of others the latter part of the night when you are asleep. Source: (Chinese) Those who despise money will eventually sponge on their friends. Source: (Chinese) Those who do not study are only cattle dressed up in men's clothes. Source: (Chinese) Those who have free seats at a play hiss first. Source: (Chinese) Those who hear not the music think the dancers mad. Source: (Chinese) Though you live near a forest, do not waste firewood. Source: (Chinese) To attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon. Source: (Chinese) To believe in one's dreams is to spend all of one's life asleep. Source: (Chinese) To forget one's ancestor's is to be a brook without a source, a tree without root. Source: (Chinese) To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping. Source: (Chinese) To go beyond is as bad as to fall short. Source: (Chinese) To know the road ahead, ask those coming back. Source: (Chinese) To listen well is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well and is as essential to all true conversation. Source: (Chinese) To meet an old friend in a distant country is like the delight of rain after a long drought. Source: (Chinese) To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art. Source: (Chinese) To persecute the unfortunate is like throwing stones on one fallen into a well. Source: (Chinese) To talk much and arrive nowhere is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish. Source: (Chinese) To understand your parents' love bear your own children. Source: (Chinese) To violate the law is the same crime in the emperor as in the subject. Source: (Chinese) Transgressions should never be forgiven a third time. Source: (Chinese) Two barrels of tears will not heal a bruise. Source: (Chinese) Two good talkers are not worth one good listener. Source: (Chinese)

Unplowed fields make hollow bellies; unread books make hollow minds. Source: (Chinese) Use power to curb power. Source: (Chinese) Vicious as a tigress can be, she never eats her own cubs. Source: (Chinese) Victory has hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan. Source: (Chinese) Virtue becomes a wife; beauty becomes a concubine. Source: (Chinese) Virtue is not left to stand alone. Source: (Chinese) Virtue never dwells alone, it always has neighbors. Source: (Chinese) Virtue practiced to be seen is not real virtue; vice which fears to be seen is real vice. Source: (Chinese) Virtue: climbing a hill; vice: running down. Source: (Chinese) Virtuous for ten years is still not enough; evil for one day is too much already. Source: (Chinese) Wait long, strike fast. Source: (Chinese) Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it. Source: (Chinese) Want a thing long enough, and you don't. Source: (Chinese) Water and words are easy to pour but impossible to recover. Source: (Chinese) Water that has reached its level does not flow. Source: (Chinese) We all like lamb; each has a different way of cooking it. Source: (Chinese) We are not so much concerned if you are slow as when you come to a halt. Source: (Chinese) We can study until old age and still not finish. Source: (Chinese) We forget even incense in easy times; come hard times, we embrace the Buddha's feet. Source: (Chinese) Wealth is but dung, useful only when spread. Source: (Chinese) Weaving a net is better than praying for fish at the edge of the water. Source: (Chinese) Wedlock is a padlock. Source: (Chinese) What is whispered in your ear is often heard a hundred miles off. Source: (Chinese) What you cannot avoid, welcome. Source: (Chinese) When a large vessel has opened a way it is easy for a small one to follow. Source: (Chinese) When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them. Source: (Chinese) When the cat is gone, the mice come out to stretch. Source: (Chinese) When the mantis hunts the locust, he forgets the shrike that's hunting him. Source: (Chinese) When the tree dies, the grass underneath withers. Source: (Chinese) When the tree falls, the shadow flies. Source: (Chinese) When the tree waves, wind is stirring. Source: (Chinese) When you bow, bow low. Source: (Chinese)

When you fall into a pit, you either die or get out. Source: (Chinese) When you have only two dollars left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a rose with the other. Source: (Chinese) When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. Source: (Chinese) When you say one thing, the clever person understands three. Source: (Chinese) When you want to test the depths of a stream, don't use both feet. Source: (Chinese) When your horse in on the brink of a precipice, it is too late to pull the reins. Source: (Chinese) Whenever the water rises, the boat will rise too. Source: (Chinese) Where a chest lieth open, a righteous man may sin. Source: (Chinese) Who is not satisfied with himself will grow; who is not sure of his own correctness will learn many things. Source: (Chinese) Who rides a tiger cannot dismount. Source: (Chinese) Who teaches me for a day is my father for a lifetime. Source: (Chinese) With money one may command devils; without it, one cannot even summon a man. Source: (Chinese) With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown. Source: (Chinese) Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook. Source: (Chinese) Yellow gold is plentiful compared to white-haired friends. Source: (Chinese) You burn incense before the god, and then topple him. Source: (Chinese) You buy land, you buy stones; you buy meat, you buy bones. Source: (Chinese) You can hardly make a friend in a year, but you can easily offend one in an hour. Source: (Chinese) You can't catch a cub without going into the tiger's den. Source: (Chinese) You can't clap with one hand only. Source: (Chinese) You can't expect both ends of a sugar cane to be as sweet. Source: (Chinese) You can't fare well, but you must cry roast meat. Source: (Chinese) You can't fill your belly painting pictures of bread. Source: (Chinese) You cannot draw white cloth from a dying vat. Source: (Chinese) You cannot hook trout? Try digging clams. Source: (Chinese) You cannot lose what you never had. Source: (Chinese) You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. Source: (Chinese) You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back. Source: (Chinese) You must have crossed the river before you may tell the crocodile he has bad breath. Source: (Chinese) You must scale the mountains if you would view the plain. Source: (Chinese)

You think you've lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday. Source: (Chinese) You want no one to know it? Then don't do it. Source: (Chinese) You won't help shoots grow by pulling them up higher. Source: (Chinese) Your fingers can't be of the same length. Source: (Chinese)

A bird can roost but on one branch, a mouse can drink not more than its fill from a river. Chinese Proverb A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections. Chinese Proverb A dog in a kennel barks at his fleas; a dog hunting does not notice them. Chinese Proverb A hundred men may make an encampment, but it takes a woman to make a home. Chinese Proverb A man Chinese

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would

cook a small Proverb

fish

-

very

gently.

Govern a small family as you would cook a small fish, very gently. Chinese Proverb He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. Chinese Proverb He who governs by his moral excellence may be compared to the Pole star which abides in its place while all other stars bow towards it. Chinese Proverb He who Chinese Proverb

rides

the

tiger

can

never

dismount.

He who would rise in the world should veil his ambition with the forms of humanity. Chinese Proverb I dreamed a thousand new paths... I woke and walked my old one. Chinese Proverb I was angered, for I had no shoes. Then I met a man who had no feet. Chinese Proverb If luck Chinese It is Chinese

comes,

who

not

It is Chinese

not

Learning Chinese

is

comes

necessary the a

to

knowing treasure

that

not?

If luck Proverb

light a Proverb that

comes

not,

who

comes?

candle

to

the

sun.

is difficult, Proverb

will follow Proverb

its

but owner

the

doing.

everywhere.

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose. Chinese Proverb Men in Chinese

the

game

are

Men trip not Chinese Proverb

blind

on

to

what men Proverb

mountains

looking

they

trip

on

see

on

clearly.

molehills.

Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow. Chinese Proverb One man will carry two buckets of water for his own use, Two men will carry one for their joint use; Three men will carry none for anybody's use. Chinese Proverb Only he that has traveled the road knows where the holes are deep. Chinese Proverb Prepare Chinese

for

calamity

not Proverb

yet

in

bud.

Small men think they are small; great men never know they are great. Chinese Proverb The Chinese

best

soldiers

The first Chinese

time

The Gods Chinese

cannot

The man Chinese

who

The old Chinese Proverb The Chinese

it

is help

strikes horse

one

are Proverb

a

favour, the Proverb

those

first

who do Proverb

admits

may legged

die

that his Proverb in never Proverb

not

warlike.

second not

time

seize

ideas

rule.

opportunities.

have

someone's

a

given

out.

keeping. stumble.

The unlucky doctor treats the head of a disease, the lucky doctor its tail. Chinese Proverb

The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher. Chinese Proverb There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same. Chinese Proverb There Chinese

is

no

one

To know Chinese

the

road

To open Chinese

a

shop

Virtue Chinese

never

Want Chinese

a

is

dwells thing

to

sweep Proverb

ahead, easy,

ask Proverb to keep Proverb

alone; long

a those

common coming

it

open

it always Proverb

has

enough Proverb

and

hall. back.

is

an

art.

neighbours. you

don't

When a finger points at the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger. Chinese Proverb When the butcher dies, do you think we shall eat our pork with the bristles on? Chinese Proverb When Chinese While one Chinese

you

bow,

bow

low.

Proverb milks

With money you Chinese Proverb

the are

ram, a

the

other Proverb

dragon;

with

holds

under

the

sieve.

no

money,

a

worm.

Proverbs

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