How To Say Thought In Chinese

Hither'due south a nifty drove of Chinese sayings and proverbs with Chinese characters, pinyin pronunciation, and English language translations and explanations, to help y'all learn and relish the Chinese linguistic communication while agreement Chinese people'southward attitudes, life, and values more deeply.

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Chinese Proverbs Near Life (30 Sayings)

Proverbs are eloquent and tell the naked truth in a quick plow of phrase, and so make first-class literary devices. Here are 30 literary quotes most frequently used in Chinese daily life.

1. 事实胜于雄辩。 (Shìshí shèng yú xióngbiàn)

— Facts beat eloquence.

From Lu Xun'southward "Hot Wind" (鲁迅《热风题记》), it's like, "Actions speak louder than words."

2. 一言既出，驷马难追。(Yìyán jì chū, sìmǎ nán zhuī / 'a give-and-take already produced, team-of-4-horses difficult chase')

— A team of horses volition struggle to chase downwards a spoken word.

From "The Analects of Yan Yuan" (《论语·颜渊》), information technology means a word spoken can never be taken dorsum, or a promise must exist kept.

3. 路遥知马力，日久见人心。(Lùyáo zhī mǎlì, rìjiǔ jiàn rénxīn / 'route afar know equus caballus strength, days old come across human eye')

— Equally distance tests a equus caballus's force, fourth dimension reveals a person's character.

From the anonymous work "Fight Gratitude" (《争报恩》) of the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368), when Mongol horsemen ruled China, this saying tells united states of america that a long menses of testing is needed to understand someone'due south nature and capabilities.

iv. 无规矩不成方圆 。(Wú guīju bù chéng fāngyuán / 'no standards not become perimeter')

— Without standards, no boundaries are set.

From the works of Mencius and his students (《孟子·离娄上》), it means: nothing tin be accomplished without norms or standards; or: without rules, nosotros're nothing just savages.

5. 惩前毖后。 (Chéngqiánbìhòu / 'punish earlier prevent after')

— Punishing those who come before stops those who come later on from doing something.

From "Sacrificial Odes of Zhou" (《周颂》) in the Confucian classic "Volume of Songs" (《诗经》), it means: to criticize one-time mistakes firmly to prevent them happening once more; or: larn from past mistakes to avoid futurity ones.

six. 三思而后行。 (Sānsī ér hòu xíng / "iii thoughts and afterward act")

— Recall thrice before yous act.

From "The Analects" (《论语》), it's like: "Look before you leap."

vii. 良药苦口。 (Liángyào kǔ kǒu / 'skilful medicine bitter mouth')

— Proficient medicine tastes bitter.

It means: frank criticism is hard to swallow.

8. 有理走遍天下，无理寸步难行。(Yǒulǐ zǒubiàn tiānxià, wúlǐ cùnbù nánxíng / 'accept truth walk all state-under-heaven; no truth cun [Chinese inch; i/30 m] step hard walk')

— With truth on your side, you tin can go anywhere; without truth, you can't take a tiny step.

From the philosophical work "White Equus caballus Thesis" (白马论) by Gong Sunlong (公孙龙), this stresses the fact that righteousness will run across you through all difficulties, whereas without it your progress will be hampered from the very start.

9. 当局者迷，旁观者清。(Dāngjúzhě mí, pángguānzhě qīng / 'player confused; spectator clear')

— The player is lost; the watcher is lucid.

From the "Biography of Yuan Xingchong" in the Onetime Book of Tang (《旧唐书·元行冲传》), this points out that a person involved in a thing usually does not accept a comprehensive overview of it, due to likewise much concentration on the details, while the onlookers, who have a calmer and more objective mental attitude, take a better grasp of what is going on.

ten. 十年树木，百年树人。 (Shínián shù mù, bǎinián shù rén / '10 years cultivate forest, 100 years cultivate human')

— Ten years to cultivate forest, a hundred years to cultivate a man.

From the work of Guan Zhong (《管子·权修 第三》) who was a politician in the Bound and Fall Period, it ways that (though 10 years to grow a tree that's ready to be used as wood is a long time,) a person'south teaching is a life-long procedure or nearly time-consuming.

11. 民以食为天。 (Mín yǐ shí wéi tiān / 'Subjects remember food is heaven')

— Food is the first priority of the people.

From "Records of the Grand Historian" (《史记》), it means 'hunger breeds discontent', and its full form is "王者以民人为天，而民人以食为天。" — 'Kings treat the people equally heaven, moreover, people treat food equally heaven.' … significant a ruler'due south first priority is his subjects; the subjects' showtime priority is food.

12. 善有善报。 (Shàn yǒu shànbào / 'good take good recompense')

— Repay good with adept.

From the Southern Dynasties work "New Wine and Meat" (《新酒肉文》) by Emperor Wu of Liang (464–549), it means: virtue has its rewards; or: ane practiced turn deserves another.

13. 顾左右而言他。(Gù zuǒyòu ér yán tā/ 'deliberately approximate and talk something else')

— Deliberately vague and deflective.

From "Male monarch Hui of Liang" in the Book of Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王下》), it ways to be vague and elusive nether questioning.

14. 几家欢喜几家愁。(Jǐjiā huānxǐ jǐjiā chou / 'few families happy few families worried')

— While some are happy, some are anxious.

It means: one human being'south disaster is another homo'southward delight.

15. 人过留名，雁过留声。(Rén guò liúmíng, yàn guò liúsheng / 'human being passes leaves name, eat passes leaves sound')

— A person leaves a reputation, equally a eat leaves its call.

From the 32nd affiliate of Fable of Heroes (《儿女英雄传》), it ways that someone'southward reputation is hands remembered.

sixteen. 万事俱备，只欠东风。(Wànshì jù bèi, zhǐ qiàn dōngfēng / 'all are ready, only lack e wind')

— Everything'south ready except the east wind.

From the "Romance of the 3 Kingdoms" (《三国演义》), this ways that everything is gear up except what is crucial.

17. 麻雀虽小，五脏俱全。(Máquè suī xiǎo, wǔzàng jù quán / 'sparrow although modest, v organs entirely consummate')

— Pocket-size equally information technology is, the sparrow has all the vital organs.

From Qian Zhongshu's work "Fortress Besieged" (《围城》), it ways that although something looks small, its content is very comprehensive.

18. 桂林山水甲天下。(Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎtiānxià / 'Guilin mountains-and-water best under-heaven ')

— Guilin's scenery's best on earth.

It was written by the Song Dynasty governor of Guilin, Wang Zhenggong (王正功,1133–1203) every bit role of a verse form in 1201, and has been and so often quoted in Chinese civilization that Guilin has become the image of scenic dazzler in China.

19. 哑巴吃饺子，心里有数。 (Yǎba chī jiǎozi, xīnlǐ yǒushù / 'mute eats dumplings, middle inside has number')

— When a mute eats dumplings, he knows how many he has eaten.

This is used to point out that someone knows the situation quite well, yet says nothing… equally is common in Chinese culture. Chinese tend to keep their thoughts to themselves… run into more on Chinese and Western Thought >>>

20. 人逢喜事精神爽。 (Rén féng xǐshì jīngshén shuǎng / 'man run across happy-occasion spirit invigorated')

— A happy occasion gladdens the spirit.

From "Journey to the West" (《西游记》), it means that everyone likes a happy occasion.

21.一举两得。(Yī jǔ liǎng dé / 'ane move ii gains')

— Two benefits from one action.

Variously attributed to "History of the Later Han Dynasty" (c. 200), "The Book of Jin" (420), "Stories to Caution the World" (1624, Feng Menglong), and Lu Xun'southward collected messages, this is the Chinese version of "to kill ii birds with one stone" (一石二鸟。Yīshíèrniǎo/ 'i rock two birds'), possibly of Ovid.

22. 如坐针毡。 (Rú zuò zhēnzhān / 'similar sit needle felt')

— Like sitting on a carpeting of needles.

It ways to experience tense and uneasy.

23. 逆来顺受。 (Nì lái shùn shòu / 'adversity come follow receive')

— When arduousness comes, receive it favorably.

Information technology means to take things as they come up.

24. 化干戈为玉帛。 (Huà gāngē wéiyùbó / 'change shield spear for jade silk')

— Supplant weapons with jade and silk.

From the first chapter of the "Huainanzi" (《淮南子·原道训》), i.e. to "bury the hatchet" and work for peace.

25. 此地无银三百两。 (Cǐ dì wú yín sānbǎi liǎng / 'this footing no silver 300 taels')

— This basis doesn't have 300 taels of silver.

Information technology comes from a folk story about a man who buried a lot of silver and, considering people suspected that's what he had done, put up a sign saying, "300 taels of silver are not in this ground." His neighbor King Two and so stole the silvery and put up a sign proverb: "Your neighbor King Ii did non steal it."

It ways to reveal what i intends to hide, i.e. don't attempt to prove what people doubtable, or you'll brand your guilt still more obvious.

26. 兵不厌诈。 (Bīng bù yàn zhà)

— Soldiers don't hate deceit.

From an aboriginal Chinese political philosopher Principal Han Fei'south piece of work "Han Feizi" (《韩非子》), it ways: nothing is too deceitful in state of war, or: there can never be too much deception in war, or: all'south fair in war

27. 木已成舟，生米煮成熟饭。 (Mù yǐ chéng zhōu, Shēngmǐ zhǔ chéng shúfàn / 'timber already get boat;raw rice boiled into cooked rice')

— The timber's already a boat; the rice is cooked.

It means: what'south done cannot exist undone.

28. 身体力行。 (Shēn tǐlì xíng/ 'body concrete-strength acts')

— A body acts according to concrete forcefulness.

From the "Huainanzi" (《淮南子·原道训》), information technology means to practice what yous preach.

29. 大智若愚。 (Dàzhì ruò yú / 'neat wisdom seem stupid')

— Great wisdom can seem foolish.

From "Laozi" (《老子》), it means: great intelligence may appear to be stupidity, and is sometimes used to describe a state of affairs where "he knows most who speaks least".

30. 捷足先登。 (Jiézú xiān dēng / 'quick human foot showtime climb')

— The quick-footed climb first.

From the Historical Records (《史记》), i.east. "first come, first served", or "the early bird gets the worm", this is the old version of "先到先得" (Encouragement #14 higher up).

Chinese Proverbs Virtually Dearest (ten Sayings)

Honey is an eternal theme for sayings, and it's no different in People's republic of china. Hither are some Chinese idioms about dearest and romance.

These old sayings unremarkably espouse love or commitment to honey.

1. 一见钟情。 (Yíjiàn zhōngqíng / 'one look autumn-in-love')

— Love at offset sight.

It's mostly used for people, simply y'all can also use it for other concrete things/activities...

2. 愿得一人心，白首不相离。(Yuàndé yīrénxīn, báishǒu bùxiānglí / 'wish get a person's heart, white caput non one-another apart')

— Long for a center, never be apart.

three. 执子之手，与子偕老。 (Zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xiélǎo / 'grasp your paw, with y'all grow-former-together')

— Hold hands with you, abound quondam with you.

Like 2., this expresses lifelong commitment in dearest.

4. 爱不是占有，而是欣赏。 (Ai bú shì zhànyǒu, ér shì xīnshǎng / 'beloved isn't having, merely is appreciating')

— Love isn't about having, it's well-nigh enjoying (what you lot accept).

v. 爱屋及乌。(Ai wū jí wū / 'love firm and crow')

— Love the house and its crow.

It means that love encompasses everything connected with somebody: "Love me, honey my canis familiaris."

vi. 萝卜青菜，各有所爱。 (Luóbo qīngcài, gè yǒu suǒ ài / 'radishes greens, each has that-which loves')

— Radishes and greens, each has those who love them.

I.due east. "one man's meat is another man'southward poisonous substance" or "each to his own".

7. 在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝。 (Zài tiān yuàn zuò bǐyìniǎo, zài dì yuàn wéi liánlǐzhī / 'in heaven wish exist fly-wing-to-fly birds; on world, wish to be grow-together branches'.)

— Birds flying in the sky as one; branches growing on the earth equally one.

This is a wish for conjugal elation.

eight. 有情人终成眷属。 (Yǒuqínɡrén zhōnɡ chénɡ juànshǔ / 'in-dear people finally go spouses')

— People in love get spouses in the end.

I.e. love will observe a way.

nine. 情人眼里出西施。 (Qínɡrén yǎnlǐ chū xīshī / 'lover eye inside appears Xishi [proper noun; foremost of the 4 Legendary Chinese Beauties]')

— In a lover's eye is the foremost Dazzler.

"Dazzler is in the middle of the beholder."

10. 有情饮水饱，无情食饭饥。 (Yǒuqínɡ yínshuǐbǎo, wúqínɡ shífànjī / 'Have amore drink water full; no affection swallow food hungry')

— With love h2o is enough; without love, nutrient doesn't satisfy.

It'southward similar to Proverbs 15:17 — "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."

Lookout man more than videos most Chinese culture stories.

Chinese Proverbs About Success (21 Sayings)

Positive phrases that make u.s.a. visualize success are the foundation of morale. In Chinese, in that location are many old sayings to encourage others to continue (to work hard) despite (or because of) the trials of life.

1. 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。 (Bīngdòng sān chǐ, fēi yīrì zhī hán / 'freeze iii chi[3 chi = i meter], not one day's common cold')

— It takes more than one common cold day for a river to freeze a meter deep.

This ways: "Rome wasn't built in a 24-hour interval." I.e. If yous keep working you'll attain your goal.

2. 机不可失，时不再来。(Jī bùkě shī, shí búzài lái/ 'Opportunity can't lose, fourth dimension non once again come')

— Don't miss opportunities: time doesn't come up circular again.

Opportunity knocks but in one case.

3. 人心齐，泰山移。(Rénxīn qí, Tàishān yí / 'people heart together, Mount Tai movement')

— When people work with ane heart, they can even move Mountain. Tai.

four. 万事开头难。(Wànshì kāitóu nán/ 'everything starts difficult')

— All things are difficult at the get-go.

I.e. Things always go easier if you persevere.

v. 失败是成功之母。(Shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ / 'failure is success'south mother')

— Failure is the mother of success.

vi. 只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针。 (Zhǐyào gōngfū shēn, tiěchǔ móchéng zhēn / 'just need effort deep, iron rod grind become needle')

— It just needs difficult piece of work to grind an iron rod into a needle.

This proverb encourages usa to persevere to succeed.

7. 水滴石穿，绳锯木断。 (Shuǐ dī shí chuān, shéng jù mù duàn / 'h2o driblet stone pierce, rope saw forest sever')

— Water drops pierce stone; rope saws cut forest.

Patience and persistence can suspension through anything, no matter how great the difficulty. Similar to Ovid'due south "Dripping water hollows out stone, not through forcefulness but through persistence."

8. 一日之计在于晨。 (Yīrì zhī jì zàiyú chén / 'a day'south plan lies in dawn')

— A day's planning is done at dawn.

I.eastward. make your plans early, or go up early, every bit this will affect the whole 24-hour interval/undertaking.

nine. 千里之行，始于足下。(Qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zúxià / 'i,000-li [500 km or a long mode] journey, outset with the human foot downwards. ')

— A g-li journeying starts with a footfall.

10. 否极泰来。 (Pǐ jí tài lái / 'evil extreme peace come')

— Peace replaces farthermost evil.

I.due east. all nightmares terminate.

11. 青出于蓝而胜于蓝。 (Qīng chūyú lán ér shèngyú lán / 'greenish come-from blueish moreover surpasses blue')

— Dark-green is from bluish, and amend than blue.

This is used to describe when a disciple has surpassed his main.

12. 老骥伏枥，志在千里。 (Lǎojì fúlì, zhì zài qiānlǐ / 'old warhorse lie stable, ambition at 1,000 li [500 km; a long way]')

— An erstwhile warhorse in the stable still longs to gallop a thousand li.

This describes 1 who still cherishes high aspirations in spite of historic period. Or: "Y'all're never too one-time to live your dream."

xiii. 吃得苦中苦，方为人上人。 (Chī dé kǔzhōngkǔ, fāng wéi rénshàngrén / 'eat gain pain in pain, method for man on man')

— Enduring deepening pain is how man ascends.

I.east. "No pain, no proceeds."

fourteen. 先到先得。 (Xiān dào xiān dé / 'first get in first become')

— The beginning to arrive is the commencement to succeed.

I.e. "the early bird catches the worm."

15. 守得云开见月明。 (Shǒu dé yún kāi jiàn yuèmíng / 'keep-watch gain cloud open up see moonlight')

— Watch till clouds part to see the moonlight.

I.eastward. "Every cloud has a silver lining" or trouble will pass.

16. 逆境出人才。 (Nìjìng chū réncái / 'adversity produces talented-person')

— Adversity yields flair.

17. 吃一堑，长一智。(Chī yīqiàn, zhǎng yízhì / 'eat a moat, abound a wisdom')

— Suffer a moat, grow in wisdom.

Having gone through a setback, ane will have gained feel and wisdom, which will be useful if only one tin can have alarm and acquire something from the setback. "A fall in a pit, a gain in your wit."

18. 不能一口吃成胖子。(Bùnéng yīkǒu chī chéng pàngzi / 'can't ane mouthful eat become fat-person')

— You can't get fat with ane mouthful.

I.e. Some things aren't accomplished in a moment. Don't surrender!

19. 风无常顺，兵无常胜。(Fēng wú chángshùn, bīng wú chángshèng / 'wind non always favorable; soldiers not always win')

— Wind isn't always favorable; soldiers aren't always victorious.

This proverb urges u.s. to exist fully prepared for difficulties and setbacks: it is impossible to accept shine sailing all the time.

xx. 星星之火，可以燎原。 (Xīngxīng zhī huǒ, kěyǐ liáoyuán / 'star's fire, can polish far')

— Starlight shines far.

Translated as: "A single spark can get-go a prairie fire." Seemingly small actions have far-reaching consequences.

21. 哀兵必胜。 (Āibīng bì shèng / 'sorrowful soldiers must win')

— An aggrieved regular army is sure to win.

Information technology means an regular army called-for with righteous indignation is bound to win.

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Chinese Proverbs Most Wisdom (26 Sayings)

Chinese people accept traditionally been good at drawing lessons from the ordinary things of life. Below are some of the most mutual wisdom sayings that give practical life communication.

The most time-honored and pop Chinese sayings nowadays wisdom or a concept in a brusk pithy idiom. Many have just four Chinese characters.

1. 不作不死。(Bù zuò bù sǐ / 'Not practise not dice.')

— If you lot don't do stupid things you won't finish upwards in tragedy.

This Chinese spider web maxim is recorded in the Urban Dictionary. It's like: "Don't poke the bear."

two. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。(Sài Wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú / 'Sai Weng [legendary old man's proper name] lost horse, how to know not blessing'.)

— Blessings come up in disguise.

According to the book "Huainanzi — Lessons of the Homo World", an old human living in a border region lost his horse and people came to comfort him. Simply he said, "This may be a blessing in disguise, who knows?" Indeed, the horse later returned to the man and brought him a better equus caballus.

three. 小洞不补，大洞吃苦。(Xiǎodòng bù bǔ, dàdòng chī kǔ / 'small-scale hole not mend; big hole swallow hardship')

— If small-scale holes aren't stock-still, then big holes will bring hardship.

This proverb tells us that if a piddling problem is not solved in time, information technology will become a serious and knotty ane. Like to: "A stitch in time saves ix."

4. 水满则溢。(Shuǐmǎn zé yì / 'water full but overflows')

— Water flows in merely to flow out.

Similar to "what comes up must come up downwards", this maxim points out that: things reverse when they attain their extremes. It's from the 18th-century novel "A Dream of Red Mansions".

5. 读万卷书不如行万里路。 (Dú wànjuànshū bù rú xíng wànlǐlù / 'reading 10,000 books, not equally adept every bit walking 10,000 li road')

— Information technology's better to walk thousands of miles than to read thousands of books.

I.e/ 'doing beats reading' or 'experience beats theory '.

6. 三个和尚没水喝。 (Sān gè héshàng méi shuǐ hē / 'three monks have no water to drinkable')

— Also many cooks spoil the broth.

I.e. if besides many people try to do something, similar three monks trying to bear one saucepan of water, they make a mess of it.

7. 一笑解千愁。 (Yī xiào jiě qiānchou / 'one grinning undoes 1,000 worries')

— A smile dispels many worries.

eight. 笑一笑,十年少。 (Xiào yī xiào, shínián shào / 'express joy,ten years younger')

— Happiness is the best corrective.

9. 美名胜过美貌。 (Měimíng shèng guò měimào / 'beautiful name beats cute looks')

— A good name is meliorate than a skilful face.

10. 不善始者不善终 。 (Bú shànshǐzhě bù shànzhōng / 'not good starter not good stop')

— A bad beginning makes a bad ending.

11. 大处着眼，小处着手。(Dàchù zhuó yǎn, xiǎochù zhuó shǒu/ 'big points apply eye; small points apply hand')

— Keep the general goal in sight while tackling daily tasks.

This proverb advises usa to always go along the overall situation in mind, and be far-sighted, while we set our hands to mundane business.

12. 一步一个脚印。 (Yībù yīgè jiǎoyìn / '1 footstep one footprint')

— Every step makes a footprint.

Work steadily and make solid progress.

thirteen. 一个萝卜一个坑儿。 (Yīgè luóbo yīgè kēngr / 'one turnip one pigsty')

— Each has his own job, and nobody is dispensable.

I.eastward. "each to his own", "horses for courses", or "every kettle has its lid".

14. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。 (Liú dé qīngshān zài, búpà méi chái shāo / 'remain green hills present, not fearfulness no firewood burn')

— While at that place are green hills, there'll exist wood to burn.

I.e. "Where at that place is life, there is hope."

15. 一鸟在手胜过双鸟在林。 (Yī niǎo zài shǒu shèng guò shuāng niǎo zài lín / 'one bird in manus beats pair birds in wood')

— A bird in the manus is worth two in the bush.

16. 人无完人，金无足赤。(Rén wú wánrén, jīn wú zúchì / 'human being lack perfect man; gilt lack enough ruddy')

— No human being is a perfect homo; no gilded is sufficiently bare.

It is equally impossible to find a perfect man equally it is to discover 100 percent pure gold. I.due east. "no-i's perfect".

17. 千军易得, 一将难求。 (Qiānjūn yìdé, yī jiàng nánqiú / 'k armies easy obtain; ane general hard asking')

— It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, merely hard to find a expert general.

This proverb notes the difficulty of finding an outstanding leader.

xviii. 宰相肚里好撑船。 (Zǎixiànɡ dùlǐ hǎo chēnɡchuán / 'prime government minister stomach inside good-to pole gunkhole')

— A prime minister's mind should exist broad enough for polling a boat.

This tin exist used to praise someone a magnanimous person. The saying is from the novel "Officialdom Unmasked" (官场现形记) by Li Baojia (李宝嘉1867–1906)

19. 难得糊涂。 (Nándé hútu / 'hard go confusion')

— Ignorance is bliss.

Or: "Where ignorance is bliss, it'south folly to be wise."

20. 祸从口出。 (Huò cóng kǒu chū/ 'disaster from mouth exits')

— Disaster comes from the careless talk.

21. 三人一条心，黄土变成金。(Sānrén yìtiáoxīn, huángtǔ biàn chéng jīn / 'iii people one heart; yellow globe go gold')

— If people are of one heart, fifty-fifty loess can become gold.

This proverb tells us that every bit long as people are unified, any goal tin exist achieved.

22. 身正不怕影子斜。(Shēnzhèng búpà yǐngzi xié / 'body direct non fright shadow slanting')

— One who stands directly doesn't fear a crooked shadow.

Similar to: "A directly foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe." I.e. A righteous human is not afraid to seem unrighteous.

23. 有借有还，再借不难。(Yǒu jiè yǒu huán, zài jiè bùnán / 'Have loan take repayment; again loan non hard.')

— Timely render of a loan makes it easier to borrow a 2d fourth dimension.

24. 蜡烛照亮别人，却毁灭了自己。 (Làzhú zhàoliàng biérén, què huǐmiè le zìjǐ / 'candle illuminates others, nevertheless destroys itself')

— A candle lights others and consumes itself.

This refers to self-sacrifice for the benefit of others.

25. 种瓜得瓜, 种豆得豆。 (Zhòngguā dé guā, zhòngdòu dé dòu / 'sow melons reap melons; sow beans reap beans')

— You reap what you sow.

This proverb warns that one receives just returns for i's actions; good for good and evil for evil. Information technology's similar to the Biblical: "…any a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

26.欲速则不达。 (Yù sù zé bùdá / 'Desire speed simply not attain.')

— Those who just want speed don't succeed.

This maxim from "The Analects of Confucius" teaches that patience and the right method achieve the correct upshot, where trying to exercise the same thing as well quickly (by cutting corners) does not. It's similar to: "More haste, less speed."

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Chinese Proverbs Nigh Friendship (x Sayings)

Rare as true beloved is, true friendship is rarer. Chinese people have always thought very highly of friendship, so there are many old sayings about it.

1. 近水知鱼性, 近山识鸟音。 (Jìn shuǐ zhī yúxìng; jìn shān shí niǎoyīn / 'nigh h2o know fish shape, near mountain know bird audio')

— To know a fish become to the water; to know a bird'due south vocal go to the mountains.

This poesy from 'Expanding Virtue Literature' (增广贤文) teaches that to know someone you should go to his or her home.

2. 听君一席话，胜读十年书。(Tīng jūn yīxíhuà, shèng dú shíniánshū / 'hear gentleman remarks, beats reading ten twelvemonth books')

— Listening to a lord's remarks is better than reading books for ten years.

3. 凡人不可貌相, 海水不可斗量。 (Fánrén bù kě màoxiàng, hǎishuǐ bù kě dòuliàng / 'mortals can't judge by appearance, sea water can't cup measure') — Man cannot exist judged by looks; seas cannot be measured by the cup.

In short: "don't estimate by appearances".

4. 有缘千里来相会。(Yǒuyuán qiānlǐ lái xiānghuì / 'Have fate 1,000 li [or a long fashion] together meet')

— Fate brings people together from far apart.

This saying espouses that homo relationships are decreed by fate.

5. 君子之交淡如水。 (Jūnzǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ / 'gentleman'southward friendship bland like water')

— A gentleman's friendship is insipid as water.

6. 入乡随俗。 (Rù xiāng suí sú 'enter commune follow custom')

— When entering a locality follow the local customs.

Like: "When in Rome, practice equally the Romans do."

7. 患难见真情。 (Huànnàn jiàn zhēnqíng / 'Hardship see true situation')

— In hardship, we meet true friendship.

Similar to: "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

eight. 知音难觅。 (Zhīyīn nánmì / 'soul mate difficult discover')

— An intimate friend is hard to observe.

9. 广交友，无深交。 (Guǎng jiāoyǒu, wú shēnjiāo / 'widely make friends, no deep friendship')

— Numerous friends means no deep friendship.

Similar to: "A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody."

10. 道不同，不相为谋。 (Dào bùtóng, bù xiāng wéi móu / 'principles different, not harmonious for schemes')

— Men of unlike principles don't work well together.

Chinese Proverbs Nearly Family unit (10 Sayings)

i. 月到中秋分外明，每逢佳节倍思亲。 (Yuè dào zhōngqiū fènwài míng, měi féng jiājié bèi sīqīn / 'moon attain Mid-Fall exceptionally bright, every holiday multiply homesick')

— The harvest moon is brightest; every festival's homesickness multiplies.

Familial longing is greatest in People's republic of china on its traditional family unit reunion festivals, like Mid-Autumn, the harvest moon festival. More of the significant behind this proverb is revealed in Mid-Autumn Festival's Traditions.

2. 儿行千里母担忧。 (Er xíng qiānlǐ mǔ dānyōu / 'son travels 1,000li [a long style; 500 km] mother worries')

— When children travel far, mothers worry.

3. 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。(Dànyuàn rénchángjiǔ, qiānlǐ gòngchánjuān/ 'Yet wish person long-fourth dimension, i,000 li [a long mode; 500 km] share moon[beauty]')

— Wishing us long life, though sharing moonlight from afar.

This poetic verse expresses (familial) honey and homesickness, and is i of many Popular Mid-Fall Festival Sayings.

iv. 家和万事兴。 (Jiāhé wànshìxīnɡ / 'family unit harmonious everything prospers')

— If a family is harmonious everything volition go well.

It's like the Biblical: "if a house is divided against itself, information technology cannot stand."

5. 家家有本难念的经。 (Jiājiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīnɡ /'Every family has own difficult remembered experience.')

— Every family has its bug.

Or: "There're skeletons in every family's cupboard."

6. 清官难断家务事。 (Qīnɡɡuān nán duàn jiāwùshì / 'honest-official difficult judge household diplomacy.)

—Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle a family unit quarrel.

seven. 有其父，必有其子。 (Yǒuqífù，bìyǒuqízǐ / 'take his begetter, must have his son')

— Where there'south a father, in that location's his son.

I.e. "Like male parent, like son."

8. 家丑不可外扬。 (Jiāchǒu bù kě wài yánɡ / 'family shame can't outside propagate')

— Family shames must not be spread abroad.

I.e. "Do non wash your dirty linen in public."

9. 不当家，不知柴米贵。 (Bù dānɡjiā，bù zhī cháimǐ ɡuì/ 'Not manage the household, not know firewood rice precious')

— If y'all don't run the family unit, you don't know the value of fuel and rice.

He who heads a family knows the responsibleness involved.

x. 金窝，银窝，不如自家的狗窝。 (Jīnwō, yínwō, bùrú zìjiā de ɡǒuwō/ 'gold nest, silver nest, not-as-practiced-equally ain family unit's kennel')

— Aureate and silver nests can't trounce one'southward family unit kennel.

I.e. "Due east, west, home is best."

Chinese Proverbs About Learning (10 Sayings)

The Chinese have always attached importance to study, so there are also many idioms to promote study.

Chinese Proverbs Almost Learning

1. 书是随时携带的花园。(Shū shì suíshí xiédài de huāyuán / 'volume is at-all-times carried garden')

— A volume is a pocket garden.

2. 活到老，学到老。(Huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo / 'live till quondam, study till old.)

— Live till you're old, and study till you're one-time.

"Don't end studying" or "y'all're never also erstwhile to larn."

three. 好书如挚友。(Hǎoshū rú zhìyǒu / 'good book equally-good-as close friend')

— A practiced book is like a good friend.

4. 一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴。(Yícùn guāngyīn yícùnjīn, cùnjīn nán mǎi cùnguāngyīn / 'ane cun [Chinese inch, i/30 thou] time 1 cun gold, cun gilded hard purchase cun fourth dimension')

— An inch of fourth dimension is worth an inch of golden, merely an inch of gold may not buy an inch of time.

I.east. time is coin, but information technology'south hard to buy time.

v. 好记性不如烂笔头。(Hǎojìxìng bù rú lànbǐtóu / 'good retentiveness not-every bit-good-equally rotten pen')

— A good memory tin can't beat a bad pen.

I.e. "The palest ink is better than the best retentiveness."

6. 花有重开日，人无再少年。 (Huā yǒu chóng kāi rì, rén wú zài shào nián / 'blossom has once again open mean solar day, people no again youth')

— Flowers may bloom over again; you lot're never young over again.

I.e. don't waste your youth.

7. 学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆。(Xué ér bùsī zé wǎng, sī ér bùxué zé dài / 'study simply not think then deceive, think only non study and then dangerous')

— Learning without thought is deceptive; thought without learning is perilous.

eight. 书到用时方恨少。 (Shū dào yòngshí fāng hènshǎo / 'books till employ time just-when hate few')

— When using books, you'll regret reading few.

This proverb reminds us that we can never read widely enough.

9. 读书须用意，一字值千金。 (dúshū xū yòngyì, yīzì zhí qiānjīn / 'reading books needs utilize attention, one word worth i,000 gilt')

— Reading requires concentration; a discussion may be worth a fortune.

This saying stresses the fact that study requires undivided attention. No single word should be passed over before we fully sympathise information technology. But in this fashion can study be rewarded.

x. 严师出高徒。 (Yánshī chū gāotú / 'strict teacher produces brilliant student')

— Strict teachers produce fine students.

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Chinese Proverbs About Dragons (10 Sayings)

Dragons are found in many aspects of Chinese culture, including sayings. Chinese dragons are seen as lucky and good — quite dissimilar from dragons in near Western stories.

Chinese Proverbs About Dragons

i. 龙飞凤舞。 (Lóng fēi fèng wǔ / 'dragon flies phoenix dances')

— The dragonflies and the phoenix dances.

It refers to a flamboyant style of calligraphy and writing devoid of content.

ii. 龙马精神。 (Lóng mǎ jīngshén / 'dragon equus caballus spirit')

— A dragon's and a equus caballus's spirit.

It refers to a vigorous spirit in old age.

3. 鱼龙混杂。(Yú lóng hùnzá / 'fish dragons muddle mix')

— A muddled mix of fish and dragons.

Information technology refers to crooks mixed in with honest folk.

four. 龙腾虎跃。 (Lóng téng hǔ yuè / 'dragon soars tiger leaps')

— Dragons soaring and tigers leaping.

It refers to a scene of bustling activity.

5. 车水马龙。 (Chē shuǐ mǎ long / 'wagon h2o horse dragon')

— Carriages like a stream and horses like a dragon.

It refers to a scene of heavy traffic (Chinese dragons have very long bodies).

6. 龙潭虎穴。 (Lóng tán hǔ xué / 'dragon pool tiger cave')

— A dragon'due south puddle and a tiger'southward den.

Information technology refers to a very dangerous spot.

7. 画龙点睛。 (Huàlóngdiǎnjīng / 'pigment dragon dot heart')

— Paint a dragon and dot the middle.

It refers to adding the vital finishing touch; the crucial point that brings the subject to life.

eight. 叶公好龙。 (Yè Gōng hào long)

— Lord Ye loves dragons.

It refers to someone who pretends to similar something that he really fears.

9. 鲤鱼跳龙门。 (Lǐyú tiào lóng mén / 'carp jump dragon gate')

— A carp has jumped the dragon's gate.

It refers to someone who has successfully passed the civil service examination.

10. 强龙难压地头蛇。 (Qiáng lóng nán yā dìtóu shé / 'strong dragon hard suppress local snake')

— Even a dragon struggles to command a ophidian in its native haunt.

This means: powerful outsiders tin hardly afford to fail local villains.

FAQs about Chinese Sayings/Proverbs

one. What are Chinese Sayings/Proverbs?

Chinese sayings take been created and refined past people in their daily work and lives, and are usually bright, curtailed, catchy, and like shooting fish in a barrel to learn and remember.

Chinese proverbs and Chinese idioms are commonly short phrases or rhymes in colloquial form, originating from literary works, history, or famous philosophers, writers or poets, etc. In that location are two types of Chinese proverbs and idioms: 1. 成语 (chéngyǔ) often with 4 characters and 2. 谚语 (yányǔ) proverbs that are comparatively longer. Both types include many popular Chinese sayings that land wisdom and giving people smart advice.

ii. What are some popular Chinese Sayings for the Chinese New year's day?

Chinese New year is the virtually of import festival for virtually Chinese people. You can learn something of its importance from the post-obit popular sayings:

1. 有钱没钱，回家过年 (Yǒu qián méi qián, huí jiā guònián)
   Whether you are rich or not, go habitation for Chinese New year's day.
2. 过个大年，忙乱半年 (Guò gè dà nián, mángluàn bànnián)
   (You'll) be busy for half a year to prepare for Chinese New year.
3. 乞丐过年也要歇三天 (Qǐgài guònián yě yào xiē sān tiān)
   Beggars will also take a three-24-hour interval holiday for the Chinese New year.
4. 不出十五都算年 (Bù chū shíwǔ dōu suàn nián)
   The Chinese New year celebrations final till the fifteenth of the first lunar month or the Lantern Festival.
5. 三十晚上无外人 (Sānshí wǎnshàng wú wàirén — '30th night no strangers')
   It is a tradition that only family unit members (excluding married daughters) celebrate Chinese New year's Eve together — the 30th twenty-four hours of the twelfth lunar month.<

If you want to know more about and learn how to say these and more than New Twelvemonth greetings, see our Chinese New Year Greetings page.

Source: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/learning-chinese/chinese-sayings.htm

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