Chinese proverbs

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This is a collection of Chinese proverbs (諺語 yàn yŭ) and idioms (成語 chéng yŭ), given in and sorted by their pinyin transcription. Chinese proverbs and four and more characters in idioms are developed from the formulaic or social dialect/saying/expression (歇後語 in pinyin: xiē hòu yŭ) and historical story in Chinese.

Some proverbs are literary, that is, from a written source. (See the historical written language or the more modern written language.) Others originated among families, street vendors, and other commoners -- all walks of life.

1 Chinese Proverb
2 Four and more characters in idioms
3 See also
4 External links

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Chinese Proverb

百世修来同船渡，千载修得共枕眠 (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)
- Literally: It takes hundreds of reincarnations to bring two persons to ride on the same boat; it takes a thousand years to bring two persons to share the same pillow.
- Moral: It is fate and yuanfen that brings two persons together, value an encounter and treasure a relationship.
- Note: These two phrases do not rhyme, but have parallel grammatical structure, i.e, subject to subject, verb to verb, etc.
- Usage: Sometimes used in marriage counselling to advise the couples having problems to resolve it, before making any hasty decisions.

一人吃饱，全家不饥 (yī rén chī bǎo, quán jiā bù jī)
- Literally: A single member of a family eats; the whole family will not 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.
- 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.

福無重至, 禍不單行 (fú wú chóng zhì, huò bú dān xíng) (blessing+not+double+arrive, misfortune+not+single+walk)
- Meaning: Fortune seldom repeats; troubles never occur alone.

冰冻三尺，非一日之寒 (bing1 dong4 san1 chi3, fei1 yi2 ri4 zhi1 han2) (ice+feud+three+units(~feet),not+one+sun(day)+(from)+chilly)
- Literally: Three feet of ice does not result from one day of freezing weather.
- Moral: A predicament is not formed without a period of events creating it.
- Compare: Rome was not built in a day (Roma non fu fatta in un giorno, Italian proverb).

此地无银三百两，隔壁阿二不曾偷 (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)
- Literally: There isn't a stash of three hundred taels of silver buried here; your neighbor Ah-Er did not steal them.
- Moral: A nervous heart is prone to mistakes; overkill will worsen a situation rather than bettering it.
- 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, Ah-Er steals the silver. Not wanting others to suspect him, Ah-Er puts another sign there: Your neighbor Ah-Er did not steal them.

大水冲了龙王庙 (da4 shui3 chong1 le long2 wang2 miao4) (big+water+poured over+finish+dragon+ruler+temple)
- Literally: massive amounts of water flooded the dragon-king temple.
- Moral: even those who work to prevent something (bad) can be hurt or damaged by it.
- 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 '大水冲了龙王庙，一家人不认一家人' (...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).

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

老骥伏枥，志在千里 (lao3 ji4 fu2 li4, zhi4 zai4 qian1 li3) (old+thoroughbred+hidden+stable,determined+be+thousand+distance (unit))
- Literally: The old horse in the stable still yearns to run 1000 li ¹.
- 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".
- Note: 'stable' and 'li' rhyme in Mandarin

¹ li: a Chinese unit of linear measure, corresponds to about .5 kilometers.

路遥知马力，日久见人心 (pinyin: lu4 yao2 zhi1 ma3 li4, ri4 jiu3 jian4 ren2 xin1)
- 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.
- Usage: This can be used positively to praise a true friend; or negatively to criticize friends that could not stand a test.

人要脸，树要皮; (pinyin: ren2 yao4 lian3 shu4 yao4 pi2)
- 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).

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

世上无难事，只怕有心人 (pinyin: shi4 shang4 wu2 nan2 shi4 zhi3 pa4 you3 xin1 ren2)
- Literally: On this world there exists no such impossible tasks, they fear only those with perseverance.
- Moral: No task in this world is impossible so long as there are willing hearts.

树倒猢狲散 (pinyin: shu4 dao3 hu2 sun1 san4)
- Literally: When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
- Usage: When a leader loses power, his followers become disorganized. This proverb is anti-anarchistic.

水能载舟,亦能覆舟 (pinyin: shui3 neng2 zai4 zhou1, yi4 neng2 fu4 zhou1)
- Literally: Not only can water float a craft, it can sink it also.
- Moral: There are opposite aspects of any tool or power.
- 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).

天下乌鸦一样黑 (pinyin: tian1 xia4 wu1 ya1 yi2 yang4 hei1)
- Literally: All crowds in the world are black.
- 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.
  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.).

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

熊瞎子摘苞米，摘一个丢一个 (pinyin: xiong2 xia1 zi zhai1 bao1 mi3, zhai1 yi2 ge4 diu1 yi2 ge4)
- Literally: blind bear picks corn, picks one and throws one.
- Meaning: Inability to appreciate what you have.
- 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.

也要马儿好，也要马儿不吃草 (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)
- Literally: want the horse to be the best, also want the horse not to eat any hay.
- Moral: You can't have your cake and eat it too (English equivalent).
- Usage: someone has an unrealistic expectation.
- Note: 'best' and 'hay' rhyme in Mandarin.

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

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

斩草不除根，春风吹又生 (pinyin: zhan3 cao3 bu4 chu2 gen1, chun1 feng1 chui1 you4 sheng1)
- Literally: If the roots are not removed during weeding, the weeds will return when the winds of Spring season blows.
- 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).

知子莫若父 (pinyin: zhi1 zi3 mo4 ru2 fu4)
- Literally: No one knows a son better than the father.
- 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.
- 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.

我看见我忘记。我听见我记住。我做我了解。 (pinyin: wǒ kàn jiàn wǒ wàng jì. wǒ tīng jiàn wǒ jì zhù. wǒ zuò wǒ liǎo jiě)
- Literally: (When) I see I forget. (When) I hear I remember. (When) I do I understand.
- 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.
- Moral: Learn by doing.

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

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

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

八仙过海，各显神通 (pinyin: ba1 xian1 guo4 hai3 ge4 xian2 shen2 tong1)
- Literally: like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each one displaying his/her special feats.
- Moral: Everyone has his/her own powers.

八字没一撇 (pinyin: ba1 zi4 mei2 yi4 pie3)
- Literally: The character "eight" (八) does not have one stroke.
- Figuratively: It takes two strokes to write the character "eight".
- Moral: It takes two to tango.

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

一將功成萬骨枯 (yi2 jiang4 gong1 cheng2 wan4 gu3 ku1) (one+general+accomplishment+succeed+myriad+bones+dry up)
- Literally: Tens of thousands of bones will become ashes when one general achieves his fame.
- Meaning: A great person needs others to sacrifice themselves to build his success.

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Four and more characters in idioms

Wikipedia has an article on Four-character idioms

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

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

骄兵必败 (jiaō bīng bì baì) (arrogant+army+certain+be defeated)
- Literally: The arrogant army will lose the battle for sure.
- Moral: anyone who is arrogant/over-confident about their own abilities will fail indeed.

掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr daò líng) (conceal+ear+steal+bell)
- Literally: Covering one's own ears while stealing a bell.
- Moral: Ignoring the facts is only fooling oneself.
- Compare: Elephant in the room, The Emperor's New Clothes.

画蛇添足 (huà shě tiān zú) (draw+snake+add+foot)
- Literally: Adding legs when painting a snake.
- Moral: Don't overdo something.
- English equivalent: to gild the lily.

以毒攻毒/(yǐ dú gōng dú) (by+poison+attack+poison/)
- Literally: Fight poison with poison.
- Meaning: Fight fire with fire.

以牙还牙 (yǐ yá huán yá) (by+teeth+return+teeth)
- Literally: A tooth for a tooth.
- Meaning: An eye for an eye; to seek revenge in a manner in which one was injured.

自相矛盾 (zì xiāng maó dùn) (self+mutually+spear+shield)
- Literally: piercing one's shield with one's spear.
- Meaning: Self-contradiction.
- 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.

三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ) (three+people+achieve+tiger)
- Literally: Three people can make up a tiger.
- Meaning: If an unfounded premise or urban legend is mentioned and repeated by many individuals, the premise will be erroneously accepted as the truth; see Three men make a tiger.
- See also: Appeal to the majority.