【L0】Contents Contents

Notes on this Software Edition
About the Author
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
How to Use This Dictionary
Abbreviations for Popular Novels

ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (Yànyǔ)
A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T W X Y Z

Bibliography
Index

【L0】Notes on this Software Edition Notes on this Software Edition

Wenlin Institute proudly presents this software edition of the ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (Yànyǔ), by John Rohsenow! It provides new functionality to the dictionary, with searchability, hyperlinks, and instant vocabulary look-up. This edition also corrects a variety of errors in the 2002 print edition. Thanks to the author for providing his list of corrections, and to Richard Cook, Victor Mair, Robert Sanders, Stephan Stiller, and Matthew Trueman for further corrections, field testing, and helpful suggestions.

This edition includes both simple and full form characters (jiǎntǐzì 简体字 and fántǐzì 繁體字); the latter were added in November, 2015.

We provide the entire dictionary as a single enhanced plain-text file (yanyu.wenlin) — the file which you are now reading. This file is specifically formatted for reading with Wenlin® Software for Learning Chinese. You can browse entries in many ways: by scrolling through them in alphabetical order; or by searching for any piece of Chinese or English text (with the Find command); or at random; or using the included index by topics and keywords, which is linked by triangle buttons to and from the main entries.

We plan to publish more editions of the dictionary, including HTML versions that can be viewed with a web browser; and to enhance the Wenlin software itself to include features specifically focused on this dictionary. Please stay tuned for improvements to both the text and software. Let us know if you would like to field-test new editions. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, or suggestions, by email: wenlin@wenlin.com or telephone: 1-877-4-WENLIN (1-877-493-6546), or through our website: wenlin.com.

We wish you endless hours of enjoyment and education reading this dictionary!

Tom Bishop
Wenlin Institute, Inc. SPC

【L0】About the Author About the Author

John S. Rohsenow, who has taught and conducted research in Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Taiwan, is author of A Chinese-English Dictionary of Enigmatic Folk Similes (Xiehouyu) (1991) and co-editor, with Yin Binyong, of Modern Chinese Characters (1994). He is currently associate professor of linguistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
【L0】Foreword Foreword

This dictionary of Chinese proverbs, edited by John S. Rohsenow, is a welcome addition to the ABC series of Chinese dictionaries published by the University of Hawai‘i Press. All other Chinese-English dictionaries of comparable quality are either badly out of date or long out of print. The need for an up-to-date work of this nature is particularly pressing because of the vital role proverbial language has traditionally played and still plays in Chinese speech and literature. There is probably no other major linguistic community on earth that is so fond of proverbs as that of the Chinese. So we are indeed fortunate to have this excellent new tool for the study of Chinese proverbs.

Yet this book is more than just a handy listing of Chinese maxims and aphorisms from the past and the present with reliable English translations. The author also provides cogent explanations of the figurative meanings of these often earthy and culturally specific sayings, and gives citations to actual usages in literature. In addition, he has provided an extremely insightful introduction in which the reasons for the persistence of proverbial language into the twenty-first century are spelled out persuasively.

Last, but certainly not least, this dictionary is very easy to use, being arranged in the single-sort alphabetical order and with scrupulous attention to the official romanized orthography (Hànyǔ Pīnyīn Zhèngcífǎ) of the People's Republic of China. It may be noted that Professor Rohsenow is the translator of the “Basic Rules for Hanyu Pinyin Orthography” established by the State Language Commission of the PRC and published as Appendix I of the ABC Chinese-English Dictionary edited by John DeFrancis. Professor Rohsenow's translation of the official orthographical rules for Pinyin have also been accepted by the International Standards Organization. For all of these reasons, I fully expect that the ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (Yànyǔ) will become a standard reference work for students and specialists of Chinese language, literature, society, and history.

Victor H. Mair
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 【L0】Acknowledgments Acknowledgments

The data for the present study were first collected in China while I was a National Endowment for the Humanities fellow at the Institute of Linguistics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. My research in China was also partially supported by a grant from the Campus Research Board of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

I am grateful to the Institute for the Humanities at UIC for providing me with a fellowship for the year 1992-1993 to initiate this dictionary project, and especially to Mary Beth Rose, Gene Ruoff, and Linda Vavara. In 1994-1995, the project was also supported by a grant (RT-21567-94) from the National Endowment for the Humanities (Research Tools Division), and had additional support from UIC's Campus Research Board throughout the project. Final editing of the manuscript was again supported by a grant from the UIC Institute for the Humanities. The initial manuscript of this dictionary was the recipient of a First Annual Tuttle Language Grant for Asian Language Publication Research in 1995.

A work of this nature and magnitude is inevitably the result of collaboration. I especially wish to thank Professor Guo Jianzhong of Hangzhou University and Professor Pan Da'an of California State Polytechnic University, without whom this work would not have been possible. Guo Lu Ping provided invaluable assistance in the initial proofreading and in checking Chinese literary sources. Ann K. Ning undertook the onerous job of the final proofreading of the Chinese characters. I also wish to thank the librarians at the East Asian Collection of the library of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and also the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago for providing me access to the East Asian Collection of the University of Chicago's Regenstein Library.

The computerscript for this dictionary was typed by Mathew Calo, Joel Felix, and Lysa Lei. The character insertion was done by Robert Zhe Zhang, using Wenlin software with the advice and assistance of its designer, Tom Bishop of Wenlin Institute, Inc. (www.wenlin.com), whose technical help has also been invaluable in actually producing this book. In the initial stages of this work, able technical assistance was provided by the staff of the UIC Computer Center, most especially Edward Zawacki. Professor Yin Binyong of the Chinese State Language Commission checked the Hanyu pinyin. Ms. Lisa Zhao of the UIC Library formatted the Bibliography. Cynthia Lowe did the proofreading.

All of that having been said, I am of course solely responsible for any deficiencies or errors which remain.

For assistance and encouragement, I specifically wish to thank the late Wolfram Eberhard, Hui-ch'ing Chang, Marcia Farr, Hill Gates, Guo Luyi, Paul Hockings, Bronislawa Kordas, Ellen Laing, Michael Leiber, Y. C. Li, J. Macevichius, Donald Marshall, M. C. Paris, David Rolston, Allen Scott Bookseller, Arthur Wolf, and Dale Woolley. I also wish to express my gratitude to Patricia Crosby and Ann Ludeman at the University of Hawai‘i Press, as well as to John DeFrancis and Victor Mair, the general editors of the ABC series. The general editors and I also wish to express our gratitude to the Freeman Foundation for their support of the ABC dictionary series.

My heartfelt love and gratitude go to my wife, Betty Jacobsen, without whose love, encouragement and assistance this work could not have been completed. My love and thanks also go to my parents and siblings for their love and support over the years.

Chicago
June 4, 2001
【L0】Introduction Introduction

“To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” —Proverbs 1,6

“From childhood I read many, many poems and verses, and listened to many, many proverbs. And everywhere I went, I picked up proverbs.” —Jiang Zemin, CCP General Party Secretary, Newsweek, March 12, 1990

In 1956 when the president of Beijing University, the demographer Ma Yinchu warned against the dangers of China's rapid post-liberation surge in population growth, Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong is said to have replied characteristically by citing a proverb: Zhòngrén shíchái, huǒyàn gāo, “The more people (there are to) collect firewood, the higher the flames will grow.” Describing the supposed popular reaction against “rightist” political elements that same year, Mao cited the proverb: Lǎoshǔ guò jiē, rénrén hǎn dǎ ,“When a rat crosses the street, everyone cries out and beats it.” Expressing his opposition to the requirement that scientists, educators, and administrators be more “Red” than “expert,” Mao's pragmatic successor Deng Xiaoping quoted a proverb from his native Sichuan: Bùguǎn hēi māo, bái māo, zhǐ zhuā dào lǎoshǔ jiùshì hǎo māo, “It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it can catch mice.” In an interview with the American magazine Newsweek cited above, Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin legitimized his Party's anti-corruption campaign by quoting the proverb: Shàngliáng bù zhèng, xià liáng wāi, “When the main beam is not upright, the entire structure will be crooked.” Clearly these traditional proverbs (yànyǔ) continue to play a central role in the thinking and rhetoric of China's leaders to the present day.

Unlike the much studied and translated four-character traditional fused literary idioms or set phrases known as chéngyǔ (成语), these yànyǔ (谚语), or “proverbs,” are ultimately the heritage of thousands of years of China's primarily illiterate, oral, peasant-based culture, in terms of which the present communist leaders of the Peoples Republic for ideological reasons continue to characterize her tortured transformation into a modern industrialized nation-state. Let us here examine the nature, definition, history and function which such proverbs have played in traditional society, as well as the reasons for their continuing currency in the Peoples Republic and other Chinese communities today.

Anyone living and interacting within Chinese society, whether it be on the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore or elsewhere becomes aware of the all-pervading nature of proverbs and proverbial sayings in Chinese life, both in daily speech, as well as in Chinese writings and other media. Some of these are in fact maxims or quotations or paraphrases of quotations from the so-called Chinese “Classics,” cited for so many hundreds of years that they have become proverbial, regardless of whether their written version or source is known to the speakers who use them. Thus Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià, (literally) “A thousand league journey begins with [what is] under [one's] foot,” is attributed to the old Taoist Master known as Lǎozǐ, and transcribed in the third century B.C.E. work known as the Dào Dé Jīng, “The Classic of the Way and Integrity,” although some believe it to be in fact an even older proverb with an even longer oral history quoted by the Old Master. From the Analects of Master Kong (Kǒng Fūzǐ or “Confucius”), which was promulgated and memorized as state orthodoxy for most of the last two thousand years, come dozens of similar maxims, made proverbial by long familiarity: Zǐ yuē: Sìhǎi zhīnèi, jiē xiōngdì yě, now usually translated: “The Master said: Within the four seas, all [men] are brothers.” Or again from the Confucian Analects: Sān rén tóngxíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī “If three [of us] are walking together, there must be [at least one who can be] my teacher”; that is, no matter how educated one is, one can always learn something from others. Even today, despite China's massive problems with overpopulation, a familiar dictum of Mèngzǐ or “Mencius” is still often quoted: Wú xiào yǒu sān, wú hòu wéi dà; “There are three [ways of being] unfilial [to one's parents, and] the greatest [of these] is to have no posterity.”

But against hundreds of such often-quoted maxims which have over the years become “proverbial,” there are a far greater number of anonymous colloquial proverbs in common use. The first one I can remember hearing, from a cook from Shandong, is not in the Confucian Analects; to sum up her view on the all-pervasiveness of nepotism in human affairs, she tartly observed: Gǒu bù chī shǐ, rén bù piānxīn, “When dogs stop eating excrement, people will stop practicing favoritism,” or something like “People will stop playing favorites, when Hell freezes over.”

In their writing and speaking, educated Chinese continue to use the older, more “literary” proverbs, and can sometimes give sources for some of them if asked, but they of course also use many of the more common colloquial proverbs and proverbial expressions as well. On the other hand, uneducated, often illiterate Chinese people also use quite a few of the more common, older “classical” proverbs, giving their speech the authority of antiquity, while at the same time they employ an even larger number of those earthy, witty, pomposity-piercing proverbs for which peasants are famous all over the world. Recently, a worker at a university in China where I have spent a good deal of time over the last twenty years delighted me by rendering her verdict on an extramarital affair between two married faculty members by using a proverb I had never heard before: Mǔ gǒu bù chū pìgu, gōng gǒu nán shàng, “If female dogs don't present their posteriors, it is hard for male dogs to mount them.”

According to Francis Bacon's Essay (1517), “... the genius, wit, and spirit of a nation are discovered in its proverbs.” But what is a proverb? The term has been widely used, yet it is difficult to define. The English statesman Lord John Russell is credited with the characterization of proverbs which has come down to us “proverbially” as “the wisdom of many and the wit of one.” [note 1] The American College Dictionary (1957) defines a proverb as a “short pithy saying ... popularly known and repeated, usually expressing simply and concretely, though often metaphorically, a truth based on common sense or the practical experience of mankind.” [note 2] Neal Norrick, a contemporary paremiologist, after reviewing numerous studies of, and writing on the subject, noted that “proverbs are consistently described as self-contained, pithy, traditional expressions with didactic content and fixed poetic form.” (1985:31) Norrick then presents two of his own more technical definitions: an “ethnographic” definition of the proverb in English as “a traditional, conversational didactic genre with a general meaning, a potential free conversational turn, preferably with figurative meaning,” along with his more general “supra-cultural” definition of proverbs in general as “a typically spoken, conversational form with didactic function and not associated with any particular source.” (1985:78–79) Proverbs, then, can be differentiated on the basis of both formal as well as semantic criteria from other rhetorical forms such as colloquial phrases (“to face the music”); aphorisms or maxims (“Brevity is the soul of wit,” or “The truth shall make you free”); clichés (“so much for the facts”; “white as snow”); Wellerisms (“I see, said the blind carpenter as he picked up his hammer and saw”); and other related rhetorical figures. (Cf. Norrick 1985:32, 65–74.)

Similar problems exist in Chinese, where the terminology in this area is also not consistently defined or applied, and is still a matter for discussion. [note 3] The Chinese term I take to be equivalent to the English word “proverb” in the sense just given is yànyǔ (谚语). There have been varying uses of this term yànyǔ in Chinese, both historically and in contemporary Chinese discussions of the subject. We may take as representative of the better treatments Sun Zhiping's (1982) definition, which addresses the structure, meaning, and usage of yànyǔ in Chinese: “Yànyǔ are complete sentences, expressing a judgment or an inference, [which] may be used to validate [or to] represent [one's] own [individual] views, [whereas] chéngyǔ, xiēhòuyǔ, and súyǔ generally can only serve as parts of a sentence, [and are] used to give a concrete description or expression of the quality, state, degree, etc. of some objective material phenomenon.” [(1984:3)—my translation] Discussion and analyses in Chinese similar to those in English summarized by Norrick above allow us to differentiate this term yànyǔ (proverb) from other related Chinese rhetorical terms such as shúyǔ (熟语, familiar sayings), súyǔ (俗语, colloquial expressions), géyán (格言, maxims), chéngyǔ (成语, fused phrase literary expressions), xiēhòuyǔ (歇后语, enigmatic folk similes or truncated witticisms), as well as from the modern term guànyòngyǔ (惯用语, idiom, in the technical linguistic sense of a group of words used invariantly whose meaning cannot be determined from the sum of its parts).

As we have noted, proverbs are fundamentally an oral form consisting of complete sentences, which reduce the observations, experiences, and wisdom of ordinary people into short, pithy, colloquial statements and judgments, employing familiar images and tropes phrased in easily memorizable forms. Thus, for example, the yànyǔ: Qiǎofù nánwei wú mǐ zhī chuī, (“[Even] the cleverest housewife cannot cook [a meal] without rice”) is comparable in its meaning and usage to the English proverb “One cannot make bricks without straw.” Súyǔ or colloquial expressions, on the other hand, are equally familiar colloquial set phrases, images or tropes, but which consist only of sentence fragments used for description, such as jǐng lǐ lāo qǐ; yòu diào jìn chí lǐ, literally: “to scoop something from inside the well, only to drop it into the pond,” that is, to get out of one calamity, only to get into another, comparable to the English colloquial expression, “out of the frying pan, into the fire.” Note that both the Chinese example just cited and “out of the frying pan, ...” etc. are sentence fragments, and that neither one expresses an observation or judgment, but rather merely describes a situation. On the other hand, the English proverb “Out of sight, out of mind,” while grammatically parallel to the “frying pan” example, does express an observation of cause and effect, i.e., that [when one is] not seen [for some time], [one tends to be] forgotten [by others]. Similarly, the classical four character proverb Chún wáng, chǐ hán, “[When] the lips are gone, the teeth are cold,” is a complete (if elliptical) sentence consisting of two subject + verb clauses, and also expresses cause and effect metaphor, and thus qualifies as a proverb, despite its use of literary Chinese phrasing and its four-character, chéngyǔ-like appearance.

As Obelkevitch (1987:44) rightly notes, however, “what [really] defines the proverb ... is not its internal organization, but its external function, [which is] ... usually moral and didactic: people use proverbs to tell others what to do in a given situtation or what attitude to take towards it. Proverbs, then, are ‘strategies for situations,’ but they are strategies with authority, formulating some part of a society's common sense, its values and ways of doing things.” Proverbs employ familiar images and tropes to capture the experience and values shared by successive generations; they are repeatedly quoted and appealed to for persuasion, in argumentation, and as guides for daily living. In the mouths of ordinary peasant farmers, craftspersons and tradespeople, they are “mini-texts” of a commonly shared “oral literature” which possess authority by virtue of their constant repetition and use. [My italics –JSR] [note 4]

Géyán or maxims are usually also complete statements, likewise expressing judgments or observations, but differing in that they are quotations, that is, guides for behavior taken from the writings attributed to some famous author or work in the past. Thus they usually have a decidedly written flavor in lexical choice, grammar, and style, even if they have over the years become “proverbial” in use and their original written sources or authors forgotten or unknown by their users. Thus, numerous quotations from the Confucian Analects (Lúnyǔ) such as the “Within the four seas, all men are brothers” example cited above have become “proverbial” even beyond China's borders, although their source is often forgotten. Similarly, the famous line from the Dào Dé Jīng also cited above: Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià, now usually paraphrased in English as “The longest journey begins with (but) a single step,” may in fact be an even older popular proverb with an even longer oral history which was simply quoted by or attributed to the old Taoist master Lǎozǐ in that third century B.C.E. work.

Another basically written form is the ubiquitous chéngyǔ, set phrases or fused phrase idioms. Chéngyǔ are also fixed literary expressions or idioms, usually consisting of four characters, employing the vocabulary and structures of literary Chinese (wényán), which are often taken from or contain allusions (diǎngù) to classical written works. Thus China's “Chicken Little,” the man of the ancient kingdom of Qi who also worried that the sky might fall, has become immortalized in the chéngyǔ: Qǐ rén yōu tiān, literally, “the man of Qi worries about the sky,” used to this day by educated writers and speakers to mean “(entertaining) groundless or unnecessary fears.” Unlike most chéngyǔ, this particular example can be read as a complete subject-plus-verb sentence, but it does not express an observation or judgment, and thus does not qualify as a proverb. Four syllable colloquial sentences such as Hǎoshì duō mó, “The road to happiness is strewn with setbacks,” often equated with Shakespeare's “The course of true love never did run smooth,” and the more literary Néng zhě duō láo, “Able persons [should] do more work,” do fulfill the criteria for proverbs and should not be misclassified as chéngyǔ descriptive expressions. Chéngyǔ are included along with the other terms discussed here under the general heading of shúyǔ, or familiar sayings, because so many have passed into common use and are widely used, even in contemporary vernacular (báihuà) writing, as well as in the speech of educated speakers.

Finally, certainly in modern speech and writing and even in some older written works one encounters another primarily spoken form, xiēhòuyǔ, enigmatic folk similes or truncated witticisms. A true xiēhòuyǔ is a two-part allegorical saying consisting first of a descriptive phrase, always stated and often preceded by a verb of explicit comparison (e.g., hǎo bǐ ...~, “it's just like ...”; thus the term simile). This first metaphorical image is then followed by a pause, then followed by a second phrase, often left unspoken, which either directly or indirectly resolves and explains the relevance of the simile to which the first part of the xiēhòuyǔ has been applied metaphorically. For example, recalling the old days when upper class Chinese girls and women's feet were every day tightly wrapped with long cotton strips of cloth in order to deform them into erotically attractive (to men) “golden lily” feet, a certain person's lecture might therefore be described as “(just like) an old [Chinese] woman's foot-binding bandages—[i.e.,] both long and stinky!” Often the resolution of the metaphor involves a double-entendre or pun on the superficial meaning of the second part of the xiēhòuyǔ, as when Mao Zedong described himself to the visiting American journalist Edgar Snow as (being like) “a [bald-shaven Buddhist] monk under an umbrella” (héshang dǎsǎn). As Mao did not complete the xiēhòuyǔ and as Snow did not know the hidden meaning of the second part of this enigmatic folk simile: wú fǎ, wú tiān, literally: “having neither hair nor Heaven [above him],” he could only take Mao's image literally. But the literal meaning of the resolution of the simile is not the true meaning; wú fǎ, wú tiān is in fact homophonous with Mao's truly intended meaning, a four character fused phrase idiom meaning “[bound by] neither [earthly] law [fǎ = hair/law], nor by Heaven [above].” [note 5]

Some of the earliest recorded types of proverbs are the so-called “agricultural proverbs” (nóngyàn 农谚) and “weather proverbs” (qìxiàng yànyǔ 气象谚语) which encapsulate traditional observations and advice concerning the weather and various agricultural practices in different areas of China over the centuries. We have examples of collections of these types of proverbs dating as far back as the Eastern Han dynasty, eighteen hundred years ago, when Cuī Shí (崔寔) first collected proverbs as part of his Sì Mín Yuè Lìng (四民月令, Farmers' Monthly Guide). Similar collections in succeeding times containing proverbs on various aspects of agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture, and other farming side production are Wú Lùjī's (吴陆玑) Máo Shī Cǎo Mù Niǎo Shòu Chóng Yú Shū (毛诗草木鸟兽虫鱼疏, Mao's Annotations on Plant, Tree, Bird, Animal, Insect and Fish Metaphors) in the Three Kingdoms period; Jiǎ Sìxié's (贾思勰) Qí Mín Yào Shù (齐民要术, Important Skills for Commoners) in the Northern Wei dynasty; Chén Fū's (陈敷) Nóng Shū (农书, Book of Agriculture) in the Song dynasty; Lóu Yuánlǐ's (娄元礼) Tiánjiā Wǔ Háng (田家五行, The Farmer's Five Skills) in the Yuan dynasty; and Xú Guāngqǐ's (徐光启) Nóng Zhèng Quán Shū (农政全书, Complete Book of Agricultural Management) in the Ming.

Not until the Song dynasty were there works purely devoted to the collection of proverbs per se. The first two such collections produced in the Song were Gōng Yízhèng's (龚颐正) Shì Cháng Tán (释常谈, Explanations of Common Sayings) and Zhōu Shǒuzhòng's (周守忠) Gǔ-Jīn Yàn (古今谚, Ancient and Contemporary Proverbs). Other outstanding such works in succeeding centuries are Yáng Shēng'ān's (杨升庵) similarly titled Gǔ-Jīn Yàn in the Ming dynasty, followed by Dù Wénlán's (杜文澜) Gǔ Yáoyàn (古谣谚) and Zēng Tíngméi's (曾廷枚) Gǔ Yàn Tán (古谚谈, Casual Comments on Ancient Proverbs) in the Qing. The tradition of collection and compilation of Chinese proverbs in modern times was continued in such works as Lǐ Jiàntáng's (李鉴堂) Súyǔ Kǎo Yuán (俗语考原, Origins of Common Sayings); Shǐ Xiāngzāi's (史襄哉) Zhōnghuá Yàn Hǎi (中华谚海, China's Sea of Proverbs); and Zhū Yǔzūn's (朱雨尊) Mínjiān Yànyǔ Quánjí (民间谚语全集, Complete Collection of Popular Proverbs). In addition to these specialized works, agricultural, weather, and general proverbs peculiar to a particular locality were often included in local gazetteers (dìfāngzhì 地方志) over the years. [note 6]

In his comprehensive evaluation of literary theory and criticism up until his own time entitled Wén Xīn Diāo Lóng (文心雕龙, The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons), the sixth century Liang dynasty scholar Liú Xié (刘勰) in his chapter on Epistolary Writing (Shū Jì 书记) noted that “Proverbs [yàn 谚] are direct statements ... Duke Mu of [the kingdom of] Zou said: ‘A leaky bag can still hold things’ ... The Tài Shì [(太誓, Great Vow) section in the Lǐ Jì (礼记, Record of Rites)] says: ‘The Ancients had a saying: A hen should not crow at dawn.’ And in the Dà Yǎ [(大雅, Great Elegantiae) section of the Shī Jīng (诗经, Poetry Classic)] it is said: ‘Through grief one grows old.’ Both of these are proverbs from antiquity which are quoted in the Classics ...” After quoting additonal examples of “proverbs employed in literary writings” found in such ancient works, Liu concluded: “In literature there is nothing more vulgar than proverbs, but they were used by the sages in [these] classic works, so how can one ignore them?” [note 7]

For additional examples of proverbs in ancient writings, we can cite proverbs in many classic works from pre-Qin times. In the third century B.C.E. Discourses of the Domains (Guó Yǔ 国语) we find Cóng shàn rú dēng; cóng è rú bēng; “To follow goodness is to rise, [but] to follow evil is to fall.” In the Intrigues of the Warring States (Zhàn Guó Cè 战国策) we find Nìng wéi jī kǒu; wú wéi niú hòu; “Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox,” and in the Hán Fēi Zǐ (韩非子), Yuán shuǐ nán jiù jìn huǒ; yuán qīn bùrú jìn lín; “[Just as] distant water cannot extinguish nearby fires, [so] distant relatives are not as good as nearby neighbors,” which are all pairs of balanced rhymed couplets. In the classic Historical Records (Shǐ Jì 史记) written by Sīmǎ Qiān (司马迁) in the former (Western) Han dynasty (206 B.C.E. to 24 C.E.) we find proverbs which are still in current use today, such as Zhōngyán nì'ěr lìyú xíng; “Honest advice, [though] unpleasant to the ear, benefits [one's] conduct,” and also the proverb Chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn; cùn yǒu suǒ cháng, literally “Some[times a] foot [may be too] long, [or an] inch, too short,” meaning that everyone has both strong and weak points.

Strictly speaking a Chinese proverb is a grammatically complete sentence expressing an observation or judgment based on experience. Agricultural proverbs (nóngyán) and weather proverbs (qìxiàng yànyǔ) usually refer to local conditions and do not gain national currency, with the exception of a few general ones such as Zhāoxiá zhǔ yǔ; wǎnxiá zhǔ qíng, equivalent to the English proverb “Red sky at night, sailor's/shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, sailor/shepherd take warning.” For this reason, as in most Chinese collections of Chinese proverbs, there are very few such proverbs included in this dictionary.

In terms of formal structure, Chinese proverbs usually consist of one or two lines of four or more syllables each, using either colloquial or literary (wényán) style. The grammar of Chinese proverbs is largely determined by the basic topic-comment structure of Chinese sentences, which—unlike in poetry—can outweigh formal considerations of parallelism. Thus in Qiān lǐ sòng émáo; lǐ qīng, rényì zhòng, “[When] a goose feather is sent a thousand miles, [although] the gift [itself] is light, the [accompanying] sentiment is weighty,” or “It's the thought that counts,” the two lines each of five syllables together form one sentence, but lack the strict grammatical parallelism and rhyme required by classical Chinese poetry. This is true even when the two lines do end-rhyme, as proverbs often do for ease of memorization, as in the extremely colloquial doggerel proverb Hǎo jiè hǎo huán; zài jiè bù nán, “Well borrowed and well returned; borrowing again will not be spurned.” Formal grammatical parallelism usually occurs when the same structure is repeated for contrast or comparison, as in the now proverbial quotation from the Discourses of the Domains (Guó Yǔ) cited above: Cóng shān rú dēng; cóng è rú bēng, “To follow goodness is to rise; to follow evil is to fall.”

Like proverbs all over the world, some may be taken literally, and some are to be understood metaphorically. Thus Jūnzǐ dòng kǒu, bù dòngshǒu, “Gentlemen move [their] mouths, not [their] hands,” is a fairly straightforward injunction to resolve disagreements through peaceful speech rather than through physical conflict, whereas Zhēn jīn bù pà huǒ, “True gold fears not the fire,” is to be understood metaphorically to mean that a person of integrity can stand severe moral testing. The more literary Qiǎofù nánwei wú mǐ zhī chuī, “[Even] the cleverest housewife cannot cook a meal without rice,” is understood metaphorically as equivalent to the English “One cannot make bricks without straw.” Often explicit metaphors or implicit similes are combined with literal advice or judgments in parallel lines, as in the proverb Kuàimǎ yī biān; kuài rén yī yán, “[Just as a] fast horse [needs only] one [touch of the] whip, [so a] straightforward person needs only a word [in order to understand],” or an expansion of the proverb from the Han dynasty Shǐ Jì cited above, Liángyào kǔkǒu lìyú bìng; zhōngyán nì'ěr lìyú xíng, “[Just as] good medicine [which is] bitter in the mouth [is] good for [one's] illness, [so] sincere advice [which] offends the ear [is] beneficial to [one's] conduct.” Often only the first of the two lines of such familiar proverbs is cited, the other being implied by suggestion, thus making them appear similar to enigmatic folk similes (xiēhòuyǔ), discussed above. For example, the first, metaphorical part of some two-part proverbs can take on the meaning of the unsaid second part, as in Bào sǐ, liú pí, “[When a] leopard dies, [it] leaves [its] skin,” which is often used alone with the meaning of the unspoken second part, ... rén sǐ, liúmíng, “[(so) when a] person dies, [(s)he] leaves his (or her) reputation.” [note 8]

Proverbs often follow fixed formulae, such as the comparative A bùrú B single line pattern, as in Bǎi wén bùrú yī jiàn, “Hearing [(about) something] a hundred times is not as good as seeing [it] once,” or the two line nìng (kě) A ...~, bù B ... comparative pattern, e.g., Nìngkě wéi yùsuì, bù kě wǎ quán, “[It is] better to be a shattered jade [vessel] than an unbroken [piece of] porcelain,” meaning that it is better to die in glory than to live in dishonor. A much more popular formula may be seen in Tiān bù pà, dì bù pà; zhǐpà Guǎngdōng rén shuō Pǔtōnghuà, “Fear nothing in Heaven or on Earth; the only thing to be feared is Cantonese speaking Mandarin,” where the set doggerel formula Tiān bù pà, dì bù pà; zhǐpà ... may be completed with anything a contemporary speaker wishes to make fun of, as long as it contains the requisite number of syllables and can be made to end-rhyme with pà.

Single-line proverbs in Chinese generally tend to have between five and eight syllables, although—as we have noted above—there are proverbs consisting of four syllables, both literary and colloquial in their wording, which—being complete grammatical sentences containing a moral, judgment or observation—are in fact proverbs, not to be confused with the more descriptive four syllable literary fixed phrase idioms known as chéngyǔ. Given the topic-comment structure of Chinese sentences and the fact that proverbs in Chinese almost always consist of monosyllabic and disyllabic words (cí), proverbs with lines of seven or eight syllables generally fall into a four plus three syllable or four plus four syllable pattern, respectively, for each line, with the topic introduced in the first four syllables, and the comment in the remaining syllables. An example of a seven syllable proverb is Chē dào shān qián bì yǒu lù, “[When the] cart gets to the mountain, there must be a way [through],” meaning that things always work themselves out, while the now proverbial quotation attributed to Confucius cited above, Sān rén tóngxíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī, “[When] three [of us] persons are walking together, [one of the other two] must be my teacher,” i.e., that one can always learn something from others, illustrates the four plus four syllable pattern. Proverbs of nine syllables are few (e.g., Hào jiào de māo dǎi bùzhù lǎoshǔ, “Cats who like to mew can't catch mice,” meaning that people who brag a lot probably are “all talk and little action”) and proverbs of ten or more syllables are rare, usually consisting of couplets of paired five, six, seven or eight syllable lines, often rhymed. [note 9]

While it is true that proverbs and proverbial wisdom have long played and continue to play a large part within most of the world's non-literate, orally-based peasant cultures, the Chinese perhaps more than any other people are world-renowned for their proverbs, and proverbs have long played and continue to play an important role in both their oral and written traditions up to the present day.

The history of Chinese proverbs in both speech and writing is best examined in terms of the interaction in Chinese society between the so-called “great tradition” of the educated literati versus the so-called “little traditions” of the common people, primarily the peasantry. This distinction was proposed by Robert Redfield (1956:50–51) in an essay encouraging anthropologists to begin to study the farmers or peasants of settled agricultural state societies, rather than confining themselves to the study of simpler hunting and gathering societies. More than five thousand years ago, the land in east Asia which we now think of as China developed settled agricultural communities along the Yellow River, and eventually evolved hierarchical societies based on peasant labor and the agricultural surplus which such a social organization can produce. Along with this more stratified society, there also occurred the development of writing, first as a tool for divination and later for recording grain distribution, taxes, and the numerous other affairs necessary for the management of this more complex social organization.

The earliest written records we have consist of divination inscriptions incised on “oracle bones” and turtle shells (jiǎgǔwén) and cast bronze inscriptions dealing mostly with divination, wars, and affairs of state. But writing later also began to be used to record some of the classics of the pre-literate oral tradition. From the fifth through third centuries B.C.E. we have recorded traditional peasant poetry in the Shī Jīng or Poetry Classic, rituals of divination in the Yìjīng (易经) or Book of Changes, and later the written records of the sayings of the Taoist Master Lǎozǐ, of Confucius, of Mencius and others. These early written “Classics,” which became the canon of the great tradition of the Chinese literati, like other written texts such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Ramayana, the Bible, the Koran, Beowulf, the Chanson de Roland and the Kalevala, to name but a few, are artifacts of a much older primary oral tradition which have been fixed and codified thanks to the technological invention of writing.

It must be remembered, however, that the preservers and transmitters of the great written tradition were that very small percentage of society who were literate, the so-called “literati” or scholar-gentry who effectively ruled China's peasantry for most of the last two thousand years after the institution of the civil service in the Han dynasty (202 B.C.E. to 220 C.E.). Even after the invention of printing in China in the eighth century, that technology was still used primarily to record and disseminate the ideology and affairs of the great tradition: official histories, dictionaries, moral philosophy, poetry, essays, semi-popular almanacs, religious texts and other classic works. Writing and printing were not used to record and disseminate the sayings of the vast majority of the illiterate peasant population which supported the great tradition of the literati, even though that peasantry comprised well over ninety percent of the population for most of China's long history. Still today, over eighty percent of China's 1.4 billion people are peasant farmers, and despite the substantial efforts of the government of the People's Republic since 1949 to promote literacy, only about half of them are meaningfully literate, leaving the other more than half a billion either illiterate or only minimally literate and still immersed in the tradition of orality.

As the Qing dynasty scholar Dù Wénlán (杜文澜) noted in the Introduction to his Gǔ Yáoyàn (古谣谚: 凡例), “The rise of ballads and proverbs began with spoken language, not inscribed in writing.” [note 10] It is true, however, that some of the súhuà, the “vulgar sayings” (the usual Chinese term for proverbs and proverbial expressions) of the common people have been transmitted to us through written texts. This may be because the non-literate peasantry, who produced the surplus which supported the imperial system and the scholar-gentry class who ruled them, have always at least in theory occupied a place of honor in the hierarchy of traditional Chinese society, just below the emperor and the literati, and above the merchants, who were officially denigrated as exploitative middlemen often strictly regulated by sumptuary laws. In fact, the yearly imperial examinations—prerequisite to entry into the educated civil service which ruled the empire in the emperor's name—were (at least in theory) open to any peasant family who could afford to raise and educate a son (sic) through the years of memorizing the Confucian classics upon which those examinations were based. As the proverb tells us: Guān chūyú mín; mín chūyú tǔ, “Officials come from the people, [just as] the people come from the soil.”

Perhaps because of this ideology, in later times some of the proverbs and other “vulgar” sayings of the peasants were occasionally recorded and passed down to us in local gazetteers, sometimes in poetry, and—in more recent centuries—in the popular xiǎoshuō (“little talk” or fiction) which has had a semi-subterranean history among the literate scholar-gentry for generations, for example, such famous Ming and Qing dynasty works as Rúlín Wàishǐ (The Scholars), Hónglóu Mèng (Dream of the Red Chamber), the erotic Jīn Píng Méi (Golden Lotus) and the ever popular and slightly subversive Shuǐhú Zhuàn (Water Margin).

Other proverbs come down through such picaresque works such as the semi-historical Sānguó Yǎnyì (The Romance of the Three Kingdoms), and the Xīyóu Jì, (Journey to the West, or Monkey), both of which are written codifications of traditional popular oral legends handed down over countless generations by storytellers who roamed county fairs and city markets, as well as through the ever popular local Chinese “operas,” such as Peking opera, kūnqǔ opera, etc. [note 11] These traditions survive in Chinese-speaking communities today, in Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as on the shūchǎng or “storytelling stages” which one still occasionally finds in refurbished temples converted into neighborhood parks and recreation centers in mainland China. They also survive in the modern media, where they continue to provide material for radio, television, and cinema, just as the episodes of the Hindu Ramayana epic provide similar fare for the television and movie industry in India to this day.

The mandarinate of scholar-officials as ruling civil servants was first established in the Han dynasty. Nearly a millennium later written civil service exams to test candidates' literary abilities and knowledge of the Confucian classics was institutionalized in the Sui dynasty. The succeeding Tang dynasty established state-supported schools and authorized editions of those classics to help train potential scholar-officials. Thus, literacy and education became the official criteria for entry into the ruling class of scholar-gentry. As this “great tradition” became firmly established, it is safe to say that the peasantry—as participants, however marginal, in a society run by literates—also acquired at least some oral familiarity with certain proverbialized maxims of the canonized Great Tradition by which they were ruled, which they in turn employed in their own argumentation, declamation, storytelling, and oral performances, and which to some extent influenced their own oral style. To use Goody's (1987) term, this “feedback” thus “closed the loop” between the origin of proverbs in the orality-based little traditions of the common people and the incorporation of sayings and maxims from the literate great tradition into popular oral culture, so that the two thereafter continued to interact in an ongoing dialectical relationship.

This picture of the society which produced the Chinese proverbs, both “high” and “low,” in this dictionary is exactly that “composite cultural structure comprised of great and little traditions which have interacted in the past and which are still interacting today” which Redfield described. “The historian and the humanist ... both can conceive of the civilization which they study as a persisting and characteristic, but also always changing, interaction between little and great traditions ...; the learning of the great tradition is an outgrowth of the little tradition, and [in turn becomes] ... an exemplar for the people who carry the little tradition. Great and little traditions are dimensions of one another ...” [note 12]

We see then that China's proverbs, originally exemplars and bearers of the “little traditions” of the peasantry, are at base oral forms, with a long history certainly dating back long before, later running parallel with and standing in a dialectical relationship to, the “great tradition” of the literate minority. In discussing the “orality of language,” Walter Ong (1982) first reminds us of the linguist's basic creed that “... language is so overwhelmingly oral that of all the many thousands of languages—possibly tens of thousands—spoken in the course of human history, only around 106 have ever been committed to writing to a degree sufficient to have produced literature, and most have never been written at all. Of the some 3000 languages spoken that exist today, only some 78 have a literature. [note 13] There is no way to calculate how many languages have disappeared or been transmuted into other languages before writing came along. Even now, hundreds of languages in active use are never written at all: no one has worked out an effective way to write them.” Thus, Ong concludes, “The basic orality of language is permanent.” [1982:7]

This is to say that for most of humankind's existence on this planet, most human beings have lived in small, face-to-face traditional orality-based societies, societies virtually untouched by the technology of writing. Ong also proposes that formulaic expressions such as proverbs, fixed sayings, clichés, etc. play an important function in such traditional orality-based societies for the storage, processing, and transmission of knowledge and community values.

While Ong admits that totally orality-based cultures in the strict sense now hardly exist, “since [almost] every culture knows of writing and has some experience of its effects,” nevertheless he contends that “... to varying degrees, many cultures and subcultures, even in a high-technology ambiance, preserve much of the mind-set” of such traditional orality-based societies. [1982:11] [note 14] I suggest that over their long history, the vast majority of China's people, both before and even after the invention of writing, have lived (and many still do live) in such a primarily orality-based culture. Of such societies, Ong observes: “Many modern cultures that have known writing for centuries but have never interiorized it ... rely heavily on formulaic thought and expression still,” emphasizing oral traditions over written ones. [Ong 1982:26]

Proverbs are one important formulaic way of storing and processing knowledge in such traditional orality-based cultures. As Ong notes, “formulas help implement rhythmic discourse and also act as mnemonic aids in their own right, as set expressions circulating through the mouths and ears of all.” [1982:36] Thus, for example, the balanced, rhymed English proverb “Red sky in the morning, sailor (/shepherd) take warning; red sky at night, sailor's (/shepherd's) delight” is neatly paralleled in both structure and content by the Chinese qìxiàng yànyǔ or weather proverb cited above: Zhāoxiá zhǔ yǔ; wǎnxiá zhǔ qíng, “A rosy dawn means rain; a rosy dusk means clear,” making both equally easy to memorize and remember. “Fixed, often rhythmically balanced expressions of this sort ... can be found occasionally in print, indeed can be ‘looked up’ in books of sayings, but in oral cultures they are not occasional. They are incessant ... Heavy patterning and communal fixed forms [of the type commonly found in proverbs –JSR] in oral[ity-based] cultures serve some of the purposes of writing in chirographic [i.e., writing] cultures ...” [1982:36; my additions –JSR]

We can see then that—as in other parts of the world—proverbs were an integral part of China's primarily peasant, traditional orality-based culture, assisting in the storage, processing, and transmission of knowledge and traditional cultural values, and continuing to influence the rhetoric of the majority of the population even after the invention of writing and the creation of the literate great tradition.

Understanding Chinese proverbs as an integral part of such a primarily orality-based culture suggests an explanation for the continuing existence and functioning of proverbs in traditional Chinese society, both among the overwhelming majority of illiterate Chinese peasants as well as for their persistence among the minority of literate scholar-gentry. However, given the great strides in literacy made by the government of the People's Republic of China since 1949, and the spread of modern communications media since that time, how can we account for their continuing currency in educated and uneducated speech and their continuing popularity in written materials in China throughout the twentieth century? To answer this question, we must examine three factors: the reasons for the decline of proverbs in Western Europe, the linguistic and literary revolutions which took place in China in the twentieth century, and the socio-political history of the establishment of the People's Republic under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

For purposes of comparison, let us first briefly examine the fate of proverbs in Europe and especially in English. As Obelkevitch notes in “Proverbs and Social History”:


... in pre-industrial Europe it was the peasants, the majority of the population, who used proverbs most; with their oral culture and face-to-face social relations they have continued to do so down to the present day. Although proverbs are learned as well as popular in their origins, their content largely reflected peasant needs and realities; ... there seems to have been a saying, or several, for every contingency in agriculture, and in life ... In the nineteenth century, the English equivalents of a peasantry, the small farmers, cottagers and farm laborers, also tended to be heavy users; Russia, the land with the most peasants [in Europe] apparently had the most proverbs of all. [1987:45–46]


Looking just at written sources, Obelkevitch notes that there were seven thousand proverbs in Sebastian Frank's 1541 German collection, almost twelve thousand in Tilley's modern (1950) dictionary of English 16th and 17th century proverbs and proverbial phrases and more than twenty thousand each in two German collections of 17th century proverbs. “Since then the curve has turned downward, the losses outnumbering the gains. Of the English proverbs current in the 17th century, the majority have fallen out of common use and are not familiar; today the total in active service probably does not exceed a thousand.” [1987:52]

In a fascinating and detailed analysis, Obelkevitch traces this decline in the use and appreciation of proverbs from Elizabethan England—“soaked with proverbs”—down to their present greatly reduced number and status. Let us examine Obelkevitch's summary explanation for the reasons for this decline, which may also provide us with a basis for understanding the reasons for the continuing existence of proverbs in China today.


Perhaps there is now something unacceptable in the very notion of collective wisdom; more to the modern individualist taste is Wilde's quip that “a truth ceases to be a truth when more than one person believes it”; ... educated people have many reasons not to use proverbs: ... that the purpose of life is to fulfil an inner potential, that happiness can be achieved and ought to be pursued, that in the process one becomes a unique individual—all of this clashes with one or another assumption implicit in proverbs. Proverbs put the collective before the individual, the recurrent and stereotyped before the unique, external rules before self-determination, common sense before the individual vision, survival before happiness ... To use proverbs would deny the individuality of both speaker and listener. In this view, those who use proverbs are either linguistically lazy or lacking in originality, their poverty of language reflecting poverty of experience and poverty of imagination. Proverbs are seen as part of a restricted code that encapsulates experience and imprisons it; they are conversation-stoppers. [1987:65]


In contrast to the decline in the use of proverbs and collective “proverbial wisdom” in Europe and North America, let us now examine both the linguistic and literary revolutions which occurred in China in the twentieth century, and their implications for the continuing positive valuation of proverbs up to the present.

Despite almost one hundred years of Western aggression, the ancient imperial system of emperor at the top, a literate civil service chosen by written examinations based on the Confucian classics, and a population consisting overwhelmingly of illiterate peasant farmers making up the bulk of the population managed to stagger into the twentieth century. The civil service examinations were abolished in 1905, and after the revolutionary uprising of 1911 the Qing dynasty formally collapsed when the last emperor was forced to abdicate in 1912. Until that time, as we have seen, for most of the previous two thousand years literacy was effectively monopolized by the small class of literati, the scholar-gentry who ruled China in the emperor's name. By “monopolized” I mean that full literacy consisted of the ability to read and write “classical” or “literary” Chinese, a written language not based on any living spoken language, but rather on the grammar, vocabulary, and style of pre-Han written classical Chinese, drawn from the classical Confucian canon of works written in the 5th to 3rd centuries B.C.E. This is something akin to speakers of modern English only being able to write in Old English or Latin, but in a non-alphabetic script! While this did provide a common written lingua franca for the literate minority of educated speakers of China's many diverse “dialects” throughout the empire, it also ensured that literacy, and hence education, and hence political power, remained in the hands of that very small percentage of the population capable of supporting their sons through the many years of study necessary to pass the imperial civil service examinations and join the extremely small ruling class of scholar-gentry.

This was the linguistic situation with regard to written literacy throughout almost all of the last two thousand years of China's history. It helps to explain the continuing persistence of the tradition of orality not only among the majority of the non-literati population, but also even among the minority of literates. Because all of the texts that they read, as well as those they were required to write, did not reflect any contemporary spoken language, much of their education consisted of oral repetition and rote memorization of classical texts, many of which, although written, were originally structured for oral memorization by people who still lived in an overwhelmingly oral culture.

Soon after the fall of the Qing dynasty and the founding of the Nationalist Republic of China in 1911 came the modernization movement eventually identified with the “May 4th movement,” which focused on linguistic and literary reform. (The May 4th movement was named after the student demonstrations on May 4th, 1919, held in opposition to China's unjust treatment at the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.) In order to facilitate the promotion of widespread literacy and democratize China's “feudal” culture, those Chinese intellectuals who had been trained abroad in America, Europe, and Japan, or in the new Western-influenced missionary universities in China, broke with tradition, abandoned the centuries-old Chinese literary tradition, and deliberately proposed a new “national (spoken) language” (Guóyǔ 国语, now called Mandarin Chinese) based on the spoken dialect of Beijing, the capital. They also created a new style of writing which still employs the non-alphabetic Chinese character writing system, but which is in its grammar and vocabulary much closer to the contemporary spoken language, and thus more accessible to those able to speak it. Under the banner of the New Literature Movement, democratic writers such as Hu Shi and Lu Xun worked to encourage writing in this new “unadorned” báihuàwén (白话文) style instead of in the traditional “literary Chinese” wényánwén (文言文) style, the standard style of writing based on centuries-old classical Chinese which had persisted through the end of the Qing dynasty. Progressive writers such as Hu Shi, Lu Xun, Pa Jin, Cao Yu, Mao Dun, and Lao She struggled to create a modern literary style appropriate to the new China they hoped to build. In their attempts to capture the ideas, concerns and actual language of ordinary people in this new medium, they naturally included such colloquial forms as proverbs and other types of familiar shúyǔ expressions of the common people in their essays, articles, short stories, novels and plays. Hu Shi's pioneering and influential article, “Tentative Suggestions for Literary Reform” (1917), specifically concluded with the admonition, “Do not avoid popular expressions.”

In 1932 Chen Wangdao (陈望道), the pioneering rhetorician of this new vernacular báihuàwén writing style, in his influential Xiūcíxué Fāfán (修辞学发凡, Introduction to Rhetoric), included in his chapter on quotations not only famous proverbs from the classics, but also anonymous popular proverbs, as well as a section on the history and structure of the lowly enigmatic folk simile (xiēhòuyǔ) discussed above.

The dominant struggle in China in the second quarter of the twentieth century was between the urban-based Nationalist (“KMT”) Party led by Sun Yat-sen's successor, General Chiang Kai-shek, and the Soviet-supported Chinese Communist Party, founded in Shanghai in 1921. After the failure of the Communist-led uprising among the urban workers in Shanghai in 1927, [note 15] the communists fled to the country and thereafter concentrated on organizing the peasant farmers, following the revolutionary theories and tactics of their new leader, himself a self-educated peasant named Mao Zedong.

After the Chinese communists' “Long March” of 1934–36, in which they retreated to the mountain caves of Yan'an in the remote northwest reaches of China for the duration of the War of Resistance against Japan, they continued to devote themselves to Mao Zedong's new strategy of mobilizing China's peasantry. From then until the Japanese surrender in 1945, Mao concentrated on the recruitment and indoctrination of a cadre of peasant leaders, to whom he often personally lectured on politics, economics, and ideology. While basic literacy classes were of course part of their instruction, Mao did not wait or rely on literacy as a core component of his educational program. Rather he spoke directly, and trained others to speak directly, to the peasant masses whom he intended to mobilize. (The official “Collected Works” of Mao Zedong consist in large part of literacized versions of these talks, and their oral flavor still comes through, despite heavy retroactive editing by official Communist Party historians for public consumption.) The style employed by Mao in his lectures and writings, which were deliberately phrased in terms of a rhetoric calculated to communicate with China's illiterate peasantry, included many proverbs and proverbial sayings and allusions, and formed the basis for much of the style of later communist writing and public speaking in “post-Liberation” China after 1949.

Mao, like Stalin, Khruschev, and other Soviet leaders, was famous for his application of traditional proverbs, particularly “earthy” ones, to the complex issues of modernizing a traditional peasant-based agricultural society, as well as for his own oracular, proverb-like utterances. In the famous “little red book” of his say-ings, we see that Mao chose as his metaphor for China's unrelenting struggle to modernize and create a new communal society the traditional chéngyǔ phrase Yúgōng Yí Shān (愚公移山). This is an allusion to the proverbial folk story of the “Foolish Old Man [Who] Moved the Mountain,” relentlessly shoveling away at it, confident that his descendants would continue his work, generation after generation, until the obstacle was removed. Mao deflated U.S. “imperialism” by comparing it to the proverbial image of a traditional paper [maché] tiger['s head] carried in dragon dance parades: fierce-looking on the outside, but easily poked through with a touch of a finger. Later during the Cultural Revolution, he criticized arrogant Party bureaucrats using the proverbial image of a “tiger's backside—(thinking themselves to be) untouchable.” And when Mao's “closest comrade in arms” and heir apparent Lin Biao found his plot to usurp Mao's power exposed and attempted to flee to the Soviet Union in his son's air force plane, Mao was widely quoted as having reacted by using the fatalistic Ningbo proverb as the first part of a xiēhòuyǔ folk simile: Tiān yào xiàyǔ, niáng yào jiàrén—Méi bànfǎ! “The heavens will rain [and] widows will remarry; it can't be helped!”

The roots of the propagandistic fiction, poetry, and drama which dominated the People's Republic of China for at least the third quarter of the twentieth century can of course be traced back to the Marxist influence of the Soviet Union which launched the “proletarian literature” of the 1920s. In order to explain the currency of proverbs and other such popular colloquial expressions in the oral and written culture of the People's Republic, however, we must pay particular attention to Mao's famous Talks on Literature and Art given in Yan'an in 1942. He explicitly stressed to writers and artists the importance of the mass audience and of employing a populist language and style accessible to the majority of that audience, including the use of proverbs, folk idioms and other such familiar expressions as he himself so often did. To quote Edward Gunn's Rewriting Chinese: Style and Innovation in Twentieth Century Chinese Prose (1991:134), “The period of the War of Resistance to Japan (1937–1945) and the subsequent decades of Maoist leadership are remembered in [China's] literary history for the rise and predominance of works executing the prescriptions of Socialist Realism and [of] Mao Zedong's Yan'an Talks (1942).”

Out of this conscious redirection of art and literature developed the so-called “Potato School” (shānyaodàn pài) of “native soil” literature, which was characterized by a deliberate emphasis on folk (i.e., peasant) and regional features, perhaps best seen in Zhao Shuli's 1943 work Lǐ Yǒucái Bǎnhuà (李有才板话, The Rhymes of Li Youcai). In such works the proverbs, proverbial expressions, and also those fused-phrase chéngyǔ idioms which had already passed into popular usage in northern (Mandarin) Chinese became required elements of this new style. As Gunn notes, “... yanyu proverbs and chengyu patterned idioms were given a high value as essential elements of a work.” (1991:138) In this way, many originally regional familiar sayings and proverbs gained wider currency and passed into the emerging standard of the new national language and written style. By “the 1940s and early 1950s, the wave of writing that sought authenticity through the use of regional speech and idioms was followed by a wave of glossaries, dictionaries, and studies of these features.” (1991:79) This conscious political decision to promote proverbs and folk idioms in the creation of a new literary style as part of the formation of a new society to be founded on the communal values and orally based rhetoric of the traditional peasantry explains the widespread inclusion of proverbs in modern Chinese literature within the People's Republic after 1949.

These basic directions, stemming from the linguistic and literary reform associated with the May 4th movement, from Mao Zedong's pronouncements in his Yan'an Talks, and from the resultant “Potato School” of literature all combined to promote the currency of proverbs and other colloquial expressions within the emerging standard of the new “Mandarin” national language, as well as in Chinese fiction, drama, and other writings past the end of the Maoist era and into the last quarter of the twentieth century. It should be stressed that these expressions should not be viewed as simply a kind of superficial “window dressing,” calculated to give an air of peasant legitimacy to a revolutionary movement. The question remains: why is it that the proverb, that specific rhetorical device, was chosen and has served as an important part of the rhetorical arsenal of the Chinese revolutionary movement and continues to have such currency in China today?

To answer this question, I suggest that we should go back to Obelkevitch's explanation of why proverbs did not survive in Europe, especially among the educated upper and middle classes. The heart of Obelkevitch's explanation is this: “Proverbs put the collective before the individual, the recurrent and stereotyped before the unique, external rules before self-determination, common sense before the individual vision, survival before happiness.” [1987:65, my italics –JSR]

Individuality, uniqueness, self-determination, individual vision, (individual) happiness, these are the positive values of modern European and North American society, especially among the educated middle and upper classes, which Obelkevitch tells us led to the decline of the popularity of proverbs in the West. But these values of the “collective over the individual,” the “recurrent before the unique,” “external rules over self-determination,” accepting the traditional “common[ly shared] sense” (i.e., traditional Chinese peasant values) over any individual's personal vision, and the assurance of basic “survival” for all before the luxury of “happiness” for a privileged few are not just the ideals theoretically espoused by Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party; they are in fact the ideals and values of traditional Chinese peasant society. It is exactly the Chinese Communist Party's endorsement of those basic Chinese values which may be said to account for the Chinese peasantry's support for the communist movement and the many undeniable successes of communism in China since 1949. And these are still the traditional values which many of China's older leaders (rightly or wrongly) wish to preserve.

I have tried to document that the common thread running though the persistence of proverbs in Chinese society is their function as both a rhetorical mainstay and an integral bearer of traditional knowledge and values in China's millennia-old tradition of orality. I have further tried to demonstrate that the history of proverbs in China throughout the twentieth century in both speaking and writing was intimately related to deliberate attempts to preserve traditional Chinese communal values and to incorporate the orally-based rhetoric of the peasantry into the emerging linguistic style of the “New China.” Assuming that China is able to achieve its other goals of widespread literacy, education, industrialization, and modernization in the new global context, it remains to be seen whether those traditional values and that orally-based tradition can or will survive.

Notes:

1. Taylor, A. in Mieder, W. and Dundes, A. 1981:3, 61.

2. American College Dictionary, 1957; quoted in Mieder and Dundes 1981:141,159.

3. Cf. Qū Pǔ 1992:17–32; Sūn Zhìpíng et al., 1984:2–3; Sūn Wéizhāng 1989:292–344; Táng Qǐyùn 1981:55–87; Wáng Yì 1961:44–58; Wáng Qín 1980:1–8; Wēn Duānzhèng 1985:1–18; Wǔ Zhànkūn & Mǎ Guófàn 1980:1–22; Zhōngguó Mínjiān Wénxué Jíchéng 1990:1–8.

4. Advising missionaries and visitors to China in 1874, Alfred Lister noted, “The usefulness of [proverbs] ... dealing with ... the Chinese cannot be exaggerated. It is the peculiar advantage attaching to the citation of a proverb that it is something beyond dispute, accepted and settled as true, a first principle, like the axioms of science, or the multiplication table [for a Westerner]. The silencing effect of an apt and telling proverb, let off, as it were, right in the faces of a possibly angry, and certainly gesticulating and blatant Chinese crowd must be seen to be observed. If it happen to be a proverb from the classics, so much the better.” [Lister, 1981:248]

5. Life magazine 70:4:46–48, April 1971; Rohsenow 1991:ix.

6. Zhōngguó Mínjiān Wénxué Jíchéng—Níngxià Juàn 1990:5

7. Zhào Zhòngyì, 1982:233–238; the English translation is from Shih, V. 1983:294–295.

8. A note on translation: The generic word rén in Chinese is easily translated as “person.” More difficult are the non-gender-marked (spoken) third-person singular pronoun tā and places where English demands a singular pronoun. Where convenient, I have tried to avoid overly sexist translations, without committing solecisms, by using “(s)he,” “they,” etc. Where the original proverb is sexist, I have rendered it so.

9. For a detailed analysis of the structure of Chinese proverbs, see Táng Qǐyùn 1981:64–73.

10. Jì Chéngjiā et al., 1981:1.

11. For a more detailed treatment of the history of intertextuality between the Chinese oral tradition and proverbs in Chinese literature, see Rohsenow, J. S., 2001.

12. Redfield, R. 1956:50–51,58.

13. Edmonson, 1971: 323;332, quoted in Ong 1982:7.

14. I do not endorse Ong's concept of “primary oral cultures,” which has been criticized by Street (1987), Tannen (1982), and others.

15. The abortive 1927 Shanghai uprising was dramatized by André Malraux in his novel La Condition Humaine (Man's Fate).
【L0】How to Use This Dictionary How to Use This Dictionary

Following the principles of this ABC series, the entries are arranged alphabetically, in a strict “letter-by-letter” order, ignoring word spaces and punctuation. Tones also do not affect the order (since all the proverbs are alphabetically distinct). Thus, the proverb beginning with the word guāngzhe comes before the one beginning with the words guān jǐng; and, the proverb beginning chǐ yǐn precedes the one beginning chī yī qiàn. The romanization is standard Hànyǔ Pīnyīn, following the Hànyǔ Pīnyīn Cíhuì and the word (cí 词) division rules set forth in the Hànyǔ Pīnyīn Zhèngcífǎ as jointly promulgated in 1988 by the PRC State Language Commission and State Education Commission. [note 1]

The romanization is followed by both the simplified characters (jiǎntǐzì 简体字) which have been standard in China since the 1950s, and full form characters (fántǐzì 繁體字). The characters are punctuated according to contemporary Chinese convention, but for the convenience of English readers, the romanization is punctuated according to English conventions.

* An asterisk after the romanization marks the most commonly occurring proverbs.

( ) Parentheses surround optional portions of the proverbs and explanations.

[ ] Square brackets enclose English words within the translation which must be understood but which do not correspond directly to any of the Chinese words in the proverb.

/ Slashes separate variants.

“ ” Double quotation marks are used for equivalent or related English proverbs or proverbial sayings.

(lit) (fig) — Unless the translation is self-explanatory, there is first a literal (lit) translation followed by a figurative (fig) translation, which explains the meaning.

(1) (2) (3) — Alternative meanings are numbered sequentially.

“Cf.” refers to works in which examples of the proverb in question may be found; since many yànyǔ appear in the popular traditional vernacular novels listed on the following page, the abbreviations for those novels (DRC, etc.) are used in the citations. “See also,” “vs.,” and “q.v.” are cross-references to the first several words of other entries in this dictionary. Sometimes there is a “note” referring to other related expressions or facts. A proverb may contain or refer to a chéngyǔ 成语, fixed literary idiom or set phrase, or to a súyǔ 俗语, a traditional proverbial expression. [note 2]

A bibliography of works of and about yànyǔ and related topics is followed by an index of names, places and topics contained within the entries.

Notes:

1. For my English translation of the Hànyǔ Pīnyīn Zhèngcífǎ Jīběn Guīzé or “Basic Rules for Hanyu Pinyin Orthography,” see the appendix to DeFrancis, (ed.), ABC Chinese-English Dictionary, University of Hawai‘i Press, 1996, pp. 835–845.

2. Many of the four-character proverbs cited herein which might first appear to be chéngyǔ are here word-divided according to their own internal grammar, and not according to the arbitrary AB-CD, one-formula-fits-all compromise convention for real chéngyǔ dictated by the Hànyǔ Pīnyīn Zhèngcífǎ. But when such a proverb is sometimes also used as (or has been misanalyzed as) a chéngyǔ, that form is also noted within the entry, and listed in the index.
【L0】Abbreviations for Popular Novels Abbreviations for Popular Novels

DRC
Dream of the Red Chamber or A Dream of Red Mansions or Story of the Stone
Hónglóu Mèng 红楼梦
JPM
Golden Lotus or The Plum in the Golden Vase
Jīn Píng Méi 金瓶梅
JW
Journey to the West or Monkey
Xīyóu Jì 西游记
R3K
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Sān Guó Yǎnyì 三国演义
WM
Water Margin or Outlaws of the Marsh
Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn 水浒传
also translated by Pearl Buck as All Men Are Brothers

【L0】ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (Yànyǔ) 【L1】A A1

[A1]

Ài fàn yǒu fàn; xī yī yǒu yī.

爱饭有饭, 惜衣有衣。

愛飯有飯, 惜衣有衣。

Lit [Those who] treasure [their] food [will always] have food [and those who] take care of [their] clothing [will always] have clothes [to wear].

Note [An admonition to thrift; see also bùyī nuǎn below.]

Topics CLOTHING FOOD THRIFT

A2

[A2]

Ái gǒu yǎo de rén bù dōu shì zéi.

挨狗咬的人不都是贼。

挨狗咬的人不都是賊。

Lit Not all who are bitten by dogs are thieves.

Fig One should not make judgments based on superficial appearances. Things are not always as they (first) appear.

Topics APPEARANCES JUDGMENTS

A3

[A3]

Áiguo shé yǎo, jiàn shàn pǎo.

挨过蛇咬, 见鳝跑。

挨過蛇咬, 見鱔跑。

Lit [One who has been] bitten by a snake [at the] sight [of an] eel [will] run away.

Fig “Once bitten, twice shy.”

Note [See also yīzhāo bèi shé yǎo below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE LEARNING

A4

[A4]

Ài huā, lián pén ài; ài nǚ, téng nǚxu.

爱花连盆爱, 爱女疼女婿。

愛花連盆愛, 愛女疼女婿。

Lit [If one] loves a flower, [one will] love [its] pot; [if one really] loves [one's] daughter, [one will also] love [one's] son-in-law.

Fig “Love me, love my dog.”

Note [Note the chengyu: àiwū-jíwū, “love for a person extends even to the crows on his roof.”]

Topics àiwū-jíwū FEELINGS LOVE

A5

[A5]

Ài huā, lián pén ài; yuàn jī, lián wō yuàn.

爱花连盆爱, 怨鸡连窝怨。

愛花連盆愛, 怨雞連窩怨。

Lit [If one] loves a flower, [one will] love [its] pot; [if one] hates a chicken, [one will] hate [its] coop [as well].

Fig If one has strong feelings about some person(s), one will also be for or against everything associated with them.

Topics FEELINGS LOVE

A6

[A6]

Ài jiào de máquè bù zhǎng ròu.

爱叫的麻雀不长肉。

愛叫的麻雀不長肉。

Lit Sparrows who love to chirp won't put on weight.

Fig People who like to talk a lot won't make any substantial achievements.

Note [See also huì jiào de gǒu below.]

Topics BRAGGING TALKATIVENESS

A7

[A7]

Ài jiào de mǔjī bù xiàdàn.

爱叫的母鸡不下蛋。

愛叫的母雞不下蛋。

Lit Cackling hens do not lay eggs.

Fig Boastful people are good at nothing.

Note [See also duō míng zhī māo and huì zhuō lǎoshǔ below.]

Topics BOASTING

A8

[A8]

Āi jīn sì jīn; āi yù sì yù.

挨金似金, 挨玉似玉。

Lit [One who is] close to gold [is] like gold [and one who is] close to jade [is] like jade.

Fig A good environment produces good people. People are influenced by the company they keep.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 37; see also jìn zhū zhě chì below.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GOODNESS INFLUENCES

A9

[A9]

Āi mò dàyú xīn sǐ.

哀莫大于心死。

哀莫大於心死。

Lit [Of] grief, there is none greater than a dead mind/heart.

Fig There is nothing more grievous than a mind/heart which has stopped thinking/feeling.

Note [Cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Tián Zǐtáng; now more popularly āi mò guòyú xīn sǐ.]

Topics GRIEF MINDS Tián Zǐtáng Zhuāngzǐ

A10

[A10]

Ài pán, bù jī shǔ.

爱盘不击鼠。

愛盤不擊鼠。

Lit [If one] loves the plate, one doesn't strike the mouse [on it].

Fig One won't go all out to solve a problem if it involves someone with whom one has some connection. People can't avoid being partial.

Note [See also gǒu bù chī shǐ below.]

Topics CONNECTIONS PARTIALITY

A11

[A11]

Ài qīn zuòqīn.

爱亲做亲。

愛親做親。

Lit Loving families make [good] in-laws.

Fig Loving families make for happy marriages.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 21; note: zuòqīn “become relatives by marriage”; qìngjia, “in-laws”; see also ér-nǚ qīn below.]

Topics FAMILIES LOVE MARRIAGE PARENTING qìngjia Rúlín_Wàishǐ

A12

[A12]

Ǎirén duō qiǎojì.

矮人多巧计。

矮人多巧計。

Lit Short people are always good at schemes.

Note [See also ǎizi dù lǐ below.]

Topics SCHEMES

A13

[A13]

Ái yī quán, dé yī zhāo; ái shí quán, biàn Zhūgě.

挨一拳, 得一招, 挨十拳, 变诸葛。

挨一拳, 得一招, 挨十拳, 變諸葛。

Lit Receive one blow, [and one] learns a lesson; receive ten blows, [and one] becomes a huge Zhuge [Liang, the mastermind].

Fig One can learn much from failure or “hard knocks.”

Note [Note: Zhuge Liang was the master strategist in R3K.]

Topics LEARNING R3K Zhuge_Liang

A14

[A14]

Ài zài xīnli, hěn zài miànpí.

爱在心里, 狠在面皮。

愛在心裡, 狠在麵皮。

Lit Love [your] children in [your] heart, [but] be stern [with them] in [your] manner.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHILD REARING LOVE PARENTING rhyme

A15

[A15]

Āizhe tiějiang huì dǎ dīng; āizhe mùjiang huì lājù.

挨着铁匠会打钉, 挨着木匠会拉锯。

挨著鐵匠會打釘, 挨著木匠會拉鋸。

Lit [If one stays] close to a blacksmith, [one will] learn to hammer out nails; [if one stays] close to a carpenter, [one will] learn how to use a saw.

Fig One can always learn something from those one associates with.

Note [See also cuō yào sān nián and gēnzhe wǎjiang and rù háng sān rì and sān tiān zhù zài and shú dú Tángshī below.]

Topics LEARNING

A16

[A16]

Ài zhī yù qí fù; qīn zhī yù qí guì.

爱之欲其富, 亲之欲其贵。

愛之欲其富, 親之欲其貴。

Lit [To] love them [is to] desire their enrichment; [to be] dear [to] them [is to] desire their honor.

Fig One hopes that those dear to one will win riches and honor.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Sān Wáng Shì Jiā.]

Topics FAMILIES HOPES LOVE RELATIVES Sān Wáng Shì Jiā Shǐ_Jì

A17

[A17]

Ǎizi dù lǐ gēda duō.*

矮子肚里疙瘩多。

矮子肚裡疙瘩多。

Lit In the bellies of short people there are many schemes.

Fig Short people are notorious for hatching schemes.

Note [Note: gēda, (lit) “lumps” or “bumps,” here refers to schemes in a derogatory sense; see also ǎirén duō qiǎojì above.]

Topics gēda SCHEMES

A18

[A18]

Ǎizi miànqián, mò shuō duǎn huà.*

矮子面前, 莫说短话。

矮子面前, 莫說短話。

Lit In front of short people, don't talk about shortness.

Fig One should not discuss others' shortcomings in their presence (in order to avoid hurting their feelings).

Note [See also dāngzhe ǎirén below.]

Topics CONSIDERATION COURTESY

A19

[A19]

Àn dǎ húli, míng dǎ láng.

暗打狐狸, 明打狼。

Lit Hunt foxes stealthily, [and] hunt wolves openly [just as they themselves do].

Fig Different opponents require different appropriate strategies.

Note [See also bīng wú cháng shì and guānmén dǎ gǒu and qīng ná níqiu below.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS STRATEGY

A20

[A20]

Àndào de mǔjī bù xiàdàn.

按倒的母鸡不下蛋。

按倒的母雞不下蛋。

Lit A hen [which is] forced [to nest] won't lay eggs.

Fig One cannot force people to do things they do not want to do.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics FORCE

A21

[A21]

Àn niú tóu, chībude cǎo.

按牛头, 吃不得草。

按牛頭, 吃不得草。

Lit [Although] the ox's head is pressed down, [it] won't eat grass.

Fig Tactics which rely purely on force will not succeed. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.”

Note [See also niú bù hē shuǐ below and the preceding entry.]

Topics FORCE STRATEGY

A22

[A22]

Ào bùkě zhǎng; yù bùkě zòng.

傲不可长, 欲不可纵。

傲不可長, 欲不可縱。

Lit Pride [should] not be permitted to grow, [and] desire [should] not be permitted to run amok.

Fig Pride and desire should be controlled.

Note [Cf. Lǐjì: Qū Lǐ Shàng.]

Topics Book of Rites DESIRE Lǐjì PRIDE Qū_Lǐ_Shàng

A23

[A23]

Àoqì sǔn cái.

傲气损才。

傲氣損才。

Lit Arrogance (or stubbornness) [can] cost [one a] fortune.

Note [Cf. the modern shuōshū-based Wǔ Sōng; chap. 3 and chap. 6.]

Topics ARROGANCE STUBBORNNESS Wǔ_Sōng

【L1】B B1

[B1]

Bǎduò de bù huāng, chéngchuán de wěndang.

把舵的不慌, 乘船的稳当。

把舵的不慌, 乘船的穩當。

Lit [If the] helmsman is not nervous, the passengers [will feel] secure.

Fig If the leader appears confident, his or her followers will gain confidence also.

Note [See also tóumǎ bù huāng and zhǎngduò de (xīn) below.]

Topics APPEARANCES CONFIDENCE LEADERSHIP

B2

[B2]

Báibù diào zài diàn gāng lǐ, qiān dàn héshuǐ xǐ bù qīng.

白布掉在靛缸里, 千担河水洗不清。

白布掉在靛缸裡, 千擔河水洗不清。

Lit [If a piece of] white cloth falls into an indigo dyeing vat, a thousand tons of river water can't wash [it] clean.

Fig Once one has been implicated, it is difficult to regain people's good opinion.

Note [One dàn is equal to fifty kilograms.]

Topics dàn REPUTATION

B3

[B3]

Bǎi bù wéi duō; yī bù wéi shǎo.

百不为多, 一不为少。

百不為多, 一不為少。

Lit A hundred is not too many, [and] one is not too few.

Fig Things are valued for their quality, not merely for their quantity. One can never have too much of a good thing.

Topics EVALUATION NUMBER QUANTITY VALUE

B4

[B4]

Bǎi chǐ gāntóu, gèng jìnyībù.

百尺杆头, 更进一步。

百尺桿頭, 更進一步。

Lit [Even a] one-hundred foot [tall] bamboo [can] progress even one [more] step.

Fig After having achieved a fair degree of success, one should try to do still better.

Note [Originally a message of Buddhist self-cultivation; also said bǎi chǐ gāntóu, jìn qǔ yī bù.]

Topics Buddhism DILIGENCE PROGRESS SELF-CULTIVATION SUCCESS

B5

[B5]

Bǎidù, bǎi dào jiāngbiān; zào tǎ, zào dào tǎ jiān.

摆渡摆到江边, 造塔造到塔尖。

擺渡擺到江邊, 造塔造到塔尖。

Lit [If you] ferry [people], ferry [them] to the [opposite] river bank; [if you] build a pagoda, build [it up] to the top.

Fig If you do anything (for others), do it thoroughly.

Note [Rhyme; see also bāng rén, bāng dàodǐ and sòng Fó, sòng dào Xī below.]

Topics CONDUCT rhyme THOROUGHNESS

B6

[B6]

Báijiǔ hóng rén miàn; huángjīn hēi shì xīn.

白酒红人面, 黄金黑世心。

白酒紅人面, 黃金黑世心。

Lit [Just as] white liquor makes people's faces turn red, [so] yellow gold makes people's hearts turn black [i.e., evil].

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 14.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì CORRUPTION DRINKING GOLD LIQUOR MONEY

B7

[B7]

Bàijūn zhī jiàng, bùzú yán yǒng.

败军之将, 不足言勇。

敗軍之將, 不足言勇。

Lit The general of a defeated army is not entitled to claim bravery.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 31.]

Topics DEFEAT JW MILITARY

B8

[B8]

Bǎi liàn cái chéng gāng.

百炼才成钢。

百煉才成鋼。

Lit Only after much tempering is steel produced.

Fig True character must be tested in hardship.

Note [Derived from the chengyu: bǎiliàn-chénggāng.]

Topics bǎiliàn-chénggāng CHARACTER chengyu EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS TEMPERING

B9

[B9]

Bǎi lǐ bù fàn qiáo; qiān lǐ bù fàn dí.

百里不贩樵, 千里不贩籴。

百里不販樵, 千里不販糴。

Lit Do not [travel] a hundred li to sell firewood [or a] thousand li to buy grain.

Fig Don't waste your time in unprofitable undertakings.

Note [A pre-1949 yanyu; cf. Shǐ Jì: Huòzhí Lièzhuàn.]

Topics BUSINESS Huòzhí Lièzhuàn INVESTMENT PROFIT Shǐ Jì TIME

B10

[B10]

Bǎi lǐ, bùtóng fēng; qiān lǐ, bùtóng sú.

百里不同风, 千里不同俗。

百里不同風, 千里不同俗。

Lit [Travel one] hundred li [and] the customs are not the same; [travel one] thousand li [and] the practices are different.

Fig Customs differ from place to place, even though they may be only a short distance apart.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 17; note: traditionally, one lǐ equaled approximately one-half of a kilometer; see also chūmén sān lǐ and gé dào bù xiàyǔ below.]

Topics CUSTOMS DIFFERENCES Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn LOCAL PLACE

B11

[B11]

Bái māo, hēi māo, néng dǎi hàozi jiùshi hǎo māo.

白猫, 黑猫, 能逮耗子就是好猫。

白貓, 黑貓, 能逮耗子就是好貓。

Lit [It doesn't matter if a] cat [is] black or white, [as long as it] can catch mice, it's a good cat.

Fig One's ideological persuasion is not important, as long as one can get the job done.

Note [Attributed to Deng Xiaoping as an example of his pragmatic policies, for which he was criticized during the Cultural Revolution; see also bùguǎn hēi māo below.]

Topics black cat, white cat Cultural Revolution Deng Xiaoping IDEOLOGY MEANS PRAGMATISM SUCCESS

B12

[B12]

Bǎi mì wèimiǎn yī shū.

百密未免一疏。

Lit One hundred careful plannings cannot avoid one slip.

Fig There are bound to be oversights even in the most well conceived plan.

Note [Note: zhōumì, “careful, thorough”; shūlòu, “oversight,” also said bǎi mì zòng yǒu yī shū.]

Topics OVERSIGHTS PLANNING PREPARATION shūlòu zhōumì

B13

[B13]

Bǎinián chéngshì bùzú; yīdàn huài zhī yǒuyú.

百年成事不足; 一旦坏之有余。

百年成事不足; 一旦壞之有餘。

Lit A hundred years are not enough to accomplish anything great, [but] one day is more than enough to ruin it.

Note [Rhyme; see also chāi wū yī dài yān below.]

Topics CONDUCT rhyme TIME

B14

[B14]

Bài qí yǒu shèng zhāo.

败棋有胜招。

敗棋有勝招。

Lit [In a] losing chess [game], there is [still a chance for a] winning move.

Fig Although when one is involved in a difficult situation it may appear hopeless, nevertheless there is still a chance to win, so remain calm and try your best.

Topics CHESS HOPE INVOLVEMENT OBJECTIVITY STRATEGY

B15

[B15]

Bǎi rén bǎi xìng; gèrén gèxìng.

百人百姓, 个人个性。

百人百姓, 個人個性。

Lit [Just as] each person [has] a different surname, [so] each individual [has] a different character.

Fig Different people think and behave differently.

Note [Note: the one-word term (lǎo)bǎixìng, (lit) “(old) hundred surnames,” refers to the common people.]

Topics bǎixìng DIFFERENCES INDIVIDUALS lǎobǎixìng

B16

[B16]

Bǎi rén chī bǎi wèi.

百人吃百味。

Lit A hundred people have a hundred different tastes.

Fig (1) “Each to his own taste.” (2) It is impossible to please everyone.

Topics DIFFERENCES PEOPLE TASTES

B17

[B17]

Bǎi rì chuáng qián wú xiàozǐ.

百日床前无孝子。

百日床前無孝子。

Lit [After] one hundred days before [an ailing parent's] bed, there are no filial sons.

Fig Even a dutiful child will lose patience if his parent is confined to bed for too long.

Note [More commonly said jiǔ bìngchuáng qián below.]

Topics CHILDREN FILIALITY ILLNESS PARENTS

B18

[B18]

Bǎi rì kǎnchái, yī rì shāo.

百日砍柴, 一日烧。

百日砍柴, 一日燒。

Lit The firewood cut over a hundred days [will be] burnt in one day.

Fig One should make long-term preparations against a time of emergency.

Note [See also yǎngbīng qiān rì below.]

Topics EMERGENCIES PREPARATION

B19

[B19]

Bǎi shèng nán lǜ dí; sān zhé nǎi liángyī.

百胜难虑敌, 三折乃良医。

百勝難慮敵, 三折乃良醫。

Lit [Even a general who has won a] hundred victories [may be] hard put to see through the enemy['s stratagems, but one who has] broken [his] arm three [times will] be a good doctor.

Fig One cannot always depend on past successes to guarantee future success, but one can always learn from lessons drawn from failure.

Note [A rhymed line from a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Liu Yuxi; see also sān zhé gōng zhī below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE FAILURE LEARNING Liu Yuxi rhyme SUCCESS Tang_dynasty

B20

[B20]

Bǎi shìyí zǎo, bùyì chí.*

百事宜早, 不易迟。

百事宜早, 不易遲。

Lit [In] all things better [to make preparations] early [rather] than later.

Topics EARLINESS PREPARATION TIMING

B21

[B21]

Bǎisuì guāngyīn rú guòkè.

百岁光阴如过客。

百歲光陰如過客。

Lit [Even a] hundred-year-old [person] is [but a] traveler passing by.

Fig Human life is short.

Topics AGE HUMAN LIFE LIFE TIME

B22

[B22]

Báitiān bù zuò kuīxīnshì, yèbàn qiāomén bù chījīng.

白天不做亏心事, 夜半敲门不吃惊。

白天不做虧心事, 夜半敲門不吃驚。

Lit [If one does] not do bad things in the daytime, one need not be alarmed at knocks on the door in the middle of the night.

Fig “A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder.”

Note [See also bù zuò kuīxīnshì and méi zuò kuīxīnshì and rìjiān bù zuò below.]

Topics ADVICE BEHAVIOR CAUTION CONDUCT CONSCIENCE FEAR PRUDENCE RECTITUDE

B23

[B23]

Báitóu rú xīn; qīng gài rúgù.

白头如新, 倾盖如故。

白頭如新, 傾蓋如故。

Lit White heads as [though] new[ly met]; two canopi[ed chariots] tipping [toward each other] as [though] old friends.

Fig With some people one maintains a long acquaintanceship without any real understanding for years; with others one becomes intimate friends upon first meeting.

Note [Cf. This is termed a yanyu in Shǐ Jì: Lú Zhòng Lián Zhōu Yáng Lièzhuàn; note: qīng gài, (lit) “inclined [carriage] canopies [touching]”; (fig) “Two passing canopied carriages draw near to talk.”]

Topics ACQUAINTANCES FRIENDSHIP INTIMACY MEETING qīng gài Shǐ_Jì

B24

[B24]

Bǎiwàn mǎi zhái; qiānwàn mǎi lín.

百万买宅, 千万买邻。

百萬買宅, 千萬買鄰。

Lit [It may cost a] million to buy a house, [but] ten million to find [good] neighbors.

Fig Good neighbors are hard to find. Good neighbors are even more important than the quality of one's house.

Note [A line from a Song dynasty poem by Xīng Qíjí; see also fángzi hǎo zhù and qiānjīn mǎi chǎn below.]

Topics HOUSES NEIGHBORS Song dynasty Xīng_Qíjí

B25

[B25]

Bǎi wén bùrú yī jiàn.

百闻不如一见。

百聞不如一見。

Lit A hundred words of hearsay are not as good as one look [at the reality].

Fig One look is worth a thousand words. “Seeing is believing.”

Note [Cf. Hàn Shū: Zhào Chōng Guó Zhuàn; in Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 5: qiān wén bùrú yī jiàn; see also tīng qiān biàn below.]

Topics BELIEVING Hàn Shū HEARSAY Jǐngshì Tōngyán REALITY SEEING Zhào_Chōng_Guó_Zhuàn

B26

[B26]

Bǎi wú yī yòng shì shūshēng.

百无一用是书生。

百無一用是書生。

Lit Not a useful one in a hundred, that's scholars.

Fig Scholars are basically impractical. “Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.”

Note [In traditional times, Chinese scholars could not do any practical work; from a Qing dynasty poem by Huáng Jìngrén; see also xiùcai zàofǎn below.]

Topics Huáng Jìngrén Qing dynasty SCHOLARS traditional China WORK

B27

[B27]

Bǎi yàng mǐ yǎng bǎi yàng rén.

百样米养百样人。

百樣米養百樣人。

Lit A hundred kinds of rice nourish a hundred kinds of people.

Fig People differ greatly in their minds and character.

Note [See also yī yàng mǐ below.]

Topics CHARACTER DIFFERENCES

B28

[B28]

Bǎi zhàng zhīhòu, háojié tǐng shēng.

百仗之后, 豪杰挺生。

百仗之後, 豪傑挺生。

Lit [Only] after a hundred battles are [true] heroes produced.

Topics EXPERIENCE HEROES

B29

[B29]

Bàizǐ huítóu biàn zuò jiā.

败子回头便作家。

敗子回頭便作家。

Lit A prodigal son [who] returns will revitalize [his] family['s affairs].

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 22; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17; see also the following entry; note: bàijiāzǐ, “spendthrift; wastrel; prodigal.”]

Topics bàijiāzǐ Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí PRODIGAL REFORM Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B30

[B30]

Bàizǐ huítóu, jīnbùhuàn.

败子回头金不换。

敗子回頭金不換。

Lit A prodigal son [who] returns [can]not be exchanged for gold.

Fig Nothing is more valued than a reformed prodigal.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 15; see also làngzǐ-huítóu and the preceding and the following entries.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn PRODIGAL REFORM

B31

[B31]

Bàizǐ ruò shōuxīn, yóurú guǐ biàn rén.

败子若收心, 犹如鬼变人。

敗子若收心, 猶如鬼變人。

Lit If prodigal son repents, it is like a ghost changing into a human being.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 15.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì PRODIGAL REFORM REPENTANCE

B32

[B32]

Bǎi zú zhī chóng, sǐ ér bù jiāng.

百足之虫, 死而不僵。

百足之蟲, 死而不僵。

Lit A centipede dies but never stiffens.

Fig A powerful person or family still has some influence or political power even after decline or ruin.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 2; see also dà chuán lànle below.]

Topics DECLINE DRC INFLUENCE POWER RUIN

B33

[B33]

Bále máo de fènghuáng bùrú jī.*

拔了毛的凤凰不如鸡。

拔了毛的鳳凰不如雞。

Lit A plucked phoenix is not as [good as a] chicken.

Fig One who is out of office or favor becomes a nobody. A defective thing is of no value, no matter how superior it used to be.

Note [See also dézhì māor and fènghuáng luò jià and sǐ zhīfǔ below.]

Topics DECLINE POWER RUIN VALUE

B34

[B34]

Bān bu dǎo húlu, sǎ bu liǎo yóu.

搬不倒葫芦, 洒不了油。

搬不倒葫蘆, 灑不了油。

Lit [If we] don't tip [the] bottle gourd, [we] can't spill [out] the oil.

Fig If one does not employ certain means, one can't achieve one's goal. “You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs.”

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 82.]

Topics MEANS STRATEGY SUCCESS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

B35

[B35]

Bàn bù Lúnyǔ zhì tiānxià.

半部论语治天下。

半部論語治天下。

Lit [Using only] half of the Analects of Confucius, [one can] rule the country.

Fig (1) One can bring peace and order to the country using only half of the Confucian Analects. (2) One need not be a complete Confucian in order to be a ruler.

Topics Confucian Analects CONFUCIANISM GOVERNMENT Lúnyǔ RULING

B36

[B36]

Bāng lǐ, bù bāng qīn.

帮理, 不帮亲。

幫理, 不幫親。

Lit Support [those who have] right [on their side], not [just those who are your] relatives.

Fig Act according to correct principles in doing everything regardless of your relationship to those you are dealing with.

Note [See also duàn lǐ, bù duàn qīn below.]

Topics CONDUCT PRINCIPLES RECTITUDE RELATIONSHIPS

B37

[B37]

Bāng rén, bāng dàodǐ; sòng Fó, sòng dào Xī.

帮人帮到底, 送佛送到西。

幫人幫到底, 送佛送到西。

Lit [When you] help others, help [them] completely, [just as when you see someone off,] see [him] off [all the way] to the West[ern Heaven].

Note [A rhyme; Xī “West” here refers to Xītiān, the Western Heaven of Buddhism; see also bǎidù, bǎi dào above and jiù rén, jiù dàodǐ and sòng Fó, sòng dào Xī below.]

Topics Buddhism CONDUCT rhyme THOROUGHNESS Xītiān

B38

[B38]

Bàngtóu chū xiàozǐ; zhùtóu chū wǔnì.

棒头出孝子, 箸头出忤逆。

棒頭出孝子, 箸頭出忤逆。

Lit A club produces filial sons; chopsticks produce disobedient [ones].

Fig Strict discipline produces dutiful children whereas indulgence produces disobedient ones. “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 13.]

Topics CHILDREN Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DISCIPLINE INDULGENCE OBEDIENCE PARENTING SPOILING

B39

[B39]

Bàn jiǔ róngyì, qǐngkè nán; qǐngkè róngyì, kuǎnkè nán.

办酒容易, 请客难; 请客容易, 款客难。

辦酒容易, 請客難; 請客容易, 款客難。

Lit It's easier to make a feast than to get the guests to come, [and] it's easier to get guests to come than to entertain them properly.

Topics ENTERTAINING GUESTS HOSPITALITY PROPRIETY

B40

[B40]

Bānjiū xián shù, bānjiū qǐ.

斑鸠嫌树斑鸠起。

斑鳩嫌樹斑鳩起。

Lit [When a] turtledove dislikes a tree, [the] turtledove leaves.

Fig If someone is tired of a place, (s)he will leave immediately.

Topics BOREDOM DISLIKE PLACE

B41

[B41]

Bàn jūn rú bàn hǔ.

伴君如伴虎。

Lit Attending upon a king is [as dangerous] as keeping company with a tiger.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 8.]

Topics DANGER KINGS POLITICS RULERS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

B42

[B42]

Bàn rén de zhuāngzi bù zài gāo.

绊人的桩子不在高。

絆人的樁子不在高。

Lit A stake [in the ground which] causes people to stumble [does] not [have to be] high.

Fig People fail because they overlook seemingly insignificant obstacles.

Topics CAUTION FAILURE

B43

[B43]

Bāobiǎn shì mǎizhǔ; (hècǎi shì xiánrén).

褒贬是买主, (喝彩是闲人)。

褒貶是買主, (喝彩是閑人)。

Lit [One who] criticizes [the goods] is a [potential] buyer, [but one who simply] praises [the goods] is only an idler (passing time by window shopping).

Note [See also xián huò zhèngshì below.]

Topics BUSINESS BUYING CRITICISM WINDOW_SHOPPING

B44

[B44]

Bǎo dài gānliang; nuǎn dài yī.

饱带干粮, 暖带衣。

飽帶乾糧, 暖帶衣。

Lit Carry [extra] food when full and [extra] clothes when warm.

Fig Always be “prepared for a rainy day.”

Topics PREPARATION

B45

[B45]

Bǎo de yī rén; bǎobude yī mén.

保得一人, 保不得一门。

保得一人, 保不得一門。

Lit [One] can protect one person, [but one] cannot protect a whole family.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS LIMITATIONS PROTECTION Wǔ_Sōng

B46

[B46]

Bǎo hàn bù zhī è hàn jī.*

饱汉不知饿汉饥。

飽漢不知餓漢飢。

Lit A full person [can]not [truly] understand a starving person's hunger.

Fig One can't sympathize with the starving on a full stomach.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 45; also said bào rén bù zhī è rén jī; see also mǎ shàng bù zhī and qí lǘ bù zhī and sānshí wǎnshang below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì HUNGER UNDERSTANDING

B47

[B47]

Bǎojiàn bì fù lièshì; qí fāng bìxū liángyī.

宝剑必付烈士, 奇方必须良医。

寶劍必付烈士, 奇方必須良醫。

Lit [A] valuable sword should be granted [to a] person of high endeavor, [and an] uncommon prescription should be handled [by a] good doctor.

Fig Resources should be given to those who can make full use of them.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics ALLOTMENT COMPETENCE RESOURCES SKILL TALENT

B48

[B48]

Bǎojiàn mài yǔ lièshì; hóngfěn zèngyǔ jiārén.

宝剑卖与烈士, 红粉赠与佳人。

寶劍賣與烈士, 紅粉贈與佳人。

Lit [A] valuable sword [should be] sold to a person of high endeavor [and high quality] rouge [should be] granted to a beauty.

Fig Resources should be given to those who can make the best use of them.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics ALLOTMENT COMPETENCE RESOURCES SKILL TALENT

B49

[B49]

Bǎonuǎn shēng xiánshì; jīhán fā dào xīn.

饱暖生闲事, 饥寒发盗心。

飽暖生閑事, 飢寒發盜心。

Lit [Those who are] amply fed [and] clothed [are inclined to] get into trouble, [whereas] hunger [and] cold breed [the temptation to] steal.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 25; also said bǎonuǎn sì yínyù; jìhán qǐ dào xīn, “Those who are well fed and warm are inclined to be lustful, etc.” in Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 21; compare yīshí zú érhòu below; see also the following entry.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí HUNGER JPM LUST TEMPTATION

B50

[B50]

Bǎonuǎn sī yínyù.*

饱暖思淫欲。

飽暖思淫欲。

Lit [When one is] full [and] warm [i.e., when one has enough to eat and to wear, one's] thoughts turn to carnal desires.

Note [Usually said of wealthy people in traditional China; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 28; Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 35; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí LUST Píng Yāo Zhuàn traditional_China

B51

[B51]

Bào sǐ, liú pí; rén sǐ, liúmíng.

豹死留皮, 人死留名。

Lit [Just as when a] leopard dies, [it] leaves [its] skin, [so when a] person dies, [(s)he] leaves his (or her) reputation.

Topics DEATH REPUTATION

B52

[B52]

Bāozi yǒu ròu, bù zài zhě shàng.

包子有肉, 不在褶上。

Lit [Whether or not a] dumpling [is decently filled] with meat [can]not [be judged] from [how well the decorative] folds [are made on the outside].

Fig Whether someone is good, (talented, wealthy, etc.) cannot be judged by superficial appearance. “Don't judge a book by its cover.”

Topics APPEARANCES EVALUATION JUDGMENTS

B53

[B53]

Bāshí suì de mā méi ràng láng gǎnshàng.

八十岁的妈没让狼赶上。

八十歲的媽沒讓狼趕上。

Lit [Even the] eighty-year-old mother didn't let the wolf catch up [with her].

Fig Everyone can find hidden reserves of strength when necessary.

Topics EMERGENCIES STRENGTH

B54

[B54]

Bāxiān guò hǎi, gè xiǎn shéntōng (/qí néng).

八仙过海, 各显神通(/其能)。

八仙過海, 各顯神通(/其能)。

Lit [When the] Eight Taoist Immortals cross the ocean, [each] one displays [his or her own] (special) ability.

Fig Each individual in a group has his or her own special talent or way of dealing with things.

Note [Based on a famous folktale in which each of the Immortals used his or her own special skill in crossing the sea; also used as a xiehouyu.]

Topics Eight Immortals Immortals INDIVIDUALS SKILL TALENT Taoist xiehouyu

B55

[B55]

“Bā” zì yámen cháo nán kāi, yǒulǐ wú qián mò jìnlái.

“八” 字衙门朝南开, 有理无钱莫近来。

“八” 字衙門朝南開, 有理無錢莫近來。

Lit The yamen [gate] faces south, open wide [like the Chinese character for] “eight”; [if you're] right but poor, don't go inside.

Fig Without money for bribes, don't expect any justice from a magistrate [in traditional China].

Note [Rhyme; the yámen was a county magistrate's office in traditional imperial China; see also yámen bā zì below.]

Topics Chinese characters CORRUPTION JUSTICE MAGISTRATES traditional China yámen

B56

[B56]

Bèi rén jìdu bǐ bèi rén liánmǐn hǎo.

被人忌妒比被人怜悯好。

被人忌妒比被人憐憫好。

Lit [It is] better to be envied by others than be pitied by others.

Note [This is a rephrasing of yǔqí shòu rén ... below.]

Topics ENVY PITY

B57

[B57]

Bēishāng yōuchóu bùrú wòjǐn quántou.

悲伤忧愁不如握紧拳头。

悲傷憂愁不如握緊拳頭。

Lit Better than to feel sad and worry is to clench [one's] fist.

Fig It is better to fight against one's enemy than to lapse into despair and distress.

Topics DESPAIR DISTRESS ENEMIES RESISTANCE

B58

[B58]

Bèitóu lǐ zuòshì zhōng xiǎodé.

被头里做事终晓得。

被頭裡做事終曉得。

Lit [Although done] beneath a [bed] quilt, [secrets will] be known sooner or later. “Truth will out.”

Note [See also chái duī lǐ cáng and zhǐ bāo bu zhù huǒ below.]

Topics SECRETS TRUTH

B59

[B59]

Bèiwō lǐ bù jiànle zhēn, bù shì pópo, jiùshì sūn.

被窝里不见了针, 不是婆婆就是孙。

被窩裡不見了針, 不是婆婆就是孫。

Lit [If] a needle is missing in the bedding, if it's not granny [who took it], then it's a grandchild.

Fig The source of a problem must lie within.

Note [Cf. Ding Ling's modern novel: Tàiyáng Zhào Zài Sānggān Hé Shàng, chap. 31.]

Topics CAUSE Ding Ling PROBLEMS Tàiyáng_Zhào_Zài

B60

[B60]

Bèi yǔ lín guò de rén bù pà lùshui.

被雨淋过的人不怕露水。

被雨淋過的人不怕露水。

Lit One who has been drenched by the rain is not afraid of dew drops.

Fig One who has gone through hardships is not afraid of (minor) setbacks.

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS

B61

[B61]

Běndì jiāng bù là.

本地姜不辣。

Lit The local ginger is not [considered] spicy.

Fig Local products or talent are never valued by local people.

Note [See also yuǎn lái de héshang below.]

Topics FAME LOCAL PRODUCTS REPUTATION TALENT VALUE

B62

[B62]

Bèn niǎo xiān fēi*, (zǎo rù lín).

笨鸟先飞(早入林)。

笨鳥先飛(早入林)。

Lit A clumsy bird [has to] fly first [ahead of its peers] (in order to enter the forest earlier).

Fig The slow need to start early and work harder.

Note [Usually said modestly of oneself to explain one's making preparations earlier than others; not “The early bird gets the worm”; cf. DRC, chap. 67. Bèn niǎo xiān fēi has become a common colloquial expression; see also númǎ qiān lǐ below and the following entry.]

Topics colloquial expression DILIGENCE DRC PREPARATION

B63

[B63]

Bèn rén xiān qǐshēn; bèn niǎo zǎo chū lín.

笨人先起身, 笨鸟早出林。

笨人先起身, 笨鳥早出林。

Lit A slow-witted person [has to] get up earlier, [just as a] clumsy bird [has to] fly out of the woods earlier.

Fig People of little competence have to start working earlier than others.

Note [Usually said self-deprecatingly to explain why one needs to start early; see the more common bèn niǎo xiān fēi just above.]

Topics COMPETENCE EARLINESS MODESTY PREPARATION TIMING

B64

[B64]

Běn xiǎo lì wēi; běn dà lì kuān.

本小利微, 本大利宽。

本小利微, 本大利寬。

Lit Small [brings] small profits, [and] big capital [brings] big profits.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31.]

Topics BUSINESS CAPITAL INVESTMENT Jǐngshì Tōngyán PROFIT

B65

[B65]

Biàn cháng bǎi guǒ néng chéng xiān.

遍尝百果能成仙。

遍嘗百果能成仙。

Lit Eat every [kind of one] hundred [kinds of] fruit [and you] can become a god.

Fig Eating fruit makes one healthy.

Topics EATING FOOD HEALTH

B66

[B66]

Biǎndan méi zā, liǎngtóu dǎ tā.

扁担没扎, 两头打塌。

扁擔沒扎, 兩頭打塌。

Lit [When the] carrying pole has not been secured [at both ends], [the loads at] both ends slip off.

Fig If one tries to get two things at once one may end up getting neither.

Note [This play on words is also used as a xiēhòuyǔ.]

Topics GREED LOSS xiehouyu

B67

[B67]

Biǎndan shì tiáo lóng; yīshēng chī bù qióng.

扁担是条龙, 一生吃不穷。

扁擔是條龍, 一生吃不窮。

Lit A shoulder [carrying] pole is [like a] dragon; [one can depend on it for] a living all one's life.

Note [A rhyme; said before 1949 by porters, meaning that one must rely on one's own efforts to make a living.]

Topics carrying pole EARNING EFFORT traditional_China

B68

[B68]

Biān kuāng, biān lǒu, quán zài shōukǒu; miáo lóng, miáo fèng, nán zài diǎn jīng.

编筐, 编篓全在收口, 描龙描凤, 难在点睛。

編筐, 編簍全在收口, 描龍描鳳, 難在點睛。

Lit [In] weaving [rush] baskets, [the most difficult part lies] in tying off [their] openings; [in] drawing dragons or phoenixes, [the most] difficult [part lies] in drawing in [their] eyes.

Fig One should attach great importance to the finishing touches of a job.

Note [Cf. the chengyu: huàlóng-diǎnjīng, “to add the finishing touch.”]

Topics chengyu FISHING huàlóng-diǎnjīng

B69

[B69]

Biān zhǐ shāng ròu; èyǔ rùgǔ.

鞭只伤肉, 恶语入骨。

鞭只傷肉, 惡語入骨。

Lit Whipping only wounds the flesh, [but] evil words cut to the bone.

Fig Harsh words can do more damage to a person than physical punishment.

Note [See also gùnzi shāng ròu and lì dāo shāng tǐ below.]

Topics MODERATION SPEECH WORDS

B70

[B70]

Biǎo zhuàng bùrú lǐ zhuàng.

表壮不如里壮。

表壯不如裡壯。

Lit [Better to be] strong inside than [to be] strong outside.

Fig (1) [Originally:] [An] able [husband] outside [working to support a family is] not as good as [an] able [wife] inside [working and saving to take care of the family]. (2) Inner strength is more important than outward appearance.

Note [Of individuals, families, etc.; WM, chap. 24.]

Topics APPEARANCES FAMILIES SOLIDARITY STRENGTH THRIFT WIVES WM

B71

[B71]

Biérén de ròu tiē bù dào zìjǐ shēnshang.

别人的肉贴不到自己身上。

別人的肉貼不到自己身上。

Lit Other people's flesh can't be pasted on [one's] own body.

Fig Other people's children cannot be as close as one's own.

Note [See also shǒubèi yě shì ròu below.]

Topics CHILDREN OTHERS

B72

[B72]

Biérén pì chòu; zìjiā xiāng.

别人屁臭, 自家香。

別人屁臭, 自家香。

Lit Other people's flatulence stinks, [but] one's own is fragrant.

Fig Some people criticize as defects in others what they (seem to) treasure in themselves.

Topics CRITICISM SELF-KNOWLEDGE

B73

[B73]

Biérén qiú wǒ sānchūn yǔ; wǒ qù qiúrén liùyuè shuāng.

别人求我三春雨, 我去求人六月霜。

別人求我三春雨, 我去求人六月霜。

Lit [When] people come to ask one for help, [they are as warm as] spring rain; [when] one goes to ask others for help, [they are as cold as] frost in June.

Fig It's easier to give help than to get it. Human feelings are shallow.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 25.]

Topics ASSISTANCE FEELINGS HELP Jǐngshì Tōngyán REQUESTS

B74

[B74]

Bié shí róngyì; jiàn shí nán.

别时容易, 见时难。

別時容易, 見時難。

Lit Parting is easy [but] meeting is difficult.

Fig After parting, one does not know when one will meet again.

Note [A line from a Southern Tang cí poem by Li Yu: “Làng Tǎo Shā: Huǎi Jìn.”]

Topics cí Huǎi Jìn Làng Tǎo Shā Li Yu MEETING PARTING poem Tang_dynasty

B75

[B75]

Bìkǒu shēn cáng shé; ānshēn chùchù láo.

闭口深藏舌, 安身处处牢。

閉口深藏舌, 安身處處牢。

Lit Close [your] mouth [and] hide [your] tongue, [and you'll be able to] settle down securely wherever [you go].

Fig Prudence in speech will keep one safe.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 35; see also bìng cóng kǒu rù below.]

Topics CONDUCT PRUDENCE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B76

[B76]

Bìmén jiā zhōng zuò, huò cóng tiānshàng lái.

闭门家中坐, 祸从天上来。

閉門家中坐, 禍從天上來。

Lit [Even though one] sits at home behind closed doors, [unexpected] disaster [may] befall [him].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 16; Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 15.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DISASTER FATE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B77

[B77]

Bīng bài rú shān dǎo.

兵败如山倒。

兵敗如山倒。

Lit Troops defeated are like a landslide.

Fig A rout is like a landslide.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 24.]

Topics DEFEAT MILITARY Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

B78

[B78]

Bīng bù yàn zhà.

兵不厌诈。

兵不厭詐。

Lit Soldiers [can]not reject deceit.

Fig In war, nothing can be considered deceitful. All's fair in war.

Topics DECEIT FAIRNESS MILITARY WAR

B79

[B79]

Bìng cóng kǒu rù; huò cóng kǒu chū.

病从口入, 祸从口出。

病從口入, 禍從口出。

Lit Illness enters via the mouth, [and] ills come out of it.

Fig Loose talk can cause trouble.

Note [Rhyme; see also kǒu shé cónglái and rénshēng sàng jiā and sān cùn shé below and the following entry.]

Topics CAUTION PRUDENCE rhyme TALK

B80

[B80]

Bìng cóng kǒu rù; yán duō bì shī.

病从口入, 言多必失。

病從口入, 言多必失。

Lit Illness enters via the mouth; [if one's] words are too many, [one] must [suffer a] loss.

Fig Careless talk leads to trouble. ``The less said the better.''

Note [Rhyme; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CAUTION PRUDENCE rhyme TALK

B81

[B81]

Bīngdòng sān chǐ, fēi yī rì zhī hán.

冰冻三尺, 非一日之寒。

冰凍三尺, 非一日之寒。

Lit (Ice) frozen three feet [thick does] not [form from] one day's coldness.

Fig The present situation must be the result of a long-term process [e.g., (1) Such high accomplishments must be the result of long-term efforts, or (2) such situations don't develop overnight]. This trouble has been brewing for quite some time.

Note [Cf. Lùn Héng: Zhuàng Liú by Wang Cong in the Eastern Han dynasty; vs. dì dòng sān chǐ below.]

Topics Eastern Han dynasty EFFORT Lùn Héng PROCESS TIME TROUBLE Zhuàng_Liú

B82

[B82]

Bìngfū duō chángshòu.*

病夫多长寿。

病夫多長壽。

Lit Sick people generally live longer.

Fig Things weak in appearance may have a strong life force.

Topics APPEARANCES ILLNESS

B83

[B83]

Bīng guì yú yǒng, bù zàiyú duō.

兵贵于勇, 不在于多。

兵貴於勇, 不在於多。

Lit [The value of] troops lies in [their] valor, not in [their] large number.

Note [See also bīng zài jīng below.]

Topics MILITARY NUMBER QUALITY QUANTITY VALOR VALUE

B84

[B84]

Bīng hútu yī gè; jiàng hútu yī duī.

兵糊涂一个, 将糊涂一堆。

兵糊塗一個, 將糊塗一堆。

Lit A muddle-headed soldier [only affects himself] alone; a muddle-headed general [will harm] the whole bunch.

Fig Leaders bear a heavy responsibility for those they lead.

Note [See also bīng sǒng, sǒng yī gè and jiàngshuài wúnéng below.]

Topics LEADERSHIP MILITARY RESPONSIBILITY

B85

[B85]

Bìng jiā yú xiǎo yù.

病加于小愈。

病加於小愈。

Lit Illness [may] increase at [the time of a] small improvement.

Fig One's illness may take a turn for the worse when one starts to feel a little better, (because one becomes careless).

Note [Said as a caution.]

Topics CAUTION HEALTH ILLNESS

B86

[B86]

Bìngjí luàn tóuyī.

病急乱投医。

病急亂投醫。

Lit [When one's] sickness is serious, [one will] in desperation turn to [any] doctor.

Fig When one is in dire straits, one will clutch desperately at any solution. “Any port in a storm.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 57.]

Topics DESPERATION DRC ILLNESS

B87

[B87]

Bīng lái jiàng dǎng; shuǐ lái tǔ yǎn.

兵来将挡, 水来土掩。

兵來將擋, 水來土掩。

Lit [When enemy] soldiers come, [send a] general to stop [them; when flood] waters come, [use] earth to block [them].

Fig Use different, appropriate tactics to cope with different situations.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 48; R3K, chap. 73.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS FLOODING JPM R3K STRATEGY TACTICS

B88

[B88]

Bìng lái rú bēn mǎ; bìng qù rú bùxíng.

病来如奔马, 病去如步行。

病來如奔馬, 病去如步行。

Lit Sicknesses come as [if on a] charging horse, [but] they go away as [if] on foot.

Fig Illnesses beset one suddenly, but take a longer time to recover from.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics ILLNESS

B89

[B89]

Bìng lái rú shān dǎo; bìng qù rú chōusī.

病来如山倒, 病去如抽丝。

病來如山倒, 病去如抽絲。

Lit Sickness comes [on as fast] as an avalanche, [but] it departs [as slowly] as pulling silk [off of a cocoon].

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 52; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics DRC HEALTH ILLNESS RECOVERY

B90

[B90]

Bīngmǎ bù lí zhèn; láng hǔ bù lí shān.

兵马不离阵, 狼虎不离山。

兵馬不離陣, 狼虎不離山。

Lit Soldiers [and] horses [can]not leave [their] battle formations, nor [can] wolves [and] tigers leave the mountains.

Fig One can do nothing if one gives up one's advantages.

Topics ADVANTAGE MILITARY

B91

[B91]

Bīngmǎ wèi dòng, liángcǎo xiānxíng.

兵马未动, 粮草先行。

兵馬未動, 糧草先行。

Lit Before the soldiers [and] horses [have started to] move, [their] provisions and fodder [must be] taken care of first.

Fig One should make ample preparations before taking any action in order to ensure success.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 5; see also wú liáng, bù dòngbīng below.]

Topics MILITARY PREPARATION STRATEGY Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

B92

[B92]

Bìngrén bù jìzuǐ, pǎo duàn dàifu tuǐ.

病人不忌嘴, 跑断大夫腿。

病人不忌嘴, 跑斷大夫腿。

Lit [If one] doesn't restrict [one's] diet [when one is ill, the] doctor [will] run [his] legs off [to no avail].

Fig Patients must cooperate with their doctors.

Note [In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that one should avoid certain kinds of food when one takes certain medicines.]

Topics COOPERATION FOOD ILLNESS MEDICINE

B93

[B93]

Bìngrén duō cháng mìng.

病人多长命。

病人多長命。

Lit People [who easily succumb to] illness mostly live longer.

Topics HEALTH ILLNESS

B94

[B94]

Bìng rù gāohuāng, bù kě jiù yào.*

病入膏肓, 不可救药。

病入膏肓, 不可救藥。

Lit [One who is] sick to the core can't be cured [by any] medicine.

Fig When things come to a certain stage, there's nothing anyone can do to save the situation (literally, or sometimes referring to corruption).

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Chén Gōng 10 Nián; note: gāo refers to the tip of the heart; huāng is the diaphragm; bìng rú gāohuāng, “sick to the core,” is used alone as a chengyu meaning “beyond cure.”]

Topics Chén Gōng 10 Nián chengyu CORRUPTION gāo huáng ILLNESS Zuǒ_Zhuàn

B95

[B95]

Bīng shǎng bù yú rì.

兵晌不踰日。

Lit Soldiers' pay [should] not be a day late.

Note [See also jūn shǎng bù yú yuè below.]

Topics MILITARY PAYMENT PUNCTUALITY

B96

[B96]

Bīng sǒng, sǒng yī gè; jiàng sǒng, sǒng yī wō.

兵悚悚一个, 将悚悚一窝。

兵悚悚一個, 將悚悚一窩。

Lit A weak soldier [is a weak soldier] alone; [but a] weak general [will make] all the soldiers [weak].

Note [More commonly bīng xióng, xióng yī gè, etc. (q.v.); see also bīng hútu yī gè above and yī jiàng wú móu below.]

Topics LEADERSHIP MILITARY

B97

[B97]

Bīng suí jiànglìng, cǎo suí fēng.

兵随将令, 草随风。

兵隨將令, 草隨風。

Lit Soldiers follow [their] commander's orders [like] grass follows the wind.

Fig Lower levels must take directions from higher levels.

Topics DISCIPLINE HIERARCHY MILITARY ORDERS

B98

[B98]

Bīng tàn bù tóng lú.

冰炭不同炉。

冰炭不同爐。

Lit Ice [and red hot] charcoal [can]not co-exist [in one] container.

Fig People of contrasting characters cannot co-exist or cooperate.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 1; Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 34; this is a paraphrase of Hán Fēizǐ: Xiǎn Xué: “bīng tàn bù tóng qǐ”; see also the following entry.]

Topics COEXISTENCE COMPETITION CONTRASTS DIFFERENCES Hán Fēizǐ Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì Wǔ Sōng Xiǎn_Xué

B99

[B99]

Bīng tàn bù tóng lú; shàn è bù tóng tú.

冰炭不同炉, 善恶不同途。

冰炭不同爐, 善惡不同途。

Lit [Just as] ice [and] coal [can]not [remain] together in a stove, [so] goodness [and] evil [can]not walk [on the] same road.

Fig Good and evil cannot coexist.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Han Feizi's Xiǎn Xué: “bìng tàn bù tóng qì”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics COEXISTENCE EVIL GOODNESS Hán Fēizǐ Xiǎn_Xué

B100

[B100]

Bīng wú cháng shì; shuǐ wú cháng xíng.

兵无常势, 水无常形。

兵無常勢, 水無常形。

Lit Troops have no fixed [battlefield] strategy [just as] water has no constant shape [but adapts itself to whatever container it is in].

Fig One should seek to find whatever strategy or method is best suited to resolving each individual problem.

Note [Cf. Sūnzǐ's Bīngfǎ (The Art of War): Xū Shí Piān.]

Topics Art of War Bīngfǎ Sūnzǐ Xū_Shí_Piān

B101

[B101]

Bīng wú jiàng ér bù dòng; shé wú tóu ér bù xíng.

兵无将而不动, 蛇无头而不行。

兵無將而不動, 蛇無頭而不行。

Lit An army without a general won't move, [just as] a snake without a head won't move.

Fig Forces without a leader cannot accomplish anything.

Note [See also shé wú tóu below.]

Topics LEADERS MILITARY SUCCESS

B102

[B102]

Bīng xióng, xióng yī gè; jiàng xióng, xióng yī wō.

兵熊熊一个, 将熊熊一窝。

兵熊熊一個, 將熊熊一窩。

Lit A soldier of no ability [is a matter which affects] himself only, [but] a general of no ability [will] disable the whole lot.

Fig Any group must have competent leaders.

Note [See also bīng sǒng, sǒng yī gè above and jiàngshuài wúnéng below.]

Topics COMPETENCE GROUPS INCOMPETENCE LEADERS MILITARY

B103

[B103]

Bīng zài jīng, (ér bù zài duō).

兵在精(而不在多)。

Lit [The value of] troops lies in [their] quality, (not [just] in [their] quantity).

Note [Also said bīng guì yú jīng; see also bīng guì yú yǒng above and jiàng zài móu below and the following entry.]

Topics MILITARY NUMBER QUALITY QUANTITY

B104

[B104]

Bīng zài jīng ér bù zài duō; jiàng zài móu ér bù zài yǒng.*

兵在精而不在多, 将在谋而不在勇。

兵在精而不在多, 將在謀而不在勇。

Lit [Just as] troops [are valued for their] quality and not [just] for numbers, [so] generals [are valued] for their tactics, not [just] for [their] bravery.

Note [Cf. the Ming dynasty biography Yīng Lièzhuàn; the two parts may be reversed.]

Topics MILITARY Ming dynasty NUMBER QUALITY STRATEGY Yīng_Lièzhuàn

B105

[B105]

Bīng zhì sǐdì érhòu shēng.

兵置死地而后生。

兵置死地而後生。

Lit Soldiers put [in a do or] die position [will] come out alive.

Fig Soldiers fight best when in desperation.

Note [Cf. Sūnzǐ's Bīngfǎ (The Art of War): Jiǔ Dì Piān.]

Topics Art of War Bīngfǎ DESPERATION Jiǔ Dì Piān MILITARY Sūnzǐ

B106

[B106]

Bì qí ruìqì, jī qí duò guī.

避其锐气, 击其惰归。

避其銳氣, 擊其惰歸。

Lit Avoid [your enemy]'s fighting spirit [and] attack [when] his [morale is] declining.

Fig Avoid the enemy when his morale is high, and strike him when his morale is flagging.

Note [Cf. Sūnzǐ's Bīngfǎ (The Art of War): Jūn Zhēng.]

Topics Art of War Bīngfǎ Jūn Zhēng STRATEGY Sūnzǐ WAR

B107

[B107]

Bì xué fūrén.

婢学夫人。

婢學夫人。

Lit [The] maid imitates [her] mistress.

Fig Inferiors imitate their superiors. “Like master, like man.”

Topics IMITATION

B108

[B108]

Bìzhe de zuǐ fēi bù jìn cāngying.

闭着的嘴飞不进苍蝇。

閉著的嘴飛不進蒼蠅。

Lit A closed mouth does not [permit] flies to enter.

Fig Prudence in speech invites no trouble.

Topics CONDUCT PRUDENCE SPEECH

B109

[B109]

Bí zhī suǒ xǐ bùkě rèn; kǒu zhī suǒ shì bùkě suí.

鼻之所喜不可任, 口之所嗜不可随。

鼻之所喜不可任, 口之所嗜不可隨。

Lit [One] should not take too much that pleases [one's] nose, nor should one eat too much that pleases [one's] mouth.

Fig One should not give way to one's desires.

Topics DESIRE MODERATION

B110

[B110]

Bù bǐ bù zhīdao; yī bǐ, xià yī tiào.

不比不知道, 一比, 吓一跳。

不比不知道, 一比, 嚇一跳。

Lit [If one does] not make comparisons, [one will] not know [the truth]; once [one] compares, [one will be] greatly surprised.

Note [A rhyme said, e.g., of the necessity of shuō kǔ, “recounting the bitterness” of life in pre-1949 China.]

Topics COMPARING rhyme shuō kǔ traditional China TRUTH

B111

[B111]

Bù chī bái bù chī.

不吃白不吃。

Lit [If one does] not eat, [one is] wasting [one's share of] food.

Fig When something is free, one might as well take some as not.

Note [See also dàjiā mǎ('ér), dàjiā qí below.]

Topics AVAILABILITY FOOD FREE

B112

[B112]

Bù chī làjiāo, bù fāshāo.

不吃辣椒, 不发烧。

不吃辣椒, 不發燒。

Lit [If one does] not eat red peppers, [one will] not feel hot.

Fig One will not feel qualms of fear, guilt or pangs of conscience if one hasn't done anything wrong.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CONDUCT CONSCIENCE

B113

[B113]

Bù chī yú, kǒu bù xīng.

不吃鱼, 口不腥。

不吃魚, 口不腥。

Lit [If one does] not eat fish, [one's] mouth [will] not smell fishy.

Fig If one doesn't exploit petty advantages, one will not get into trouble.

Topics CAUTION EXPLOITATION TROUBLE

B114

[B114]

Bù dǎ, bù (chéng) xiāngshí.

不打, 不(成)相识。

不打, 不(成)相識。

Lit No fighting, no[t develop] acquaintance.

Fig From an exchange of blows, friendship grows. Sometimes friendship can grow out of confrontation.

Note [An allusion to the fellowship of the heroes of the novel Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn; cf. WM, chap. 38; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 10; also said bù dǎ, bù chéngjiāo; see also hǎohàn bù dǎ below.]

Topics CONFRONTATION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FRIENDSHIP Liang Mountain Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn WM

B115

[B115]

Bù dāng héshang, bù zhī tóu lěng.

不当和尚, 不知头冷。

不當和尚, 不知頭冷。

Lit [One who has] not been a monk [does] not know [the feeling of a] cold head.

Fig One cannot know the true meaning of hardship until one has experienced it oneself.

Note [Note: Buddhist monks traditionally have their heads shaved; see also bù tiāo dànzi and the following entry.]

Topics Buddhist monks EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS

B116

[B116]

Bù dāng héshang, bù zhī zhāijiè kǔ.

不当和尚, 不知斋戒苦。

不當和尚, 不知齋戒苦。

Lit [One who has] not been a monk [does not] know the suffering of [being on a] vegetarian diet.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS

B117

[B117]

Bù dāngjiā, bù zhī cháimǐ guì.

不当家, 不知柴米贵。

不當家, 不知柴米貴。

Lit [If one is] not the household head, [one can]not know how expensive rice and firewood are.

Fig Only the one who takes responsibility knows how difficult it is to get anything done.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE RESPONSIBILITY

B118

[B118]

Bù dāngjiā, bù zhī cháimǐ guì; bù yǎng ér, bù zhī fùmǔ ēn.

不当家不知柴米贵, 不养儿不知父母恩。

不當家不知柴米貴, 不養兒不知父母恩。

Lit [Just as if one has] not been the head of a household, [one does not] know the cost of fuel [and] rice, [so one who has] not raised children, does not appreciate his parent's kindness.

Note [See also yǎng ér fāng zhī below and the preceding entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE PARENTHOOD PARENTS

B119

[B119]

Bù dào chuán fān, bù tiào hé.

不到船翻, 不跳河。

Lit [One will] not jump into the river until the boat overturns.

Fig People won't take risks or make sacrifices until they have to.

Topics NECESSITY RISK SACRIFICES

B120

[B120]

Bù dào huǒhou, bù jiē guō.

不到火候, 不揭锅。

不到火候, 不揭鍋。

Lit Don't take the lid off the pot until the food is done.

Fig Don't take action until the time is ripe.

Note [See also bù jiàn tùzi below and the following two entries.]

Topics ACTION STRATEGY TIMING

B121

[B121]

Bù dào jiāngbiān, bù tuō xié.

不到江边, 不脱鞋。

不到江邊, 不脫鞋。

Lit Don't take off [your] shoes until [you] come to the river bank.

Fig Take action when the right time comes.

Note [See also the two preceding entries.]

Topics ACTION TIMING

B122

[B122]

Bù dào Sū-Háng, sǐ de yuānwang.

不到苏杭, 死的冤枉。

不到蘇杭, 死的冤枉。

Lit [One who has] not visited [Suzhou and] Hang[zhou in life will] die not [having lived a] worthwhile [life].

Note [Both spots are famous for their scenic beauty; rhyme; see also shàng yǒu tiāntáng and Sū-Háng bù dào below and the following entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE Hangzhou PLACE rhyme Suzhou TRAVEL

B123

[B123]

Bù dào Sū-Háng, wǎng wéirén.

不到苏杭枉为人。

不到蘇杭枉為人。

Lit [If one has] never been to Su[zhou and] Hang[zhou], [one's] life has not been worthwhile.

Note [Both spots are famous for their scenic beauty; also said as Sū-Háng bù dào, etc.; see also shàng yǒu tiāntáng below and the preceding entry.]

Topics Hangzhou PLACE Suzhou TRAVEL

B124

[B124]

Bù dào Xītiān, bù zhī Fó dàxiǎo.

不到西天, 不知佛大小。

Lit [If one has] not visited the Western Heaven, [one can]not know the [relative] sizes [i.e., ranks] of the Buddhas.

Fig If one has not had personal experience, one cannot understand things (completely).

Note [Note: Xītiān refers to the “Western Heaven” of Buddhism, sometimes identified with India; see also bù dāng héshang above.]

Topics Buddhism EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING WORK Xītiān

B125

[B125]

Bù dǒng zhuāng dǒng, yǒngshì fàntǒng.

不懂装懂, 永世饭桶。

不懂裝懂, 永世飯桶。

Lit [If one] pretends to know [what one really does] not know, [one will remain] good-for-nothing all [one's] life.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics PRETENDING rhyme

B126

[B126]

Bùgān-bùjìng; chīle méi bìng.

不干不净, 吃了没病。

不乾不凈, 吃了沒病。

Lit [Even if the food is] not clean, [if one] eats it, one won't get sick.

Note [A rhyme popularly said by common people to excuse unsanitary conditions or as a charm to ward off disease, something like “A little dirt is good for your system” or “Everyone must eat a pound of dirt before they die”; cf. Lao She's play: Lóng Xū Gōu, (“Dragon Beard Ditch”), Act 1; see also chī de lāta and yǎn bùjiàn wéi jìng below.]

Topics FOOD HEALTH Lao She Lóng Xū Gōu rhyme SANITATION

B127

[B127]

Bù gān jǐ shì, bù zhāngkǒu; yī wèn yáotóu sānbùzhī.

不干己事不张口, 一问摇头三不知。

不幹己事不張口, 一問搖頭三不知。

Lit [About] matters [that] don't concern [you], do not open [your] mouth, [and] when questioned, always shake [your] head “no” [in answer].

Fig It is best to remain reticent about other people's affairs and to refuse to make any comment on matters that don't concern you.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 55; see also sān gè bù kāikǒu and yī wèn sān bù zhī below.]

Topics DRC PRUDENCE RETICENCE

B128

[B128]

Bù guài zìjiā máshéng duǎn, zhǐ guài tā jiā gǔ jǐng shēn.

不怪自家麻绳短, 只怪他家古井深。

不怪自家麻繩短, 只怪他家古井深。

Lit [Some people do] not blame the shortness of their own rope, [but] rather blame the deepness of the old well.

Fig Some people overlook their own shortcomings and try to put the blame on their circumstances.

Note [Also said as bù hèn shéng duǎn, zhǐ yuàn jǐng shēn.]

Topics BLAME SHORTCOMINGS

B129

[B129]

Bùguǎn hēi māo, bái māo; néng zhuōzhe lǎoshǔ de jiùshì hǎo māo.

不管黑猫白猫, 能捉着老鼠的就是好猫。

不管黑貓白貓, 能捉著老鼠的就是好貓。

Lit It doesn't matter [if a] cat [is] black [or] white; [as long as it] can catch mice, it's a good cat.

Note [Attributed to Deng Xiaoping as an example of his pragmatic policies, for which he was criticized during the Cultural Revolution; see also bái māo, hēi māo above.]

Topics black cat, white cat Cultural Revolution Deng Xiaoping POLITICS PRAGMATISM

B130

[B130]

Bù guǎnxiánshì, zhōng wú shì.

不管闲事终无事。

不管閑事終無事。

Lit Don't meddle in other people's business [and you will] not have any trouble.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 25.]

Topics ADVICE Fēngshén Yǎnyì INTERFERENCE TROUBLE

B131

[B131]

Bù guì chǐ zhī bì, ér zhòng cùn zhī yīn.

不贵尺之璧, 而重寸之阴。

不貴尺之璧, 而重寸之陰。

Lit Treasure not a foot long [piece of] jade, [rather] treasure an inch of time.

Fig Time is the most important thing.

Note [Cf. Huái Nán Zǐ: Yuán Dào Xùn; see also chǐ bì fēi bǎo and yī cùn guāngyīn below.]

Topics Huái Nán Zǐ TIME Yuán_Dào_Xùn

B132

[B132]

Bù huì chēngchuán, lài hé wān.

不会撑船, 赖河湾。

不會撐船, 賴河灣。

Lit [One who] cannot steer the boat blames the bends in the river.

Fig One who is incompetent always tries to shift the blame elsewhere; “a poor workman blames his tools.”

Note [See also bù shàn shǐ chuán and bù shì chēng chuánshǒu below.]

Topics BLAME EXCUSES INCOMPETENCE

B133

[B133]

Bù huì dǎzhàng, bù chīliáng; bù huì chànggē, bù mài táng.

不会打仗不吃粮, 不会唱歌不卖糖。

不會打仗不吃糧, 不會唱歌不賣糖。

Lit [If one] can't fight, one cannot eat [army] rations; [if one] can't sing, one cannot sell sweet [pear] syrup.

Fig If one is not competent, one should not be in the trade.

Note [Rhyme; this kind of rhymed doggerel couplet is known as shùnkǒuliū(r); note: street vendors in traditional China sang to tout their medicines in a kind of “medicine show”; note: lígāo táng, sweet pear cough medicine.]

Topics COMPETENCE couplet doggerel lígāo táng MEDICINE rhyme shùnkǒuliū

B134

[B134]

Bù huì zuòguān, kàn qián yàng.

不会做官, 看前样。

不會做官, 看前樣。

Lit [If you] don't know how to perform [your duties] as a [newly appointed] official, [just] follow the example [of those who came] before [you].

Fig If you don't know how to do your job, just copy those around you.

Topics IMITATION WORKING

B135

[B135]

Bù jiāng xīnkǔ yì, nán dé shìrén cái.

不将辛苦意, 难得世人财。

不將辛苦意, 難得世人財。

Lit Without making hard efforts, it is difficult to get worldly wealth.

Fig One can't make money without a lot of effort.

Note [Cf. JPM, chap. 59; also said ... nán jìn shì jiàn cài.]

Topics DILIGENCE EARNING EFFORT JPM MONEY WEALTH

B136

[B136]

Bù jiàn kě yù, shǐ xīn bù luàn.

不见可欲, 使心不乱。

不見可欲, 使心不亂。

Lit Never having seen [what one] might desire leaves one's heart undisturbed.

Fig One doesn't miss what one has never seen or experienced.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Lǎozǐ (Dào Dé Jīng), chap. 3; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 30.]

Topics Dào Dé Jīng DESIRE EXPERIENCE Lǎozǐ PEACE rhyme Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B137

[B137]

Bù jiàn tùzi, bù sā yīng.

不见兔子不撒鹰。

不見兔子不撒鷹。

Lit [Until you] see the hare, don't loose the falcon.

Fig Do not take any action before the time is right.

Note [See also bù dào huǒhou above and jiàn tù fàngyīng below.]

Topics PATIENCE STRATEGY TIMING

B138

[B138]

Bù jiàn zhēn Fó, bù niàn zhēn jīng.

不见真佛, 不念真经。

不見真佛, 不念真經。

Lit [Until you] see a true Buddha, don't chant true [Buddhist] scriptures.

Fig Don't speak frankly or waste your breath until you encounter someone who can truly understand or help the situation.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics CAUTION CONDUCT

B139

[B139]

Bù jiàn zhēn Fó, bù shāoxiāng.*

不见真佛, 不烧香。

不見真佛, 不燒香。

Lit Don't burn real joss sticks until you see a true Buddha.

Fig Don't bother to ask for help until you encounter someone who can truly understand or help the situation.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 6; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics DRC HELP

B140

[B140]

Bù jīng chúzi shǒu, nándé wǔxiāng wèi.

不经厨子手, 难得五香味。

不經廚子手, 難得五香味。

Lit [If it has] not passed through the hands of a [professional] cook, it is difficult to get [the food to] taste good.

Fig Only specialists can make fine products.

Note [Note: wǔxiāng refers to the five standard seasoning spices used in Chinese cooking.]

Topics COOKING SPICES TASTE wǔ_xiāng

B141

[B141]

Bù jīng dōng hán, bù zhī chūn nuǎn.

不经冬寒, 不知春暖。

不經冬寒, 不知春暖。

Lit Without having experienced the cold of winter, one cannot appreciate the warmth of spring.

Fig One cannot truly appreciate happiness without having gone through hardship.

Topics COMPARISON EXPERIENCE HAPPINESS HARDSHIPS

B142

[B142]

Bù jīng yī shì, bù zhǎng yī zhì.

不经一事, 不长一智。

不經一事, 不長一智。

Lit Without experiencing a thing, one can't grow in knowledge.

Fig Wisdom comes from experience.

Note [Rhyme; cf. DRC, chap. 60; see also chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yī zhì and jīng yī shì below.]

Topics DRC EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE WISDOM

B143

[B143]

Bù jìn shānmén, bù shòujiè.

不进山门, 不受戒。

不進山門, 不受戒。

Lit [Those who have] not “entered the Mountain Gates” [i.e., become a Buddhist monk or nun], don't [have to] follow [Buddhist] scriptures.

Fig Those who are not members of a particular group need not observe its rules and regulations.

Note [I.e., Why should I care?]

Topics Buddhist monks GROUPS REGULATIONS

B144

[B144]

Bù juǎn kùjiǎo, bù guòhé; bù mō dǐxi, bù kāiqiāng.

不卷裤脚不过河, 不摸底细不开腔。

不捲褲腳不過河, 不摸底細不開腔。

Lit Before you roll up [the bottoms of your] trouser legs, don't cross the river; before [you] really know the true state of things, don't open your mouth.

Topics CONDUCT PRUDENCE TALK UNDERSTANDING

B145

[B145]

Bù kàn chī de, kàn chuān de.

不看吃的看穿的。

Lit Don't look at what (s)he eats [but] what (s)he wears

Note [and you'll know whether (s)he's rich or poor.]

Topics CLOTHING COMPARISON FOOD WEALTH

B146

[B146]

Bù kàn jiā zhōng bǎo; dān kàn mén qián cǎo.

不看家中宝, 单看门前草。

不看家中寶, 單看門前草。

Lit [The wealth of a farm family may be] seen not by the [amount of] treasure within the house, [but] by simply looking at the piles of [rice] straw in front of [their] door.

Note [A rhyme said to be common among peasants before 1949.]

Topics FARMERS PEASANTS traditional China WEALTH

B147

[B147]

Bù kē bù pèng, gǔtou bù yìng.

不磕不碰, 骨头不硬。

不磕不碰, 骨頭不硬。

Lit Without being knocked around a bit, [one's] bones won't be[come] hard.

Fig One can't become strong without first being tempered by “hard knocks.”

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS

B148

[B148]

Bù kě quán xìn, yě bù kě bù xìn.

不可全信, 也不可不信。

Lit Do not either believe totally nor totally disbelieve [people, news, reports, etc., but rather make up your own mind].

Topics BELIEVING INDEPENDENCE MINDS

B149

[B149]

Bù liàn gùxiāng shēng chù hǎo; shòu ēn shēnchù biàn wéi jiā.

不恋故乡生处好, 受恩深处便为家。

不戀故鄉生處好, 受恩深處便為家。

Lit Don't feel that [your] native place [where you were] born and brought up is superior; better to make [your] home where [you have been] shown great kindness.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 10; note: ēnhuì “favor, kindness, honesty.”]

Topics ēnhuì GRATITUDE KINDNESS NATIVE PLACE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B150

[B150]

Bǔ lòu chèn tiān qíng; wèi kě xiān jué jǐng.

补漏趁天晴, 未渴先掘井。

補漏趁天晴, 未渴先掘井。

Lit Mend the roof while the weather is fine, [and when you are] not yet thirsty, dig the well beforehand.

Fig Always be prepared in advance.

Topics PREPARATION

B151

[B151]

Bù mián zhī yè cháng; jiǔ jiāo zhī rénxīn.

不眠之夜长; 久交知人心。

不眠之夜長; 久交知人心。

Fig [Only when one can]not sleep, [does one] learn how long the night is; [only by] long acquaintance [does one] learn a person['s true] character.

Topics CHARACTER EXPERIENCE

B152

[B152]

Bù néng yǎo rén, jiù bié zīyá.

不能咬人, 就别龇牙。

不能咬人, 就別齜牙。

Lit [If you] can't bite people, don't bare [your] teeth.

Fig Don't show your anger if you can't do anything about the situation.

Topics ANGER CAUTION

B153

[B153]

Bù pà bù shíhuò, jiù pà huò bǐ huò.

不怕不识货, 就怕货比货。

不怕不識貨, 就怕貨比貨。

Lit It doesn't matter if one is not familiar with [the quality of] goods; what really matters is comparing goods with each other.

Note [Often said by salesmen touting their wares; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 8.]

Topics BUSINESS COMPARING Wǔ_Sōng

B154

[B154]

Bù pà èsǐ, shéi kěn fànfǎ？

不怕饿死, 谁肯犯法？

不怕餓死, 誰肯犯法？

Lit If one did not fear starving to death, who would dare to violate the law?

Fig One must be truly hard-pressed to (be forced to) commit crimes.

Note [Said sympathetically.]

Topics CRIME CRIMINALS DESPERATION POVERTY

B155

[B155]

Bùpà fēnglàng dà, jiù pà jiǎng bù qí.

不怕风浪大, 就怕桨不齐。

不怕風浪大, 就怕槳不齊。

Lit Do not fear strong winds [and] high waves; what [one should] worry about is not rowing in unison.

Fig However difficult the task, the key to success lies in making collective efforts.

Note [See also sān rén yītiáoxīn and xiélì shān chéng yù and zhǐyào jiǎng huā qí and zhòngrén yīxīn below.]

Topics COOPERATION DIFFICULTIES SUCCESS

B156

[B156]

Bùpà gāi zhài de jīng qióng, jiù pà tǎozhài de yīngxióng.

不怕该债的精穷, 就怕讨债的英雄。

不怕該債的精窮, 就怕討債的英雄。

Lit It's not how poverty-stricken the debtor is; it's the aggressiveness of the bill-collector that matters.

Fig Even the poorest debtor has to pay something when he meets a harsh bill collector.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 52.]

Topics DEBT FORCE REPAYMENT rhyme Rúlín_Wàishǐ

B157

[B157]

Bùpà guān, zhǐpà guǎn.

不怕官, 只怕管。

Lit Don't worry about officials; only worry about officiating!

Fig Don't be concerned about high officials; only the one who officiates directly over you!

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 26.]

Topics OFFICIALS SUPERIORS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B158

[B158]

Bùpà hóngliǎn Guān Yé, jiù pà mǐnzuǐ Púsà.

不怕红脸官爷, 就怕抿嘴菩萨。

不怕紅臉官爺, 就怕抿嘴菩薩。

Lit Never mind the [straightforward] red-faced “Guan Gong,” it's the closed-mouth “Smiling Buddha” one has to be on guard against.

Fig It's easy to deal with straightforward people, but hard to deal with those who always appear to be superficially friendly (as one never knows what they're really thinking).

Note [Note: mǐn zuǐ yī xiào, “to smile with one's mouth closed”; Guan Ye is another name for Guan Gong, the easily angered but straightforward hero of R3K; see also míng qiāng yì duǒ and zhǐ rènde zhēngyǎn below and the following entry.]

Topics CAUTION Guan Gong Guan Ye R3K STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS TREACHERY

B159

[B159]

Bùpà hǔ láng dāngmiàn zuò; zhǐpà rén qián liǎngmiàn dāo.

不怕虎狼当面坐, 只怕人前两面刀。

不怕虎狼當面坐, 只怕人前兩面刀。

Lit Do not fear tigers [and] wolves [i.e., bandits] sitting [openly] in front of you; what [one should] guard against are two-faced “double-dealers.”

Fig Open enemies are not to be feared as much as sly double-dealers.

Note [See liǎngmiàn pài “double-dealer”; liǎngmiàn sāndāo “double-dealing”; see also bùpà míngchù and the following entries.]

Topics DOUBLE-DEALERS ENEMIES liǎngmiàn pài liǎngmiàn-sāndāo

B160

[B160]

Bùpà liàn bù chéng; jiù pà xīn bù héng.*

不怕练不成; 就怕心不恒。

不怕練不成; 就怕心不恆。

Lit Do not worry about not being able to master [a skill]; what [one has to] be concerned about is lack of perseverance.

Fig One's skills cannot be perfected without perseverance in practice.

Note [Rhyme; cf. héngxīn, “perseverance”; see also bùpà qiān zhāo and yī rì liàn below.]

Topics héngxīn PERSEVERANCE PRACTICE rhyme SKILL

B161

[B161]

Bùpà lù yuǎn, zhǐpà zhì duǎn.

不怕路远, 只怕志短。

不怕路遠, 只怕志短。

Lit Fear not a long road; fear only short ambition.

Fig However difficult the goal is, one can achieve it as long as one is determined to do so.

Note [See also bùpà rén qióng and yǒuzhìzhě below.]

Topics AMBITION DETERMINATION

B162

[B162]

Bùpà màn, jiù pà zhàn.

不怕慢, 就怕站。

Lit Don't worry about being slow; only worry about standing still.

Fig A slow progress holds some promise, but to stand still promises failure.

Note [Rhyme; also said bùpà màn; quán pà zhàn; see also màn zǒu qiáng rú xiē below.]

Topics DETERMINATION PROGRESS rhyme SPEED

B163

[B163]

Bùpà míngchù qiāng hé gùn; zhǐpà yīnyáng liǎngmiàn dāo.

不怕明处枪和棍, 只怕阴阳两面刀。

不怕明處槍和棍, 只怕陰陽兩面刀。

Lit It's easy to dodge a spear or a club out in the open, but hard to guard against a hidden double-edged sword.

Note [Note: yīnyáng-guàiqì, “mystifying, enigmatic, deliberately ambiguous”; see also bùpà hóngliǎn above and míng qiāng yì duǒ below.]

Topics CAUTION TREACHERY yīnyáng-guàiqì

B164

[B164]

Bùpà qiān zhāo huì, zhǐpà yī zhāo shú.

不怕千招会, 只怕一招熟。

不怕千招會, 只怕一招熟。

Lit Do not worry about mastering a thousand skills; [one] only needs one perfected skill.

Fig Many an imperfect skill is nothing; one perfect skill is everything.

Note [See also bùpà liàn bù chéng above and shí shì bàn tōng below.]

Topics PERSEVERANCE PRACTICE SKILL

B165

[B165]

Bùpà qiān zhāo qiǎo; jiù pà yī zhāo cuò.

不怕千招巧; 就怕一招错。

不怕千招巧; 就怕一招錯。

Lit Do not worry about making a thousand clever moves; what [one has to] fear is one bad move.

Fig Even if you have made many clever moves before, one wrong move will ruin the whole game.

Note [Note: here zhāo refers to “moves” in Chinese chess; see also yī zhāo bùshèn below.]

Topics CAUTION Chinese_chess

B166

[B166]

Bùpà rén bùjìng, jiù pà jǐ bù zhèng.

不怕人不敬, 就怕己不正。

Lit Don't worry [that] people won't respect [you]; what [you should] worry about [is your own behavior being] incorrect.

Fig One will always get respect if one behaves properly.

Topics CONDUCT RECTITUDE RESPECT

B167

[B167]

Bùpà rén bù qǐng; zhǐpà yì bù jīng.

不怕人不请, 只怕艺不精。

不怕人不請, 只怕藝不精。

Lit Don't worry [that] no one will employ [you], what [you should] worry about [is whether your] skill is perfected or not.

Fig People will always come to you if you have perfected your abilities.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE rhyme SKILL

B168

[B168]

Bùpà rén lǎo, zhǐpà xīn lǎo.

不怕人老, 只怕心老。

Lit Do not be concerned about being old; be concerned about a mind which is old.

Fig One is not as old as one looks, only as old as one thinks one is.

Note [Cf. the colloquial suyu expression: rén lǎo, xīn bu lǎo; “old in body, but not in spirit.”]

Topics AGE MINDS rén lǎo, xīn bù lǎo suyu

B169

[B169]

Bùpà rén qióng, zhǐpà zhì duǎn.

不怕人穷, 只怕志短。

不怕人窮, 只怕志短。

Lit It is not poverty that is to be feared; it is low ambition.

Fig It is not poverty, but lack of lofty aspiration that is to be regretted.

Note [See also bùpà lù yuǎn above.]

Topics AMBITION ASPIRATIONS DILIGENCE

B170

[B170]

Bùpà shào shí kǔ; nándé lǎolái fú.

不怕少时苦, 难得老来福。

不怕少時苦, 難得老來福。

Lit Don't worry about having a hard time when young; [what's] difficult is [ensuring a] happy life in old age.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE HAPPINESS OLD AGE rhyme

B171

[B171]

Bùpà yīwàn, zhǐpà wànyī.*

不怕一万, 只怕万一。

不怕一萬, 只怕萬一。

Lit Do not be concerned about one thousand; only be concerned about a thousand [to] one.

Fig It is not predictable things which one has to worry about, it's rare unforeseen happenings which one should be on guard against; it's always wise to play (it) safe.

Topics CAUTION PREDICTABILITY SAFETY UNPREDICTABILITY

B172

[B172]

Bù qì, bù chóu; huó dào báitóu.

不气不愁, 活到白头。

不氣不愁, 活到白頭。

Lit Don't get angry or worried [and you will] live [long] till [all your] hair [becomes] white.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE ANGER HAIR rhyme WORRIES

B173

[B173]

Bù qí mǎ, bù shuāijiāo; bù dǎshuǐ, bù diào shāo.

不骑马, 不摔跤, 不打水, 不掉梢。

不騎馬, 不摔跤, 不打水, 不掉梢。

Lit [If you] don't ride a horse, [you] won't fall off; [if you] don't draw water, [you] won't drop the bucket.

Fig If one does nothing, one commits no errors.

Note [Rhyme; see also duō zuò, duō cuò below.]

Topics ADVICE CAUTION CONSERVATISM PRUDENCE rhyme

B174

[B174]

Bù rù hǔxué, yān dé hǔzǐ？

不入虎穴, 焉得虎子？

Lit [If one does] not [dare to] enter the tiger's lair, how [can one] obtain tiger cubs?

Fig “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Note [Cf. the Han dynasty Dōng Guān Hàn Jì: Bān Chào Zhuàn; Sān Guó Zhì: Lǚ Méng Zhuàn; Hòu Hàn Shū: Bān Chāo Zhuàn; JW, chap. 83; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 40; now more commonly said: “... bù dé hǔzǐ; ... one cannot obtain tiger cubs.”]

Topics Bān Zhào Zhuàn COURAGE Dōng Guān Hān Jì Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí Hòu Hàn Shū JW Lǚ Méng Zhuàn RISK Sān_Guó_Zhì

B175

[B175]

Bù rúyì shì cháng bā-jiǔ; kě yǔ rén yán wú èr-sān.

不如意事常八九, 可与人言无二三。

不如意事常八九, 可與人言無二三。

Lit [There are] always eight [or] nine [out of ten things in one's life which are] unsatisfactory, [and] fewer than two [or] three [secret thoughts which] can be shared with others.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 32.]

Topics CAUTION PRUDENCE RETICENCE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B176

[B176]

Bù sā dà wǎng, bù dé dà yú.*

不撒大网, 不得大鱼。

不撒大網, 不得大魚。

Lit [If one does] not cast a big net, [one can]not get big fish.

Fig One cannot make great accomplishments without making great efforts or taking great pains.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT EFFORT

B177

[B177]

Bù shàn shǐ chuán, xián gǎng qū; bùshàn xiězì, xián bǐ tū.

不善驶船嫌港曲, 不善写字嫌笔秃。

不善駛船嫌港曲, 不善寫字嫌筆禿。

Lit A bad boatman complains of the bends in the port; a bad calligrapher complains of the baldness of his writing brush.

Fig An incompetent person always tries to shift the blame elsewhere; “a poor workman blames his tools.”

Note [The first part is a later version of bù shàn cāo zhōu ér wù hé zhī qū; see also bù huì chēngchuán above and bù shì chēng chuánshǒu below.]

Topics BLAME COMPETENCE COMPLAINTS EXCUSES INCOMPETENCE

B178

[B178]

Bù shì chēng chuánshǒu, xiū lái nòng zhúgān.

不是撑船手, 休来弄竹竿。

不是撐船手, 休來弄竹竿。

Lit [If one is] not a boatman, [one] should not take hold of the barge-pole.

Fig One should not take upon oneself work that one doesn't know how to do.

Note [Usually said as a criticism; e.g., you don't know what you're doing; see also bù huì chēngchuán above and bù shàn shǐ chuán above.]

Topics COMPETENCE CRITICISM INCOMPETENCE

B179

[B179]

Bù shì dōngfēng yādǎo xīfēng, jiùshì xīfēng yādǎo dōngfēng.

不是东风压倒西风, 就是西风压倒东风。

不是東風壓倒西風, 就是西風壓倒東風。

Lit If the east wind doesn't prevail over the west wind, then the west wind is [bound] to prevail over the east wind.

Fig One of two forces must prevail over the other.

Note [In this form often used by Mao Zedong, e.g., in his Zài Gé Guó Gōngchǎndǎng Hé Gōngréndǎng Mòsīkē Huìyì Shàng de Jiǎnghuà; originally from DRC, chap. 82.]

Topics COMPETITION DRC EAST-WEST FORCE Mao_Zedong

B180

[B180]

Bù shì jīng ròu, bù bā gǔ; bù shì féiròu bù bā pí.

不是精肉不巴骨, 不是肥肉不巴皮。

Lit [What] is not lean meat does not adhere to the bone, [and what] is not fat does not adhere to the skin.

Fig Like bonds to like; “birds of a feather flock together.”

Topics KINDS SIMILARITIES

B181

[B181]

Bù shì yīfān hán chègǔ, zěn dé méihuā pūbí xiāng.

不是一番寒彻骨, 怎得梅花扑鼻香。

不是一番寒徹骨, 怎得梅花撲鼻香。

Lit Were it not for periods of bone-chilling winter cold, how could the nose-piercing fragrance of [winter] plum blossoms be obtained?

Fig One cannot enjoy the pleasures of life without enduring some hardships.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 10; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 22.]

Topics COMPARISON HARDSHIPS Hé Diǎn Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B182

[B182]

Bù shì yījiā rén, bù jìn yījiā mén.

不是一家人, 不进一家门。

不是一家人, 不進一家門。

Lit If they were not [like members of] a family, [they would] not enter the same gate.

Fig Those who fit together seem to get together; “birds of a feather flock together.”

Topics SIMILARITIES

B183

[B183]

Bù shì yuānjia, bù jù tóu.

不是冤家, 不聚头。

不是冤家, 不聚頭。

Lit [If we/they/you were] not rivals/enemies, there would be no encounter.

Fig Enemies and lovers are pre-destined to meet; opponents always meet.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 29; note: yuānjia, (literally, “enemy” or “rival” or “opponent”) is also a term of endearment commonly used by women to refer to their husbands or sometimes children; see also yuānjia lù zhǎi below.]

Topics DRC ENEMIES FATE RIVALS WOMEN yuānjia

B184

[B184]

Bù shòu kǔ zhōng kǔ, nán wéi rén shàng rén.

不受苦中苦, 难为人上人。

不受苦中苦, 難為人上人。

Lit Without the most terrible sufferings, one cannot be a superior person.

Note [Also said chī de kǔ zhong kǔ, fāng wèi rén shàng rén; see also the following entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE LEARNING SELF-IMPROVEMENT SUFFERING

B185

[B185]

Bù shòu móliàn, bù chéng Fó.

不受磨练不成佛。

不受磨練不成佛。

Lit Without tempering oneself, [one] can't become a Buddha.

Fig One cannot be a superior person without undergoing hardships and trials.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS LEARNING SELF-IMPROVEMENT

B186

[B186]

Bù shuō, bù xiào, bù chéng shìdào.

不说, 不笑, 不成世道。

不說, 不笑, 不成世道。

Lit Without talk [and] laughter, it's not a good life.

Fig A good life is full of talk and laughter.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LAUGHTER rhyme TALK

B187

[B187]

Bù tān piányi, bù shàngdàng.

不贪便宜, 不上当。

不貪便宜, 不上當。

Lit [If you do] not try to get things cheaply all the time, [you will] not be taken in.

Note [Also said bù tú piányi ...]

Topics CAUTION CHEAPNESS PETTINESS STINGINESS

B188

[B188]

Bù tiāo dànzi, bù zhī zhòng; bù zǒu cháng lù, bù zhī yuǎn.

不挑担子不知重, 不走长路不知远。

不挑擔子不知重, 不走長路不知遠。

Lit [If one does] not carry a load [oneself, one will] not know how heavy [it is]; [if one does] not walk a long distance, [one will] not [truly] know how long [it is].

Fig One cannot truly understand things without having personally experienced them.

Note [See also bù dāng héshang above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS

B189

[B189]

Bù tīng lǎorén yán, bìdìng shòu jīhán.

不听老人言, 必定受饥寒。

不聽老人言, 必定受飢寒。

Lit [If one does] not listen to the words of [one's] elders, [one will] surely go hungry [and] cold.

Note [See also the following two entries.]

Topics ELDERS LEARNING

B190

[B190]

Bù tīng lǎorén yán, chīkǔ zài yǎnqián.

不听老人言, 吃苦在眼前。

不聽老人言, 吃苦在眼前。

Lit [If one does] not listen to the words of one's elders, one will suffer immediately.

Note [Rhyme; see also jiā yǒu yī lǎo below.]

Topics ELDERS EXPERIENCE RESPECT rhyme

B191

[B191]

Bù tīng lǎorén yán, yīshì kǔ huánglián.

不听老人言, 一世苦黄连。

不聽老人言, 一世苦黃連。

Lit [If one does] not listen to the advice of old people, [one will] live in poverty all one's life.

Note [Rhyme; note: chīkǔ huánglián, (lit) “eat bitter Chinese goldthread (medicine),” is a metaphor for leading a bitter existence; see also the preceding two entries.]

Topics chīkǔ ELDERS huánglián LEARNING

B192

[B192]

Bù tú guōbā chī, bù zài guō biān zhuàn.

不图锅巴吃, 不在锅边转。

不圖鍋巴吃, 不在鍋邊轉。

Lit [If one were] not planning to eat rice crust, [one would] not be circling around the cooking pan.

Fig People do not hang around without a purpose.

Note [Note: guōbā refers to crispy rice cooked hard on the bottom of a wok or Chinese round-bottomed frying pan.]

Topics guōbā MOTIVES PURPOSE SELF-INTEREST wok

B193

[B193]

Bù tú jīnnián zhú, dàn tú láinián sǔn.

不图今年竹, 但图来年笋。

不圖今年竹, 但圖來年筍。

Lit Don't [just] think of this year's bamboo, but [rather] think of next year's bamboo shoots [which are eaten in winter and spring].

Fig Think about long-term benefits rather than immediate gains.

Note [This colloquial suyu expression is often used with the understood force of a proverb.]

Topics LONG-TERM PLANNING suyu TIMING

B194

[B194]

Bù tú lì, bù qǐzǎo.

不图利, 不起早。

不圖利, 不起早。

Lit [If one] sees no profit [in it], no [one will] get up early.

Fig No one gets up early (to work) unless it is in their best interest to do so.

Note [See also rén wú lì jǐ below.]

Topics SELF-INTEREST TIMING WORKING

B195

[B195]

Bù wéi liángxiàng, dāng wèi liángyī.

不为良相, 当为良医。

不為良相, 當為良醫。

Lit [If one can]not be a good [prime] minister, [then] be a good doctor.

Fig If one has ability, even if one can't be president, one can still do something beneficial for others.

Topics ABILITY RESPONSIBILITY

B196

[B196]

Bù xià dàhǎi, nán dé míngzhū.

不下大海, 难得明珠。

不下大海, 難得明珠。

Lit Without going out into the sea, it is difficult to get pearls.

Fig “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”; “No pain, no gain.”

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT

B197

[B197]

Bù xiàng, bù shì xì; tài xiàng, bù shì yì.

不像不是戏, 太像不是艺。

不像不是戲, 太像不是藝。

Lit [Going] too far [from life] is not drama; being too true [to life] is not art.

Topics ART DRAMA LIFE

B198

[B198]

Bù xiào yǒu sān; wú hòu wéi dà.*

不孝有三, 无后为大。

不孝有三, 無後為大。

Lit [As to] unfiliality, there are three [types, and the] greatest [of these] is to have no descendants.

Fig There are three major offenses against filial piety of which not producing an heir is the worst.

Note [The others are: (1) not supporting one's parents when they are alive and (2) not giving them a decent burial when they pass away; cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Lī Lóu, Xià.]

Topics CHILDREN FAMILIES FILIAL PIETY GENERATIONS Lí Lóu, Xià Mencius

B199

[B199]

Bù xíng chūnfēng, nán dé qiūyǔ.

不行春风, 难得秋雨。

不行春風, 難得秋雨。

Lit [If the] spring winds do not blow, there will be no autumn rains.

Fig There is always a cause for every result.

Note [Originally a nóngyàn or farming proverb.]

Topics CAUSE farming proverb nóngyàn RESULTS

B200

[B200]

Bù xìn hǎorén yán, bì yǒu xī huáng shì.

不信好人言, 必有恓惶事。

Lit If one does not take good advice, one is bound to have troubles.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 6; see also bù tīng lǎorén yán above.]

Topics ADVICE LEARNING TROUBLE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

B201

[B201]

Bù yǐ chéng-bài lùn yīngxióng.

不以成败论英雄。

不以成敗論英雄。

Lit Not [merely by their] successes [or] failures [are] heroes [to be] judged, [but by their courage].

Topics COURAGE FAILURE HEROES JUDGMENTS SUCCESS

B202

[B202]

Bù yī guīju, bù chéng fāngyuán.

不依规矩, 不成方圆。

不依規矩, 不成方圓。

Lit Without a compass and square, [one can]not form [squares and] circles.

Fig One can't do a job well without following the rules and regulations.

Note [Cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 79; this is a paraphrase of Mencius (Mèngzǐ: Lí Lóu, Shàng); guīju, (lit) “compass and square,” now means “rules; regulations.”]

Topics DISCIPLINE Lí Lóu, Shàng Mencius RULES WORKING Zàishēng_Yuán

B203

[B203]

Bù yīn, bù lóng, bù chéng gū gōng.

不瘖不聋, 不成姑公。

不瘖不聾, 不成姑公。

Lit [Unless one pretends to be] stupid and deaf, it is difficult to be a mother-in-law or father-in-law.

Fig If one wishes to be a good parent (in-law), one had best pretend to be ignorant and deaf toward one's married children's business.

Note [Rhyme; advice to parents-in-law; cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 93.]

Topics ADVICE FAMILIES IN-LAWS Jìnghuā Yuán PARENTING rhyme

B204

[B204]

Bùyī nuǎn; cài gēn tián.

布衣暖, 菜根甜。

Lit [Simple] clothing is warm, [and] vegetable roots are sweet.

Fig Live a simple and thrifty life; never be luxurious and lavish.

Note [An admonition to thrift; note: bùyī, (lit) “cloth clothing,” is also used to refer to the common people; see also ài fàn yǒu fàn above.]

Topics SIMPLICITY THRIFT

B205

[B205]

Bù yīn yúfū yǐn, zěn dé jiàn bōtāo？

不因渔夫引, 怎得见波涛？

不因漁夫引, 怎得見波濤？

Lit Without a fisherman as a guide, how can one see the waves?

Fig Without the guidance of one who knows, how can one experience inspiring or surprising things?

Note [Cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 57.]

Topics EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE Xīyáng_Jì

B206

[B206]

Bù yòng pīlì shǒuduàn, xiǎn bù chū Púsà xīncháng.

不用霹雳手段, 显不出菩萨心肠。

不用霹靂手段, 顯不出菩薩心腸。

Lit [If one does] not adopt severe measures, [one can]not manifest [one's] Buddha-like kindness.

Fig You can't really help people unless you're willing to criticize their mistakes frankly.

Note [Advice to a potential critic; note: púsà xīncháng, (lit) “Bhoddhisatva's heart,” has a figurative meaning of “kindhearted and merciful.”]

Topics CRITICISM HELP

B207

[B207]

Bù yǒu qiáofū tà pò yún, shìjiān nǎ dé zhī qí chù.

不有樵夫踏破云, 世间哪得知其处。

不有樵夫踏破雲, 世間哪得知其處。

Lit Without woodcutters climbing [high on the mountains] through the clouds, the world would never know [about and enjoy] their [scenic] spots.

Fig One won't be able to enter new realms of learning without some pioneers taking great pains.

Note [From the Song dynasty author Liu Jin's poem “Yán Kōng Yán.”]

Topics EFFORT Kán Kōng Yán Liu Jin PIONEERS Song_dynasty

B208

[B208]

Bù zháo jiā rén, nòngbude jiā guǐ.

不着家人, 弄不得家鬼。

不著家人, 弄不得家鬼。

Lit [If there were] no one [in the] family conspiring [with others outside the family], [there would be] no trouble within the family.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chaps. 47; 90.]

Topics CONSPIRACY FAMILIES JPM TROUBLE

B209

[B209]

Bù zhī qí rén, guān qí yǒu.

不知其人, 观其友。

不知其人, 觀其友。

Lit [If you do] not know this person, look at his friends.

Fig “A man is known by the company he keeps.”

Note [Also said bù guān qí rén, dàn guān qí yǒu, “One does not need to see the person himself; it's enough just to see his friends”; see also yù shí qí rén below.]

Topics COMPANIONS FRIENDS

B210

[B210]

Bù zhī shuǐ shēnqiǎn, qièmò jí xià hé.

不知水深浅, 切莫急下河。

不知水深淺, 切莫急下河。

Lit Without knowing the depth of the water, never go hastily into the river.

Fig Never plunge into hasty action without first investigating the situation.

Note [See also yào zhī hé shēnqiǎn below.]

Topics CAUTION PRUDENCE

B211

[B211]

Bù zhī zhě bù zuò zuì.

不知者不作罪。

Lit One who does not know [should] not get convicted.

Fig It is not a crime to make an error if one does not know how things stand; ignorance can be forgiven.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 33; DRC, chap. 28; also said bù zhī zhě bù guài.]

Topics DRC FORGIVENESS IGNORANCE JUSTICE JW RESPONSIBILITY

B212

[B212]

Bù zuò kuīxīnshì, bù pà guǐ jiàomén.

不做亏心事, 不怕鬼叫门。

不做虧心事, 不怕鬼叫門。

Lit If one has not done anything to trouble one's conscience, one need not be afraid of any devils who call at the door.

Fig “A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder.”

Note [See also báitiān bù zuò above and méi zuò kuīxīnshì and rìjiān bù zuò below.]

Topics ADVICE CAUTION CONSCIENCE FEAR RECTITUDE

B213

[B213]

Bù zuò zhōngrén, bù zuò bǎo; yīshì bù fánnǎo.

不做中人, 不做保, 一世不烦恼。

不做中人, 不做保, 一世不煩惱。

Lit [If one does] not stand as a middle man or witness nor as a guarantor [for anybody, one will be] at ease all [one's] life.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CAUTION GUARANTEES rhyme

【L1】C C1

[C1]

Cái bù lòubái.

财不露白。

財不露白。

Lit Never show off [your] money or property [to others] to no purpose.

Fig Don't flash your money around, (as people become jealous easily).

Note [See also jīn-yín bù lòubái and qiáncái bù lòu below.]

Topics CAUTION JEALOUSY MONEY OSTENTATION PRUDENCE

C2

[C2]

Càidāo bù néng xiāo zìjǐ de bǐng.

菜刀不能削自己的柄。

Lit A kitchen knife cannot cut its own handle.

Fig (1) Never harm your own people. (2) However able one is, there's always something beyond one's ability. (3) One always needs help from others.

Note [See also kuàidāo bù xiāo below.]

Topics ABILITY LIMITATIONS SUPPORT

C3

[C3]

Cǎi dòng héhuā, qiāndòng ǒu.

采动荷花, 牵动藕。

採動荷花, 牽動藕。

Lit [If one] plucks the lotus flower, [one will] also affect [its] roots.

Fig When one attacks one problem, other persons or things connected with it will also be affected.

Topics CONNECTIONS INTERDEPENDENCE

C4

[C4]

Cái dòng rénxīn.

财动人心。

財動人心。

Lit Wealth moves people's hearts.

Fig Money and wealth tempt people. “Money makes the mare go.”

Note [See also qián kě tōng shén below.]

Topics CORRUPTION MONEY TEMPTATION WEALTH

C5

[C5]

Cǎi huā fēng kǔ mì fāng tián.

采花蜂苦蜜方甜。

採花蜂苦蜜方甜。

Lit Only because of the hardships of the bees who harvest the flowers [is there] sweet honey.

Fig “No pain, no gain.”

Topics EFFORT HARDSHIPS INVESTMENT

C6

[C6]

Cài méi yán, wúwèi; huà méi lǐ, wúlì.

菜没盐无味, 话没理无力。

菜沒鹽無味, 話沒理無力。

Lit [Just as] dishes without salt are tasteless, [so] words without reason are powerless.

Topics POWER REASON SPEECH WORDS

C7

[C7]

Cái qù, shēn ānlè.

财去, 身安乐。

財去, 身安樂。

Lit [If one] loses property, [at least one] gains personal security.

Note [Said as a (self-)consolation, as in the chengyu-like phrases: cái qù rén ān and pòcái xiāo zāi, “If one loses property, at least one will avoid calamity”; see also pòcái shì dǎng zāi and huānxǐ pòcái below.]

Topics cái qù rén ān chengyu CONSOLATION LOSSES pòcái xiāo zāi PROPERTY WEALTH

C8

[C8]

Cái yā núbì; yì yā dāng háng.

财压奴婢, 艺压当行。

財壓奴婢, 藝壓當行。

Lit [Just as] wealth [can] bring servants to their knees, [so superior] craftsmanship [can allow one to] achieve superiority [over one's] colleagues in the same trade.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 21; note: dāng háng is equivalent to nèiháng, “insiders in the trade.”]

Topics CRAFTSMANSHIP dāng háng Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn nèiháng TRADES WORKMANSHIP

C9

[C9]

Cáizhì néng zuò dǎi; cōngming bù wéi fēi.

才智能作歹, 聪明不为非。

才智能作歹, 聰明不為非。

Lit Intelligence can [be used to] do evil, [but a truly] wise [person will] not [use his or her intelligence to] do evil.

Fig Truly intelligent people never use their intelligence to do evil things.

Note [Note the phrases cōngmíng cáizhì, “intelligent and clever,” and wéifēi-zuòdǎi, “to do evil things.”]

Topics cōngmíng cáizhì EVIL INTELLIGENCE MORALITY RECTITUDE wéifēi-zuòdǎi

C10

[C10]

Cáizhu shuō qióng huà; guānggùn shuō xióng huà.

财主说穷话, 光棍说熊话。

財主說窮話, 光棍說熊話。

Lit A rich person talks [like a] poor [one]; a clever guy pretends to be foolish.

Fig Truly clever people never display their riches or talent.

Note [See also gāoguān qí shòu mǎ below.]

Topics CLEVERNESS MODESTY

C11

[C11]

Cāngtiān yǒu yǎn.

苍天有眼。

蒼天有眼。

Lit Heaven has eyes.

Fig Heaven sees all. Heaven will protect the good and punish the wicked.

Note [Note: cāngtiān, (lit) “blue sky,” here refers to Heaven; also said Lǎotiān yǒu yǎn, “Heaven has eyes.”]

Topics cāngtiān HEAVEN JUSTICE Lǎo_Tiān

C12

[C12]

Cāngying bù bào méi fèngr de jīdàn.

苍蝇不抱没缝儿的鸡蛋。

蒼蠅不抱沒縫兒的雞蛋。

Lit No fly will go for uncracked eggs.

Fig No one can take advantage of someone unless (s)he has some sort of problem in the first place.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 61; also said cāngyíng dīng pò dàn, “Flies go for cracked eggs.”]

Topics DRC EXPLOITATION PROBLEMS

C13

[C13]

Cánhuā méi rén dài; zì jiāo méi rén ài.

残花没人戴, 自骄没人爱。

殘花沒人戴, 自驕沒人愛。

Lit A withered flower won't be worn by anyone, [and] a conceited person won't be liked by anyone.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CONCEIT rhyme

C14

[C14]

Cǎo bù mí yīng yǎn; shuǐ bù mí yú yǎn.

草不迷鹰眼, 水不迷鱼眼。

草不迷鷹眼, 水不迷魚眼。

Lit Grass cannot mislead an eagle's eye, nor water a fishes' eye.

Fig A clever person won't be perplexed by superficial phenomena.

Note [See míngyǎnrén, “a person with a discerning eye”; see also zhìzhě kàn huǒ below.]

Topics APPEARANCES DISCERNMENT MODESTY TALENT

C15

[C15]

Cǎo lǐ shī zhēn, cǎo lǐ xún.

草里失针, 草里寻。

草裡失針, 草裡尋。

Lit [If you] lose a needle in the grass, look for [it] in the grass.

Fig Wherever you take a loss, that's the place you should try to make it up.

Note [See also nǎr diēdǎo, nǎr pá qǐ below.]

Topics LOSS

C16

[C16]

Cáo nèi wú shí, zhū gǒng zhū.

槽内无食, 猪拱猪。

槽內無食, 豬拱豬。

Lit [When] there's no fodder in the trough, pigs jostle each other.

Fig Shortage of supplies will lead to internal conflicts.

Note [Note: gǒngzhū, (lit) “push the pig,” is also the name of a popular card game.]

Topics CONFLICT gǒngzhū SHORTAGES

C17

[C17]

(Cǎo pà yánshuāng, shuāng pà rì;) èrén zì yǒu è rén mó.

(草怕严霜, 霜怕日,) 恶人自有恶人磨。

(草怕嚴霜, 霜怕日,) 惡人自有惡人磨。

Lit [Just as] grass fears severe frost [which in turn] fears sun, [so one] evil person [will be] tormented by another evil person.

Note [The second part (q.v.) is most commonly used alone.]

Topics EVIL

C18

[C18]

Cǎo rù niú kǒu, qí mìng bù jiǔ.

草入牛口, 其命不久。

Lit [When] grass enters a cow's mouth, it won't last long.

Fig When one is in a dangerous situation, one's chances of survival are not great.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 36; note: cǎokǒu, “rural bandits.”]

Topics BANDITS cǎokǒu DANGER Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō SURVIVAL

C19

[C19]

Cáotóu mǎi mǎ, kàn mǔzi.

槽头买马, 看母子。

槽頭買馬, 看母子。

Lit [If you're in the] stable [when] buying [a young] horse, [first] look at [its] mother.

Fig One can judge a person by his or her mother.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 52.]

Topics CHILDREN MOTHERS PREDICTIONS SIMILARITIES Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

C20

[C20]

Cǎo yǎn zhī fēngxiàng.

草偃知风向。

草偃知風向。

Lit [By the way the] grass bends, [one can] know the direction of the wind.

Fig Specific events are signs or harbingers of larger social or political trends.

Note [See also yī yǔ shì fēngxiàng below.]

Topics PREDICTIONS

C21

[C21]

Cǎoyào yī wèi, qìsǐ míngyī.*

草药一味, 气死名医。

草藥一味, 氣死名醫。

Lit One species of a medicinal herb [can] shame a famous doctor.

Fig Sometimes medicinal herbs can cure diseases which even a good doctor can't cure.

Note [See also piānfāng zhì dà bìng below.]

Topics DISEASE DOCTORS ILLNESS MEDICINE

C22

[C22]

Cǎozì chūle gé, shénxiān rènbude.

草字出了格, 神仙认不得。

草字出了格, 神仙認不得。

Lit [Free style cursive] “grass” characters written outside the lines, [even a] god cannot make out.

Fig It's almost impossible to read sloppy handwriting.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics CALLIGRAPHY HANDWRITING Wǔ_Sōng

C23

[C23]

Céng jīng cānghǎi, nán wéi shuǐ.

曾经沧海, 难为水。

曾經滄海, 難為水。

Lit Having experienced the great ocean, it is difficult to appreciate [ordinary] waters.

Fig For one who has had great experiences, ordinary experiences pale by comparison.

Note [This is a line paraphrasing Mencius (Mèngzǐ: Jìn Xīn Shàng) from a poem entitled “Lí Sī” by the Tang dynasty poet Yuán Zhēn in which he compares the vastness of his love for his wife to the experience of a great ocean which dwarfs all other waters by comparison. Note: céngjīng-cānghǎi can be used as a chengyu expression meaning “having sailed the seven seas”; “having seen much of the world.” See also guān yú hǎi zhě below.]

Topics COMPARISON EXPERIENCE Jìn Xīn Shàng Lí Sī Mencius POETRY Tang dynasty Yuan_Zhen

C24

[C24]

Céng zháo mài táng jūnzǐ hǒng, dào jīn bù xìn kǒu tián rén.

曾着卖糖君子哄, 到今不信口甜人。

曾著賣糖君子哄, 到今不信口甜人。

Lit Once taken in by a candy seller, the gentleman will never believe anyone who mouths sweet [words].

Fig “Once burned, twice shy.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 72; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 26.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí EXPERIENCE JW LEARNING SUFFERING

C25

[C25]

Cè yǐn zhī xīn, rén jiē yǒu zhī.

侧隐之心, 人皆有之。

側隱之心, 人皆有之。

Lit A sense of pity, all people have it.

Fig All people have a sense of compassion.

Note [Cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Gāo Zǐ Shàng; Húdié Mèng, chap. 2; Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 22.]

Topics COMPASSION Gāo Zǐ Shàng Húdié Mèng Jǐngshì Tōngyán Mencius PITY

C26

[C26]

Chái duī lǐ cáng bu zhù huǒ; shāizi lǐ chéng bu zhù shuǐ.

柴堆里藏不住火, 筛子里盛不住水。

柴堆裡藏不住火, 篩子裡盛不住水。

Lit Fire can't be hidden in a pile of firewood, nor can water be kept in a sieve.

Fig Truth cannot be suppressed. The truth will (come) out in the end.

Note [See also bèitóu lǐ zuòshì above and mán de guò rén and shuǐ luò shítou and zhǐ bāo bu zhù huǒ below.]

Topics TRUTH

C27

[C27]

Chái wú sān gēn, huǒ bù zháo.

柴无三根, 火不着。

柴無三根, 火不著。

Lit Without [at least] three sticks of wood, [one] cannot light a fire.

Fig One cannot accomplish anything alone. “In unity lies strength.”

Note [See also dān zé yì zhé below.]

Topics COOPERATION STRENGTH UNITY

C28

[C28]

Chāi wū yī dài yān, qǐ wū sān dàn mǐ.

拆屋一袋烟, 起屋三担米。

拆屋一袋煙, 起屋三擔米。

Lit [It needs only the time it takes to smoke] one packet of tobacco to level a house [to the ground, but it takes] three hundred catties of rice [to feed the workers to] build one.

Fig It is easy to destroy things but difficult to create them.

Note [Note: one dàn is a unit of measure equal to one hundred jīn, “catties,” or fifty kilograms; see also bǎinián chéngshì above.]

Topics catty CAUTION CREATION dàn DESTRUCTION HOUSES jīn

C29

[C29]

Chá jiàn yuān yú zhě bùxiáng; zhì liào yǐnnì zhě yǒu yāng.

察见渊鱼者不祥; 智料隐匿者有殃。

察見淵魚者不祥; 智料隱匿者有殃。

Lit [To be able to] see fish swimming in a deep pond is inauspicious, [and to be] clever [enough to] spot hidden people or things [is to] invite trouble.

Fig One who is too perceptive or too wise will invite trouble. “There's such a thing as being too clever.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. Lièzǐ: Shuō Fù and Hán Fēizǐ: Shuō Lín Shàng.]

Topics CAUTION CLEVERNESS Hán Fēizǐ Lièzǐ PERCEPTIVENESS rhyme Shuō Fù Shuō Lín Shàng TROUBLE

C30

[C30]

Cháng'ān suī hǎo, bù shì jiǔ liàn zhī jiā.

长安虽好, 不是久恋之家。

長安雖好, 不是久戀之家。

Lit Although Chang'an [the capital of the Tang dynasty] is good, it's not a place to become attached to for long [since it's not your hometown].

Fig However good a strange place is, one should not stay there long, but rather return home as one ought to.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 96; vs. bù liàn gùxiāng above; see also chùchù yǒu lù and Liáng yuán suī hǎo below.]

Topics Chang'an HOMETOWN JW PLACE Tang_dynasty

C31

[C31]

Cháng biānzi bù dǎ zhuǎnwān niú.

长鞭子不打转弯牛。

長鞭子不打轉彎牛。

Lit Don't [use a] long whip on an ox [that is] making a turn while plowing. [Note: It is natural that an ox pulling a plow will go slower while making a turn.]

Fig When a person realizes his or her mistakes and starts to do something to correct them, (s)he should not be pressed too hard, but should be given time to correct the mistakes.

Topics CORRECTION MISTAKES

C32

[C32]

Cháng dī yào fáng lǎoshǔ dòng; dà shù yào fáng zhùxīnchóng.

长堤要防老鼠洞, 大树要防蛀心虫。

長堤要防老鼠洞, 大樹要防蛀心蟲。

Lit [In] long dikes [one] should guard against rat holes [and in the centers of] big trees against wood boring worms.

Fig One should always pay attention to petty but potentially harmful troubles (hidden) within one's own group.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CAREFULNESS rhyme TROUBLE

C33

[C33]

Cháng huà bùrú duǎn shuō.

长话不如短说。

長話不如短說。

Lit Long speech is not as good as short talk.

Fig Better come to the point directly than to take the long way around [in one's speech].

Topics LONGWINDEDNESS SPEECH TALK

C34

[C34]

Cháng Jiāng hòu làng cuī qián làng; (yī tì xīnrén huàn jiù rén).

长江后浪催前浪, (一替新人换旧人)。

長江後浪催前浪, (一替新人換舊人)。

Lit [Just as in] the Yangtse River, the waves behind push on those ahead, ([so] new-comers replace the old-[timers]).

Fig Inevitably each generation is replaced by (and often surpassed by) the next.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 1; now said “... tuī qián làng; yī dài xīn rén huàn jiù rén”; the second half is often omitted.]

Topics GENERATIONS TIME Wǔ_Sōng

C35

[C35]

Cháng jiāng yǒu rì, sī wú rì; mò dài wú shí, xiǎng yǒu shí.

常将有日思无日, 莫待无时想有时。

常將有日思無日, 莫待無時想有時。

Lit (1) [If in] times of plenty [you] always recall [your] times of want, [you'll] have no need in times of want to yearn for [your] times of plenty. (2) [Even] if [you] have [money], remember when [you] didn't [and be frugal], [and] if [you] don't have any, don't think about when you had [money], [but rather just work hard and be frugal].

Topics DILIGENCE FRUGALITY POVERTY WORK

C36

[C36]

Cháng lǐ chūlai, cháng lǐ rè.

肠里出来, 肠里热。

腸裡出來, 腸裡熱。

Lit [Toward those who have] come out from one's guts, [one's] guts are warm.

Fig One is most attached to one's own children.

Note [See also gè yǎng de below.]

Topics AFFECTION CHILDREN FAMILIES PARTIALITY

C37

[C37]

Cháng mà bù jīng; cháng dǎ bù pà.*

常骂不惊, 常打不怕。

常罵不驚, 常打不怕。

Lit Repeated scolding and beating won't frighten [a child].

Fig Repeated punishments on a person will have increasingly less effect.

Topics BEATING PUNISHMENT

C38

[C38]

Cháng pān gāoshān, tuǐ bù ruǎn; cháng guò xiāntán, bù pà jiāo.

常攀高山腿不软, 常过险滩不怕礁。

常攀高山腿不軟, 常過險灘不怕礁。

Lit [If one] often climbs high mountains, [one's] legs will not be weak; [if one] often passes over dangerous shoals, one won't be afraid of reefs.

Fig One who has gone through hardships has developed fortitude and won't easily yield to difficulties.

Topics FORTITUDE HARDSHIPS

C39

[C39]

Cháng tiān dēngcǎo, mǎn tiān yóu.

长添灯草, 满添油。

長添燈草, 滿添油。

Lit Replenish [the supply of lamp-lighting] rushes [when the original one is still] long, [and] replenish the oil supply [(even) when the lamp is] full.

Fig It is best to make one's preparations early.

Topics PREPARATION

C40

[C40]

Cháng tòng bùrú duǎn tòng.

长痛不如短痛。

長痛不如短痛。

Lit Rather [suffer greater] pains for a short time than [lesser] pains for a long time.

Fig It's better to get painful things over with quickly.

Topics PAIN PLANNING TIME

C41

[C41]

Cháng xiàn fàng yuǎn yào.

长线放远鹞。

長線放遠鷂。

Lit The longer the string, the higher the kite will fly.

Fig If one makes a long-term plan, the more successful one will be.

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 73.]

Topics Dàng Kòu Zhì PLANNING SUCCESS

C42

[C42]

Chàngxì de bù mán dǎ luó de.

唱戏的不瞒打锣的。

唱戲的不瞞打鑼的。

Lit [A Chinese] opera singer [does] not hide anything from [the accompanist who] strikes the gong.

Fig Partners should not hide anything from one another.

Topics PARTNERS TRUST

C43

[C43]

Chàngxì de sān tiān bù chàng, zuǐ shēng; dǎ tiě de sān tiān bù dǎ, shǒu shēng.

唱戏的三天不唱嘴生, 打铁的三天不打手生。

唱戲的三天不唱嘴生, 打鐵的三天不打手生。

Lit [An] opera singer who does not sing for three days [will get] rusty, [and a] blacksmith [who does] not strike for three days [will] also.

Fig One has to keep practicing to keep one's skill up.

Note [See also quán bù lí shǒu below.]

Topics PRACTICE SKILL

C44

[C44]

Cháng xiù shàn wǔ; duō qián shàn gǔ.

长袖善舞, 多钱善贾。

長袖善舞, 多錢善賈。

Lit [Just as] long sleeves [enhance a] good dancer, [so] great wealth [makes it] easier to do business or get ahead.

Note [Rhyme; Hán Fēizǐ: Wǔ Dù.]

Topics BUSINESS Hán Fēizǐ rhyme SUCCESS WEALTH Wǔ_Dù

C45

[C45]

Chàngxì yào sǎngzi; lā gōng yào bǎngzi.

唱戏要嗓子, 拉弓要膀子。

唱戲要嗓子, 拉弓要膀子。

Lit Opera singers depend on [their] voices, [and] bow-pullers on [their] (upper) arms.

Fig Skill or expertise is needed in doing everything.

Note [Rhyme; note: “bow-pullers” can be either archers or fiddle players.]

Topics EXPERTISE SKILL

C46

[C46]

Cháng yè rú xiǎonián.

长夜如小年。

長夜如小年。

Lit A long night [can be as long] as a short year.

Note [Said, e.g., of sleepless or long winter nights; note: xiǎonián refers to a short lunar year in which the last month has only 29 days.]

Topics NIGHTS SLEEPLESSNESS TIME WINTER xiǎonián

C47

[C47]

Cháng zài hébiān zhuàn, bù pà shuǐ shī jiǎo.*

常在河边转, 不怕水湿脚。

常在河邊轉, 不怕水濕腳。

Lit [Those who] often take a turn along the river bank won't be afraid to wet their feet.

Fig Being in proximity to badness, one is prepared to deal with it; one comes to understand the criminal mind.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics EVIL EXPERIENCE

C48

[C48]

Cháng zài hébiān zǒu, nánmiǎn tàshī xié.

长在河边走, 难免踏湿鞋。

長在河邊走, 難免踏濕鞋。

Lit [If one] often walks by the riverside, [it's] difficult to avoid getting [one's] shoes wet.

Fig People often become tainted or give in to temptation [e.g., when handling money]. “It comes with the territory.”

Topics CORRUPTION TEMPTATION

C49

[C49]

Chángzi zhù zài ǎi yán xià, bùdé bù dītóu.

长子住在矮檐下, 不得不低头。

長子住在矮檐下, 不得不低頭。

Lit [When] a tall person stays under low eaves, he has no choice but to lower his head.

Fig One has no choice but to submit to circumstances.

Note [Also said (jì) zài ǎi yán xià and rén zài wūyán xià (see below).]

Topics ACCOMMODATION CIRCUMSTANCES SUBMISSION

C50

[C50]

Chányán sān zhì, címǔ bù qīn.

谗言三至, 慈母不亲。

讒言三至, 慈母不親。

Lit [If] slanderous talk [about her offspring] comes [to her] three times, [even a] loving mother will not love [them anymore].

Fig Rumors or lies repeated often enough will be taken to be true. [Cf. Zhànguó Cè: Qín Cè 2.]

Note [See also sān rén chéng hǔ below.]

Topics LIES Qín Cè 2 RUMORS Zhànguó_Cè

C51

[C51]

Chǎo dòu, dàhuǒ chī; zhà guō, yī rén dān.

炒豆大伙吃, 炸锅一人担。

炒豆大伙吃, 炸鍋一人擔。

Lit Roasted beans, everyone eats, [but when the] pot [gets] burned, [only] one is responsible.

Fig Everyone enjoys the benefits, but when something goes wrong only one person is held responsible.

Note [Note: zhàguō is also a colloquial expression meaning “to wrangle loudly.”]

Topics colloquial expression RESPONSIBILITY

C52

[C52]

Cháo jū zhī fēng; xué chù zhī yǔ.

巢居知风, 穴处知雨。

巢居知風, 穴處知雨。

Lit [Those] living [in] nests [can] predict the wind, [and those] living [in] caves [can] predict the rain [from the moisture].

Fig Those with experience can tell what's going to happen in a familiar or sensitive environment.

Note [See also chūn jiāngshuǐ nuǎn below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE PREDICTIONS

C53

[C53]

Cháo lǐ wú rén, mò zuò guān.

朝里无人, 莫作官。

朝裡無人, 莫作官。

Lit [If] at [the imperial] court [you] have no friends, it is difficult to be an official.

Note [Also said cháo lǐ yǒu rén, hǎo zuò guān, “If one has friends at court one can be an official.”]

Topics FRIENDS OFFICIALS SUCCESS

C54

[C54]

Cháo pà èrshí; rén pà sìshí.

潮怕二十, 人怕四十。

Lit The tide ebbs [after the] 20[th of the lunar month]; people turn [old after the age of] 40.

Fig Treasure time and work hard while you're young.

Topics AGE WORK

C55

[C55]

Cháoshān de bù shì quán wèile jìng shén.

朝山的不是全为了敬神。

朝山的不是全為了敬神。

Lit Not all pilgrims [come] to worship gods.

Fig The same group of people may not all have the same motives or purposes; one must expect variation.

Note [Note: cháoshān de, (lit) “mountain climbers,” here refers to those pilgrims who visit Buddhist temples in remote places; the expression cháoshān jìnxiāng, “Pilgrim(s) presenting incense,” is often printed on pilgrims' bags or clothes.]

Topics cháoshān de INTENTIONS MOTIVES

C56

[C56]

Cháotíng bù chāi è bīng.

朝廷不差饿兵。

朝廷不差餓兵。

Lit The imperial court does not send hungry soldiers [into battle].

Fig One cannot ask others to work for nothing.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 31 and Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 87; see also sān rì wú liáng below.]

Topics COMPENSATION Dàng Kòu Zhì Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì MILITARY PAYMENT

C57

[C57]

Cháotíng bùkě yī rì wú jūn.

朝廷不可一日无君。

朝廷不可一日無君。

Lit The imperial court cannot [afford even] one day without [its] ruler.

Fig A country cannot afford to be without a leader.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 40; see also guó bùkě yī rì wú jūn below.]

Topics COUNTRY GOVERNMENT JW LEADERS

C58

[C58]

Cháotíng hái yǒu sān ménzi qióng qīn.

朝廷还有三门子穷亲。

朝廷還有三門子窮親。

Lit Even the emperor has branches of the family [with] poor relations.

Fig Everyone has some poor relatives.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 6; note: sān ménzi refers to branches of an extended family; see also huángdì yě yǒu below.]

Topics DRC FAMILIES POVERTY RELATIVES sān_ménzi

C59

[C59]

Chā zhī háolí, miù yǐ qiān lǐ.

差之毫厘, 谬以千里。

差之毫釐, 謬以千里。

Lit An error [the breadth] of a single hair [can] lead [one] astray one thousand leagues.

Fig The smallest mistake can have far-reaching consequences.

Note [Also “... shī zhī qiān lǐ” in JW, chap. 36; originally “chā ruò háolí, etc.” in the Confucian Book of Rites (Lǐjì: Jīng Jiě); see also shī zhī háolí below; one lǐ equals one-half of a kilometer.]

Topics Book of Rites CARELESSNESS CAUTION CONSEQUENCES Jīng Jiě JW Lǐjì MISTAKES

C60

[C60]

Chē bàn liú bàn, qí huò lì xiàn.

拆半留半, 其祸立见。

拆半留半, 其禍立見。

Lit [If one] destroys half [but] leaves [the other] half, its disaster[ous results will soon be] seen.

Fig In dealing with a situation, one should do a thorough job, leaving no potential problems undealt with.

Note [Note: the last character (见) is here pronounced xiàn.]

Topics PROBLEMS THOROUGHNESS

C61

[C61]

Chē dào méi è lù.

车到没恶路。

車到沒惡路。

Lit [Wherever] a cart goes, there's no bad road.

Fig Things will sort themselves out in the end. There's always a way out.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 83; see also the following entry.]

Topics SOLUTIONS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

C62

[C62]

Chē dào shān qián bì yǒu lù.

车到山前必有路。

車到山前必有路。

Lit [When the cart] gets to the mountains, there will have to be a way [through].

Fig Things always work out in the end (so don't worry about them). “Cross that bridge when you come to it.”

Note [See also chuán dào qiáotóu below and the preceding entry.]

Topics PATIENCE SOLUTIONS

C63

[C63]

Chē duō, ài zhé; chuán duō, cā biān.

车多碍辙; 船多, 擦边。

車多礙轍; 船多, 擦邊。

Lit Too much car(t) traffic will cause a jam; too many boats will rub against each other.

Fig “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Topics EXCESS INTERFERENCE

C64

[C64]

Chéng dàshì bù jì xiǎo chóu.

成大事不记小仇。

成大事不記小仇。

Lit [One who has aspirations to] do great things won't begrudge trifling insults or slights.

Note [See also dàrén bù jì and jūnzǐ bù jiàn below.]

Topics ASPIRATIONS INSULTS

C65

[C65]

Chéng dàshì zhě bù xī xiǎofèi.

成大事者不惜小费。

成大事者不惜小費。

Lit One who accomplishes great things does not begrudge petty expenditures or losses.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 1; Xīyáng Jì, chap. 19.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT JPM NOBLESSE OBLIGE Xīyáng_Jì

C66

[C66]

Chènggǎn xīngxīng liáng rénxīn.

秤秆星星量人心。

秤稈星星量人心。

Lit The steelyard's [calibration] marks measure the honesty of the person [who uses it (i.e., the seller), vs. dishonest peddlers, who alter the scales or manipulate them].

Note [Note: before 1949 steelyard scales were marked with sixteen star symbols, one for each ounce of weight.]

Topics BUSINESS HONESTY

C67

[C67]

Chénggōng bù huǐ.

成功不毁。

成功不毀。

Lit Accomplishments [should] not be destroyed.

Fig Once something has been accomplished, it should not be wantonly destroyed.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DESTRUCTION PRESERVATION

C68

[C68]

Chéngjiàn bùkě yǒu; dìngjiàn bùkě wú.

成见不可有; 定见不可无。

成見不可有; 定見不可無。

Lit Preconceived views [one] should not have; definite opinions [one] shouldn't be without.

Fig One should not harbor any preconceptions but should have one's own ideas about everything.

Topics INDIVIDUALS OPINIONS PERSPECTIVE PRECONCEPTIONS

C69

[C69]

Chéngjiā yóurú jiān tiāo tǔ, bài jiā yóurú làng chōng shā.

成家犹如肩挑土, 败家犹如浪冲沙。

成家猶如肩挑土, 敗家猶如浪沖沙。

Lit To establish [and maintain] a family is as [hard as] carrying earth on [one's] shoulders; to ruin a family is as [easy as] waves washing away the sand.

Note [See also chénglì zhī nán below.]

Topics CAUTION FAMILIES RUIN

C70

[C70]

Chéng jiā zhī zǐ, xī fèn rú jīn; (bài jiā zhī zǐ, huī jīn rú fèn/tǔ).

成家之子惜粪如金, (败家之子挥金如粪/土)。

成家之子惜糞如金, (敗家之子揮金如糞/土)。

Lit The children who succeed in establishing themselves [well in life are those who are so frugal as to] value [anything as insignificant as] dung as [being like] gold; ([while those] children who ruin [their] families [are those who] throw gold around like dung).

Fig Frugality is the key to success in life, (while excessive spending will lead to ruination).

Note [The second part is often omitted; note: huī jīn rú tú, “to throw money around like dirt.”]

Topics CHILDREN EXTRAVAGANCE FRUGALITY huī jīn rú tú RUIN SUCCESS

C71

[C71]

Chénglì zhī nán rú dēng tiān; fùbài zhī yì rú liǎo máo.

成立之难如登天, 覆败之易如燎毛。

成立之難如登天, 覆敗之易如燎毛。

Lit Getting established [in life] is as difficult as ascending to heaven, [but] ruination [of one's family and career] is as easy as burning up a hair.

Note [See also chéngjiā yóurú above and zǎnqián hǎobǐ below.]

Topics CAREER CAUTION DANGER RUIN

C72

[C72]

Chéngmén shīhuǒ, yāngjí chí yú.

城门失火, 殃及池鱼。

城門失火, 殃及池魚。

Lit [When the] city gate is on fire, [it] endangers even the fish [in the] moat [when the water is pumped out to extinguish the fire].

Fig Innocent bystanders are often injured. Things often have un-thought-of far-reaching consequences.

Topics BYSTANDERS CONSEQUENCES DANGER

C73

[C73]

Chéngmíng měi zài qióngkǔ rì; bàishì duō yú dézhì shí.

成名每在穷苦日, 败事多于得志时。

成名每在窮苦日, 敗事多於得志時。

Lit Success is always [won] when [one is] in poverty, failure usually [comes] when [one is] successful (so be careful!).

Topics CAUTION FAILURE POVERTY SUCCESS

C74

[C74]

Chéngqián-bìhòu, (zhìbìng-jiùrén).

惩前毖后, (治病救人)。

懲前毖後, (治病救人)。

Lit [One must] learn from former [mistakes in order to] avoid [similar ones] later, ([and] cure the illness to save the [sick] person.)

Fig One must learn from past mistakes in order to avoid future ones (and take all actions, however unpleasant, which are necessary to correct the situation).

Note [The first part is a Ming dynasty chengyu derived from the Shījīng: Zhōu Sòng: Xiǎo Bì. The second part was added by Mao Zedong to produce a slogan, often quoted by Communist leaders as justification for criticism and their drastic actions; see also yán zhě wúzuì and zhī wú bù yán below.]

Topics chengyu Communist party EXPERIENCE LEARNING Mao Zedong Ming dynasty MISTAKES political slogan Shījīng Xiǎo Bì Zhōu_Sòng

C75

[C75]

Chéngrén bù zìzài; zìzài bù chéngrén.

成人不自在, 自在不成人。

Lit A person of [great] accomplishments [can]not be carefree, [and a] carefree [person can]not be a person of [great] accomplishments.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT BURDENS CAREFREENESS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

C76

[C76]

Chéng rén chē, zài rén huàn.

乘人车, 载人患。

乘人車, 載人患。

Lit [If one] rides in [someone's] cart, [one should] share [his] sorrows.

Fig One should share the difficulties of those to whom one is indebted.

Note [Cf. Sima Qian's Shǐ Jì: Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn; see also chī nǎ jiā jiǔ below.]

Topics DEPENDENCE Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn OBLIGATION Shǐ Jì Sima_Qian

C77

[C77]

(Chéngshì bù shuō;) jìwǎng bù jiù.

(成事不说,) 既往不咎。

(成事不說,) 既往不咎。

Lit (What's [already] done [does] not [need to be] spoken [about];) what's past [need] not [be] blamed.

Fig One should “let bygones be bygones.”

Note [The two parts are used separately as idiomatic phrases, each equivalent to “let bygones be bygones”; the second part is more commonly said alone; cf. Jìnghuā Yuán; chap. 6.]

Topics BLAME BYGONES chéngshì-bùshuō Jìnghuā Yuán jìwǎng-bùjiù PAST

C78

[C78]

Chēngsǐ dǎndà de; èsǐ dǎnxiǎo de.

撑死胆大的, 饿死胆小的。

撐死膽大的, 餓死膽小的。

Lit [Those who] die of overeating [are the] bold, [while those who] die of hunger [are the] timid.

Fig The bold get rich, while the timid usually suffer from poverty.

Topics BOLDNESS POVERTY TIMIDITY WEALTH

C79

[C79]

Chéngtiān dǎ hú; bù rèn xī.

成天打壶, 不认锡。

成天打壺, 不認錫。

Lit [Although one] makes tea kettles [from it] all day long, [one may still] not [be able to] tell tin [from other metals].

Fig A person may not fully understand what is (going on) around him or her all the time.

Topics SURROUNDINGS UNDERSTANDING

C80

[C80]

Chèngtuó suī xiǎo, yā qiānjīn.

秤砣虽小, 压千斤。

秤砣雖小, 壓千斤。

Lit The sliding weight [of a steelyard scale], although small, can balance a thousand catties.

Fig An unimpressive person may have hidden talents or ambitions.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 31; note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics AMBITION APPEARANCES catty JW qiānjīn (wt.) TALENT

C81

[C81]

Chéng yóu qínjiǎn; pò yóu shē.

成由勤俭, 破由奢。

成由勤儉, 破由奢。

Lit Success [comes] from diligence [and] thrift, [while] bankruptcy [results] from extravagance.

Note [Originally a line from a Tang dynasty poem by Li Shangyin.]

Topics BANKRUPTCY DILIGENCE EXTRAVAGANCE Li Shangyin POETRY POVERTY SUCCESS Tang dynasty THRIFT

C82

[C82]

Chéng zé wéi wáng; bài zé wéi zéi.

成则为王, 败则为贼。

成則為王, 敗則為賊。

Lit Succeed and [you] are a king; be defeated and [you] are [considered] a bandit.

Fig Legitimacy goes to the victor; losers are always in the wrong.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 2; traditionally the losers in Chinese civil wars are always described as bandits.]

Topics BANDITS CIVIL WARS DEFEAT DRC LEGITIMACY SUCCESS

C83

[C83]

Chèn huǒ rè, bǔ lòu guō.

趁火热, 补漏锅。

趁火熱, 補漏鍋。

Lit Mend the leaking pot while it's already hot.

Fig Grasp the opportunity to make up for the loss. Turn losses into opportunities.

Note [This is not equivalent to “Strike while the iron is hot”; compare chèn rè (hǎo) dǎtiě below.]

Topics LOSSES OPPORTUNITY

C84

[C84]

Chēn quán bù dǎ xiào miàn.

嗔拳不打笑面。

Lit [An] angry fist [will] not strike a smiling face.

Fig If you put on a smiling face, even your enemies won't strike you; a smile is the best defense.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 96; also said shén shǒu bù dǎ xiào liǎn rén.]

Topics DEFENSE JPM SMILES

C85

[C85]

Chèn rè (hǎo) dǎtiě.

趁热(好)打铁。

趁熱(好)打鐵。

Lit While [it's] hot, (it's easier to) beat iron [into shape].

Fig (It's easier to) strike while the iron is hot.

Note [Compare chèn huǒ rè and dānglìng guǒzi below; chènrè-dǎtiě is used as a chengyu; see also the following entry.]

Topics chengyu chènrè-dǎtiě OPPORTUNITY TIMELESSNESS

C86

[C86]

(Chèn shuǐ huò ní;) chèn rè dǎ tiě.

(趁水和泥,) 趁热打铁。

(趁水和泥,) 趁熱打鐵。

Lit (While the water [lasts], mix the plaster); while [it is] hot, strike the iron.

Fig Seize the opportunity when it arises. “Strike while the iron is hot.” “Make hay while the sun shines.”

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics chènrè-dǎtiě OPPORTUNITY TIMING

C87

[C87]

Chèn wǒ shí nián yùn; yǒu bìng zǎo lái yī.

趁我十年运, 有病早来医。

趁我十年運, 有病早來醫。

Lit [While] I [am having] ten years [of] good luck, [if you] are sick, come [see the] doctor [i.e., me] as soon as possible.

Fig If you need any favors done, come and see me while I am still in a position to help others out.

Note [See also the contemporary saying: yǒuquán bù yòng, guòqī zuòfèi below.]

Topics contemporary saying FAVORS OFFICIALS POWER

C88

[C88]

Chē xíng bàn pō, tíngbùde.

车行半坡, 停不得。

車行半坡, 停不得。

Lit [When pulling a] cart, never stop half way up the slope.

Fig Never stop half-way in doing anything; don't lose your momentum.

Topics MOMENTUM PERSEVERANCE

C89

[C89]

Chē zǒu chēdào; mǎ zǒu mǎdào.

车走车道, 马走马道。

車走車道, 馬走馬道。

Lit [Let] the cart travel the main road [and] the horse travel the bridle path.

Fig One should not interfere with another's business.

Note [Rhyme; see also chuán duō bù ài gǎng and dàlù tōngtiān below.]

Topics INTERFERENCE NON-INTERFERENCE

C90

[C90]

Chībǎo de māo bù zhuō hàozi.

吃饱的猫不捉耗子。

吃飽的貓不捉耗子。

Lit A cat that is full doesn't catch mice.

Fig When one has achieved enough to satisfy one's needs, one won't continue to make further efforts.

Topics EFFORT LAZINESS SATISFACTION

C91

[C91]

Chǐ bì fēi bǎo; cùn yīn shì jìng/jīn.

尺璧非宝, 寸阴是竞/金。

尺璧非寶, 寸陰是競/金。

Lit A round piece of jade a foot [in diameter is] not [to be reckoned] treasure, [but an] inch of time [on a sundial] is [worth] striving for.

Fig Time is priceless.

Note [From the “Thousand Character Classic” Qiān Zì Wén. Now often said ... cùn yīn shì jīn, “an inch of time is [worth] gold” to create structural parallelism; note: bì refers to a round flat piece of jade with a hole in the center used for ceremonial burial purposes in ancient China; cùnyīn is now used as one word to mean “a very short time”; see also yī cùn guāngyīn below.]

Topics bì Qiān Zì Wén TIME VALUE

C92

[C92]

Chī bu liǎo, dōuzhe zǒu.

吃不了, 兜着走。

吃不了, 兜著走。

Lit [What you] can't eat, [you'll have to] take with [you].

Fig One has to bear the consequences of one's actions.

Note [Now sometimes also used jokingly to refer to taking leftovers home from restaurants; cf. DRC, chap. 23; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 13.]

Topics CONSEQUENCES DRC JPM

C93

[C93]

Chī bù qióng, chuān bù qióng; bù huì jīngjì, yīshì qióng.

吃不穷穿不穷, 不会经济一世穷。

吃不窮穿不窮, 不會經濟一世窮。

Lit Eating [will] not impoverish [one] nor will clothing, [but] not being able to plan [a budget] [will make one] poor for a lifetime.

Fig The ordinary necessities of life will not impoverish one; what will make one poor all one's life is to live beyond one's means.

Note [Rhyme; also said ... bù huì jìsuàn, “... cannot budget,” etc.; see also chīfàn, chuān yī and chuān bù qióng below.]

Topics BUDGETING EXTRAVAGANCE POVERTY

C94

[C94]

Chī cōng, chī suàn, bù chī jiāng/jiàng.

吃葱, 吃蒜, 不吃姜/将。

吃蔥, 吃蒜, 不吃姜/將。

Lit [One may] eat onions, [or] eat garlic, [but one should] not eat ginger. (pun/fig) Whatever one may do, one should not let oneself be goaded into action by others.

Note [Note: jiāng, “ginger” is a pun on jiàng, “general” as in the Chinese chess ploy called jījiàngfǎ, “goading another into action.”]

Topics Chinese chess GOADING jījiàngfǎ pun SELF-CONTROL

C95

[C95]

Chī de hǎo; shuō de hǎo.

吃的好, 说的好。

吃的好, 說的好。

Lit [When you] eat well [of someone's food, then] speak well of them.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 3; often said about providing banquets to visiting authorities so they will make a good report; see also chī rénjiā de and dé rén qiáncái below.]

Topics DEBT EATING FAVORS OFFICIALS Wǔ_Sōng

C96

[C96]

Chī de kuī, zuò yī duī.*

吃得亏, 坐一堆。

吃得虧, 坐一堆。

Lit [One who is] able to take small losses [can] live [in harmony] with others.

Note [Rhyme; see also chīkuī de shì guāi and chī yī fēn kuī below.]

Topics HARMONY LOSSES RELATIONSHIPS rhyme

C97

[C97]

Chī de kǔ zhōng kǔ, fāng wéi rén shàng rén.

吃得苦中苦, 方为人上人。

吃得苦中苦, 方為人上人。

Lit Only those who have tasted the bitterest of the bitter can become people [who] stand out among others.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 1.]

Topics BITTERNESS EXPERIENCE Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì LEARNING

C98

[C98]

Chī de kǔ zhōng kǔ, fāng zhī tián zhōng tián.

吃得苦中苦, 方知甜中甜。

Lit Only one who has tasted the bitterest of the bitter can appreciate the sweetest of the sweet.

Note [See also chīguò kǔtou above.]

Topics BITTERNESS COMPARISON

C99

[C99]

Chī de lāta; zuò dé Púsà.

吃的邋遢, 做得菩萨。

吃的邋遢, 做得菩薩。

Lit [One who] eats carelessly [will] become a Buddha.

Fig One need not pay too much attention to cleanliness or sanitation when eating.

Note [Said as an excuse or as a preventative charm by careless eaters; see also bùgān-bùjìng above.]

Topics CLEANLINESS EATING FOOD SANITATION

C100

[C100]

Chǐ dú shū shū, qiān lǐ miànmù.

尺牍书疏, 千里面目。

尺牘書疏, 千里面目。

Lit [To read someone's] letters [and] official reports [is to see his] face [though he is a] thousand miles [away].

Note [Rhyme; cf. Yán Shì Jiā Xùn: Zá Yì.]

Topics DISTANCE LETTERS MEMORY rhyme Yán Shì Jiā Xùn Zá_Yì

C101

[C101]

Chīfàn, chuān yī liáng jiādàng.*

吃饭穿衣量家当。

吃飯穿衣量家當。

Lit [In spending money on] eating [and] clothing, [one should] measure [one's] capital.

Fig One should calculate one's expenditures based on one's resources and live within one's means.

Note [See also chī bù qióng above and kàn cài chīfàn below.]

Topics BUDGETING ECONOMICS

C102

[C102]

Chīfàn fáng yē; xíng lù fáng diē.

吃饭防噎, 行路防跌。

吃飯防噎, 行路防跌。

Lit Guard against choking [when you] eat, [and] against stumbling [when] walking.

Fig Be careful in everything you do in life.

Note [Rhyme; cf. WM, chap. 10; chap. 33.]

Topics CAUTION rhyme WM

C103

[C103]

Chīguò kǔtou, fāng zhī tiántou.

吃过苦头, 方知甜头。

吃過苦頭, 方知甜頭。

Lit Only [one who has] tasted bitterness can know sweetness.

Fig Only those who have suffered can really appreciate sweetness.

Note [Rhyme; see also chī de kǔ zhōng kǔ below.]

Topics BITTERNESS COMPARISON SUFFERING

C104

[C104]

Chī hàn bùkěn ráorén; ráorén bù shì chī hàn.

痴汉不肯饶人, 饶人不是痴汉。

痴漢不肯饒人, 饒人不是痴漢。

Lit A foolish person isn't willing to pardon others; to forgive others is not [to be a] fool.

Fig One who forgives others is wise.

Note [See also rànglù bù shì and ráorén bù shì below.]

Topics FORGIVENESS

C105

[C105]

Chí huā màn fā, dàqì-wǎnchéng.

迟花慢发, 大器晚成。

遲花慢發, 大器晚成。

Lit [Just as] late flowers mature slowly, [so] great men succeed late [in life].

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 49; note: dàqì-wǎnchéng, from Lǎozǐ, is used as a chengyu; see also chí kāi de huā and hǎo fàn bùpà wǎn below.]

Topics chengyu dàqì-wǎnchéng Lǎozǐ Rúlín Wàishǐ SUCCESS

C106

[C106]

Chī jìn wèidao, yán hǎo; zǒubiàn tiānxià, niáng hǎo.

吃尽味道盐好, 走遍天下娘好。

吃盡味道鹽好, 走遍天下娘好。

Lit [Just as] of all the flavors [one] eats, salt [tastes the] best, [so] wherever [one] goes in the world, [one's] mother is dearest.

Topics MOTHERS

C107

[C107]

Chī jiǔ bù yán gōngwù shì.*

吃酒不言公务事。

吃酒不言公務事。

Lit [While] drinking never talk public business.

Note [See also jiǔ bù yán gōng below.]

Topics CAUTION PUBLIC

C108

[C108]

Chī jiǔ tú zuì; fàngzhài tú lì.

吃酒图醉, 放债图利。

吃酒圖醉, 放債圖利。

Lit [One] drinks liquor to get drunk, [and one] lends money to get interest.

Fig There is always some motive for every action.

Note [Note: here tú is a verb meaning “to seek.”]

Topics LENDING MONEY MOTIVES PROFIT

C109

[C109]

Chí kāi de huā wèibì bù xiāngyàn.

迟开的花未必不香艳。

遲開的花未必不香艷。

Lit Late-blooming flowers are not [necessarily] unfragrant.

Fig Men who become famous late in life do not necessarily have few achievements.

Note [See also chí huā màn fā above.]

Topics AGE FAME

C110

[C110]

Chīkuī de shì guāi; zhàn piányi de shì dāi.

吃亏的是乖, 占便宜的是呆。

吃虧的是乖, 占便宜的是呆。

Lit [One who] suffers petty losses is wise; [one who] takes petty advantages is foolish.

Note [Rhyme; see also chī de kuī above and the following entry.]

Topics LOSSES PETTINESS

C111

[C111]

Chīkuī rén cháng zài.

吃亏人常在。

吃虧人常在。

Lit [One who] takes losses will live [a] long [life] [because (s)he will always have a clear conscience].

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics AGE CONSCIENCE LOSSES

C112

[C112]

Chīkuī wǎngwǎng jiùshì zhàn piányi.

吃亏往往就是占便宜。

吃虧往往就是占便宜。

Lit Suffering [a loss] is [really] a gain [in the long run because of the knowledge and/or goodwill gained thereby].

Note [See also chī yī fēn kuī below.]

Topics GAINS LEARNING LOSSES

C113

[C113]

Chīkuī xuéguāi dàijià gāo, bèn hàn fēi cǐ xué bù dào.

吃亏学乖代价高, 笨汉非此学不到。

吃虧學乖代價高, 笨漢非此學不到。

Lit To suffer and learn a lesson, [one] pays a high price, [but] a fool can't learn any other way.

Note [Rhymed couplet]

Topics couplet LEARNING rhyme SUFFERING

C114

[C114]

Chīle hétún, bǎi yàng wúwèi.

吃了河豚, 百样无味。

吃了河豚, 百樣無味。

Lit [After] having eaten globefish [the rarest delicacy], [one feels] nothing else to be tasty.

Fig One who has had the best regards everything else as inferior.

Topics COMPARISON

C115

[C115]

Chīle sān tiān sù, jiù xiǎng shàng Xītiān.*

吃了三天素, 就想上西天。

Lit After practicing vegetarianism for only three days, [one should not] aspire to ascend to the Western Heaven [i.e., to become a Buddha].

Fig It's impossible to become successful or famous without first “paying your dues” through hard efforts.

Topics Buddhism EFFORT FAME SUCCESS Xītiān

C116

[C116]

Chīlì bù zhuànqián; zhuànqián bù chīlì.

吃力不赚钱, 赚钱不吃力。

吃力不賺錢, 賺錢不吃力。

Lit [Those who] work hard do not make [big] money, [and those who] make [good] money do not [have to] work hard.

Note [Said of business people before 1949 and in the 1990s.]

Topics BUSINESS EFFORT MONEY

C117

[C117]

Chí lǐ wú yú, xiā wéi dà.

池里无鱼, 虾为大。

池裡無魚, 蝦為大。

Lit [When] there are no fish in the pond, the shrimp becomes the biggest.

Fig When people of real talent or authority are absent, lesser people take over.

Note [See also shān zhōng wú lǎohǔ below.]

Topics TALENT

C118

[C118]

Chī lì yào bōpí; qiānniú yào qiān bí.

吃栗要剥皮, 牵牛要牵鼻。

吃栗要剝皮, 牽牛要牽鼻。

Lit [To] eat a chestnut, [one] has to remove the shell; [to] lead an ox, [one] has to lead [it by its] nose.

Fig In solving any problem, one has to grasp the essential point.

Note [Rhyme; see also qiānniú, yào qiān below.]

Topics PROBLEMS rhyme

C119

[C119]

Chī nǎ jiā jiǔ, shuō nǎ jiā huà.

吃哪家酒, 说哪家话。

吃哪家酒, 說哪家話。

Lit [If one] consumes someone's liquor, [one must] speak their language.

Fig One has to speak for the person from whom one receives favors or bribes.

Note [See also chéng rén chē and chī rénjiā de below.]

Topics BRIBERY FAVORS OBLIGATION

C120

[C120]

Chí qiǎn bù néng yǎng dà yú.*

池浅不能养大鱼。

池淺不能養大魚。

Lit Big fish can't be raised in a shallow pond.

Fig With no scope to bring their talents into full play, talented people will probably leave for greener pastures.

Note [See also shuǐ qiǎn, yǎng bu zhù below.]

Topics TALENT

C121

[C121]

Chī rén de shīzi bù lù chǐ.

吃人的狮子不露齿。

吃人的獅子不露齒。

Lit A man-eating lion never shows its fangs.

Fig The most dangerous people are those who hide their true colors.

Note [See also ègǒu yǎo rén and yǎo rén gǒu below.]

Topics APPEARANCES DANGER DECEIT

C122

[C122]

Chī rénjiā de, zuǐ ruǎn; ná rénjiā de, shǒu duǎn.*

吃人家的, 嘴软, 拿人家的, 手短。

吃人家的, 嘴軟, 拿人家的, 手短。

Lit [After] eating another's [food], [one's] mouth is softened; [after] taking someone's [present] [one's] reach is shortened [because then they can expose you for bribery].

Fig Once someone in power has taken favors or bribes from you, they no longer have power over you because you can always expose their corruption.

Note [Now often used of Communist party cadres or officials who have accepted bribes or favors; see also chī de hǎo above.]

Topics BRIBERY CADRES CORRUPTION FAVORS OBLIGATION OFFICIALS

C123

[C123]

Chī rénjiā wǎn bàn; bèi rénjia shǐhuan.

吃人家碗半, 被人家使唤。

吃人家碗半, 被人家使喚。

Lit [After you have] eaten [even] half a bowl [of someone else's food, you are] at [that] person's beck and call.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 58; also said chī tā yī wǎn, píng shǐ huān in Hé Diǎn, chap. 6; see also shòu rén yī fàn above.]

Topics CORRUPTION FAVORS Hé Diǎn JPM OBLIGATION

C124

[C124]

Chī rén miànqián bùdé shuō mèng.

痴人面前不得说梦。

痴人面前不得說夢。

Lit To an idiot, [one] ought not tell fantastic tales [or (s)he will believe them].

Fig Don't talk to the ill-informed about things beyond their ken. Don't waste your time talking to fools.

Note [Note: chī rén shuō mèng, “idiotic nonsense.”]

Topics FOOLS STUPIDITY

C125

[C125]

Chī rén yīkǒu, bào rén yī dǒu.

吃人一口, 报人一斗。

吃人一口, 報人一斗。

Lit Eat one mouthful of [someone's] rice, [and one day you will have to] return one bushel to them.

Fig If one takes petty advantages of others, one will suffer great losses some day.

Note [Rhyme; note a dǒu is a unit of measure for grain equal to ten liters.]

Topics dǒu JUSTICE LOSS PETTINESS RETRIBUTION rhyme

C126

[C126]

Chī rén zìyǒu chī fú.

痴人自有痴福。

Lit Foolish people have fool's luck.

Fig “Fortune favors fools.”

Topics FOOLS LUCK

C127

[C127]

Chī shā mántou, dāngbude fàn.

吃杀馒头, 当不得饭。

吃殺饅頭, 當不得飯。

Lit [No matter] how much you eat, steamed bread can't equal rice [for a meal].

Fig A substitute can never compare with the original. [Said by southern Chinese, who principally eat rice, as opposed to northerners, who eat wheat-based foods such as noodles and steamed bread.]

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 26.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì COMPARISON SUBSTITUTES

C128

[C128]

Chī shāobing háiyào péi tuòmo.

吃烧饼还要赔唾沫。

吃燒餅還要賠唾沫。

Lit [Even] when eating pancakes, [one] must add saliva.

Fig In doing anything, one must invest (or lose) something in order to gain something (or to make a profit).

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 80.]

Topics GAINS INVESTMENT LOSSES PROFIT Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

C129

[C129]

Chīshuǐ bù wàng jué jǐng rén.

吃水不忘掘井人。

Lit When drinking water, don't forget those who dug the well.

Fig Don't be ungrateful to those who have helped you in the past.

Note [See also guò hé mò wàng below.]

Topics GRATITUDE

C130

[C130]

Chī xiǎo kuī, zhàn dà piányi.

吃小亏, 占大便宜。

吃小虧, 占大便宜。

Lit Take small losses [for the sake of] earning big gains [later on].

Fig “Lose a penny [in order to] gain a pound.”

Note [Note: during the Cultural Revolution Liu Shaoqi was criticized for recommending chī xiǎo kuī, zhàn dà piányi (“suffer a little to gain a lot”) as a strategy for the Chinese Communist party; see also chī yī fēn kuī and zhàn xiǎopiányi below.]

Topics Cultural Revolution GAINS Liu Shaoqi LOSSES STRATEGY

C131

[C131]

Chī yào bù mán lángzhōng.*

吃药不瞒郎中。

吃藥不瞞郎中。

Lit [One who has] taken medicine [should] not hide [from one's] doctor [what kind of medicine one has taken].

Fig Be frank with those who are trying to help you [or they won't be able to help you].

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 99; note: lángzhōng refers to a physician trained in herbal medicine.]

Topics Dàng Kòu Zhì FRANKNESS HELP lángzhōng MEDICINE TRUTH

C132

[C132]

Chī yào bù tóu fāng, nǎpà yòng chuán zhuāng.

吃药不投方, 哪怕用船装。

吃藥不投方, 哪怕用船裝。

Lit [If one] takes medicine without the correct prescription, [one won't be cured] even if [one takes a] shipload full.

Fig In doing anything one should adopt methods appropriate to the particular situation, or it will be of no use.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MEDICINE PROBLEMS rhyme SOLUTIONS

C133

[C133]

Chī yào sān nián huì xíngyī.*

吃药三年会行医。

吃藥三年會行醫。

Lit [One who] takes medicine [for] three years can become a doctor.

Fig One who has long connections with a trade will become experienced.

Note [See also jiǔ bìng chéng liángyī and sān zhé gōng zhī below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE MEDICINE TRADES

C134

[C134]

Chī yī fēn kuī, wúliàng fú; shī piányi chù shì piányi.

吃一分亏无量福, 失便宜处是便宜。

吃一分虧無量福, 失便宜處是便宜。

Lit To suffer a small loss [is] a boundless blessing; the place [where one] loses is a gain.

Fig If you make a small concession (so as to let others gain a little), in the long run you'll gain; the small loss you suffer is a benefit. Don't always try to get the best of others every time; be willing to lose a little for a long-term gain in good will.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 3; see also chīkuī wǎngwǎng and chī xiǎo kuī above.]

Topics GAINS GOOD WILL LOSSES STRATEGY

C135

[C135]

Chī yī huí kuī, xué yī huí guāi.

吃一回亏, 学一回乖。

吃一回虧, 學一回乖。

Lit Suffer a loss [and] learn a lesson.

Note [See also chī yī qiàn below.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE LEARNING LOSSES

C136

[C136]

Chǐ yǐn chuān dī, néng piāo yī yì.

尺蚓穿堤能漂一浥。

Lit A one foot long earthworm, [if it] pierces a dike, can submerge [an entire] city.

Fig If one does not guard against little defects or problems, great disasters will eventually occur.

Note [See also xiǎo dòng bù bǔ below.]

Topics PRECAUTIONS PROBLEMS

C137

[C137]

Chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yī zhì.*

吃一堑, 长一智。

吃一塹, 長一智。

Lit Fall in a ditch [and] grow in wisdom.

Fig “A fall in a pit, a gain in wit”; one learns valuable lessons from setbacks.

Note [Cited in Mao Zedong's On Practice; see also chī yī huí kuī and bù jīng yī shì above and shàng huí dàng below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE LEARNING LOSSES Mao Zedong On Practice SETBACKS

C138

[C138]

Chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn; cùn yǒu suǒ cháng.

尺有所短, 寸有所长。

尺有所短, 寸有所長。

Lit A [linear] foot [can be too] short [and] an inch [can be too] long.

Fig Just as a foot may be too short in one case while an inch may be too long in another, so every person has his weak points as well as his strong points.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Bái Qǐ Wáng Jiàn Lièzhuàn; note: one Chinese “foot” or chǐ (equals one-third of a meter) contains ten Chinese “inches” or cùn.]

Topics Bái Qǐ Wáng Shǐ Jì STRENGTHS WEAKNESS

C139

[C139]

Chī zài Guǎngdōng; chuān zài Shànghǎi.

吃在广东; 穿在上海。

吃在廣東; 穿在上海。

Lit Eat in Guangdong (province), [and get your] clothing in Shanghai.

Fig The best food (in China) is in Guangdong and the best clothes are made in Shanghai.

Note [A popular saying in twentieth century China; see also shēng Dōng Wú below.]

Topics CLOTHING FOOD

C140

[C140]

Chīzhāi bùrú xíngshàn.

吃斋不如行善。

吃齋不如行善。

Lit [It is] better to do good works than to be a vegetarian.

Fig Better to do good to others than to engage in self-cultivation.

Note [Note: both vegetarianism and doing good deeds are religious practices of Buddhism.]

Topics Buddhism GOODNESS SELF-CULTIVATION

C141

[C141]

Chīzhāi néng chéng Fó, niúmǎ shàng Xītiān.

吃斋能成佛, 牛马上西天。

吃齋能成佛, 牛馬上西天。

Lit [If anyone who] lives on a vegetarian diet can [ascend to the Western Heaven and] become a Buddha, [then] oxen [and] horses, [who eat only grass,] can [get there too].

Fig (1) One should do everything in a down-to-earth manner, without any illusions. (2) One cannot accomplish things only by wishful thinking.

Note [See also chīzhāi bùrú above.]

Topics PRACTICALITY

C142

[C142]

Chǒng gǒu shàng zào; chǒng zǐ bùxiào.

宠狗上灶, 宠子不孝。

寵狗上灶, 寵子不孝。

Lit [Just as] a spoiled dog [will] climb onto the kitchen stove [to eat, so] a spoiled child is not filial.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHILDREN rhyme SPOILING

C143

[C143]

Chóngsūn yǒu lǐ gào tàigōng.

重孙有理告太公。

重孫有理告太公。

Lit [Even] a great-grandson [may] bring a lawsuit against his great-grandfather [if he] has reason [on his side].

Fig All persons stand equal before reason.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; in traditional Chinese society, normally no family member would ever take legal action against another, especially someone senior in generation.]

Topics FAMILIES LAWSUITS REASON Wǔ_Sōng

C144

[C144]

Chōu dāo duàn shuǐ, shuǐ gèng liú; jiè jiǔ xiāochóu, chóu gèng chóu.

抽刀断水水更流, 借酒消愁愁更愁。

抽刀斷水水更流, 借酒消愁愁更愁。

Lit [If one] draws [one's] sword to stop the water, the water [will] flow even more [when the sword is removed]; [similarly,] drowning [one's] sorrows in drink [only] makes them worse.

Note [The order of the two halves may be reversed; see also jiè jiǔ xiāochóu and yào bù néng zhì below.]

Topics DRINKING LIQUOR SORROW

C145

[C145]

Chōu dāo nán rù qiào.

抽刀难入鞘。

抽刀難入鞘。

Lit A sword drawn is difficult [to put back] into [its] sheath.

Fig Things once started are hard to stop, even though one may wish to.

Topics CAUTION

C146

[C146]

Chǒu póniáng hào cháfěn.

丑婆娘好搽粉。

醜婆娘好搽粉。

Lit An ugly woman likes to make herself up.

Fig People try hard to cover their shortcomings.

Topics SHORTCOMINGS UGLINESS

C147

[C147]

Chǒu rén bù shí chǒu.

丑人不识丑。

醜人不識醜。

Lit An ugly person does not realize his or her ugliness.

Fig One who has shortcomings is unwilling to admit them (even though others criticize or point them out).

Topics SHORTCOMINGS UGLINESS

C148

[C148]

Chǒu rén duō zuòguài.

丑人多作怪。

醜人多作怪。

Lit Ugly people are inclined to behave strangely [in order to draw attention to themselves].

Note [Usually said of women; note the chengyu: niúnie-zuòtài, “behaving coyly; affectedly bashful.”]

Topics AFFECTATION BEHAVIOR chengyu niúnie-zuòtài SHYNESS STRANGENESS WOMEN

C149

[C149]

Chóurén xiāngjiàn, fènwài yǎnhóng.

仇人相见, 分外眼红。

仇人相見, 分外眼紅。

Lit [When] enemies encounter one another, [their] eyes [become] especially red with fury.

Note [See also ēnrén xiāngjiàn below.]

Topics ENEMIES HATE

C150

[C150]

Chóurén xiāngjiàn, fènwài yǎn míng.

仇人相见, 分外眼明。

仇人相見, 分外眼明。

Lit [When] two foes meet, [they] recognize [each other] immediately.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 87; Shuǐhǔ Quán Zhuàn, chap. 3; Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 40; see also ēnrén xiāngjiàn below.]

Topics ENEMIES Jǐngshì Tōngyán JPM RECOGNITION Shuǐhǔ_Quán_Zhuàn

C151

[C151]

Chǒu shì jiā zhōng bǎo; (kě miǎn rě fánnǎo).

丑是家中宝, (可免惹烦恼)。

醜是家中寶, (可免惹煩惱)。

Lit Ugliness [in a wife] is a blessing for a family, ([which] can avoid arousing trouble).

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 91; the second part is often omitted.]

Topics BEAUTY JPM rhyme UGLINESS WIVES

C152

[C152]

Chǒu xífù pà jiàn gōngpó.

丑媳妇怕见公婆。

醜媳婦怕見公婆。

Lit An ugly bride is afraid to meet her parents-in-law.

Fig One who has done evil things is afraid to face people.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 72; see also the following entry.]

Topics CONSCIENCE EVIL GUILT JPM

C153

[C153]

Chǒu xífù zǒng (děi yào) jiàn gōngpó.

丑媳妇总(得要)见公婆。

醜媳婦總(得要)見公婆。

Lit An ugly bride will eventually (have to) meet her parents-in-law.

Fig Truth will come to light sooner or later.

Note [Cf. Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì (Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio): Lián Chéng.]

Topics Lián Chéng Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì TRUTH

C154

[C154]

Chòu yú bù jiàn rén jiàomài.

臭鱼不见人叫卖。

臭魚不見人叫賣。

Lit [One] never sees people crying “stinking fish for sale.”

Fig A “skeleton in one's closet” should not be shown to outsiders. “Don't wash your dirty linen in public.”

Note [See also jiāchǒu bùkě below.]

Topics DIRTY LINEN PRIVACY

C155

[C155]

Chuán bù lí duò; kè bù lí huò.

船不离舵, 客不离货。

船不離舵, 客不離貨。

Lit [Just as a] ship [can]not be separated from [its] rudder, [so a] trader [can]not be separated from [his] goods.

Fig A merchant without merchandise is not a merchant.

Note [Rhyme; note: kèshāng, “traveling trader”; see also guān bù lí yìn below.]

Topics BUSINESS GOODS kèshāng MERCHANDISE rhyme TRADER

C156

[C156]

Chuān bù qióng; chī bù qióng; suànpán bù dào, yīshì qióng.

穿不穷, 吃不穷, 算盘不到, 一世穷。

穿不窮, 吃不窮, 算盤不到, 一世窮。

Lit [Buying] clothing and food won't reduce [one] to poverty, [but if] an abacus is not present [to budget your money, you'll be] poor all [your] life.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; see also chī bù qióng and chīfàn, chuān yī above.]

Topics BUDGETING POVERTY Wǔ_Sōng

C157

[C157]

Chuán dào jiāngxīn, bǔ lòu chí.

船到江心, 补漏迟。

船到江心, 補漏遲。

Lit [When the] boat reaches midstream, [it will be] too late to mend the leaks.

Fig One should take action before trouble occurs.

Topics PREPARATION TIMING TROUBLE

C158

[C158]

Chuán dào qiáotóu zì huì zhí, (chē dào shān qián bì yǒu lù).

船到桥头自会直, (车到山前必有路)。

船到橋頭自會直, (車到山前必有路)。

Lit [When the] boat comes to the bridge [underpass], [it] will go through straight by itself; ([when the] cart gets to the mountains, there must be a way to get over them).

Fig Things always work out by themselves. “Cross that bridge when you come to it.”

Note [These two lines may be used separately as two separate yanyu; see chē dào shān qián above.]

Topics PATIENCE PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

C159

[C159]

Chuán duō bù ài gǎng; chē duō bù ài lù.

船多不碍港, 车多不碍路。

船多不礙港, 車多不礙路。

Lit Boats, [however] many, won't block the harbor, [and] vehicles, [however] many, won't block the road.

Fig Each should go his own way and not interfere with each other('s business).

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 7, 16, and 74; see also chē zǒu chēdào above and gèrén chuán below.]

Topics INTERFERENCE JPM NON-INTERFERENCE

C160

[C160]

Chuángtóu yǒu luó gǔ, wù pà wú rén kū.

床头有箩谷, 勿怕无人哭。

床頭有籮穀, 勿怕無人哭。

Lit [If one] has baskets of grain [at] the head of [one's] bed, there is no need to fear [that] no one [will] cry [over one's death].

Fig If one has sufficient property, one's heirs will remain filial.

Note [Also said chuáng tóu yǒu gǔ, rén zhèng kū; see also jiǔ bìngchuáng qián below.]

Topics CHILDREN FILIALITY HEIRS INHERITANCE PROPERTY WEALTH

C161

[C161]

Chuān guǎng, yú dà.

川广鱼大。

川廣魚大。

Lit Great rivers [breed] big fish.

Fig (1) If the ruler is kind and benevolent, people will gather around him. (2) If the conditions are favorable, outstanding people will appear.

Note [Cf. Wén Zhǐ: Shàng Dé; see also shuǐ kuān, yú dà below.]

Topics BENEVOLENCE CONDITIONS KINDNESS RULERS Shàng Dé TALENT Wén_Zhǐ

C162

[C162]

Chuān hēi yī, bào hēi zhù.

穿黑衣, 抱黑柱。

Lit [Those who] wear black embrace the black pillar.

Fig People protect others of their own kind.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 72.]

Topics JPM KINDS SIMILARITIES SOLIDARITY

C163

[C163]

Chuánjiā háizi huì fúshuǐ.

船家孩子会浮水。

船家孩子會浮水。

Lit A boatman's child knows how to float.

Fig One who comes from the family of a certain trade is certain to know something of it.

Note [See also gēnzhe wǎjiang below.]

Topics FAMILIES LEARNING TRADES

C164

[C164]

Chuán kào duò; fān kào fēng; lì jiàn háiyào kào qiáng gōng.

船靠舵, 帆靠风, 利箭还要靠强弓。

船靠舵, 帆靠風, 利箭還要靠強弓。

Lit Steering a ship depends on the helm, sailing a ship depends on the wind, [and] a sharp arrow depends on a strong bow.

Fig External conditions are important in accomplishing anything.

Note [See also chuán wú shuǐ nán below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CONDITIONS

C165

[C165]

Chuántóu bù yù, zhuǎn duò xiāngféng.

船头不遇, 转舵相逢。

船頭不遇, 轉舵相逢。

Lit [If] boats' bows do not meet [bow to bow], [they will] meet [after a] change in course.

Fig If we do not meet here, we will meet somewhere else. People are bound to run into each other somewhere or other.

Note [See also dàhǎi fúpíng and shuāngrì bù zháo below.]

Topics FATE MEETING

C166

[C166]

Chuān wà bù zhī jiǎoxià nuǎn; tuō wà cái zhī jiǎoxià hán.

穿袜不知脚下暖, 脱袜才知脚下寒。

穿襪不知腳下暖, 脫襪才知腳下寒。

Lit While wearing stockings, [one does] not feel [one's] feet are warm until one is barefooted [and one's] feet are cold.

Fig One doesn't realize the true value of what one has until one loses it.

Note [Rhyme; see also jǐng gān cái zhī and yǒu māo, bù zhī below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE rhyme VALUE

C167

[C167]

Chuán wú shuǐ nán xíng; niǎo wú yì nán fēi.

船无水难行, 鸟无翼难飞。

船無水難行, 鳥無翼難飛。

Lit Boats can't move without water [and] birds can't fly without wings.

Fig Without certain necessary conditions, nothing can be accomplished.

Note [See also chuán kào duò above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CONDITIONS

C168

[C168]

Chuányán guò huà, zì tǎo áimà.

传言过话, 自讨挨骂。

傳言過話, 自討挨罵。

Lit To pass on rumors and slanders [is to] invite curses upon oneself.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics GOSSIP rhyme RUMORS SLANDER

C169

[C169]

Chuān yī dài mào, gèrén suǒ hào.

穿衣戴帽, 个人所好。

穿衣戴帽, 個人所好。

Lit [As to what kind of] clothes [or] hats [one] wears, each person has that which [(s)he] likes.

Fig Everyone has his or her own preferences (in clothing).

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CLOTHING PREFERENCES rhyme

C170

[C170]

Chuán zài wàn jīn, zhǎngduò yī rén.

船载万斤, 掌舵一人。

船載萬斤, 掌舵一人。

Lit A ship carrying thousands of pounds [of cargo, depends] solely on the helmsman.

Fig Leaders bear a heavy responsibility.

Topics LEADERS RESPONSIBILITY

C171

[C171]

Chuānzhēn yào gè yǐn xiàn rén.

穿针要个引线人。

穿針要個引線人。

Lit To thread a needle one needs a “thread carrier.”

Fig A “go-between” is necessary to accomplish anything.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 24; see also wú zhēn bù yǐn xiàn below.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GO-BETWEENS INTERMEDIARIES

C172

[C172]

Chuánzhǔ bù shǐ chuán kè lāqiàn.

船主不使船客拉纤。

船主不使船客拉纖。

Lit A boatman should never ask his passengers to tow the boat.

Fig One should not impose on one's guests.

Topics GUESTS HOSTS IMPOSITION

C173

[C173]

Chūbīng bù yóu jiàng.

出兵不由将。

出兵不由將。

Lit Soldiers [who are fighting] on the battlefields [can]not be directed by generals [as each soldier has to fight on his own].

Fig People “in the trenches” have to make decisions on the spot according to the immediate circumstances.

Note [Cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 23; see also jiàng zàiwài below.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES DECISIONS MILITARY Xīyáng_Jì

C174

[C174]

Chūchù bùrú jù chù.

出处不如聚处。

出處不如聚處。

Lit [The price at the] place of production is not as [cheap as at the] wholesale buyers.

Fig Because of competition, sometimes local products are even cheaper at the wholesalers than in the place where they are produced.

Note [Cf. jù chù refers to a jísàndì, “collection and distribution center.”]

Topics BUSINESS jísàndì jù chù PLACE PRICE PRODUCTION WHOLESALE

C175

[C175]

Chùchù yǒu lù tōng Cháng'ān.

处处有路通长安。

處處有路通長安。

Lit All roads lead to Chang'an.

Fig “All roads lead to Rome.”

Note [Chang'an was the capital of the Western Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties; see also Cháng'ān suī hǎo above.]

Topics CAPITAL CITY Chang'an PLACE Rome Sui dynasty Tang dynasty Western_Han

C176

[C176]

Chū de mén duō, shòu de zuì duō.

出的门多, 受的罪多。

出的門多, 受的罪多。

Lit One who travels a lot suffers a lot.

Note [See also chūwài yī lǐ below.]

Topics HARDSHIPS TRAVEL

C177

[C177]

Chuī huǒ tǒng, liǎngtóu tōng.

吹火筒, 两头通。

吹火筒, 兩頭通。

Lit [A] fire-blowing tube [is] open at both ends.

Fig (1) A tactful person [can] mediate between two parties in conflict. (2) Some people (can) show a different face to everyone.

Topics INTERMEDIARIES TACT

C178

[C178]

Chuī shénme fēng, xià shénme yǔ.

吹什么风, 下什么雨。

吹什麼風, 下什麼雨。

Lit Different types of wind [foretell] different types of rain.

Fig There's always a sign before things happen.

Note [Also said guā shénme fēng, etc.]

Topics PREDICTIONS SIGNS

C179

[C179]

Chū jià cóng qīn; zàijià yóu shēn.

初嫁从亲, 再嫁由身。

初嫁從親, 再嫁由身。

Lit [The] first [time a woman marries she] follows [her] parents' [wishes], [but when she] marries again, [it is] according to [her] own [wishes].

Note [From traditional China; cf. WM, chap. 25.]

Topics MARRIAGE REMARRIAGE traditional China WM WOMEN

C180

[C180]

Chūjià de guīnǚ kū shì xiào; luòdì de jǔzǐ xiào shì kū.

出嫁的闺女哭是笑, 落第的举子笑是哭。

出嫁的閨女哭是笑, 落第的舉子笑是哭。

Lit The weeping of a daughter who is going to be married is [really] laughter; the laughter of a scholar who fails in the imperial exam is [really] weeping.

Fig In life, crying is not necessarily an expression of sadness, nor laughter an expression of happiness.

Note [Note: jǔzi or jǔrén was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations in the Ming and Qing dynasties, who was then entitled to take the highest level of imperial examinations.]

Topics APPEARANCES CRYING imperial examinations jǔrén jǔzi LAUGHTER Ming dynasty Qing dynasty SADNESS

C181

[C181]

Chūjiāo píng yīguān; jiǔ jiāo píng xuéshí.

初交凭衣冠, 久交凭学识。

初交憑衣冠, 久交憑學識。

Lit [On] first contact, [one's impression of a person] depends on clothing; [after] long acquaintance, [one's assessment is] based on knowledge.

Topics APPEARANCES CHARACTER CLOTHING IMPRESSIONS JUDGMENTS

C182

[C182]

Chūjiā róngyì; guī jiā nán.

出家容易, 归家难。

出家容易, 歸家難。

Lit It's easier to become a monk than to stop being one.

Fig It's easier to get into things than out of them.

Note [Note: chūjiā, (lit) “leaving home,” refers to the practice of becoming a Buddhist monk or nun; also said chūjiā róngyì; huàn sú nán.]

Topics Buddhism CAUTION chūjiā TROUBLE

C183

[C183]

Chūjiā sān tiān, Fó zài miànqián; chūjiā sān nián, Fó zài Xītiān; chūjiā rú chū chéng Fó yǒuyú.

出家三天佛在面前, 出家三年佛在西天, 出家如出成佛有余。

出家三天佛在面前, 出家三年佛在西天, 出家如出成佛有餘。

Lit [After] being a monk for three days, one feels as if the Buddha was just in front of one; [after] being a monk for three years, one feels as if the Buddha was [far away] in the Western Heaven; [after many years when one gets the] original feeling back, one feels as if one has become a Buddha oneself and more [as the Buddha has truly entered one's heart].

Fig One has to go through a certain period of time to come to understand the world or to grasp the true essence of knowledge or learning.

Note [Note: chūjiā means to become a Buddhist monk or nun.]

Topics Buddhism chūjiā EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE LEARNING Xītiān

C184

[C184]

Chūkǒu xū chéngshí; kǒushé shì huò jī.

出口须诚实, 口舌是祸机。

出口須誠實, 口舌是禍機。

Lit [What] comes out of [one's] mouth should be honest; the mouth [and] tongue [are the] causes of disaster.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 33; see also bìng cóng kǒu rù above and kǒu shì huò zhī mén below.]

Topics HONESTY PRUDENCE SPEECH Xǐngshì_Héngyán

C185

[C185]

Chúle Líng Shān bié yǒu Fó.

除了灵山别有佛。

除了靈山別有佛。

Lit In addition to [this] Spirit Mountain, there are other Buddhas [elsewhere].

Fig If one cannot find what one needs in one place, one can always go and seek someplace else.

Note [Also said “... hái yǒu Fó”; note: líng shān or líng zhòu shān refers to the place where Buddhas live; see also the following entry.]

Topics ALTERNATIVES Buddha Líng Shān líng zhòu shān LIVING MAKING A LIVING PLACE

C186

[C186]

Chūle Líng Shān yě yǒu sì.

出了灵山也有寺。

出了靈山也有寺。

Lit [When one has] left Mount Ling, there are other temples.

Fig One can always find a way of (making a) living somewhere else.

Note [Note: Líng Shān, (“Spirit Mountain”), also the name of the highest peak in the Western Hills outside of Beijing, here simply stands for any mountain where spirits live; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics ALTERNATIVES Líng Shān MAKING_A_LIVING

C187

[C187]

Chúle sǐ fǎ, háiyǒu huó fǎ.

除了死法, 还有活法。

除了死法, 還有活法。

Lit In addition to rigid ways, there are [always] flexible ways [to do things].

Fig “There is more than one way to skin a cat.”

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 1; see also cǐ lù bù tōng below.]

Topics ALTERNATIVES FLEXIBILITY Hé Diǎn RIGIDITY

C188

[C188]

Chū lín sǔnzi xiān dǎduàn.

出林笋子先打断。

出林筍子先打斷。

Lit The bamboo shoots which grow outside [the edge of a bamboo] grove [will be the] first to be broken off.

Fig One who “sticks one's neck out” will be the first to be attacked.

Note [See also chū shuǐ chuán'ér and chūtóu chuánzi and qiāng dǎ chūtóu below.]

Topics CONFORMITY INDIVIDUALS PRUDENCE

C189

[C189]

Chūmén bù lòubái.*

出门不露白。

出門不露白。

Lit When you are out of doors, never show [your] silver [money].

Note [See also cái bù lòubái above.]

Topics MONEY PRUDENCE

C190

[C190]

Chūmén bù rèn huò.

出门不认货。

出門不認貨。

Lit [Once] the goods are carried out [of the store, the boss] refuses to acknowledge them [i.e., have them returned].

Fig After you buy it, it's your problem; caveat emptor.

Note [Originally chūmén fú rèn huò in Hé Diǎn, chap. 10.]

Topics BUSINESS caveat emptor Hé Diǎn SALES

C191

[C191]

Chūmén guān tiānsè; jìn mén kàn liǎnsè.

出门观天色, 进门看脸色。

出門觀天色, 進門看臉色。

Lit [When you] go outdoors, look at the color of the sky; [when you] go indoors, look at the expressions on people's faces.

Fig Just as one should watch for changes in the weather, so one should pay attention to changes in mood of one's elders.

Note [This rhyme was advice given to newly married daughters-in-law as a code of conduct in their husbands' families; see also pīchái, kàn chái and rùmén xiū wèn and shàng shān kàn shānshì below.]

Topics DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW ELDERS MOODS RESPECT rhyme

C192

[C192]

Chūmén sān bù yuǎn, yòushì yī céng tiān.

出门三步远, 又是一层天。

出門三步遠, 又是一層天。

Lit Three steps away from home, is another [level of the] world.

Fig Every place is different; every situation is different.

Note [In traditional Chinese mythology, the universe is divided into nine “levels” or worlds: jiǔ chóng tiān; see also gé chóng lóubǎn below and the following entry.]

Topics DIFFERENCES jiǔ_chóng_tiān

C193

[C193]

Chūmén sān lǐ dì, zǒng suàn wàiláirén.

出门三里地, 总算外来人。

出門三里地, 總算外來人。

Lit [One who has] gone three miles away from home is always [regarded as] a stranger.

Fig Customs differ from place to place (even though they may not be far away from each other).

Note [See also bǎi lǐ, bùtóng above and gé dào bù xiàyǔ below and the preceding entry.]

Topics CUSTOMS CUSTOMS DIFFERENCES PLACE

C194

[C194]

Chūn bù zhòng, qiū bù shōu.

春不种, 秋不收。

春不種, 秋不收。

Lit Without spring sowing, [there will be] no autumn harvest.

Fig One must exert some effort in order to accomplish anything.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT EFFORT

C195

[C195]

Chūn dòng gǔtou; qiū dòng ròu.

春冻骨头, 秋冻肉。

春凍骨頭, 秋凍肉。

Lit Spring freezes the bones, [while] autumn [only] freezes the flesh.

Fig Spring cold is more severe than autumn cold.

C196

[C196]

Chūn jiāngshuǐ nuǎn, yā xiān zhī.

春江水暖鸭先知。

春江水暖鴨先知。

Lit [In the] spring [when the] river waters [get] warm, the ducks are the first to know.

Fig (1) [Usually used literally to describe] the coming of spring. (2) People with experience on the inside are the first to know of coming changes.

Note [See also cháo jū zhī fēng above.]

Topics CHANGES EXPERIENCE PREDICTIONS SPRING

C197

[C197]

Chǔnrén jiáoshé; zhìzhě dòng nǎo.

蠢人嚼舌, 智者动脑。

蠢人嚼舌, 智者動腦。

Lit Foolish people wag their tongues, [while] wise people use their brains.

Topics FOOLS PRUDENCE SPEECH

C198

[C198]

Chūntiān hái'ér liǎn, yī tiān biàn sān biàn.

春天孩儿脸, 一天变三变。

春天孩兒臉, 一天變三變。

Lit Spring [weather is like] a child's face, changing three times a day.

Note [Rhyme; see also xiǎo háizi de liǎn below.]

Topics rhyme SPRING WEATHER

C199

[C199]

Chún wáng, chǐ hán.

唇亡齿寒。

唇亡齒寒。

Lit [If the] lips are gone, the teeth are cold.

Fig If one (of two interdependent things) falls, the other is in danger.

Note [Cf. Mòzǐ: Fēi Gōng; R3K, chap. 119; used, e.g., to describe the relationship between Korea and China at the time of the Kàng Měi Yuán Cháo Zhànzhēng, “War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea” (1950-1953); this is often used as a chengyu, as in chúnwáng-chǐhán guānxi, describing two things as being in an interdependent relationship.]

Topics chengyu chúnwáng-chǐhán Fēi Gōng INTERDEPENDENCE Kàng Měi Yuán Cháo Korean War Mòzǐ R3K

C200

[C200]

Chūn wǔ, qiū dòng; (lǎolái wú bìng).*

春捂秋冻, (老来无病)。

春捂秋凍, (老來無病)。

Lit Muffle [yourself] up in spring [and stay] cold [in] autumn, ([so that even when you] get old [you'll] be healthy).

Fig In spring, continue to keep on warm garments (in order to avoid catching cold), and in the autumn, delay putting on thick garments (so as to build up your resistance to the cold gradually), (in order to strengthen your resistance in your later years).

Note [See also dōng bù jí wēn and dòng jiǔ, wǔ sì and duō yī, duō hán below.]

Topics AGE AUTUMN CLOTHING HEALTH OLD AGE SPRING

C201

[C201]

Chūnxiāo yīkè zhí qiānjīn.

春宵一刻值千金。

Lit A quarter of an hour of a spring night is worth a thousand [ounces of] gold.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 4; a line from a Song dynasty poem “Chūn Yè” by Su Shi, often used as a metaphor for the first night of marriage.]

Topics Chūn Yè MARRIAGE POETRY qiānjīn (gold) Song dynasty SPRING Su_Shi

C202

[C202]

Chūnyǔ guì rú yóu.

春雨贵如油。

春雨貴如油。

Lit Spring rain is as precious as oil.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 8.]

Topics AGRICULTURE FARMING RAIN SPRING Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

C203

[C203]

Chúqù yī sǐ wú dànàn; rén dào yàofàn wú zài qióng.

除去一死无大难; 人到要饭无再穷。

除去一死無大難; 人到要飯無再窮。

Lit There's no greater disaster than one's death [and] no greater poverty than begging.

Fig The worst things that can happen are death or starvation, so why worry?

Topics BEGGING DEATH POVERTY

C204

[C204]

Chǔ shān bùpà pō dǒu.

处山不怕坡陡。

處山不怕坡陡。

Lit [One who] lives in the mountains is not afraid [to climb] slopes [which are] steep.

Fig Living in poor conditions one becomes accustomed to inconveniences or hardships in life.

Topics HARDSHIPS POVERTY

C205

[C205]

Chūshēng niúdú bù pà hǔ.

初生牛犊不怕虎。

初生牛犢不怕虎。

Note [See the following entry.]

C206

[C206]

Chūshēngzhīdú bù jù/wèi hǔ.

初生之犊不惧/畏虎。

初生之犢不懼/畏虎。

Lit A newborn calf fears not the tiger.

Fig The innocent or naive don't know enough to be afraid. “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. R3K, chap. 74; chūshēngzhīdú is now taken as a set noun phrase; this is now more commonly said chūshēng niúdú bù pà hǔ.]

Topics INNOCENCE NAIVETE R3K rhyme

C207

[C207]

Chúshī pà tái zào; cáifeng pà pí'ǎo.*

厨师怕抬灶, 裁缝怕皮袄。

廚師怕抬灶, 裁縫怕皮襖。

Lit Cooks are reluctant to carry stoves [and] tailors to make fur coats.

Fig There are difficult parts to every job.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DIFFICULTY rhyme WORK

C208

[C208]

Chǔshì yí dài chūnfēng.

处事宜带春风。

處事宜帶春風。

Lit [In] dealing [with one's] affairs, [it is] appropriate to be as [warm as a] spring breeze.

Fig Always deal with others with a smile.

Note [A line from a poem entitled “Yòu Mèng Yǐng” by the Qing dynasty poet Zhang Chao.]

Topics POETRY Qing dynasty RELATIONSHIPS Yòu Mèng Yǐng Zhāng_Chǎo

C209

[C209]

Chūshǒu jiàn gāodī.

出手见高低。

出手見高低。

Lit [Whether one is] skilled or not [will soon be] seen [once one] sets to work.

Topics SKILL

C210

[C210]

Chū shuǐ cái kàn liǎng tuǐ ní.

出水才看两腿泥。

出水才看兩腿泥。

Lit Only after [one] comes out of the water can [one] see [from] the mud on [one's] two legs [how deep the mud was].

Fig One never knows the final consequences until things are all finished.

Topics CONSEQUENCES RESULTS

C211

[C211]

Chū shuǐ chuán'ér xiān làn dǐ.

出水船儿先烂底。

出水船兒先爛底。

Lit The ship out of water [is the one which will have its] bottom rotten first.

Fig The one who “sticks one's neck out” will be attacked first.

Note [See also chū lín sǔnzi above and chūtóu chuánzi and qiāng dǎ chūtóuniǎo below.]

Topics PRUDENCE

C212

[C212]

Chú sǐ wú dà zāi.

除死无大灾。

除死無大災。

Lit Excepting death, there are no big disasters.

Fig Always keep things in perspective.

Topics DEATH PERSPECTIVE

C213

[C213]

Chūtóu chuánzi xiān xiǔlàn.

出头椽子先朽烂。

出頭椽子先朽爛。

Lit Rafter ends [that] jut out [from under the roof will] rot first.

Fig People in the limelight bear the brunt of attack.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 86; see also chū lín sǔnzi above and chū shuǐ chuán'ér and qiāng dǎ chūtóuniǎo below.]

Topics CAUTION CONFORMITY DIFFERENCES FAME JPM NONCONFORMITY SELF-RESTRAINT

C214

[C214]

Chūwài yī lǐ bùrú jiā lǐ.

出外一里不如家里。

出外一里不如家裡。

Lit It's better to stay at home than to go abroad [even] a half kilometer.

Fig “There's no place like home.” “East or west, home is best.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. WM, chap. 61; one lǐ equals one-half kilometer; see also zàijiā qiān rì hǎo below.]

Topics HOME rhyme TRAVEL WM

C215

[C215]

Chú yī è, zhǎng shí shàn.

锄一恶, 长十善。

鋤一惡, 長十善。

Lit Eliminating one evil increases [one's] good deeds by ten.

Topics EVIL GOODNESS

C216

[C216]

Chú zhōng yǒu shèngfàn; lùshang yǒu jī rén.

厨中有剩饭, 路上有饥人。

廚中有剩飯, 路上有飢人。

Lit In the kitchen, there is surplus rice, [while] on the streets there are starving people.

Fig Rich people always have a surplus, while poor people are starving. “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 57.]

Topics INEQUALITY JW POVERTY RICH SOCIAL_CLASS

C217

[C217]

Cíbēi tài guò, dāng zuò'è.

慈悲太过, 当作恶。

慈悲太過, 當作惡。

Lit [To show] too much mercy [toward evildoers] is to do evil [oneself].

Topics EVIL MERCY

C218

[C218]

Cǐchù bù liú rén, zì yǒu liú rén chù.

此处不留人, 自有留人处。

此處不留人, 自有留人處。

Lit [If I'm] not welcome to stay here, [I] can always go where [I am] welcome.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 3; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 24; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 77.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō Xǐngshì Héngyán Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

C219

[C219]

Cǐdì wú yín sānbǎi liǎng.

此地无银三百两。

此地無銀三百兩。

Lit [A fool named Third Brother Zhang posts a sign saying] “Three hundred ounces of silver are not buried here.”

Fig Some people are so obvious as to be foolish. Some things are “a dead give-away.”

Note [The thief who then stole the silver also left a sign: duì mén Wáng Èr bùcéng tōu, “Second [Brother] Wang [who lives] next door hasn't stolen [anything]”; from a popular folk story.]

Topics folk story FOOLISHNESS OBVIOUSNESS SILVER STUPIDITY Third_Brother_Zhang

C220

[C220]

Cǐdì wú zhūshā, hóngtǔ wéi guì.

此地无朱砂, 红土为贵。

此地無朱砂, 紅土為貴。

Lit [In] this place there is no [red] cinnabar, [so] red soil is taken as valuable.

Fig In the absence of really high quality, something of less quality will do; faut de mieux; “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”

Topics faute de mieux MAKING-DO QUALITY SUBSTITUTES

C221

[C221]

Cǐ lù bù tōng, nà lù tōng.

此路不通, 那路通。

Lit [If] this road doesn't go through, that road will go through.

Fig There are more ways than one to achieve one's goal. “There's more than one way to skin a cat.”

Note [Cǐlù-bùtōng has become a set phrase meaning “dead end; blind alley”; see also chúle sǐ fǎ above.]

Topics cǐlù-bùtōng MEANS SOLUTIONS SUCCESS

C222

[C222]

Címǔ duō bài ér.

慈母多败儿。

慈母多敗兒。

Lit A mother [who lavishes too] much love [on her] children spoils [them].

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Xiǎn Xué; see also ér pà niáng jiāo below.]

Topics CHILDREN Hán Fēizǐ LOVE MOTHERS SPOILING Xiǎn_Xué

C223

[C223]

Cǐ yīshí, bǐ yīshí.

此一时, 彼一时。

此一時, 彼一時。

Lit This [is] one time [and] that [was] one [other] time.

Fig Times change. Things are different now from what they were before.

Topics CHANGE TIME

C224

[C224]

Cì zǐ qiānjīn bùrú cì zǐ yī yì.

赐子千金不如赐子一艺。

賜子千金不如賜子一藝。

Lit Better than to give [one's] son [a] thousand [ounces of] gold [is] to teach him a skill.

Note [See also yì bù yā shēn below.]

Topics qiānjīn (gold) SKILLS TEACHING TRAINING

C225

[C225]

Cónglái hǎoshì duō fēngxiǎn; zìgǔ guā'ér kǔ hòu tián.

从来好事多风险, 自古瓜儿苦后甜。

從來好事多風險, 自古瓜兒苦後甜。

Lit [It has] ever [been the case that the realization of] good things is usually [preceded by] difficulties, [just as it has] always [been that] melons [taste] bitter before [they taste] sweet.

Fig The road to happiness is never smooth.

Note [Rhyme; the noun suffix -ér is pronounced as an independent syllable to preserve the meter (jiézòu).]

Topics DIFFICULTIES HAPPINESS jiézòu rhyme

C226

[C226]

Cōngming běn shì kǔ gōngfu.

聪明本是苦工夫。

聰明本是苦工夫。

Lit The root of cleverness is hard effort.

Topics CLEVERNESS EFFORT INTELLIGENCE

C227

[C227]

Cōngming fǎn bèi cōngming wù.

聪明反被聪明误。

聰明反被聰明誤。

Lit Cleverness [may] be taken in by itself.

Fig Clever people may be victims of their own cleverness. “Cleverness may overreach itself.”

Note [Cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 75; see also guānggùn dǎ jiǔ jiǔ and hóuzi jīnglíng below.]

Topics CLEVERNESS Zàishēng_Yuán

C228

[C228]

Cōngming yīshì, hútu yīshí.

聪明一世, 糊涂一时。

聰明一世, 糊塗一時。

Lit Clever one lifetime, muddled one time.

Fig A lifetime of cleverness can be interrupted by moments of stupidity. “Smart as a rule, but this time a fool.” “Even Homer sometimes nods.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 37; see also shèngrén yě yǒu and zhìzhě qiān lǜ below and the following entry.]

Topics CLEVERNESS MISTAKES MUDDLEHEADEDNESS STUPIDITY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

C229

[C229]

Cōngmíng yīshì, měngdǒng yīshí.

聪明一世, 懵懂一时。

聰明一世, 懵懂一時。

Lit [One can be] clever [for] a lifetime, [and still be] muddle-headed [at least] once [in one's life].

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 18; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 75; now more commonly: cōngmíng yī shì; hútu yì shí, as in Lao She's novel: Luòtuo Xiāngzǐ (Rickshaw); see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CLEVERNESS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn Lao She Luòtuo Xiāngzǐ Rickshaw STUPIDITY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

C230

[C230]

Cóngqián zuòguo shì, méi xīng yīqí lái.

从前做过事, 没兴一齐来。

從前做過事, 沒興一齊來。

Lit [All] the [bad] things [one] has done in the past [will be recompensed with] ill luck all at once.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 33.]

Topics Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) LUCK RECOMPENSE

C231

[C231]

Cóng shàn rú dēng; cóng è rú bēng.

从善如登, 从恶如崩。

從善如登, 從惡如崩。

Lit To follow goodness is to rise; to follow evil is to fall.

Fig It requires effort to follow examples of goodness, but it is easy to follow bad examples.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Guó Yǔ: Zhōu Yǔ, Xià.]

Topics EVIL GOODNESS Guó Yǔ RECTITUDE rhyme Zhōu_Yǔ_Xià

C232

[C232]

Cóng xiǎo'ér dìng bāshí.

从小儿定八十。

從小兒定八十。

Lit From the child [one can] know [the adult of] eighty.

Fig “The child is father of the man.”

Topics CHILDREN GROWTH PREDICTIONS

C233

[C233]

Cōng zhě tīng yú wúshēng; míng zhě jiàn yú wúxíng.

聪者听于无声, 明者见于无形。

聰者聽於無聲, 明者見於無形。

Lit A clever person hears what [others do] not hear; an intelligent person sees what [others do] not see.

Fig A clever person can foretell what will follow from present events.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Huái Nán Héng Shān Lièzhuàn; see also cháo jū zhī fēng above.]

Topics CLEVERNESS Huái Nán Héng Shān INTELLIGENCE PREDICTIONS Shǐ_Jì

C234

[C234]

Cùn tiě rù mù, jiǔ niú nán bá.

寸铁入木, 九牛难拔。

寸鐵入木, 九牛難拔。

Lit An inch of iron driven into wood can hardly be pulled out by nine oxen.

Fig It's easier to do things than to undo them once they're done.

Topics CAUTION DIFFICULTIES PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS TROUBLE

C235

[C235]

Cūn wú dà shù, pénghāo wéi lín.

村无大树, 蓬蒿为林。

村無大樹, 蓬蒿為林。

Lit [If a] village has no big trees, [short] bushes are [regarded as a] forest.

Fig If there are not any talented people in an area, then persons of lower ability are mistakenly regarded as prominent.

Note [Said either critically by others, or modestly of oneself; note péng, “bitter fleabane” and hāo, “wormwood,” here refer to bushes of short height; cf. the Qing dynasty author Zhái Hào's Tōng Sú Biān: Cǎo Mù and Jìn Shū: Chén Yūn Zhuàn; see also cǐdì wú zhūshā above and shān zhōng wú lǎohǔ below.]

Topics bitter fleabane hāo Jìn Shū LIMITATIONS MODESTY péng PROMINENCE Qing dynasty SUBSTITUTES TALENT Tōng Sú Biān wormwood Zhái_Hào

C236

[C236]

Cuō yào sān nián huì xíngyī.

撮药三年会行医。

撮藥三年會行醫。

Lit [Having] filled prescriptions [in a drugstore for] three years, [one] can be a doctor.

Fig One is bound to pick something up just by associating with specialists.

Note [See also āizhe tiějiang above and rù háng sān rì and sān tiān zhù zài and shú dú Tángshī below.]

Topics LEARNING SPECIALISTS

【L1】D D1

[D1]

Dà bài xiǎo, wèi zhāngkǒu; xiǎo bài dà, wú kě nài.

大拜小为张口, 小拜大无可奈。

大拜小為張口, 小拜大無可奈。

Lit [When people in] higher [positions] pay respect to [people in] lower [positions, it] is because [they need] to ask [for their help]; [when people in] lower [positions] pay respect to [people in] higher [positions, it] is because [they] have no choice.

Note [Cf. the chengyu: wúkě-nàihé, “to have no alternative.”]

Topics chengyu HIERARCHY INFERIORS RESPECT SUPERIORS wúkě-nàihé

D2

[D2]

Dà bìng cóng shā qǐ; dà zéi cóng guā qǐ.

大病从痧起, 大贼从瓜起。

大病從痧起, 大賊從瓜起。

Lit [Just as a] serious illness [may] start from [an insignificant illness like] sunstroke, [so a] big thief [may] develop from [the theft of a] melon.

Fig One must pay attention to small errors and transgressions at the beginning, and “nip them in the bud.”

Note [See also dà chuán hái pà below.]

Topics PRECAUTIONS THEFT TRANSGRESSIONS

D3

[D3]

Dǎ bù duàn de qīn; mà bù duàn de lín.

打不断的亲, 骂不断的邻。

打不斷的親, 罵不斷的鄰。

Lit Fighting or name-calling won't break off the relations between relatives or the friendship between neighbors.

Fig Relatives and neighbors are so close that fighting or name-calling won't affect their long-term relationship.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 94.]

Topics FIGHTING JW NEIGHBORS QUARRELING RELATIONSHIPS RELATIVES

D4

[D4]

Dà bù zhèng, xiǎo bùjìng.

大不正, 小不敬。

Lit [If the] older [generation's behavior is] not upright, the young [will] not respect [them].

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 76.]

Topics BEHAVIOR EDUCATION EXAMPLE GENERATIONS JPM

D5

[D5]

Dǎchái wèn qiáofū; shǐ chuán wèn shāogōng.

打柴问樵夫, 驶船问艄公。

打柴問樵夫, 駛船問艄公。

Lit [To] cut firewood, [one must] ask a woodcutter; [to] sail a boat, one must ask a boatman.

Fig If one wants to do something, one should ask an expert for advice.

Topics ADVICE EXPERTS SPECIALISTS

D6

[D6]

Dàchóng bù chī fú ròu.

大虫不吃伏肉。

大蟲不吃伏肉。

Lit A tiger never eats an animal who has submitted.

Fig The strong (should) never bully the weak who have already submitted. “Don't kick a man when he's down.”

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 2; note: dàchóng (lit) “big worm” is a colloquial term for “tiger.”]

Topics BULLYING SELF-RESTRAINT SUBMISSION WM

D7

[D7]

Dàchóng chī xiǎo chóng.

大虫吃小虫。

大蟲吃小蟲。

Lit Big tigers eat smaller tigers.

Fig [Usually said of traditional officials:] the strong(er) (always) bully the weak(er). “Big fish eat little fish.”

Note [Note: dàchóng (lit) “big worm” is a colloquial term for “tiger”; see also dà yú chī xiǎo yú below.]

Topics BULLYING OFFICIALS STRONGER

D8

[D8]

Dàchóng è shā bù chī ér.

大虫恶杀不吃儿。

大蟲惡殺不吃兒。

Lit [However] ferocious a tiger [is, it will] not eat [its own] cubs.

Fig Parents won't do any harm to their children.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 20; note: dàchóng (lit) “big worm” is a colloquial term for “tiger.”]

Topics CHILDREN dàchóng Jǐngshì Tōngyán PARENTS TIGERS

D9

[D9]

Dà chuán hái pà dīng yǎn lòu.

大船还怕钉眼漏。

大船還怕釘眼漏。

Lit [Even a] big ship can't stand a hole as [small as] a nail.

Fig One may suffer great loses if one neglects trifles.

Note [See also dà bìng cóng shā qǐ above and xiǎo dòng bù bǔ below.]

Topics NEGLIGENCE

D10

[D10]

Dà chuán lànle háiyǒu sānqiān gè dīng.

大船烂了还有三千个钉。

大船爛了還有三千個釘。

Lit After a big ship has rotted away, there still remain three thousand nails.

Fig Even if it has gone bankrupt, a wealthy family still has some property to fall back on.

Note [See also bǎi zú zhī chóng above; fùle pín; qióng suī qióng; shòu sǐ de luòtuo and tóng pén lànle below.]

Topics DECLINE PROPERTY RICH WEALTH

D11

[D11]

Dàchù-zhuóyǎn; xiǎo chù zhuóshǒu.

大处着眼, 小处着手。

大處著眼, 小處著手。

Lit [Always] keep the whole picture in mind, [but] carry out the immediate tasks detail by detail.

Note [Note: dàchù-zhuóyǎn has become a set phrase.]

Topics dàchù-zhuóyǎn DETAILS PERSPECTIVE WORKING

D12

[D12]

Dàdǎn tiānxià qù dé; xiǎoxīn cùnbù-nánxíng.

大胆天下去得, 小心寸步难行。

大膽天下去得, 小心寸步難行。

Lit [Be] bold [and you] can go anywhere in the world; [be] overly prudent [and you] can hardly take one step forward.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 21; note the chengyu: cùnbù-nánxíng meaning “unable to do anything.” Vs. xiǎoxīn tiānxià below.]

Topics BOLDNESS chengyu COURAGE cùnbù-nánxíng Jǐngshì Tōngyán PRUDENCE TIMIDITY

D13

[D13]

Dà dào yánjiē zǒu, wú zāng bù dìngzuì.

大盗沿街走, 无赃不定罪。

大盜沿街走, 無贓不定罪。

Lit [A] great robber [may] walk along the streets [because without the spoils, he cannot be proven] guilty.

Fig Without concrete proof, one cannot accuse someone.

Note [See also qiángdào yánjiē below.]

Topics EVIDENCE PROOF ROBBERY

D14

[D14]

Dǎ de yāhuan; xià de xiǎojie.

打的丫鬟, 吓的小姐。

打的丫鬟, 嚇的小姐。

Lit Smack the maid [and] frighten [her] mistress.

Fig Punish one as an example to others.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 3; see also dǎle luózi and dǎle yātou below and the colloquial suyu expression: shā jī gěi hóuzi kàn, “(to) kill a chicken in order to frighten the monkeys.”]

Topics EXAMPLE LESSONS PUNISHMENT suyu Wǔ_Sōng

D15

[D15]

Dǎ de yī quán qù; miǎnde bǎi quán lái.

打的一拳去, 免得百拳来。

打的一拳去, 免得百拳來。

Lit Strike one blow first [and you'll] avoid being struck a hundred blows.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also dǎ rén bù guò below.]

Topics FIGHTING PREEMPTIVE STRATEGY Wǔ_Sōng

D16

[D16]

Dàfēng chuī dǎo wútóng shù, zǒng yǒu pángrén shuō chángduǎn.

大风吹倒梧桐树, 总有旁人说长短。

大風吹倒梧桐樹, 總有旁人說長短。

Lit [If a] strong wind blows over a Chinese parasol tree, there will always be onlookers [who will] gossip about the matter.

Fig Whenever something unusual happens, people will always gossip about the causes (so just ignore them).

Note [Note: shuō cháng dào duǎn, “to gossip about others”; see also fènghuáng fēishang below.]

Topics Chinese parasol tree GOSSIP ONLOOKERS

D17

[D17]

Dà gǒu pá qiáng, xiǎo gǒu kàn yàng.

大狗爬墙, 小狗看样。

大狗爬牆, 小狗看樣。

Lit [If an] old dog climbs a wall, a young dog will follow suit.

Fig “Like father, like son.”

Note [Rhyme; derogatory.]

Topics FATHERS INFLUENCES rhyme SONS

D18

[D18]

Dǎ gǒu yào yòng qín hǔ lì.

打狗要用擒虎力。

Lit [If one wants] to strike a dog, [one] should use the same strength as [if one were] trying to catch a tiger.

Fig One should never underestimate one's enemy.

Topics CAUTION ENEMIES UNDERESTIMATING

D19

[D19]

Dǎ gǒu (zhīqián, yào) kàn zhǔrén (miàn).

打狗(之前, 要)看主人(面)。

Lit (Before) [you] beat a dog, [you'd] better think about [its] master('s face).

Fig Before you attack someone, better first find out who else you are likely to offend.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 79; this is a rhymed version of dǎ gǒu kàn zhǔrén; see also dǎle yātou and yào dǎ, kàn niáng below.]

Topics CAUTION HIERARCHY JPM PRUDENCE rhyme

D20

[D20]

Dàguān bùyào qián, bùrú zǎo guītián; xiǎo guān bù suǒ qián, érnǚ wú yīnyuán.

大官不要钱, 不如早归田; 小官不索钱, 儿女无姻缘。

大官不要錢, 不如早歸田; 小官不索錢, 兒女無姻緣。

Lit A high official [who does] not take bribes had better retire; a petty official [who does] not extort money [will] not [be able to get his] sons and daughters married.

Fig Corrupt officials get rich while honest officials suffer from poverty.

Note [Rhyme; note: guītián, (lit) “go back to (one's) fields,” means “to retire from public life.”]

Topics BRIBERY CORRUPTION guītián OFFICIALS rhyme

D21

[D21]

Dàhǎi bùjīn lòu zhī.

大海不禁漏卮。

Lit [Even] the ocean is not immune from [being dried up by] seepage.

Fig No matter how much one accumulates, if one spends foolishly, it will be exhausted in the end.

Note [Lòu zhī refers to a leaky ancient wine vessel; cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 94.]

Topics EXTRAVAGANCE SAVING THRIFT WASTE Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

D22

[D22]

Dàhǎi bù xián shuǐ duō; dà shān bù xián tǔ duō.

大海不嫌水多; 大山不嫌土多。

Lit The oceans do not dislike [there being too] much water [and] the mountains do not dislike [there being too] much earth.

Fig A person of great knowledge will not refuse to absorb more knowledge. The more learned one becomes, the more one realizes how much more there is to learn.

Note [Rhyme; see also jiàn cù suī lì below.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE LEARNING rhyme

D23

[D23]

Dàhǎi fúpíng yě yǒu xiāngféng zhī rì.

大海浮萍也有相逢之日。

Lit [Even] patches of floating duckweed on the ocean may meet some day.

Fig Who knows when one will meet (again) by chance? It's a small world.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 11; see also chuántóu bù yù above and shuāngrì bù zháo below.]

Topics CHANCE Jǐngshì Tōngyán MEETING SMALL_WORLD

D24

[D24]

Dà hé lǐ yǒu shuǐ, xiǎo hé mǎn.

大河里有水, 小河满。

大河裡有水, 小河滿。

Lit If there's water in the big rivers, the small rivers will be full.

Fig The individual will get rich if the community prospers.

Note [See also guō lǐ yǒu and xiǎo hé zhǎngshuǐ below and the following entry.]

Topics COMMUNITY ECONOMICS INDIVIDUALS WEALTH

D25

[D25]

Dà hé wú shuǐ, xiǎo hé gān.

大河无水, 小河干。

大河無水, 小河乾。

Lit [When the] big rivers have no water, the small rivers run dry.

Fig The individual will have nothing if the community has none [so we should all work hard for the common good].

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics COMMON GOOD COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS

D26

[D26]

Dà hé yǒu yú; xiǎo hé yǒu xiā.

大河有鱼, 小河有虾。

大河有魚, 小河有蝦。

Lit Big rivers have fish [while] small rivers have shrimp.

Fig Big or small, each place has its own advantages.

Topics ADVANTAGE PLACE

D27

[D27]

Dǎ hǔ hái děi qīnxiōngdì; shàngzhèn xū jiào fù-zǐ bīng.

打虎还得亲兄弟, 上阵须叫父子兵。

打虎還得親兄弟, 上陣須叫父子兵。

Lit [To] hunt tigers [one] must have a brother's help, [and to go] into battle [one] needs [the help of] an army of fathers and sons.

Fig Only very close friends and relatives will risk their lives to help you in times of danger.

Note [Note: qīnxiōngdì literally refers to “blood brothers”; cf. JW, chap. 81.]

Topics DANGER HELP JW RELATIVES

D28

[D28]

Dǎ hǔ yào lì; zhuō hóu yào zhì.

打虎要力, 捉猴要智。

Lit To fight a tiger requires strength, [but] to catch a monkey requires intelligence.

Fig Different problems must be dealt with in different ways.

Topics INTELLIGENCE PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

D29

[D29]

Dǎi gè quèr, hái děi diū bǎ mǐ.

逮个雀儿, 还得丢把米。

逮個雀兒, 還得丟把米。

Lit [Even to] catch a sparrow, [one] has to spill a little rice.

Fig If one wants to accomplish anything, one has to put forth some effort or investment.

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT SUCCESS

D30

[D30]

Dāizhě bù lái; láizhě bù dāi.

呆者不来, 来者不呆。

呆者不來, 來者不呆。

Lit The stupid wouldn't come [and] those who [do] come aren't stupid.

Fig People usually have some (ulterior) motive for coming, so be careful!

Note [Rhyme; see also láizhě bùshàn below.]

Topics MOTIVES rhyme VISITING

D31

[D31]

Dāizi bāngmáng; yuè bāng, yuè máng.*

呆子帮忙, 越帮越忙。

呆子幫忙, 越幫越忙。

Lit [When a] fool helps, the more (s)he helps, the more difficult [the job becomes].

Topics FOOLS HELP

D32

[D32]

Dàjiā guīnǚ, xiǎo jiā qī.

大家闺女, 小家妻。

大家閨女, 小家妻。

Lit [A] daughter [from a] rich family [should not] marry into an ordinary family.

Fig People should marry within their own social class.

Note [Note: the chengyu: méndāng-hùduì, “well-matched in social and economic status for marriage.”]

Topics BETROTHAL chengyu MARRIAGE méndāng-hùduì RICH SOCIAL_CLASS

D33

[D33]

Dàjiā mǎ('ér), dàjiā qí.

大家马(儿), 大家骑。

大家馬(兒), 大家騎。

Lit Everybody [has the right to] ride the communal horse.

Fig Everyone has a right to enjoy a commonly shared benefit.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 38; see also gōngzhòng mǎ below.]

Topics BENEFITS COMMUNITY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn SHARING

D34

[D34]

Dà jiàng wú qì cái.

大匠无弃材。

大匠無棄材。

Lit A great craftsman has no wasted materials.

Fig (1) A great craftsman makes use of every bit of his materials. (2) A great leader can make the best use of the abilities of each of his subordinates.

Topics CRAFTSMEN EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP WASTE

D35

[D35]

Dà jiān sì zhōng; dà zhà sì xìn.

大奸似忠, 大诈似信。

大奸似忠, 大詐似信。

Lit The most treacherous look loyal [and] the most deceitful look trustworthy.

Topics APPEARANCES DECEIT TREACHERY

D36

[D36]

Dǎ jǐng fánghàn; jī gǔ fáng jī.

打井防旱, 积谷防饥。

打井防旱, 積穀防飢。

Lit Dig wells [to provide] against times of drought; store grain [to provide] against times of famine.

Fig One should always be prepared against hard times ahead.

Topics DROUGHT FAMINE PREPARATION

D37

[D37]

Dǎ jìn tiānxià wú díshǒu, jǐnfáng Gāoyóu Jìn Déjiē.

打尽天下无敌手, 谨防高邮晋得阶。

打盡天下無敵手, 謹防高郵晉得階。

Lit [Even if you can] beat [everyone in] the world [and] no one is [your] equal, still [you must] guard against Jin Dejie, [the hero of] Gaoyou [county in Jiangsu province].

Fig There's always someone better and stronger to beware of.

Note [Based on a popular Qing dynasty story.]

Topics folk story Gaoyou county Jiangsu province Qing dynasty STRENGTH STRONGER

D38

[D38]

Dà jiǔ zuì rén; dàhuà nǎorén.

大酒醉人, 大话恼人。

大酒醉人, 大話惱人。

Fig [Just as] strong liquor gets people drunk, [so] big talk [i.e., bragging] gets people annoyed.

Topics BRAGGING LIQUOR MODESTY

D39

[D39]

Dǎle héshang, mǎn sì xiū.

打了和尚, 满寺羞。

打了和尚, 滿寺羞。

Lit [When one] monk gets beaten, the whole temple [is] shamed.

Fig If one member of a group is attacked or insulted, the whole group is injured.

Topics GROUPS INSULTS SHAME

D40

[D40]

Dǎléi de yǔ xià bù cháng.*

打雷的雨下不长。

打雷的雨下不長。

Lit Rain [accompanied by] thunder [will] not last long.

Fig Anything that comes fast, goes fast.

Note [A modern paraphrase of Lǎozǐ, chap. 23.]

Topics Lǎozǐ RAIN THUNDER TRANSIENCE

D41

[D41]

Dǎle luózi, mǎ yě jīng.

打了骡子, 马也惊。

打了騾子, 馬也驚。

Lit [If one] beats a mule the horse(s) will also be frightened.

Fig If one is punished the others will be frightened; punish one as an example to others.

Note [See also dǎ de yāhuan above, and the colloquial súyǔ expression: shā jī gěi hóu kàn, “(to) kill a chicken in order to frighten the monkeys.”]

Topics EXAMPLE LESSONS PUNISHMENT suyu

D42

[D42]

Dǎle yātou, chǒule xiǎojie.

打了丫头, 丑了小姐。

打了丫頭, 醜了小姐。

Lit [If one] has beaten the servant girl, [one] has made [her] mistress lose face.

Fig Before you attack someone, you had better consider who his or her superior is.

Note [See also dǎ gǒu zhīqián and dǎ de yāhuan above.]

Topics CAUTION HIERARCHY PRUDENCE RETRIBUTION

D43

[D43]

Dà lì shǐ fānchuán.

大力驶翻船。

大力駛翻船。

Lit [Too] strong a force applied [will] overturn a boat.

Fig One should do everything in a manner appropriate to that particular situation.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS FORCE SITUATIONS

D44

[D44]

Dà lòu, lòu bù gān; xì lòu, lòu gān táng.

大漏漏不干, 细漏漏干塘。

大漏漏不幹, 細漏漏乾塘。

Lit A big leak [will soon be noticed and stopped up so that] everything will not leak out, [while] a small leak [may be overlooked and the] pond [will become] dry.

Fig Small problems or hidden dangers are often the most harmful in the long run.

Topics PROBLEMS

D45

[D45]

Dàlù shēng zài zuǐ biān.

大路生在嘴边。

大路生在嘴邊。

Lit The highway comes out of [one's] mouth.

Fig (If you're lost, just) ask and you'll know which way to go.

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 80; Hé Diǎn, chap. 6; see also lù zài zuǐ biān and zuǐ dǐxià below.]

Topics ASKING Dàng Kòu Zhì DIRECTIONS Hé Diǎn TRAVEL

D46

[D46]

Dàlù tōngtiān, gè zǒu yī biān.

大路通天, 各走一边。

大路通天, 各走一邊。

Lit The highway leads to Heaven, [but] each goes his own way.

Fig Do not interfere with other people's business.

Note [Rhyme; see also chē zǒu chēdào above.]

Topics ADVICE INTERFERENCE NON-INTERFERENCE rhyme

D47

[D47]

Dàmén guān de jǐn, wāifēng chuī bù jìn.

大门关得紧, 歪风吹不进。

大門關得緊, 歪風吹不進。

Lit [If one's] gate is tightly closed, no ill wind can blow in.

Fig If one observes strict standards of conduct, one won't be influenced by evil practices.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CONDUCT EVIL rhyme STANDARDS STRICTNESS

D48

[D48]

Dànàn bù sǐ, bì yǒu hòufú (/hòu lù).

大难不死, 必有后福(/后禄)。

大難不死, 必有後福(/後祿)。

Lit [One who] survives a great disaster must [be destined] for good fortune [ever] after.

Note [Also said ... bì yǒu hòu lù in Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 21.]

Topics FATE FORTUNE Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō LUCK SURVIVAL

D49

[D49]

Dān chí, bù dān cuò.

担/耽迟不担/耽错。

擔/耽遲不擔/耽錯。

Lit [Better to] be slow than to be wrong.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also máng lǐ yào zhēnzhuó and zuòshì guò chí below.]

Topics CAUTION DELAY MISTAKES PRUDENCE SPEED Wǔ_Sōng

D50

[D50]

Dà néng yǎn xiǎo; hǎi nà bǎi chuān.

大能掩小, 海纳百川。

大能掩小, 海納百川。

Lit The great [can] cover [the transgressions of] the small, [just as] the sea [can] hold water from hundreds of rivers.

Fig One should always be large-minded; noblesse oblige.

Note [Note: yǎngāi, “to cover”; see also dàrén bù jì below.]

Topics GREATNESS NOBLESSE OBLIGE TRANSGRESSIONS yǎngāi

D51

[D51]

Dāng bó niúméng; bù dāng pò jǐ shī.

当搏牛虻, 不当破虮虱。

當搏牛虻, 不當破蟣虱。

Lit [When one] ought to be catching horseflies [which can sting], [one] should not [waste one's time] picking nits [(lit) breaking lice eggs].

Fig One should keep the general goal in sight instead of getting bogged down in petty details.

Topics DETAILS PERSPECTIVE

D52

[D52]

Dāngchāi de guān miàn shàng kàn qì; xíngchuán de kàn fēngshì shǐ péng.

当差的官面上看气, 行船的看风势使篷。

當差的官面上看氣, 行船的看風勢使篷。

Lit A “go-fer” [always] watches his superior's countenance, [just as] a boatman trims his sails according to the force of the wind.

Note [Note dāngchāi de refers to “runners” or assistants employed by yámen county magistrates in traditional China; see also guān qīng, yámen shòu below.]

Topics dāngchāi de HIERARCHY INFERIORS MAGISTRATES yámen

D53

[D53]

Dǎng de zhù qiān rén shǒu; wǔ bu zhù bǎi rén kǒu.

挡得住千人手; 捂不住百人口。

擋得住千人手; 捂不住百人口。

Lit [One] can hold out against a thousand people's fists, [but one] cannot cover up a thousand people's mouths.

Fig Public opinion cannot be suppressed.

Note [Rhyme; see also fáng mín zhī kǒu below.]

Topics PUBLIC OPINION rhyme

D54

[D54]

Dāng duàn bù duàn; fǎn shòu qí luàn.

当断不断, 反受其乱。

當斷不斷, 反受其亂。

Lit [If one does] not decide [when one] ought to decide, then [one will] suffer the [(lit) its] consequences [later on].

Fig Indecision invariably leads to trouble.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 4]

Topics CONSEQUENCES DECISIONS Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) INDECISION rhyme

D55

[D55]

Dāng guān de dòngdong zuǐ; dāngbīng de pǎo shé tuǐ.

当官的动动嘴, 当兵的跑折腿。

當官的動動嘴, 當兵的跑折腿。

Lit An officer [only] gives orders, [but his] soldiers [have to] run their legs off [doing all the work].

Note [Rhyme; note: dòngzuǐ, “to talk without doing.”]

Topics HIERARCHY MILITARY RANK rhyme

D56

[D56]

Dāng háng yàn dāng háng.

当行厌当行。

當行厭當行。

Lit People of the same trade dislike each other.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 3; see also tóngháng shì yuānjia below.]

Topics ENVY JPM PROFESSIONS TRADES

D57

[D57]

Dāngjiā cái zhī cháimǐ jià; yǎng zǐ fāng xiǎo fù niáng ēn.

当家才知柴米价, 养子方晓父娘恩。

當家才知柴米價, 養子方曉父娘恩。

Lit One has to have been responsible for a household's affairs before one knows the price of rice and firewood [just as] one has to have raised children before one [can] understand parental love.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 28; see also bù dāng héshang above.]

Topics CHILDREN EXPERIENCE FAMILIES JW MANAGEMENT PARENTAL LOVE PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY

D58

[D58]

Dāngjiā rén; è shuǐgāng.

当家人, 恶水缸。

當家人, 惡水缸。

Lit The one [who is] in charge of a household's affairs [is disliked as much as a] slop bucket [by all other family members].

Note [Usually said of an extended family in traditional China; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 51; DRC, chap. 68; see also the following two entries.]

Topics DISLIKE DRC FAMILIES JPM MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY traditional_China

D59

[D59]

Dāngjiā rén jí lǎo; jìn huǒ de shāojiāo.

当家人疾老, 进火的烧焦。

當家人疾老, 進火的燒焦。

Lit The one who is responsible for a household's affairs gets old faster [just as] things close to a fire get burned first.

Fig The heavy responsibility of managing a large traditional extended family's affairs takes its toll.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FAMILIES MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY rhyme traditional_China

D60

[D60]

Dāngjiā sān nián, gǒu yě xián.

当家三年, 狗也嫌。

當家三年, 狗也嫌。

Lit One who is responsible for managing the household's affairs for three years is hated even by the [family] dog.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 75; see also the preceding two entries.]

Topics DISLIKE FAMILIES JPM MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY traditional_China

D61

[D61]

Dāngjúzhě mí; pángguānzhě qīng.

当局者迷, 旁观者清。

當局者迷, 旁觀者清。

Lit Those [involved] in affairs are confused [while the] onlookers [see more] clearly.

Fig Outsiders can (often) see things more clearly or objectively than those involved.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 24; DRC, chap. 55; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 26.]

Topics DRC Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn JPM OBJECTIVITY SUBJECTIVITY

D62

[D62]

Dāngle bīng, bù rèn qīn; chīle liáng, bù rèn niáng.

当了兵不认亲, 吃了粮不认娘。

當了兵不認親, 吃了糧不認娘。

Lit Having become a soldier, [one should] not recognize [one's friends and] relations; having gone into government service, [one should] not recognize [even one's own] mother.

Fig When one makes a commitment to government or military service, one should not act in the interests of one's friends, relatives, or family.

Note [Rhyme; note: chī gōngjiā de liáng, (lit) “to eat the common grain”; (fig) “to be in government service”; see also gōng ér wàng sī below.]

Topics CORRUPTION GOVERNMENT SERVICE MILITARY RELATIVES RESPONSIBILITY rhyme

D63

[D63]

Dānglìng guǒzi chèn xiān mài.

当令果子趁鲜卖。

當令果子趁鮮賣。

Lit Sell fruit in season when it is fresh.

Fig Do things at the proper time; “strike while the iron is hot.”

Note [See also chèn rè hǎo above.]

Topics TIMELINESS

D64

[D64]

Dāngmiàn bù qǔ, guòhòu mò huǐ.

当面不取, 过后莫悔。

當面不取, 過後莫悔。

Lit [If you] fail to take [when you've] got the chance, don't regret it later.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 15; see also dāngquán ruò bù and yǒuquán bù yòng below.]

Topics OFFICIALS POWER SELF-INTEREST WM

D65

[D65]

Dāngmiàn jiào zǐ; bēihòu jiào qī.

当面教子, 背后教妻。

當面教子, 背後教妻。

Lit [One may] admonish one's children in the presence of others, [but one's] wife only in private.

Note [See also jiào fù chūlái below.]

Topics CHILDREN CRITICISM FACE HUSBANDS SELF-RESTRAINT WIVES

D66

[D66]

Dāngmiàn shǔ qián bù wéi xiǎo jiàn.

当面数钱不为小见。

當面數錢不為小見。

Lit [On completing a transaction,] counting money right in front of the other party is not [to be] regarded as pettiness (or disrespect).

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MONEY PETTINESS rhyme

D67

[D67]

Dāngquán ruò bù xíng fāngbiàn rú rù bǎo shān kōngshǒu huí.

当权若不行方便如入宝山空手回。

當權若不行方便如入寶山空手回。

Lit To be in [a position of] power [but] not help others is like returning from a treasure-hill empty-handed.

Note [Originally a Buddhist exhortation to benevolence; later understood to mean not taking advantage of one's position for the benefit of oneself or one's friends and relatives; see also dāngmiàn bù qǔ above and gōng mén lǐ below.]

Topics BENEVOLENCE Buddhism FRIENDS OFFICIALS POSITION POWER RELATIVES SELF-INTEREST

D68

[D68]

Dāngzhe ǎirén, bié shuō ǎi huà.

当着矮人, 别说矮话。

當著矮人, 別說矮話。

Lit In front of dwarves one should not talk about midgets.

Fig Don't talk about people's shortcomings or defects in front of them. “Don't speak of halters in the house of a hanged man.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 46; see also ǎizi miànqián above and mò fàn rén huì below.]

Topics COURTESY COURTESY DRC EMPATHY SELF-RESTRAINT SHORTCOMINGS

D69

[D69]

Dà niú hǎo qiān; xiǎo hào nán zhuā.

大牛好牵, 小耗难抓。

大牛好牽, 小耗難抓。

Lit Leading an ox is easy [but] catching a mouse is difficult.

Fig Honest people are easy to deal with, but sly people are not.

Topics HONESTY SLYNESS

D70

[D70]

Dàn jiǔ duō bēi huì zuì rén.

淡酒多杯会醉人。

淡酒多杯會醉人。

Lit [Too] many cups of [even] light wine can make a person drunk.

Fig Many small problems can give rise to a major problem.

Topics LIQUOR PROBLEMS

D71

[D71]

(Dān sī bù chéng xiàn,) dú mù bù chéng lín.

(单丝不成线,) 独木不成林。

(單絲不成線,) 獨木不成林。

Lit (A single [strand of] silk does not make a thread, [and) one] single tree does not make a forest.

Fig Only in unity is there strength.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 56; Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 72; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; the second half is often used alone (q.v.).]

Topics DRC dúmù bùchéng lín Fēngshén Yǎnyì STRENGTH UNITY Wǔ_Sōng

D72

[D72]

Dàn tiān yī dǒu; bù tiān yīkǒu.

但添一斗, 不添一口。

Lit [It's] better to add one [more] bushel of rice [one time than to] add one [more] mouth [to feed for a lifetime to one's family or group.]

Note [Rhyme; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 30; note: dànyuàn “rather”; note: a dǒu is a large measure of grain equal to one deciliter.]

Topics dànyuàn dǒu Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FAMILIES FAMILY PLANNING FOOD SELF-RESTRAINT

D73

[D73]

Dàn xíng hǎoshì, mò wèn qiánchéng.

但行好事, 末问前程。

但行好事, 末問前程。

Lit [If one] really cares to do good deeds, never ask [what benefit one will get from it in the] future.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 30; Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 71; see also shī ēn mò wàng bào below.]

Topics GOOD DEEDS Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō Jìnghuā_Yuán

D74

[D74]

Dǎn yù dà ér xīn yù xiǎo; zhì yù yuán ér xíng yù fāng.

胆欲大而心欲小; 智欲圆而行欲方。

膽欲大而心欲小; 智欲圓而行欲方。

Lit [One] should be both bold and careful [as well as] flexible in thought and upright in behavior.

Note [Cf. Huái Nán Zǐ; Zhǔ Shù Xùn.]

Topics BEHAVIOR BOLDNESS FLEXIBILITY Huái Nán Zǐ Zhǔ_Xù_Xùn

D75

[D75]

Dān zé yì zhé; zhòng zé nán cuī.

单则易折, 众则难摧。

單則易折, 眾則難摧。

Lit A single [stick is] easy to break; a group [of sticks is] hard to break.

Fig In unity lies strength.

Note [Based on a popular story about a dying father's advice to his family, using chopsticks as an example; see also chái wú sān gēn above and the following entry.]

Topics GROUPS STRENGTH UNITY

D76

[D76]

Dān zhú bù chéng pái.*

单竹不成排。

單竹不成排。

Lit A single bamboo cannot make a raft.

Fig In unity lies strength.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics GROUPS STRENGTH UNITY

D77

[D77]

Dào bùtóng, bù xiāng wéi móu.

道不同, 不相为谋。

道不同, 不相為謀。

Lit [People of] different doctrines (or beliefs) won't unite in a common cause.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Lǎozǐ Hán Fēi Lièzhuàn.]

Topics DIFFERENCES Lǎozǐ Hán Fēi Lièzhuàn Shǐ Jì UNITY

D78

[D78]

Dào chéng cóng, bì yǒu bài; rén chéngqún, bì chū guài.

稻成丛, 必有稗; 人成群, 必出怪。

稻成叢, 必有稗; 人成群, 必出怪。

Lit [Just as in a] thicket of rice, there must be “barnyard grass” [a weed that looks like rice], [so in every] crowd of people, there must be bad [ones].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EVIL rhyme

D79

[D79]

Dào dào wú shī, yǒu chì bù fēi.

道道无师, 有翅不飞。

道道無師, 有翅不飛。

Lit [If one] misappropriates Taoism without [learning from a] master, [even] with wings [one can]not fly [up to heaven].

Fig If one tries to copy without proper guidance or understanding, one can never become a true adept.

Topics LEARNING Taoism UNDERSTANDING

D80

[D80]

Dāo dùn, shí lái mó; rén chǔn, mònàihé.

刀钝石来磨, 人蠢没奈何。

刀鈍石來磨, 人蠢沒奈何。

Lit A blunt knife may be sharpened on stone, [but if] a person is stupid, there is no help for it.

Topics STUPIDITY

D81

[D81]

Dào duō, dǎchū mǐ lái; rén duō, jiǎng chū lǐ lái.

稻多打出米来, 人多讲出理来。

稻多打出米來, 人多講出理來。

Lit [Just as] many rice plants produce rice, [so] many people['s] discussion produces reason.

Fig “Many heads are better than one.”

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DECISIONS DISCUSSION REASON rhyme

D82

[D82]

Dào gāo yī chǐ; mó gāo yī zhàng.*

道高一尺, 魔高一仗。

Lit If the Tao/Buddha rises one foot, the demon rises ten feet.

Fig [Originally:] The virtuous are outnumbered by evil doers. [Now:] One just force outnumbers an opposing force, or, no sooner does one solve one problem than another arises.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 36; JW, chap. 50; Mao Dun's novel Zǐyè (Midnight). The change in meaning is discussed by Guang Lu in Shū Lín 1979; note: ten Chinese feet (chǐ) equal one zhàng.]

Topics chǐ Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì Guǎng Lù JUSTICE JW Mao Dun Midnight PROBLEMS Shū Lín VIRTUE zhàng Zǐyè

D83

[D83]

Dāo kuài bùpà bózi cū.

刀快不怕脖子粗。

Lit A sharp knife [chops the head off fast,] however thick the neck may be.

Fig One can surmount any difficulty and undertake any task as long as one has strong determination and courage.

Topics COUR DETERMINATION DIFFICULTIES SUCCESS

D84

[D84]

Dàolù bùpíng, pángrén xǐ.

道路不平, 旁人躧。

Lit [If the] road is uneven, people's [constant] walking [will make it even].

Fig If there's injustice, people will speak out.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 23; see also lù bùpíng, yǒu rén cǎi below, and the suyu expression: lù jiàn bùpíng, bá dào xiāng zhù, “[a swordsman] seeing an injustice on the highway draws his sword to assist”; note that bùpíng means both “uneven” and “unjust.”]

Topics INJUSTICE SUPPORT suyu Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

D85

[D85]

Dǎoméi, kēshuì duō.

倒霉瞌睡多。

Lit [People having] bad luck often doze off.

Fig Those who are having a run of bad luck are often depressed.

Topics DEPRESSION MISFORTUNE SLEEP

D86

[D86]

Dāoqiāng wú yǎn.

刀枪无眼。

刀槍無眼。

Lit Swords [and] spears have no eyes.

Fig Once weapons are taken up, it is inevitable that someone will be hurt.

Note [Note: dāoqiāng, (lit) “swords [and] spears,” means “weapons”; cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 18.]

Topics FIGHTING WAR WEAPONS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

D87

[D87]

Dào shénme shān shàng, chàng shénme gē.*

到什么山上, 唱什么歌。

到什麼山上, 唱什麼歌。

Lit Whatever mountain [one] visits, [one should] sing its songs.

Fig One should follow the local customs or act appropriately according to the immediate situation. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Note [Cf. Mao Zedong's essay “Fǎnduì Dǎng Bāgǔ”; see also rùjìng wèn jìn below.]

Topics CONDUCT CUSTOMS Fǎnduì Dǎng Bāgǔ Mao Zedong SITUATIONS STRATEGY

D88

[D88]

Dào suī xiǎorén, zhì guò jūnzǐ.

盗虽小人, 智过君子。

盜雖小人, 智過君子。

Lit Although robbers and thieves [are] petty persons, [they] surpass gentlemen in intelligence.

Fig Do not ignore or underestimate potentially harmful petty people.

Note [See also zéi shì xiǎorén below.]

Topics GENTLEMEN INTELLIGENCE PETTINESS THIEVES

D89

[D89]

Dào wú jiǎo, qiè bù zháo.

盗无脚, 窃不着。

盜無腳, 竊不著。

Lit [If] thieves and robbers [did] not have [someone with a] foot [“on the inside”], [they] could not succeed.

Note [Rhyme; see also zéi wú lì dǐ below.]

Topics rhyme THIEVES

D90

[D90]

Dāozi yào kuài, duō jiā gāng; zhīshi yào shēn, gōngfu cháng.

刀子要快多加钢, 知识要深工夫长。

刀子要快多加鋼, 知識要深工夫長。

Lit [For a] knife [to be] sharp [requires] adding more steel; [for] knowledge to be profound [requires] long hard work.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DILIGENCE KNOWLEDGE rhyme

D91

[D91]

Dǎ qiáng bǎnr, fān shàngxià; qiánrén shìjiè, hòurén shōu.

打墙板儿翻上下, 前人世界后人收。

打牆板兒翻上下, 前人世界後人收。

Lit [Just as when] building [up] a wall, the form boards [constantly change their relative positions] up and down [as the wall gets higher], [so] the world [i.e., conditions] of the forebears is inherited by [their] descendants.

Fig Sometimes a person or generation is up, and sometimes they're down; the fate of human beings is changeable.

Note [Note: the first half is in Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 90; shìjiè is sometimes tiántǔ, “lands.”]

Topics CHANGE FORTUNE GENERATIONS INHERITANCE JPM LIFE tiántǔ

D92

[D92]

Dǎ qiáng yě shì dòngtǔ.

打墙也是动土。

打牆也是動土。

Lit Building a wall also [requires] moving earth.

Fig Building a wall requires almost as much work as building a house, so why not build a house? If one is going to undertake something, why stop at half measures? Why not “go the whole hog”/go “all the way”?

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 29; note: dòngtǔ (lit) “moving earth”; (fig) “to build a house or tomb.”]

Topics COMPLETION COURAGE DETERMINATION DRC

D93

[D93]

Dà qū bì yǒu dà shēn.

大屈必有大伸。

Lit [After] great bending there must be great expansion.

Fig One who suffers great humiliation will have great accomplishments later.

Note [See also dàzhàngfu néng qū below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT HUMILIATION

D94

[D94]

Dǎ rén bù guò xiān xiàshǒu.

打人不过先下手。

打人不過先下手。

Lit In a fight, it's best to strike the first blow.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 3; see also dǎ de yī quán qù above.]

Topics Fēngshén Yǎnyì FIGHTING PREEMPTIVE STRATEGY

D95

[D95]

Dàrén bù jì xiǎorén guò.

大人不计小人过。

大人不計小人過。

Lit A great man does not remember a petty person's trespasses.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 51; see also chéng dàshì and dà néng yǎn xiǎo above and jūnzǐ bù jiàn below.]

Topics GREAT MEN GREATNESS JPM PETTINESS

D96

[D96]

Dǎ rén mò dǎ xī; dào rén mò dào shí.

打人莫打膝, 道人莫道实。

打人莫打膝, 道人莫道實。

Lit Never strike a person on the knee (cap) [i.e., a vital spot], [and] never criticize a person completely.

Fig Always leave a person some “face” or a “way out.”

Note [Cf. Song dynasty Yuan Cai's Xuán Shī Shǐ Fàn, chap. 2.]

Topics CRITICISM FACE PRIVACY Song dynasty Xuán Shī Shǐ Fàn Yuan_Cai

D97

[D97]

Dǎ rén sān rì yōu; màrén sān rì xiū.

打人三日忧, 骂人三日羞。

打人三日憂, 罵人三日羞。

Lit [If you] hit someone, [you will] worry [for] three days, [and if you] curse at someone, [you will feel] ashamed [for] three days.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CURSING HITTING rhyme SHAME

D98

[D98]

Dǎrén xiū dǎ liǎn; màrén xiū jiēduǎn.

打人休打脸, 骂人休揭短。

打人休打臉, 罵人休揭短。

Lit In a fight, never smack [someone's] face [and] in a quarrel never rake up [someone's] faults.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 86.]

Topics CRITICISM FIGHTING JPM QUARRELING SELF-RESTRAINT

D99

[D99]

Dǎrén yì quán; fáng rén yī jiǎo.

打人一拳, 防人一脚。

打人一拳, 防人一腳。

Lit [If you] strike somebody [with] a fist, be prepared for a kick [back].

Fig If one attacks others, one has to be prepared for retaliation.

Topics RETALIATION RETRIBUTION

D100

[D100]

Dǎ sǎn bùrú yún zhē rì; shān shàn bùrú zìlái fēng.

打伞不如云遮日, 扇扇不如自来风。

打傘不如雲遮日, 扇扇不如自來風。

Lit [To] protect [one from] the sun, better than an umbrella is [to have] clouds; [to] cool oneself, better than a fan is [to have] a natural breeze.

Fig A good opportunity is better than expending a lot of effort.

Topics EFFORT OPPORTUNITY

D101

[D101]

Dǎ shé bù sǐ, zì yí qí hài.*

打蛇不死, 自遗其害。

打蛇不死, 自遺其害。

Lit [If a] snake is not beaten to death, [one] will suffer harm [from] it [later].

Fig In dealing with an enemy or a problem, deal with it completely, or it may come back to haunt you later.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 22; also said dǎ shé bù sǐ, zhuǎn bēi yǎo rén, “If a snake is not beaten to death, it will turn around and bite you”; see also dí bùkě zòng above and fànghǔ-guīshān below.]

Topics CAUTION ENEMIES STRATEGY THOROUGHNESS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

D102

[D102]

Dǎ shé, dǎ qī cùn.*

打蛇, 打七寸。

Lit [When] striking a snake, hit [it on the first] seven inches [i.e., on its neck].

Fig Strike your enemy in a vital place.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 1; Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 14.]

Topics CAUTION ENEMIES Hé Diǎn Rúlín Wàishǐ STRATEGY THOROUGHNESS

D103

[D103]

Dǎ shé xiān dǎ tóu; qín zéi xiān qín wáng.*

打蛇先打头, 擒贼先擒王。

打蛇先打頭, 擒賊先擒王。

Lit [Just as when] striking a snake, first strike [it on the] head, [so] to catch robbers, first catch [their] chief.

Fig Catching the ringleaders is most important.

Topics CRIMINALS PUNISHMENT RINGLEADERS STRATEGY

D104

[D104]

Dàshì huà xiǎo; xiǎoshì huà liǎo.

大事化小, 小事化了。

Lit Reduce big troubles into small ones, [and] small ones into nothing.

Fig Keep trouble to the minimum. Just let things pass.

Note [Rhyme; a piece of advice; cf. DRC, chap. 62; Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 47.]

Topics ADVICE DRC Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì rhyme TROUBLE

D105

[D105]

Dàshì, mán bu liǎo zhuāng xiāng; xiǎoshì, mèi bu zhù línjū.

大事, 瞒不了庄乡; 小事, 昧不住邻居。

大事, 瞞不了莊鄉; 小事, 昧不住鄰居。

Lit One can't keep a big secret in a village or a small one from one's neighbors.

Fig One can't cover up the truth from one's neighbors.

Note [See also yǒushì, nán mán sìlín below.]

Topics NEIGHBORS SECRETS

D106

[D106]

Dǎ shì téng; mà shì ài.

打是疼, 骂是爱。

打是疼, 罵是愛。

Lit Smacking is fondness [and] scolding is love.

Fig Smacking or scolding [usually one's husband or children] are signs of love.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 3; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 37; note: téng'ài, “to love dearly.”]

Topics CHILDREN Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn LOVE PUNISHMENT SCOLDING SPANKING téng'ài téng'ài Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

D107

[D107]

Dà shítou bù lí xiǎo shítou diàn.

大石头不离小石头垫。

大石頭不離小石頭墊。

Lit [In building a wall] big stones cannot be separated from the small stones [needed] to fill in [the cracks between].

Fig A leader or able person needs support from others to accomplish anything great.

Note [See also yī gè líba and mǔdan suī hǎo below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT LEADERS SUPPORT

D108

[D108]

Dà shù dǐxià hǎo chéngliáng.

大树底下好乘凉。

大樹底下好乘涼。

Lit Great trees are good for shade.

Fig A person's livelihood or career is assured if one has an influential patron.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 10; see also dà shù zhīxià below.]

Topics PATRONS POWER

D109

[D109]

Dà shù dǐxia zhǎng bù chū hǎo cǎo.

大树底下长不出好草。

大樹底下長不出好草。

Lit No fine grass will grow under a big tree.

Fig Young people who depend too much on their parents or inferiors who stand in awe of their superiors cannot develop themselves well or bring their own potential into full play.

Topics ACHIEVEMENT DEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE OVERDEPENDENCE

D110

[D110]

Dà shú nián chéng gébì huāng.

大熟年成隔壁荒。

Lit A year of bumper harvest [for you might] be [one of] starvation [for your] neighbor.

Fig Favorable conditions are available to everyone, but it depends on one's own efforts to make the most of them.

Topics CONDITIONS EFFORT

D111

[D111]

Dà shù zhīxià, cǎo bù zhān shuāng.

大树之下, 草不沾霜。

大樹之下, 草不沾霜。

Lit The grass under big trees doesn't suffer frost.

Fig One who is under the protection of the rich and powerful won't be bullied or hurt.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 48; see also dà shù zhīxià above.]

Topics PATRONS POWER PROTECTION RICH Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

D112

[D112]

Dǎsǐ mài quán de; yānsǐ huìshuǐ de.

打死卖拳的, 淹死会水的。

打死賣拳的, 淹死會水的。

Lit [It is the] professional boxer [who gets] beaten to death [and it is the] good swimmer [who] drowns.

Fig An able person often fails because of carelessness or negligence. Even an expert can be taken in.

Note [See also shàn yóu zhě nì below.]

Topics BOXING CARELESSNESS NEGLIGENCE SWIMMING

D113

[D113]

Dǎtiě bùxī tàn.

打铁不惜炭。

打鐵不惜炭。

Lit [While] forging iron, spare no charcoal.

Fig Spare no effort if you want to accomplish anything successfully.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT EFFORT SUCCESS

D114

[D114]

Dǎtiě, kàn huǒhou; shuōhuà, kàn yǎnsè.

打铁, 看火候, 说话, 看眼色。

打鐵, 看火候, 說話, 看眼色。

Lit [Just as when] forging iron, [one must] watch the state of the fire, [so while] speaking, [one must] watch the expression [in the eyes of one's listener].

Note [See also chūmén guān tiānsè above.]

Topics AWARENESS OTHERS SPEECH

D115

[D115]

Dǎ tù de bù xián tù duō; chī yú de bùpà yú xīng.

打兔的不嫌兔多, 吃鱼的, 不怕鱼腥。

打兔的不嫌兔多, 吃魚的, 不怕魚腥。

Lit Those who hunt hares never complain that there are too many hares, [and] those who love fish do not care about the smell of fish.

Fig “One can never have too much of a good thing.” “The more the better.”

Topics MORE QUANTITY SUFFICIENCY

D116

[D116]

Dǎ yī rì huāgǔ, yóu yī rì jiānghú.

打一日花鼓, 游一日江湖。

Lit [As long as one] passes one['s] days beating the flower drum [i.e., as a street performer], then one is merely passing one['s] days as an aimless vagabond.

Fig Some people just idly waste their time going through the superficial motions without taking any initiative in the work of their lives.

Note [Note: huāgǔ “flower-drum opera” is popular in Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces; note: liúluò jiānghú means “to live a vagabond life.”]

Topics Anhui province flower-drum opera huāgǔ Hubei province Hunan province IDLENESS INITIATIVE jiānghú Jiangxi province OPERA SUPERFICIALITY

D117

[D117]

Dà yǒu dà nán; xiǎo yǒu xiǎo nán.

大有大难, 小有小难。

大有大難, 小有小難。

Lit The big have big difficulties [and] the small have small ones.

Fig Large or small, every group has difficulties of its own.

Note [Said of families, groups, but not individuals; rhyme; also said dà yǒu dà de nánchu; (xiǎo yǒu xiǎo de nánchu), as in DRC, chap. 6.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES DRC FAMILIES GROUPS rhyme TROUBLE

D118

[D118]

Dǎyóu de qián bù mǎi cù.

打油的钱不买醋。

打油的錢不買醋。

Lit Money for [cooking] oil [should] not [be used to] buy vinegar.

Fig One should make an overall budget or plan and then stick to it.

Topics BUDGETING PLANNING

D119

[D119]

Dà yú chī xiǎo yú; xiǎo yú chī xiāmi.

大鱼吃小鱼, 小鱼吃虾米。

大魚吃小魚, 小魚吃蝦米。

Lit Big fish eat small fish, [and] small fish eat shrimp eggs.

Fig The strong bully the weak.

Note [See also dàchóng chī xiǎo chóng above.]

Topics BULLYING STRONGER WEAKNESS

D120

[D120]

Dǎyú de bù lí chuán biān; dǎchái de bù lí shān biān.

打鱼的不离船边, 打柴的不离山边。

打魚的不離船邊, 打柴的不離山邊。

Lit Fishermen won't leave their boats, nor [will] woodcutters leave the mountains.

Fig People are tied to their means of making a living.

Note [Rhyme; see also jìn shān shǐ mù below.]

Topics LIVING MAKING A LIVING rhyme

D121

[D121]

Dā zài lán lǐ biànshì cài; (zhuō zài lán lǐ biànshì xiè).

搭在篮里便是菜, (捉在篮里便是蟹)。

搭在籃裡便是菜, (捉在籃裡便是蟹)。

Lit [Anything] thrown into a basket [counts as] food stuff ([and anything] caught in a basket [counts as] crabs).

Fig Something is better than nothing. Don't be choosy. Just make do with whatever is at hand.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 3.]

Topics MAKING-DO Xǐngshì_Héngyán

D122

[D122]

Dàzhàngfu néng qū néng shēn.

大丈夫能屈能伸。

Lit A great man can bend [and] can extend.

Fig A great man knows when to pull back and when to give full play to his ambition.

Note [A paraphrase of Kǒngzǐ Jiā Yǔ: Qū Jié Jiě; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; see also dà qū bì yǒu and shíshíwùzhě below and the following entry.]

Topics FLEXIBILITY GREAT MEN Kǒngzǐ Jiā Yǔ Qū Jié Jiě Wǔ_Sōng

D123

[D123]

Dàzhàngfu xiàngshí'érdòng.

大丈夫相时而动。

大丈夫相時而動。

Lit A great man (sic) considers the times [and circumstances] before [he] acts.

Note [A paraphrase of Zuǒ Zhuàn: Yǐn Gōng 11 Niàn; cf. DRC, chap. 4; note: xiàngshí'érdòng is an idiomatic phrase meaning “to bide one's time”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES DRC GREAT MEN TIMING Yǐn Gōng 11 Niàn Zuǒ_Zhuàn

D124

[D124]

Dà zhě bùfú xiǎo.

大者不服小。

Lit Those [in] higher [positions] never submit to those [in] lower [positions].

Note [Cf. Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì: Shào 9 Niáng.]

Topics BUREAUCRACY Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì OFFICIALS Shào_9_Niáng

D125

[D125]

Dà zǒu, duō diē; dà jiáo, duō yē.

大走多跌, 大嚼多噎。

Lit [If one] walks too fast, [there are] more [chances to] fall; [if one] eats too fast, [there are] more [chances to] choke.

Fig One should never go to extremes in one's speech or behavior.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BEHAVIOR MODERATION PRUDENCE rhyme SPEECH

D126

[D126]

Dé dào, duō zhù; shī dào, guǎ zhù.

得道多助, 失道寡助。

Lit [A cause which has] attained righteousness, many [will] support, [but a cause which has] lost right, [only a] few [will] support.

Fig A just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little support.

Note [Note: dé dào also refers to the Taoist concept of following the Tao or Way of the Universe. This is a quotation from Mencius (Mèngzǐ: Gōng Sūn Chòu, Xià), often used by Mao Zedong; the two halves are used independently as chengyu; see also dé rénxīn zhě below.]

Topics chengyu dé dào dédào-duōzhù Gōng Sūn Chòu, Xià Mao Zedong Mencius REASON RIGHTEOUSNESS shīdào-guǎzhù SUPPORT Taoism

D127

[D127]

Dé huángjīn bǎi jīn bùrú dé Jì Bù yī nuò.

得黄金百斤不如得季布一诺。

得黃金百斤不如得季布一諾。

Lit Better than to get a hundred catties of gold is to have one promise from Ji Bu.

Fig A trustworthy promise is more precious than gold.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Jì Bù Rǎng Bù Lièzhuàn; note: Jibu, a general under Xiang Yu in the Han dynasty, was known for his trustworthiness; note: nuòyán, “promise(s).”]

Topics Jì Bù Rǎng Bù Lièzhuàn nuòyán PROMISES Shǐ Jì TRUST

D128

[D128]

Děi fàngshǒu shí, xū fàngshǒu; děi ráorén chù, qiě ráorén.

得放手时须放手, 得饶人处且饶人。

得放手時須放手, 得饒人處且饒人。

Lit When [you] should let go, [you] must let go; where [you] should forgive people, then do so.

Fig Be lenient whenever you can; forgive others wherever you can.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 61; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 5.]

Topics DRC FORGIVENESS LENIENCE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

D129

[D129]

Děi hǎo xiū, biàn hǎo xiū.

得好休, 便好休。

Lit [If a dispute should be] let go, then (just) let it go.

Fig In dealing with conflicts or disputes, if possible don't prolong them, which may simply make matters worse.

Note [This is from the operatic version of Xīxiāng Jì, Act 4, Scene 2, from the famous aria entitled Kǎo Hóng, “Interrogating the Maid Hong Niang.”]

Topics CONFLICT DISPUTES OPERA SELF-RESTRAINT Xīxiāng_Jì

D130

[D130]

Děi rěn, qiě rěn; děi nài, qiě nài; bù rěn, bù nài; xiǎoshì chéng dà.

得忍且忍, 得耐且耐, 不忍不耐, 小事成大。

Lit [What you] should bear, bear; [when you should] be patient, be patient; [if you are] not forbearing [and] patient, small matters [can] become big [ones].

Fig Restrain yourself as much as possible, otherwise small problems will become big ones.

Topics FORBEARANCE PATIENCE SELF-RESTRAINT

D131

[D131]

Dé kuàihuo, qiě kuàihuo.

得快活且快活。

Lit [If one] gets happiness, then be happy.

Fig One should enjoy oneself whenever one gets the opportunity. “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.”

Topics HAPPINESS TIMELINESS

D132

[D132]

Dé lǐ, ràng sān fēn.

得理让三分。

得理讓三分。

Lit [Even if one] is right, [one should be willing to] give in thirty-percent.

Fig One should always be accommodating to others.

Topics ACCOMMODATION CONCESSIONS CONDUCT

D133

[D133]

Dēng bù diǎn, bù liàng; (lǐ bù shuō, bùmíng).

灯不点不亮, (理不说不明)。

燈不點不亮, (理不說不明)。

Lit [Just as] a lamp won't be bright until it is lit, ([so people will] not understand unless reason has been explained).

Note [The first part is commonly used alone, with the second part left unsaid, like a xiehouyu; see also the following entry.]

Topics enigmatic folk simile EXPLANATIONS REASON UNDERSTANDING xiehouyu

D134

[D134]

Dēng bù liàng, yào rén tī; rén bùmíng, yào rén tí.

灯不亮要人剔, 人不明要人提。

燈不亮要人剔, 人不明要人提。

Lit [If the oil] lamp is not bright, [its rush wick] should be trimmed; if people don't understand, someone has to explain.

Note [Rhyme; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics EXPLANATIONS REASON rhyme UNDERSTANDING

D135

[D135]

Děng rén yì lǎo; děng chuán nán dào.

等人易老, 等船难到。

等人易老, 等船難到。

Lit Waiting for someone [to return, the anticipation or anxiety makes it] easy [to feel that one is getting] old [faster], [just as] waiting for a ship to arrive [makes one feel time goes more] slowly.

Note [See also mǎ chí xián biān qīng below.]

Topics LONGING TIME WAITING

D136

[D136]

Dēngtái zhào rén, bù zhào jǐ.

灯台照人不照己。

燈臺照人不照己。

Lit A lamp sheds light on others, [but] not on itself.

Fig One sees the shortcomings of others easily, but not one's own.

Note [See also húli bù zhī and lǘ bù zhī zì chǒu and niú bù zhī jiǎo wān and rén guàn shè jǐ guò below.]

Topics OBJECTIVITY SELF-KNOWLEDGE SHORTCOMINGS SUBJECTIVITY

D137

[D137]

Dé piányi chù shī piányi.*

得便宜处失便宜。

得便宜處失便宜。

Lit Wherever [one tries to] gain petty advantages, [one will] suffer a loss.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 16; Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 24.]

Topics ADVANTAGE Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì GAINS PETTINESS SELF-RESTRAINT Xǐngshì_Héngyán

D138

[D138]

Dé rén dīshuǐ zhī ēn, xū dāng yǒng quán xiāng bào.*

得人滴水之恩, 须当涌泉相报。

得人滴水之恩, 須當涌泉相報。

Lit [If one] receives a water drop of kindness, [one should] repay [it with a] flowing spring.

Fig One should repay several fold kindness that one received in times of difficulty.

Topics KINDNESS REPAYMENT

D139

[D139]

Dé rén qiáncái, yǔ rén xiāo zāi.

得人钱财, 与人消灾。

得人錢財, 與人消災。

Lit [If a monk or a Taoist priest] gets money [from someone, he should pray that the] person [who gave the money may] avoid disaster.

Fig If you take favors from someone, you owe them a service.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 34; see also chī de hǎo above and duān rén wǎn below.]

Topics DEBT FAVORS OBLIGATION Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

D140

[D140]

Dé rénxīn zhě dé tiānxià; shī rénxīn zhě shī tiānxià.

得人心者得天下, 失人心者失天下。

Lit Those who gain the people's hearts [will] gain [power] over all the world; those who lose in the people's hearts [will] lose [power] everywhere.

Note [See also dé dào, duō zhù above and the following entry.]

Topics POWER SUPPORT

D141

[D141]

Dé rén zhě chāng; shī rén zhě wáng.

得人者昌, 失人者亡。

Lit One who wins over the people [will] prosper; one who loses the people [will] fail.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 29; see also dé dào, duō zhù above and the preceding entry.]

Topics LEADERSHIP R3K SUPPORT

D142

[D142]

Déyì bùkě wàngxíng.

得意不可忘形。

Lit [Once one has] attained [one's] goal, [one] should not get carried away [with success].

Note [Note the chengyu: déyì wàngxíng, “to become dizzy with success”; see also the following entry.]

D143

[D143]

Déyì bùkě zài wǎng.

得意不可再往。

Lit [Where one has] achieved success, [one] cannot expect [to do so] again.

Fig Don't expect to make a second success in a place where you have made one already. Quit while you're ahead. Don't push your luck.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 53; Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 10; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì SELF-RESTRAINT SUCCESS

D144

[D144]

Dé yīn róngyì; dé yùn nán.

得音容易, 得韵难。

得音容易, 得韻難。

Lit [In learning to sing Chinese opera] getting the sounds right is easier than getting the flavor right.

Fig In learning (artistic expression), it's easier to get the form right than to get the spirit right.

Note [This is a quotation from a famous Beijing opera singer, Tan Fuyin; note: yùnwèi, “pleasing quality”; “charm (of singing).”]

Topics ARTISTIC EXPRESSION Beijing opera LEARNING OPERA SINGING Tan_Fuyin

D145

[D145]

Déyì sài dēngkē.

得意赛登科。

得意賽登科。

Lit Satisfaction with oneself far surpasses succeeding in the imperial examinations.

Fig Self-satisfaction is the most satisfying feeling.

Note [Note: Under the traditional system, dēngkē meant to succeed in the provincial level imperial examinations leading to the rank of jìnshì.]

Topics dēngkē EXAMINATIONS FEELINGS jìnshì SATISFACTION SELF-SATISFACTION

D146

[D146]

Dé yī, wàng shí; dé shí, wàng bǎi.

得一望十, 得十望百。

Lit [If a person] gets one, [(s)he will] want ten; [if (s)he] gets ten, [(s)he will] long for a hundred.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 33; note the colloquial súyǔ expression: dé cùn, jìn chǐ, “Give an inch, and (s)he/they'll want a foot.”]

Topics AMBITION dé cùn jìn chǐ GREED QUANTITY suyu Xǐngshì_Héngyán

D147

[D147]

Dézhì māor, xióng sì hǔ; bài líng yīngwǔ bùrú jī.

得志猫儿雄似虎, 败翎鹦鹉不如鸡。

得志貓兒雄似虎, 敗翎鸚鵡不如雞。

Lit [A] cat [that] achieves [its] goal [acts as] fierce as a tiger; [a] parrot [whose] feathers fall off is less valued than a chicken.

Fig A petty person who succeeds in something puts on great airs, while a great person who has fallen from power is looked down upon.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 8; JW, chap. 61; see also bále máo de fènghuáng above.]

Topics ARROGANCE JW PETTINESS POWER Suí_Táng_Yǎnyì

D148

[D148]

Dé zhòng guǐshén qīn.

德重鬼神钦。

德重鬼神欽。

Lit [A person of] noble character [and] high prestige [even] ghosts [and] gods hold in esteem.

Note [Note: the chengyu: dégāo-wàngzhòng, “enjoying high prestige and commanding universal respect.”]

Topics CHARACTER chengyu dégāo-wàngzhòng NOBILITY PRESTIGE

D149

[D149]

Diànfáng yǒu gè zhǔrén; miào lǐ yǒu gè zhùchí.

店房有个主人, 庙里有个住持。

店房有個主人, 廟裡有個住持。

Lit [An] inn has an [inn]keeper, [and a] temple has an abbot.

Fig Wherever one goes, there is someone in charge.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 48.]

Topics AUTHORITY DRC HIERARCHY

D150

[D150]

Diǎn làzhú bù zhī yóu jià.

点蜡烛不知油价。

點蠟燭不知油價。

Lit [One who] burns candles doesn't know the price of oil.

Fig One doesn't know about or is not interested in things which one is not directly connected with.

Topics INTERESTS KNOWLEDGE

D151

[D151]

Diǎn tǎ qī céng bùrú àn hù yī dēng.

点塔七层不如暗护一灯。

點塔七層不如暗護一燈。

Lit Lighting up a seven-storied pagoda is not as [good as] lighting a lamp in a dark place.

Fig Better to do good which brings practical benefits to people rather than just for show.

Note [See also jiù rén yī mìng and ruòbù yǔ rén and zàijiā jìng fùmǔ below.]

Topics GOODNESS HELPING

D152

[D152]

Diāo bùzú; gǒu wěi xù.

貂不足, 狗尾续。

貂不足, 狗尾續。

Lit [Since there are] insufficient marten tails, dog tails [are used to] complete [the job].

Fig When there's not enough (of the original) good material, one has to make do with second rate material to finish up. It's a wretched sequel to a fine work.

Note [A rhyme sometimes used self-deprecatingly by authors of sequels. Note: marten tails were used to decorate the black gauze caps worn by high officials in ancient China; as a chengyu: gǒu wěi xù diào.]

Topics chengyu rhyme SELF-DEPRECATION SEQUELS

D153

[D153]

Diāo xī pímáo; xiàng hù yá.

貂惜皮毛, 象护牙。

貂惜皮毛, 象護牙。

Lit The marten treasures [its] fur [and] the elephant protects [its ivory] tusks.

Fig People value their integrity and reputation most.

Topics CHARACTER INTEGRITY REPUTATION

D154

[D154]

Diàoyú bù zài jí shuǐ tān.

钓鱼不在急水滩。

釣魚不在急水灘。

Lit [Good] fishing is not on the banks [where the] water flows rapidly.

Fig Only act when conditions are favorable to your enterprise.

Topics ACTION CONDITIONS

D155

[D155]

Diàoyú yào wěn; zhuō yú yào hěn.

钓鱼要稳, 捉鱼要狠。

釣魚要穩, 捉魚要狠。

Lit Casting for fish requires patience; landing a fish requires resolution.

Fig Each problem must be dealt with in its own way.

Topics PATIENCE PROBLEMS RESOLVE

D156

[D156]

Dí bùkě zòng.

敌不可纵。

敵不可縱。

Lit Don't let the enemy get away.

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Xī Gōng 33 Nián; see also dǎ shé bù sǐ above and fànghǔ-guīshān below.]

Topics CAUTION ENEMIES STRATEGY THOROUGHNESS Xī Gōng 33 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

D157

[D157]

Dì dòng sān chǐ, zì kāi fèng.

地冻三尺, 自开缝。

地凍三尺, 自開縫。

Lit When the earth is frozen three feet deep, naturally [there will] appear cracks.

Fig When things get to a certain point, changes are naturally bound to occur.

Note [Vs. bìng dòng sān chǐ above.]

Topics CHANGES

D158

[D158]

Dié dà, wǎn xiǎo; kēzhe, pèngzhe.

碟大碗小, 磕着碰着。

碟大碗小, 磕著碰著。

Lit [If the] plate [is] big [and the] bowl [is] small, knocking [and] banging [are inevitable].

Fig It's inevitable that there will be arguments or quarrels within a family or group.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 83.]

Topics CONFLICT DRC FAMILIES GROUPS QUARRELING

D159

[D159]

Diē yǒu bùrú niáng yǒu; niáng yǒu bùrú lǎopo yǒu; lǎopo yǒu hái yào kāikai kǒu; fú rú zì yǒu.

爹有不如娘有, 娘有不如老婆有, 老婆有还要开开口, 弗如自有。

爹有不如娘有, 娘有不如老婆有, 老婆有還要開開口, 弗如自有。

Lit Father having is not as good as Mother having; Mother having is not as good as [one's] wife having; [even if one's] wife has [it, one] still has to open up [one's] mouth [to ask for it, which is still] not as good as having [it] oneself.

Fig Having things of one's own is best. “God bless the child that's got his own.”

Topics FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS POSSESSIONS SELF

D160

[D160]

Dìng fǎ bù shì fǎ.

定法不是法。

Lit Fixed methods are not methods.

Fig Don't follow a rigid routine. Don't always “go by the book.”

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 16.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FLEXIBILITY METHODS RIGIDITY ROUTINE

D161

[D161]

Dìngshù nán táo.

定数难逃。

定數難逃。

Lit [What is] destined by fate is hard to avoid.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 62; Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 24; note: dìngshù, (lit) “fixed number,” or qìshù are colloquial expressions for matters destined by fate.]

Topics colloquial expression dìngshù FATE Fēngshén Yǎnyì qìshù R3K

D162

[D162]

Dī qí yě yǒu shénxian zhāo.

低棋也有神仙着。

低棋也有神仙著。

Lit A poor chess [player can] also make a remarkable move.

Fig People of little ability can sometimes do something remarkable.

Note [Note: zhāo(shù) refers to a move in Chinese chess; from a Qing dynasty essay on poetry by Wang Yinggui entitled “Liú Nán Suí Bǐ,” vol. 1; see also yú zhě qiān lǜ below.]

Topics ABILITY Liú Nán Suí Bǐ Qing dynasty Wang Yinggui zhāoshù

D163

[D163]

Dītóu bùjiàn, táitóu jiàn.

低头不见, 抬头见。

低頭不見, 抬頭見。

Lit [If you do] not see [someone while] looking down, [you'll] see [him or her while] looking up.

Fig One is always running into one's neighbors, so it is important to remain on good terms with them.

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT NEIGHBORS

D164

[D164]

Dìtóu wénshū, tiěgū tǒng.

地头文书, 铁箍桶。

地頭文書, 鐵箍桶。

Lit Local documents [recording the decision in a legal case are like an] iron-hooped barrel.

Fig A case settled in the local court can hardly be reversed. Local authorities are most difficult to deal with.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 45.]

Topics COURTS LAW MAGISTRATES Rúlín_Wàishǐ

D165

[D165]

Diūle bàng'er, bèi gǒu qī.

丢了棒儿, 被狗欺。

丟了棒兒, 被狗欺。

Lit [When one] loses [one's] stick, [one will be] attacked by dogs.

Fig (1) One should always maintain one's defensive ability; never let your guard down. (2) If one loses one's patron, one will be attacked by others.

Topics DEFENSE PATRONS SELF-DEFENSE

D166

[D166]

Diū qián shì mǎizhǔ; shuōhuà shì xiánrén.

丢钱是买主, 说话是闲人。

丟錢是買主, 說話是閑人。

Lit [In business deals one who] puts down cash is a [true] customer, [while one who just] talks is [just] a bystander.

Fig Actions speak louder than words.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; also said dì 递 qián ... , etc.; see also bāobiǎn shì mǎizhǔ above.]

Topics ACTIONS BUSINESS CASH MONEY WINDOW SHOPPING Wǔ_Sōng

D167

[D167]

Dì yǒu gāodī; rén yǒu guìjiàn.

地有高低, 人有贵贱。

地有高低, 人有貴賤。

Lit [Just as] land can be high or low, [so] people can be high or low [in social position].

Topics SOCIAL CLASS WEALTH

D168

[D168]

(Dì zài rén zhòng;) shì zài rén wéi.

(地在人种,) 事在人为。

(地在人種,) 事在人為。

Lit ([Whether the] land [is productive] depends on people's farming; [similarly) whether] things [can be accomplished] depends on the human effort.

Fig Human effort is the decisive factor in success.

Note [The second part is usually used alone.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT EFFORT SUCCESS

D169

[D169]

Dìzhǔ de suànpán yī xiǎng, nóngmín de yǎnlèi zhí tǎng.

地主的算盘一响, 农民的眼泪直淌。

地主的算盤一響, 農民的眼淚直淌。

Lit Once [they hear the] sound of the landlord's abacus, the peasants' tears start to flow.

Note [A rhyme from two modern communist novels describing a landlord's exploitation in traditional pre-1949 China.]

Topics EXPLOITATION LANDLORDS POVERTY rhyme traditional_China

D170

[D170]

Dōng bù jiè yī; xià bù jiè shàn.

冬不借衣, 夏不借扇。

Lit Don't borrow clothes in winter nor fans in summer.

Fig Don't borrow things which are essential for the owner's own well-being.

Topics BORROWING

D171

[D171]

Dōng bù jí wēn; xià bù jí liáng.

冬不极温, 夏不极凉。

冬不極溫, 夏不極涼。

Lit In winter don't dress too warmly [and] don't dress too coolly in summer.

Fig Both excessive warmth or coolness will make one sick.

Note [A common Chinese folk belief; see also chūn wǔ, qiū dòng above and dòng jiǔ, wǔ sì and duō yī, duō hán below.]

Topics CLOTHING COLD folk belief HEALTH HEAT SUMMER WINTER

D172

[D172]

Dōng bùkě fèi gě; xià bùkě fèi qiú.

冬不可废葛; 夏不可废裘。

冬不可廢葛; 夏不可廢裘。

Lit In winter [one] should not throw away hemp cloth[ing], nor fur [clothing] in summer.

Fig One should always be farsighted in one's planning.

Note [Cf. gē, (lit) hemp cloth, refers generally to summer garments; qiú refers to fur garments.]

Topics CLOTHING gē PLANNING qiú SUMMER WINTER

D173

[D173]

Dōngfāng bù liàng, xīfāng liàng; hēile nánfāng yǒu běifāng.*

东方不亮, 西方亮, 黑了南方有北方。

東方不亮, 西方亮, 黑了南方有北方。

Lit [When it is] dark in the east, [it is] light in the west; [when things are] dark in the south there is still [light in] the north.

Fig No matter how dark things look at one time or place, there are always brighter prospects around the corner. There's always a way.

Note [A rhyme quoted by Mao Zedong in his Zhōngguó Gémìng Zhànzheng de Zhànlüè Wèntí (“Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War”).]

Topics DIFFICULTIES FUTURE HOPE Mao Zedong PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

D174

[D174]

Dōng hé lǐ méi shuǐ, xī hé lǐ zǒu.

东河里没水, 西河里走。

東河裡沒水, 西河裡走。

Lit [If] there's no water in the eastern river, [we may] go to the western river.

Fig There's always a way.

Note [See also chē dào méi è lù and dōngfāng bù liàng above.]

Topics PATIENCE PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

D175

[D175]

Dōngjì jìn bǔ; kāichūn dǎ hǔ.*

冬季进补, 开春打虎。

冬季進補, 開春打虎。

Lit Take tonics in winter [and you can] beat a tiger in the spring.

Fig One should always prepare against the future.

Note [Note: Chinese believe in taking tonics generally and also that one's digestion is better in winter.]

Topics MEDICINE PREPARATION WINTER

D176

[D176]

Dòng jiǔ, wǔ sì.

冻九, 捂四。

凍九, 捂四。

Lit [Stay] cold [in the] ninth [lunar month (October), and continue to] muffle [yourself] up [in the] fourth [lunar month (May), and you'll stay healthy].

Note [See also chūn wǔ, qiū dòng above.]

Topics CLOTHING HEALTH SEASONS

D177

[D177]

Dòngle Tàisuì tóushàng tǔ, wú zāi yě yǒu huò.

动了太岁头上土, 无灾也有祸。

動了太歲頭上土, 無災也有禍。

Lit [If you] move the earth above the head of Taisui [the earth god], [you will] surely invite calamity or disaster [upon yourself].

Fig If you provoke someone far superior in power or strength, it is certain that you'll get into trouble sooner or later.

Note [Taisui is the God of Earth, equivalent to Jupiter; Tàisuì tóu shàng dòng tǔ “to provoke someone far superior in power or strength” is a common colloquial expression.]

Topics colloquial expression Jupiter POWER RETRIBUTION SELF-RESTRAINT Tàisuì Tàisuì_tóu_shàng

D178

[D178]

Dòng lǐ de shé, bù zhī chángduǎn.

洞里的蛇, 不知长短。

洞裡的蛇, 不知長短。

Lit [When a] snake [is] in [its] hole, [one does] not know how long [it is].

Fig When problems haven't been fully revealed, it's hard to evaluate the situation accurately.

Topics PROBLEMS SNAKES

D179

[D179]

Dōngmén shī tiáo biǎndan, xīmén shuōshì zàofǎn.

东门失条扁担, 西门说是造反。

東門失條扁擔, 西門說是造反。

Lit [When] a carrying-pole is lost at the east [city] gate, [rumors spread to the] west [city] gate [that there] is a rebellion [on the east side].

Fig Never believe rumors.

Note [Rhyme; see also huà jīng sān zhāng zuǐ below.]

Topics rhyme RUMORS

D180

[D180]

Dōng shān lǎohǔ chī rén; xī shān lǎohǔ yě chī rén.*

东山老虎吃人, 西山老虎也吃人。

東山老虎吃人, 西山老虎也吃人。

Lit Tigers in the eastern hills kill people, [and] so do tigers in the western hills.

Fig Evil people are the same everywhere on earth.

Note [See also tiānxià wūyā below.]

Topics EVIL EVIL_DOERS

D181

[D181]

Dòngsǐ bù kǎo dēng qián huǒ; èsǐ bù tiǎn māo shèng shí.

冻死不烤灯前火, 饿死不舔猫剩食。

凍死不烤燈前火, 餓死不舔貓剩食。

Lit [Even if you're] freezing to death, never warm [yourself] by a lamp, [and even if you're] starving to death, never lick a cat's leftovers.

Fig Even if one is in difficult circumstances, one should not compromise one's moral integrity.

Note [See also dòngsǐ yíngfēng below.]

Topics CONDUCT INTEGRITY MORALITY POVERTY

D182

[D182]

Dòngsǐ xiánrén; è sǐ chán rén.

冻死闲人, 饿死馋人。

凍死閑人, 餓死饞人。

Lit Idlers freeze to death [and] greedy ones starve to death.

Fig One should work hard and be moderate in one's living habits.

Topics AVARICE DILIGENCE GREED HABITS IDLENESS MODERATION

D183

[D183]

Dòngsǐ yíngfēng zhàn; èsǐ bù zhéyāo.

冻死迎风站, 饿死不折腰。

凍死迎風站, 餓死不折腰。

Lit [Even when] freezing to death, stand and face the wind, [and even when you're] starving to death, don't bend (at the waist).

Fig One should maintain one's integrity at all costs.

Note [See also dòngsǐ bù kǎo above.]

Topics CONDUCT INTEGRITY MORALITY POVERTY

D184

[D184]

Dōngxi bùkě luàn chī; xiánhuà bùkě luàn jiǎng.

东西不可乱吃, 闲话不可乱讲。

東西不可亂吃, 閑話不可亂講。

Lit Don't eat anything indiscriminately [and] don't talk about anything loosely [or you'll get into trouble].

Note [See also bìng cóng kǒu rù above.]

Topics EATING RESTRAINT SPEECH TALK

D185

[D185]

Dōng yǒu qíhán; xià yǒu qí yǔ.

冬有祁寒, 夏有奇雨。

Lit In winter there is extreme cold [and] in summer extraordinary downpours.

Fig Always prepare for the worst eventuality.

Note [Note: qíhán refers to the extreme cold of winter.]

Topics PREPARATION SUMMER WINTER

D186

[D186]

Dòufu duōle yī bāo shuǐ; kōnghuà duōle wú rén xìn.

豆腐多了一包水, 空话多了无人信。

豆腐多了一包水, 空話多了無人信。

Lit [If there is] a lot of beancurd, [there will be] a lot of water [running out of it, and if one makes] too much empty talk, no one [will] believe [you].

Topics BOASTING EXAGGERATION TALK

D187

[D187]

Dòufu hǎo chī, mò nán tuī.

豆腐好吃, 磨难推。

豆腐好吃, 磨難推。

Lit Beancurd is tasty, [but] pushing the millstone [to grind it] is hard.

Fig Anything good comes as the result of hard effort.

Topics EFFORT RESULTS

D188

[D188]

Duāngōng bù shuō guǐ, dài lǐ méiyǒu mǐ.

端公不说鬼, 袋里没有米。

端公不說鬼, 袋裡沒有米。

Lit [If a] shaman does not talk [about] ghosts, there won't be any rice in [his (sic)] bag.

Fig In order to achieve their goals, cheaters must tell lies, (so beware!)

Topics CHEATING LYING SHAMANS

D189

[D189]

Duàn lǐ, bù duàn qīn.

断理不断亲。

斷理不斷親。

Lit [One should] make judgments [based on truth or] reason, not [on whether one is] related [to someone or not].

Note [See also bāng lǐ, bù bāng qīn above.]

Topics JUDGMENTS REASON RELATIVES TRUTH

D190

[D190]

Duān rén wǎn, guī rén guǎn.

端人碗, 归人管。

端人碗, 歸人管。

Lit [If you] hold a bowl [supplied by] another, [then you're] under his or her control.

Fig One who works for others is under their control.

Note [Rhyme; see also dé rén qiáncái above.]

Topics FAVORS OBLIGATION rhyme

D191

[D191]

Duànsòng yīshēng wéiyǒu jiǔ.

断送一生惟有酒。

斷送一生惟有酒。

Lit The ruination of one life [comes] solely from liquor.

Fig Liquor can ruin a person's life.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 71.]

Topics JW LIQUOR PRUDENCE RUIN

D192

[D192]

Dú bìng, dúyào yī.

毒病, 毒药医。

毒病, 毒藥醫。

Lit A malignant disease [has to be] treated with toxic medication.

Fig (One must) fight poison with poison; “fight fire with fire.”

Note [Note the chengyu: yǐdú-gōngdú, “use poison to attack poison.”]

Topics chengyu MEDICINE POISON RESPECT STRATEGY yǐdú-gōngdú

D193

[D193]

Dú bùjìn de shū; zǒu bù wán de lù.*

读不尽的书, 走不完的路。

讀不盡的書, 走不完的路。

Lit [One] can never read all the books [and] never travel all the roads [in the world].

Fig There are no limits to knowledge; there is no end to learning.

Note [Rhyme; see also shū náng wú dǐ and xué dào lǎo below.]

Topics BOOKS KNOWLEDGE LEARNING rhyme TRAVEL

D194

[D194]

Dú chái nán shāo; dúzǐ nán jiāo.

独柴难烧, 独子难教。

獨柴難燒, 獨子難教。

Lit [Just as] burning a single stick of firewood is difficult, [so] is educating an “only son.”

Fig Single children tend to be spoiled.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHILDREN EDUCATION ONLY CHILDREN rhyme SPOILING

D195

[D195]

Dùhé zì yǒu rén chēng gāo.

渡河自有人撑篙。

渡河自有人撐篙。

Lit [When one gets to a] ferry crossing, there must be boat polers.

Fig Don't worry too early; there will surely be a way.

Note [See also chē dào shān qián above.]

Topics SOLUTIONS WORRIES

D196

[D196]

Duī jīn bùrú jī gǔ.

堆金不如积谷。

堆金不如積穀。

Lit Accumulating gold is not as [good as] storing up grain.

Fig It is better to labor diligently than to take risks trying to get rich.

Topics DILIGENCE GOLD GRAIN LABOR MONEY RISK

D197

[D197]

Duì kè bù děi chēn gǒu.

对客不得嗔狗。

對客不得嗔狗。

Lit Never swear at the dog in front of guests.

Fig It is not good to criticize one's subordinates before outsiders and make them lose face in public.

Note [See also dāngmiàn jiào zǐ above.]

Topics CRITICISM FACE SUBORDINATES

D198

[D198]

Duìniú-tánqín, yīqiào-bùtōng.

对牛弹琴, 一窍不通。

對牛彈琴, 一竅不通。

Lit [When] “playing a lute to a cow,” [there's] “not one chance of getting through” [to it].

Fig Don't waste your time trying to explain things to fools. Don't “cast pearls before swine.”

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 1; note: this saying has been formed by combining two separate fused phrase literary idioms or chengyu.]

Topics chengyu duìniú-tánqín WASTING TIME Wǔ Sōng yīqiào-bùtōng

D199

[D199]

Duìzhe xiānsheng jiù jiǎng shū; duìzhe túfū biàn jiǎng zhū.

对着先生就讲书, 对着屠夫便讲猪。

對著先生就講書, 對著屠夫便講豬。

Lit Talk about books with a teacher [and] talk about pigs with a butcher.

Fig Choose an appropriate topic when you talk to different people.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS rhyme TALK

D200

[D200]

Dù jī mò yǔ bǎo rén yán.

肚饥莫与饱人言。

肚飢莫與飽人言。

Lit A hungry person has no language [in common] with a full one.

Fig The poor and the rich have no common understanding.

Note [See also bǎo hàn bù zhī above.]

Topics POVERTY RICH SOCIAL CLASS UNDERSTANDING WEALTH

D201

[D201]

Dǔ jìn dào; yín jìn shā.

赌近盗, 淫近杀。

賭近盜, 淫近殺。

Lit Gambling is close [to] theft [and] lewdness to murder.

Fig Gambling often leads to theft, and lewdness (adultery, etc.) often leads to murder.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 35; see also dǔ yǔ dào wéi lín below.]

Topics GAMBLING Jǐngshì Tōngyán LEWDNESS MURDER THEFT

D202

[D202]

Dǔ lǐ wú jūnzǐ.*

赌里无君子。

賭裡無君子。

Lit Among gamblers there are no gentlemen.

Note [See also dǔqián chǎng shàng below.]

Topics GAMBLING GENTLEMEN

D203

[D203]

Dú mù bù chéng lín.

独木不成林。

獨木不成林。

Lit A single tree does not make a forest.

Fig Cooperation is necessary for success.

Note [This is an idiomatic phrase meaning “one alone cannot accomplish much”; see also dān sī bù chéng xiàn above.]

Topics COOPERATION dúmù bùchéng lín idiomatic expression INDIVIDUALS

D204

[D204]

Dú mù nán zhī (dàshà).

独木难支(大厦)。

獨木難支(大廈)。

Lit A single log cannot prop up (a building).

Fig One person alone cannot save a bad situation. One cannot sustain adversity all by oneself.

Note [Note: dúmù-nánzhī is used alone as a chengyu with this meaning.]

Topics ADVERSITY chengyu COOPERATION dúmù-nánzhī INDIVIDUALS

D205

[D205]

Duō bùrú shǎo; shǎo bùrú hǎo.

多不如少, 少不如好。

Lit [In artistic creation], more is not as [good as] less, [and] less is not as [good as] good [quality].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ARTISTIC CREATION MODERATION QUALITY rhyme

D206

[D206]

Duō dé bùrú xiàn dé.

多得不如现得。

多得不如現得。

Lit Having more [on credit] is not as good as [what one can] have [in hand].

Fig Credit is not as good as the same amount in cash. “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

Note [See also shē sān bùdí and shí shē bùrú below.]

Topics CASH CREDIT QUANTITY

D207

[D207]

Duǒ de liǎo chūyī; duǒ bu liǎo shíwǔ.*

躲得了初一, 躲不了十五。

Lit [One may] get off [paying one's debts on] the first [of the month, but] not by the fifteenth.

Fig Sooner or later, one has to face up to things.

Note [Note: duǒzhài, “to avoid one's creditors.”]

Topics DEBT REPAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY

D208

[D208]

Duō gè péngyou, duō tiáo lù; duō gè yuānjia, duō dào qiáng.

多个朋友多条路, 多个冤家多道墙。

多個朋友多條路, 多個冤家多道牆。

Lit One more friend, one more road [of opportunity for you]; one more opponent, one more wall [blocking your way].

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng Yǎnyì, chap. 18; note the expression: ménlù duō, “to have many connections or routes of opportunity.”]

Topics CAUTION ENEMIES FRIENDS OPPORTUNITY STRATEGY Wǔ_Sōng_Yǎnyì

D209

[D209]

Duō gè xiānglú, duō gè guǐ.

多个香炉, 多个鬼。

多個香爐, 多個鬼。

Lit The more incense burners, the more devils.

Fig The more people involved, the more trouble there will be.

Topics CAUTION GOSSIP TROUBLE

D210

[D210]

Duō lǐ lāomo.

多里捞摸。

多裡撈摸。

Lit [From] among many [it is easier to] take.

Fig The more, the better.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 2; said by the Monkey King Sun Wukong of his three hundred and sixty tricks.]

Topics JW Monkey King QUANTITY Sun Wukong TRICKS

D211

[D211]

Duō míng zhī māo bǔ shǔ bì shǎo.

多鸣之猫捕鼠必少。

多鳴之貓捕鼠必少。

Lit Cats which mew a lot must [be those which] catch few rats.

Fig People who talk a lot are usually “all talk and no action”; “barking dogs do not bite.”

Note [Rhyme; see also ài jiào de mǔjī above and huì zhuō lǎoshǔ below.]

Topics BRAGGING rhyme

D212

[D212]

Duōnián lǎoniang, cuò jiǎn qídài.

多年老娘, 错剪脐带。

多年老娘, 錯剪臍帶。

Lit [Even an] experienced midwife [can] make blunders [in] cutting umbilical cords.

Fig Even an experienced worker may sometimes make mistakes.

Note [See also cōngming yīshì above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE MISTAKES

D213

[D213]

Duōnián línjū biànchéng qīn.

多年邻居变成亲。

多年鄰居變成親。

Lit Long-standing neighbors [will] become [as close as] relatives.

Note [See also jiǔ zhù línjū and yuǎnqīn bùrú below.]

Topics NEIGHBORS

D214

[D214]

Duō suàn shèng shǎo suàn.

多算胜少算。

多算勝少算。

Lit More planning [will] conquer less planning.

Fig More strategy wins the battle.

Note [Cf. Sūnzǐ's Jì Piàn; Hàn Shū: Zhào Chōng Guó Zhuàn.]

Topics Hàn Shū Jì Piàn PLANNING STRATEGY Sūnzǐ VICTORY Zhào_Chōng_Guó_Zhuàn

D215

[D215]

Duō xiǎng chū zhìhuì.

多想出智慧。

Lit Diligent thinking produces wisdom.

Topics THINKING WISDOM

D216

[D216]

Duō yán, zhòng suǒ jì.

多言众所忌。

多言眾所忌。

Lit Loquacity is disliked by everyone.

Note [See also duōzuǐ tǎorénxián below.]

Topics LOQUACITY SELF-RESTRAINT TALKATIVENESS

D217

[D217]

Duō yī, duō hán; shǎo yī, bó hán.

多衣多寒, 少衣薄寒。

Lit [In winter,] the more clothes [you wear], the colder [you feel]; the less [you wear], the less cold [you feel].

Fig If one wears too much clothing in winter, it will reduce one's resistance to the cold, whereas wearing less clothing will help build up one's resistance to cold.

Note [A common Chinese belief; see also chūn wǔ, qiū dòng and dōng bù jí wēn above.]

Topics CLOTHING COLDS HEALTH

D218

[D218]

Duō yī shì bùrú shǎo yī shì.

多一事不如少一事。

Lit Better to do less than more [in order to avoid trouble].

Note [Usually attributed to bureaucrats; see also duō zuò, duō cuò below.]

Topics BUREAUCRATS CAUTION OFFICIALS TROUBLE

D219

[D219]

Duō yòngbīng bùrú qiǎo yòng jì.

多用兵不如巧用计。

多用兵不如巧用計。

Lit Using more troops is not as good as using a clever strategy.

Fig Cleverness is better than brute force.

Topics CLEVERNESS FORCE STRATEGY

D220

[D220]

Duō zāihuā, shǎo zāi cì; liúzhe rénqíng hǎo bànshì.

多栽花少栽刺, 留着人情好办事。

多栽花少栽刺, 留著人情好辦事。

Lit Plant more flowers [and] fewer thorns; always take others' feelings into consideration [and it will be] easier to handle [your] affairs.

Fig One's dealings with others in life will be easier if one always takes others' feelings into consideration. “You'll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

Note [See also jīngāng-nùmù below.]

Topics CONSIDERATION FEELINGS

D221

[D221]

Duōzuǐ tǎorénxián.

多嘴讨人嫌。

多嘴討人嫌。

Lit [One who] talks too much is disliked by everyone.

Note [See also duō yán, zhòng suǒ jì above.]

Topics LOQUACITY TALKATIVENESS

D222

[D222]

Duō zuò, duō cuò; shǎo zuò, shǎo cuò; bù zuò, bùcuò！

多做多错, 少做少错, 不做不错！

多做多錯, 少做少錯, 不做不錯！

Lit The more [one] does, the more mistakes; the less [one] does, the fewer mistakes; [if one] does nothing, [there will be no mistakes at all, which is] not bad!

Note [A play on words between the literal and idiomatic meanings of bùcuò,“no mistake/not bad”; a satirical rhyme said of or attributed to bureaucrats; see also duō yī shì above and shěngshì, wú shì below.]

Topics ACTION BUREAUCRACY CAUTION MISTAKES OFFICIALS rhyme RISK TROUBLE

D223

[D223]

Dǔqián chǎng shàng wú fù-zǐ.

赌钱场上无父子。

賭錢場上無父子。

Lit At the gambling table, there are no fathers and sons.

Fig When gambling, the only important thing is money. In gambling, there is no friendship or kinship; it's every man for himself.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 38; see also dǔ lǐ wú jūnzǐ above.]

Topics GAMBLING WM

D224

[D224]

Dú quán nán dǎ hǔ.

独拳难打虎。

獨拳難打虎。

Lit Single-handed, [it's] difficult to fight a tiger.

Fig One person alone cannot accomplish anything great.

Topics COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS

D225

[D225]

Dúshé zǒngshì qū zǒu; pángxiè zǒngshì héngxíng.

毒蛇总是曲走, 螃蟹总是横行。

毒蛇總是曲走, 螃蟹總是橫行。

Lit Poisonous snakes always move in a zigzag manner, [and] crabs always scuttle sideways.

Fig Bad people's basic evil nature can't be changed.

Topics CHARACTER CRABS EVIL SNAKES

D226

[D226]

Dúshé zuǐ lǐ méi hǎo yá.

毒蛇嘴里没好牙。

毒蛇嘴裡沒好牙。

Lit In the mouth of poisonous snakes there are no good teeth.

Fig Never believe anything from the mouth of an evil person.

Note [See also gǒu zuǐ lǐ below.]

Topics EVIL SNAKES SPEECH

D227

[D227]

Dúshū bù zhī yì bùrú kěn shùpí.

读书不知意不如啃树皮。

讀書不知意不如啃樹皮。

Lit Reading without understanding is as [tasteless as] chewing tree bark.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics READING rhyme UNDERSTANDING

D228

[D228]

Dú xíng bù kuì xíng; dú qǐn bù kuì shí.

独行不愧形, 独寝不愧食。

獨行不愧形, 獨寢不愧食。

Lit Walking alone, [one is] unashamed of [one's] behavior; sleeping [i.e., living] alone, [one is] unashamed of [one's] lifestyle.

Fig A gentleman is always a gentleman regardless of whether others observe him or not.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Yànzǐ Chūnqiū: Wài Piān 8 Zhī 4; note: qǐnshí “sleeping and eating” and qǐjū-yǐnshí, (lit) “rising, sleeping, drinking, eating,” (fig) “daily activities.”]

Topics BEHAVIOR Dà Zhé Shì GENTLEMEN qǐjū-yǐnshí qǐnshí rhyme Wài Piān Yànzǐ_Chūnqiū

D229

[D229]

Dǔ yǔ dào wéi lín.

赌与盗为邻。

賭與盜為鄰。

Lit Gambling and robbery are neighbors.

Fig Gamblers inevitably turn to theft or robbery when they have lost all their money.

Note [See also dǔ jìn dào above.]

Topics GAMBLING THEFT

D230

[D230]

Dù zhòng ér mù zhé; xì dà ér qiáng huài.

蠹众而木折, 隙大而墙坏。

蠹眾而木折, 隙大而牆壞。

Lit Too many worms and the rafter [will] snap; [when a] crack [gets too] big, the wall [will] crumble.

Fig Many small problems can bring disaster.

Topics CAUTION PREPARATION PROBLEMS

D231

[D231]

Dúzǐ dé xī.

独子得惜。

獨子得惜。

Lit “Only-children” are treasured [by their parents].

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31.]

Topics CHILDREN Jǐngshì Tōngyán ONLY_CHILDREN

【L1】E E1

[E1]

É bù shí yú, dà guò yā.

鹅不食鱼, 大过鸭。

鵝不食魚, 大過鴨。

Lit Geese, [which] don't eat fish, [grow] bigger than ducks, [which do].

Fig External conditions, favorable or not, are not the decisive factors in success.

Topics CONDITIONS SUCCESS

E2

[E2]

È chūlai de jiànshi; qióng chūlai de cōngming.

饿出来的见识, 穷出来的聪明。

餓出來的見識, 窮出來的聰明。

Lit Out of hunger comes wisdom; out of poverty comes cleverness.

Topics CLEVERNESS EXPERIENCE HUNGER POVERTY WISDOM

E3

[E3]

È dùzi děngbude zǎodào huáng.

饿肚子等不得早稻黄。

餓肚子等不得早稻黃。

Lit [When one is] hungry [one] can't wait for the early rice to ripen.

Fig When one is in dire straits, promises of future aid are of no help.

Note [See also yuǎn shuǐ bù jiù below.]

Topics HUNGER NEED PROMISES

E4

[E4]

Ègǒu bù pà mùgùn.

饿狗不怕木棍。

餓狗不怕木棍。

Lit A hungry dog is not afraid of a wooden club.

Fig A wicked person in a tight corner will take desperate action.

Note [See also tùzi jíle and zhí xiàng gǎn gǒu below.]

Topics DESPERATION

E5

[E5]

Ègǒu yǎo rén, àn xià kǒu.

恶狗咬人, 暗下口。

惡狗咬人, 暗下口。

Lit [When] vicious dogs bite people [they] do so without warning.

Fig The most dangerous people to be wary of are those who hide their evil intentions.

Note [See also chī rén de above and the following entry.]

Topics DOGS EVIL INTENTIONS

E6

[E6]

Ègǒu yǎo rén bù lù yá.

恶狗咬人不露牙。

惡狗咬人不露牙。

Lit Fierce dogs bite people without showing [their] teeth.

Fig The most dangerous people to be wary of are those who hide their evil intentions.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics DANGER DOGS EVIL INTENTIONS

E7

[E7]

È hǔ nán dòu dù lǐ shé.

恶虎难斗肚里蛇。

惡虎難鬥肚裡蛇。

Lit [Even a] ferocious tiger is hard [put to] struggle [against a] snake inside [its] belly.

Fig It is harder to deal with an enemy within one's own ranks. A fortress is more easily attacked from within.

Topics TREACHERY

E8

[E8]

È jī bù pà dǎ; è rén bù jiǎng liǎn.

饿鸡不怕打; 饿人不讲脸。

餓雞不怕打; 餓人不講臉。

Fig [Just as a] hungry chicken is not afraid of being beaten, [so a] hungry person is not afraid of losing face.

Topics DESPERATION FACE HUNGER

E9

[E9]

È le tián rú mì; bǎole mì bù tián.

饿了甜如蜜, 饱了蜜不甜。

餓了甜如蜜, 飽了蜜不甜。

Lit [When one is] hungry, [everything is as] sweet as honey, [but when one is] full, [even] honey is not sweet.

Fig “Hunger is the best sauce.”

Topics HUNGER POVERTY SUFFICIENCY

E10

[E10]

È lóng nán dòu dìtóushé.

恶龙难斗地头蛇。

惡龍難鬥地頭蛇。

Lit [Even a] fierce dragon is hard [put to] struggle against a local snake.

Fig It's hard to deal with local tyrants on their own ground.

Note [See also qiáng lóng bù yā below.]

Topics LOCALS POWER TYRANTS

E11

[E11]

È mǎ, èrén qí.

恶马, 恶人骑。

惡馬, 惡人騎。

Lit A vicious horse [is] ridden [by a] vicious person.

Fig In the end the wicked will fall afoul of their own ilk.

Note [See also èrén zì yǒu below.]

Topics EVIL JUSTICE

E12

[E12]

Ēn'ài fūqī bù dàotóu.

恩爱夫妻不到头。

恩愛夫妻不到頭。

Lit An affectionate couple [can]not [live together] to the end [of their lives].

Note [A peasant belief.]

Topics COUPLES FATE MARRIAGE

E13

[E13]

Ēn bù fàngzhài.

恩不放债。

恩不放債。

Lit Helping [others] is not lending money at interest [to be repaid].

Fig One should not expect to be repaid for helping others.

Topics CHARITY DEBT HELP REPAYMENT

E14

[E14]

Ēn duō chéng yuàn.

恩多成怨。

Lit Too many kindnesses [can] lead to resentment.

Topics CHARITY KINDNESS RESENTMENT SELF-RESTRAINT

E15

[E15]

Ēn jiāng ēn bào; chóu jiāng chóu bào.

恩将恩报, 仇将仇报。

恩將恩報, 仇將仇報。

Lit Return good for good [and] evil for evil.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 31.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō RECOMPENSE RETRIBUTION

E16

[E16]

Ēnrén xiāngjiàn, fènwài yǎn míng; chóurén xiāngjiàn, fènwài yǎn zhēng.

恩人相见分外眼明, 仇人相见分外眼狰。

恩人相見分外眼明, 仇人相見分外眼猙。

Lit [When one] sees [one's] benefactor, [one's] eyes particularly brighten; [when one] sees [one's] enemy, [one's] eyes particularly flash [with hatred].

Note [Cf. the popular classical opera Pípǎ Jì, chap. 17; see also chóurén xiāngjiàn above.]

Topics classical opera CONFLICT ENEMIES HATRED OPERA Pípǎ_Jì

E17

[E17]

Ěr bù tīng, xīn bù fán.

耳不听, 心不烦。

耳不聽, 心不煩。

Lit Don't listen [to rumors and] you won't be upset.

Note [See also the more common yanyu: yǎn bùjiàn, xīn bù fán below.]

Topics EARS RUMORS WORRIES

E18

[E18]

Ér bù xián mǔ chǒu; quǎn bù yuàn zhǔ pín.

儿不嫌母丑, 犬不怨主贫。

兒不嫌母醜, 犬不怨主貧。

Lit A son doesn't care [if his] mother is ugly [or not, just as a] dog doesn't complain [if his] master is poor.

Fig People who are related have deep feelings for each other. “Blood is thicker than water.”

Note [See also gǒu bù xián jiā pín below.]

Topics AFFECTION FAMILIES RELATIVES

E19

[E19]

Ér dà bù yóu niáng.

儿大不由娘。

兒大不由娘。

Lit [Once] children grow up, [they] won't follow [their] parent['s wishes].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn; chap. 89; here ér “son(s)” and niáng “mother(s)” are metaphors for children and parents.]

Topics CHILDREN FILIALITY PARENTS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

E20

[E20]

Ér duō, mǔ kǔ; yán duō, cài kǔ.

儿多母苦, 盐多菜苦。

兒多母苦, 鹽多菜苦。

Lit [When there are] too many children, a mother suffers, [just as when there is] too much salt, the food tastes bad.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHILDREN MOTHERS OVERPOPULATION rhyme SALT

E21

[E21]

Èrén cáng chòu shí.

恶人藏臭食。

惡人藏臭食。

Lit Evil people store up rotten food.

Fig Some selfish people store up surplus food even till it rots, although others may be starving. Some people are selfish beyond belief.

Topics SELFISHNESS

E22

[E22]

Èrén nán xíng shànshì.

恶人难行善事。

惡人難行善事。

Lit Wicked people rarely do anything good.

Topics EVIL

E23

[E23]

Èrén xiān gàozhuàng.

恶人先告状。

惡人先告狀。

Lit Evil doers sue first [i.e., play the plaintiff].

Fig Evil doers often defend themselves by attacking their critics (first). “The best defense is a good offense.”

Topics CRITICS EVIL SELF-DEFENSE STRATEGY

E24

[E24]

Èrén zì yǒu èrén mó.*

恶人自有恶人磨。

惡人自有惡人磨。

Lit Evil people will naturally be tortured by other evil people.

Fig Eventually evil people are fated to be tormented by others of their same ilk. One bad deed deserves another.

Note [See Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 34; Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 10; see also cǎo pà yánshuāng and è mǎ, èrén qí above and tóng pén zhuàngle below.]

Topics EVIL JUSTICE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

E25

[E25]

Èr hǔ xiāng dòu, bì yǒu yī shāng.

二虎相斗, 必有一伤。

二虎相鬥, 必有一傷。

Lit When two tigers fight, one is sure to be wounded.

Fig When two (powerful) people fight, one is sure to get hurt.

Note [See also liǎng hǔ xiāng dòu below.]

Topics CONFLICT DANGER POWER

E26

[E26]

Ér-nǚ qīn, bèi bèi qīn; dǎduàn gēbo liánzhe jīn.

儿女亲辈辈亲, 打断胳膊连着筋。

兒女親輩輩親, 打斷胳膊連著筋。

Lit In-law relations [endure] many generations [and cannot be broken, just as a] broken arm is still connected by its sinews.

Note [Rhyme; note: ér-nǚ qīn refers to relations between in-laws; see also ài qīn zuòqīn above.]

Topics GENERATIONS IN-LAWS RELATIVES

E27

[E27]

Érnǚ-qíngcháng, yīngxióng qìduǎn.

儿女情长, 英雄气短。

兒女情長, 英雄氣短。

Lit [When] young people are passionately in love, [even] great men lose [their] ambition.

Fig When (young) men are in love, their ambition is reduced.

Note [Note the chengyu: érnǚ-qíngcháng, “passionate love between men and women.”]

Topics AMBITION chengyu érnǚ-qíngcháng LOVE YOUTH

E28

[E28]

Ér pà niáng jiāo; miáo pà chóng yǎo.

儿怕娘娇, 苗怕虫咬。

兒怕娘嬌, 苗怕蟲咬。

Lit [With] sons [what one needs to] worry about [is their being] spoiled [by their] mother [just as] seedlings [may be] bitten [by] worms.

Note [Rhyme; see also címǔ duō bài ér above.]

Topics CHILDREN rhyme SPOILING

E29

[E29]

Èr rén tóngxīn, qí lì duàn jīn.

二人同心, 其力断金。

二人同心, 其力斷金。

Lit [When] two persons [are] of one mind, their [combined] sharpness [is powerful enough] to cut gold.

Fig In unity there is strength.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COOPERATION rhyme STRENGTH UNITY

E30

[E30]

Érsūn zì yǒu érsūn fú; mò wèi érsūn zuò mǎ niú.

儿孙自有儿孙福, 莫为儿孙做马牛。

兒孫自有兒孫福, 莫為兒孫做馬牛。

Lit Children will naturally have their own blessings [when they grow up]; [their parents] don't have to work like draft animals [for their children's future].

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 2 and 40; Mao Dun's Chūn Cán Jí (Spring Silkworms).]

Topics CHILDREN Chūn Cán Jí FUTURE Jǐngshì Tōngyán Mao Dun PARENTS rhyme

E31

[E31]

Ěr tīng wéi xū, yǎn jiàn wéi shí.

耳听为虚, 眼见为实。

耳聽為虛, 眼見為實。

Lit [What the] ears hear [may] be false; [what the] eyes see is true.

Fig Seeing is believing.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 30; see also the following entry.]

Topics EVIDENCE HEARSAY RUMORS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

E32

[E32]

Ěrwén bùrú qīn jiàn.

耳闻不如亲见。

耳聞不如親見。

Lit Hearsay is not as good as seeing for oneself.

Note [Rhyme; cf. JW, chap. 48; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics HEARSAY JW rhyme RUMORS

E33

[E33]

Ér xíng qiān lǐ mǔ dānyōu; mǔ xíng qiān lǐ ér bù chóu.

儿行千里母担忧, 母行千里儿不愁。

兒行千里母擔憂, 母行千里兒不愁。

Lit [When a] son is a thousand leagues away, [his] mother's heart is heavy with worry, [but] it's not the same if the situation is reversed.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 94.]

Topics CHILDREN LOVE MOTHERS rhyme SEPARATION Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

E34

[E34]

Èrzhě bùkě jiān dé.

二者不可兼得。

Lit [You] cannot have both [at the same time].

Fig You cannot “have your cake and eat it too.”

Topics EXCESS GREED SELF-RESTRAINT

E35

[E35]

Érzi bù yǎng niáng, bái téng tā yī chǎng.

儿子不养娘, 白疼他一场。

兒子不養娘, 白疼他一場。

Lit [When] a son does not support his mother, [her] affection for him was in vain.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DUTY FILIALITY MOTHERS rhyme SUPPORT

E36

[E36]

Ér zuò de ér dāng; yé zuò de yé dāng.

儿做的儿当, 爷做的爷当。

兒做的兒當, 爺做的爺當。

Lit A son is responsible for his own actions, [just as] a father is also responsible for his own actions.

Fig Each person is responsible for his own actions.

Note [See also yī rén zuòshì below.]

Topics INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY

E37

[E37]

Èshì chuán qiān lǐ; hǎoshì bùchūmén.

恶事传千里, 好事不出门。

惡事傳千里, 好事不出門。

Lit Ill news is transmitted a thousand leagues; good news never gets beyond one's [own] door.

Note [Also said huàishì ... etc.; the order of the two halves may be reversed; technically one lǐ equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics lǐ NEWS RUMORS

E38

[E38]

Èsǐ bù zuò zéi; qūsǐ bù gàozhuàng.

饿死不做贼, 屈死不告状。

餓死不做賊, 屈死不告狀。

Lit [Even if you're] starving, don't be a thief, [and even if you're] extremely wronged, don't go to court.

Fig Poor people (in traditional China) could hardly get any justice.

Topics HUNGER JUSTICE POVERTY

E39

[E39]

Èsǐ, shì xiǎo; shījié, shì dà.

饿死事小, 失节事大。

餓死事小, 失節事大。

Lit To starve to death [is a] small matter, [but to] lose one's integrity [is a] great matter.

Fig To die is a small thing compared to betraying one's integrity.

Note [Cf. Lu Xun's Zhōngguó Xiǎoshuō Shǐ Lüè; note: shījié originally referred to a woman losing her chastity or a widow dishonoring herself by remarrying.]

Topics DISHONOR HONOR INTEGRITY Lu Xun REMARRIAGE WIDOWS Zhōngguó_Xiǎoshuō_Shǐ_Lüè

E40

[E40]

È wéi huò zhī běn.

恶为祸之本。

惡為禍之本。

Lit Evil is the root of disaster.

Fig Sin is the root of sorrow.

Topics CONSEQUENCES EVIL SIN SORROW

E41

[E41]

Ēyú rénrén xǐ; zhíyán gègè xián.

阿谀人人喜, 直言个个嫌。

阿諛人人喜, 直言個個嫌。

Lit Flattery, everybody likes; straight talk, everybody hates.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics FLATTERY HONESTY Jǐngshì Tōngyán SPEECH

E42

[E42]

Ēyú yǒu fú; zhíyán gǔ huò.

阿谀有福, 直言贾祸。

阿諛有福, 直言賈禍。

Lit Flattery brings fortune; [while] honest speech buys trouble.

Note [Cf. Hòu Hàn Yǎnyì, chap. 47; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics FLATTERY HONESTY SPEECH

【L1】F F1

[F1]

Fǎ bù chuán liù ěr.

法不传六耳。

法不傳六耳。

Lit A (secret) method [or trick should] not be transmitted to six ears.

Fig A secret should not be shared by more than two people.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 73; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 4.]

Topics CAUTION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GOSSIP JPM SECRETS TRICKS

F2

[F2]

Fǎ bù zé zhòng.

法不责众。

法不責眾。

Lit The law cannot be enforced [when] everyone [is an offender].

Note [Also said fǎ bù zhī zhòng.]

Topics LAW

F3

[F3]

Fà duǎn ér xīn cháng.

发短而心长。

髮短而心長。

Lit [The] short[er the] hair, the greater the mind.

Fig Older people are wiser.

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Zhāo Gōng 3 Nián; see also gānzhe lǎolái tián below.]

Topics AGE OLD AGE WISDOM Zhāo Gōng 3 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

F4

[F4]

Fǎ hū qí shàng, jǐn dé qí zhōng; fǎ hū qí zhōng, zé dé qí xià.

法乎其上仅得其中, 法乎其中则得其下。

法乎其上僅得其中, 法乎其中則得其下。

Lit [If one] takes as a model [something] better, [one will] only get a mediocre [copy]; [if one] takes as a model mediocrity, [one will] get [something] inferior [to that].

Fig A copy will always be inferior to the model, so try to take the best model you can.

Note [See also qǔ fǎ hū shàng below.]

Topics IMITATION

F5

[F5]

Fā luàn, zhǎo shūzi; xīn luàn, zhǎo péngyou.

发乱, 找梳子, 心乱, 找朋友。

發亂, 找梳子, 心亂, 找朋友。

Lit [When your] hair is in a tangle, look for a comb; [when your] heart is in a tangle, look for a friend.

Topics FRIENDSHIP HEARTS

F6

[F6]

Fāngcùn dìshang xiāngcǎo; sān yè diàn nèi yǒu xiánrén.

方寸地上生香草, 三夜店内有贤人。

方寸地上生香草, 三夜店內有賢人。

Lit [Just as a] square inch [i.e., a small plot] of land [can] produce sweet grass, [so if one stays for] three nights in a small inn [one will meet] a person of virtue.

Fig There are virtuous people everywhere.

Topics PLACE VIRTUE

F7

[F7]

Fáng dǎo, yā bù shārén; shétou dǎo, yā shārén.

房倒压不杀人, 舌头倒压杀人。

房倒壓不殺人, 舌頭倒壓殺人。

Lit A house falling down [will] not crush people to death; [but] a tongue [rising and] falling [can] kill people.

Fig Gossip can harm people.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 78; see also bìng cóng kǒu rù above.]

Topics CAUTION GOSSIP JPM TALKATIVENESS

F8

[F8]

Fāng de bù gǔn; yuán de bù wěn.

方的不滚, 圆的不稳。

方的不滾, 圓的不穩。

Lit Square [objects will] not roll, [while] round ones [can]not [stand] steady.

Fig Honest people are not flexible; flexible people are unsteady. No one is perfect in every situation.

Note [See also fāng shí bù kě below.]

Topics FLEXIBILITY

F9

[F9]

Fáng fēng xiān yào dǔ dòng.

防风先要堵洞。

防風先要堵洞。

Lit To guard against the wind, the first [thing one] should [do] is stop up the holes [in the wall].

Fig To protect against being corrupted, one should first resist small temptations.

Topics CORRUPTION TEMPTATION

F10

[F10]

Fáng huàn yú wèirán.

防患于未然。

防患於未然。

Lit [One should] prevent trouble before it happens.

Fig “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Note [As a chengyu: fánghuàn-wèirán; see also jūnzǐ fáng huàn wèi rán below.]

Topics CAUTION chengyu fánghuàn-wèirán PREVENTION TROUBLE

F11

[F11]

Fànghǔ-guīshān, bì yǒu hòuhuàn.

放虎归山, 必有后患。

放虎歸山, 必有後患。

Lit [If one] releases a tiger back to the mountains, it's sure to be a source of trouble later on.

Fig Don't let your enemies off easily or you'll regret it later.

Note [Rhyme; as a chengyu: fànghǔ-guīshān, also zònghǔguīshān, “to cause calamity for the future”; see also dǎ shé bù sǐ and dí bùkě zòng above and yī rì zòng dí below and the following entry.]

Topics CAUTION chengyu DANGER ENEMIES fànghǔ-guīshān FUTURE rhyme STRATEGY THOROUGHNESS zònghǔguīshān

F12

[F12]

Fànghǔ-guīshān, qín hǔ nán.

放虎归山, 擒虎难。

放虎歸山, 擒虎難。

Lit [After] releasing a tiger back to the mountains, [it's] difficult to catch the tiger [again].

Fig If one releases a captured enemy, it is all the harder to capture him again.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; note also the expression fàng lóng rù hǎi; zònghǔguīshān, (lit) “to release a dragon into the sea, and let a tiger go back to the mountains”; (fig) “to let a dangerous enemy go.” See also qín hǔ yì below and the preceding entry.]

Topics CAUTION ENEMIES STRATEGY

F13

[F13]

Fáng jūnzǐ, bù fáng xiǎorén.*

防君子, 不防小人。

Lit [Certain (cosmetic or ineffective) security measures may] stop a gentleman [but] not a low person.

Topics GENTLEMEN PETTINESS SECURITY

F14

[F14]

Fáng mín zhī kǒu shènyú fáng chuān.

防民之口甚于防川。

防民之口甚於防川。

Lit It's more difficult to stop the people's mouths than to block a river.

Fig Public opinion cannot be stopped.

Note [Cf. Guó Yǔ: Zhōu Yǔ, Shàng; see also dǎng de zhù qiān rén above.]

Topics Guó Yǔ PUBLIC OPINION Zhōu_Yǔ_Shàng

F15

[F15]

Fāng mùtou bù gǔn; yuán mùtou bù wěn.

方木头不滚, 圆木头不稳。

方木頭不滾, 圓木頭不穩。

Lit Square logs do not roll [and] round logs are unsteady.

Fig There's nothing perfect in this world.

Note [See also shì ruò qiúquán below.]

Topics IMPERFECTION PERFECTION

F16

[F16]

Fáng rén bùrú fáng jǐ.

防人不如防己。

Lit [Better to] guard against [one's] own [misbehavior] than to guard against [criticism from] others.

Topics RESTRAINT

F17

[F17]

Fāng shí bù kěyǐ wéi mò; zhí mù bù kěyǐ wéi lún.

方石不可以为磨, 直木不可以为轮。

方石不可以為磨, 直木不可以為輪。

Lit Square stones can't be made into millstones, nor straight boards into wheels.

Fig Employ people or things to their best advantage.

Note [See also fāng de bù gǔn above.]

Topics ADVANTAGE EMPLOYMENT

F18

[F18]

Fáng xiǎo, chuáng kào qiáng; fáng dà, chuáng zhōngyāng; bùkě duìzhe mén, gèng yào yuǎnlí chuāng.

房小床靠墙, 房大床中央, 不可对着门, 更要远离窗。

房小床靠牆, 房大床中央, 不可對著門, 更要遠離窗。

Lit [If the] room is small, [put the] bed against the wall; [if the] room is big, [put the] bed in the middle; never put the bed facing the door, [and] even more [importantly] keep [it] away from the windows [lest you catch cold, or people see you].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BEDS COLD HEALTH rhyme WINDOWS

F19

[F19]

Fáng zài qiántou, shǎo chī kǔtou.*

防在前头, 少吃苦头。

防在前頭, 少吃苦頭。

Lit [If one is] prepared in advance, [one will] suffer fewer losses.

Fig Always be prepared for a rainy day.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics PREPARATION rhyme

F20

[F20]

Fángzi hǎo zhù; jiēfang nán chǔ.

房子好住, 街坊难处。

房子好住, 街坊難處。

Lit [It's] easy to live in [a nice] house, [but] difficult to get along with [one's] neighbors.

Note [Rhyme; see also bǎiwàn mǎi zhái above and qiānjīn mǎi chǎn below; note xiāngchǔ, “to get along with.”]

Topics NEIGHBORS rhyme xiāngchù

F21

[F21]

Fàn hòu bǎi bù zǒu; (měi cān shǎo yīkǒu; qǔ gè lǎopo chǒu;) huó dào jiǔshíjiǔ.

饭后百步走, (每餐少一口, 取个老婆丑,) 活到九十九。

飯後百步走, (每餐少一口, 取個老婆醜,) 活到九十九。

Lit Walk one hundred paces after meals, (eat one mouthful less at every meal, marry an ugly wife,) [and you'll] live to be ninety-nine.

Note [A popular folk rhyme; the second and third parts are usually omitted.]

Topics HEALTH MODERATION rhyme SELF-RESTRAINT

F22

[F22]

Fánnǎo bù xún rén; rén zì xún fánnǎo.

烦恼不寻人, 人自寻烦恼。

煩惱不尋人, 人自尋煩惱。

Lit Trouble doesn't seek people; people seek trouble.

Topics SELF-RESTRAINT TROUBLE

F23

[F23]

Fánshì kāitóu nán.

凡事开头难。

凡事開頭難。

Lit The most difficult part of any task is getting started.

Note [See also fánshì zǒng yǒu kāitóu.]

Topics DIFFICULTY STARTING

F24

[F24]

Fánshì liú rénqíng; hòulái hǎo xiāngjiàn.

凡事留人情, 后来好相见。

凡事留人情, 後來好相見。

Lit In all matters, you should always remain on good terms with others, [so that] you [will be able to] face them again later.

Topics CONDUCT FACE RELATIONSHIPS rénqíng

F25

[F25]

Fánshì zhǐpà gè qǐtóu.

凡事只怕个起头。

凡事只怕個起頭。

Lit [In] all matters, the only [thing to] worry about is the beginning.

Fig Things once started can't be stopped.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 3.]

Topics RESTRAINT STARTING Xǐngshì_Héngyán

F26

[F26]

Fánshì zǒng yǒu kāitóu.

凡事总有开头。

凡事總有開頭。

Lit Everything must have a beginning.

Fig The most difficult part of any job is getting started.

Note [More commonly fánshì kāitóu nán above. (q.v.)]

Topics DIFFICULTY STARTING

F27

[F27]

Fàn sòng jī rén; huà sòng zhī rén.

饭送饥人, 话送知人。

飯送飢人, 話送知人。

Fig [Save your] food [to] give to the hungry [and] save your words for those [who will] understand [you, i.e., your intimate friends and confidants].

Topics CAUTION CONFIDANTS SPEECH

F28

[F28]

Fǎ wú sān rì yán.

法无三日严。

法無三日嚴。

Lit The law won't be strictly observed [for more than] three days [running].

Fig It is usually the case that a law is more strictly observed when it is first enacted.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 40; see also guān wú sān rì jǐn.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn LAW STRICTNESS

F29

[F29]

Fēi de bù gāo, diē de bù zhòng.

飞的不高, 跌的不重。

飛的不高, 跌的不重。

Lit When the flight is not high, the fall is not heavy.

Fig If one doesn't have high aspirations, one won't court great disasters.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 14.]

Topics AMBITION ASPIRATIONS CAUTION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn SELF-RESTRAINT

F30

[F30]

Fēi de gāo de niǎo qī de dī.

飞得高的鸟栖得低。

飛得高的鳥棲得低。

Lit The bird that flies high makes [its] nest low.

Fig A learned person never shows off his or her knowledge.

Topics BIRDS KNOWLEDGE MODESTY

F31

[F31]

Fēi'é- tóuhuǒ, zìqǔ fén shēn.

飞蛾投火, 自取焚身。

飛蛾投火, 自取焚身。

Lit [When a] moth darts into a flame it brings destruction upon itself.

Fig “One who plays with fire will get burned.”

Note [The first part is also a chengyu and the two halves are used like a xiehouyu; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 8; WM, chap. 27.]

Topics CAUTION chengyu DANGER Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn SELF-DESTRUCTION WM xiehouyu

F32

[F32]

Féi jī bù xiàdàn.*

肥鸡不下蛋。

肥雞不下蛋。

Lit A fat hen doesn't lay eggs.

Fig There's such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Note [See also hǎoshì guòtóu below.]

Topics EXCESS RESTRAINT

F33

[F33]

Fēi lǐ zhī cái, mò qǔ; fēi lǐ zhī shì, mò wéi.

非理之财莫取, 非理之事莫为。

非理之財莫取, 非理之事莫為。

Lit Never obtain property unreasonably, nor do anything that goes against reason.

Topics REASON

F34

[F34]

Fēi qīn, yǒu yì, yīng kějìng; shì yǒu, wú qíng, bùkě jiāo.

非亲有意, 应可敬; 是友无情, 不可交。

非親有意, 應可敬; 是友無情, 不可交。

Lit Strangers who are sincere should be respected; friends who are not sincere should be dropped.

Topics FRIENDS SINCERITY STRANGERS

F35

[F35]

Féi shuǐ bù guò biérén tián.

肥水不过别人田。

肥水不過別人田。

Lit Water beneficial to crops [should] not pass [to] other people's fields.

Fig Benefits should not be allowed to go to others. “Charity begins at home.”

Note [See also piányi bù guò below.]

Topics BENEFITS CHARITY FARMING SELF-INTEREST

F36

[F36]

Fēngbào líntóu, bù zé gǎng.

风暴临头, 不择港。

風暴臨頭, 不擇港。

Lit [When a] storm is impending, [a ship will] not be choosy about [which] harbor [to anchor in].

Fig When disaster is impeding, any way to avoid it is acceptable. “Any port in a storm.”

Topics DISASTER REFUGE SAFETY STORMS

F37

[F37]

Fēng bù chuī, cǎo bù yáo.

风不吹, 草不摇。

風不吹, 草不搖。

Lit [If] the wind doesn't move [it], the grass doesn't stir.

Fig There must be a cause or reason for every phenomena. “There's no smoke without fire.”

Note [See also fēng cóng nǎli qǐ and làng cóng fēng lái below and the following entry.]

Topics CAUSATION CAUSE

F38

[F38]

Fēng bù lái, shù bù dòng; chuán bù yáo, shuǐ bù hún.

风不来树不动, 船不摇水不浑。

風不來樹不動, 船不搖水不渾。

Lit [If] the wind doesn't come, the trees won't move; [if] the boatman doesn't row, the water won't be muddied.

Fig There must be a cause behind everything.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 20; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 75; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CAUSATION JPM WM

F39

[F39]

Fèng bù lí cháo; lóng bù lí wō.

凤不离巢, 龙不离窝。

鳳不離巢, 龍不離窩。

Lit A phoenix won't leave its nest, nor a dragon its den.

Fig One won't leave the place where one makes a living.

Note [Originally fèng bù lì kē, etc., where kē 窠 technically rhymes with wō; vs. lóng bù lí hǎi below.]

Topics HOME LIVELIHOOD

F40

[F40]

Fēngcháo guòle, shìjiè zài.

风潮过了, 世界在。

風潮過了, 世界在。

Lit [After the] storm has blown over, the world still remains.

Fig “(These) things always blow over.” “Life goes on.”

Note [Often said of political movements.]

Topics CONTINUITY LIFE STORMS

F41

[F41]

Fēng cóng nǎli qǐ, yǔ cóng nǎli luò.

风从哪里起, 雨从哪里落。

風從哪裡起, 雨從哪裡落。

Lit Wherever the wind starts from, that's where the rains fall from [as well].

Fig “Where there's smoke, there's fire.”

Note [See also fēng bù chuī above.]

Topics CAUSATION

F42

[F42]

Fēng cuī rén, yǔ liú rén; xiàxuě, bù zǒu, hútu rén.

风催人雨留人, 下雪不走, 糊涂人。

風催人雨留人, 下雪不走, 糊塗人。

Lit [When the] wind [blows, it] urges one [to leave, because when the] rain [falls,] one [has to] stay; [when it] starts snowing, [one who does] not leave [is a] fool.

Fig A clever person is always attuned to changes in the situation and acts promptly.

Note [See also qíng gān bùkěn zǒu below.]

Topics ACTION CHANGES CONDITIONS WEATHER

F43

[F43]

Fēng duō chū wáng; rén duō chū jiàng.

蜂多出王, 人多出将。

蜂多出王, 人多出將。

Lit [Just as] a crowd of bees produces a queen [bee, so] a crowd of people will produce a general.

Fig Leaders appear naturally from among the people.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LEADERS rhyme

F44

[F44]

Féng è, bù pà; féng shàn, bù qī.

逢恶不怕, 逢善不欺。

逢惡不怕, 逢善不欺。

Lit [When you] encounter the wicked, do not fear [them, and when you] encounter the kind, do not bully [them].

Topics BEHAVIOR EVIL KINDNESS

F45

[F45]

Fènghuáng bù rù wūyā cháo.

凤凰不入乌鸦巢。

鳳凰不入烏鴉巢。

Lit A phoenix won't enter a crow's nest.

Fig A noble person won't set foot into a commoner's home.

Topics HIERARCHY NOBILITY RANK

F46

[F46]

Fènghuáng fēishang wútóng shù, zìyǒu pángrén shuō duǎn-cháng.

凤凰飞上梧桐树, 自有旁人说短长。

鳳凰飛上梧桐樹, 自有旁人說短長。

Lit If a phoenix perches at the top of a [common] Chinese parasol tree, naturally there will be people gossiping about it.

Fig People will always gossip about any unusual person, incident, or behavior.

Note [See also dàfēng chuī dǎo above.]

Topics DIFFERENCES GOSSIP

F47

[F47]

Fènghuáng luò jià bùrú jī.

凤凰落架不如鸡。

鳳凰落架不如雞。

Lit A phoenix stripped of its glory is not as good as a chicken.

Fig A powerful person who has lost power will be less respected than an ordinary person.

Note [See also bále máo de fènghuáng and dézhì māor above and hǔ sǐ, bù luò jià below.]

Topics DECLINE LOSS POWER RESPECT

F48

[F48]

Féng rén qiěshuō sānfēnhuà; wèikě quán pāo yī piàn xīn.

逢人且说三分话, 未可全抛一片心。

逢人且說三分話, 未可全拋一片心。

Lit [When you] meet others, only say thirty percent [of what you think]; do not completely reveal [what is in] your mind.

Fig Always speak with reservation and never pour out your heart to anyone.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 32.]

Topics CAUTION Jǐngshì Tōngyán SPEAKING

F49

[F49]

Fèng shēng fèng; lóng shēng lóng; lǎoshǔ shēng de huì dǎ dòng.

凤生凤, 龙生龙, 老鼠生的会打洞。

鳳生鳳, 龍生龍, 老鼠生的會打洞。

Lit Phoenixes beget phoenixes [and] dragons beget dragons, [so] what is born of rats is capable of digging holes.

Fig One's behavior and attitudes are determined by one's family's class background.

Note [This rhyme was a well-known political slogan during the Cultural Revolution, summarizing the theory of xuètǒnglùn, or “theory of [class] blood lines”; note also the rhymed Cultural Revolution slogan: lǎozi yīngxióng, ér hǎohàn; lǎozi fǎndòng, ér hūndàn, “if one's father was a hero, the son will be a good man; if one's father was a counter-revolutionary, the son will be a bad egg”; also said lóng shēng lóng (q.v.) below]

Topics Cultural Revolution INHERITANCE POLITICS POLITICS rhyme SOCIAL CLASS xuètǒnglùn

F50

[F50]

Fēng wú cháng shùn; bīng wú cháng shèng.*

风无常顺, 兵无常胜。

風無常順, 兵無常勝。

Lit Winds are not always favorable, [and] soldiers are not always victorious.

Fig One is bound to encounter some difficulties or obstacles in life. “You can't win them all.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 34.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES LIFE SOLDIERS SUCCESS VICTORY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

F51

[F51]

Fēngxiǎn lǐ chū yīngxióng; hǎilàng lǐ jiàn hǎohàn.

风险里出英雄, 海浪里见好汉。

風險裡出英雄, 海浪裡見好漢。

Lit In the dangers of the storm, [there] appear heroes; in the [danger of] the waves [one] sees good men.

Fig Heroes are produced by difficult circumstances.

Note [See also luànshì chū yīngxióng below.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES DIFFICULTY HEROES

F52

[F52]

Féngzhe hǎochù, biàn ānshēn.

逢着好处便安身。

逢著好處便安身。

Lit [If you happen to] come across a good place, then [stay there and] settle down.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 7; see also zài yī fāng below.]

Topics Hé Diǎn HOME PLACE TRAVEL

F53

[F53]

Fēn jiā sān nián, chéng línjū.

分家三年, 成邻居。

分家三年, 成鄰居。

Lit [Brothers whose families have] lived apart for three years [after the death of their parents] become [just like] neighbors.

Note [In traditional China, brothers often divided up the family property and lived separately after the death of their parents; see also shù dà, fēn chà below.]

Topics BROTHERS FAMILIES INHERITANCE PROPERTY traditional_China

F54

[F54]

Fěnshuā de wūyā, bái bù jiǔ.

粉刷的乌鸦, 白不久。

粉刷的烏鴉, 白不久。

Lit A white-washed crow won't [stay] white for long.

Fig Sooner or later truth will come out. “Truth will out.”

Topics CONCEALMENT TRUTH

F55

[F55]

Fó shāo yī zhù xiāng; rén zhēng yīkǒuqì.

佛烧一炷香, 人争一口气。

佛燒一炷香, 人爭一口氣。

Lit [Just as] Buddhas [need to have] a stick of incense burned, [so] people [need] to have [a little] self-respect.

Note [Cf. Bái Máo Nǚ (The White-Haired Girl).]

Topics Bái Máo Nǚ BUDDHAS SELF-RESPECT White-Haired_Girl

F56

[F56]

Fó yào jīn zhuāng; rén yào yī zhuāng.

佛要金装, 人要衣装。

佛要金裝, 人要衣裝。

Lit [Just as] Buddha [image]s need to be covered with gold, [so] people need to be covered with [fine] clothes.

Fig “Fine clothes make the man.” “Fine feathers make fine birds.”

Note [Originally Fó shī jīn zhuāng, rén shì yī zhuāng; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 1; see also mǎ kào ān zhuāng below.]

Topics APPEARANCES BUDDHAS CLOTHING Xǐngshì_Héngyán

F57

[F57]

Fó zài xīntóu zuò; jiǔ ròu chuān cháng guò.

佛在心头坐, 酒肉穿肠过。

佛在心頭坐, 酒肉穿腸過。

Lit [If one has] Buddha in [one's] heart, [it doesn't matter that] wine [and] meat will pass through [one's] intestines.

Fig As long as one's intentions are noble, one need not observe all the rules and regulations.

Note [Rhyme; originally said ... jiǔ ròu fǔcháng guò; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 26; said as an excuse by Buddhist monks like the Southern Song dynasty monk Ji Gong, who violated the Buddhist taboo on eating meat and drinking wine.]

Topics Buddhism EXCUSES Ji Gong SELF-INDULGENCE SELF-JUSTIFICATION Southern Song VEGETARIANISM Xǐngshì_Héngyán

F58

[F58]

Fù bù xué shē ér shē; pín bù xué jiǎn ér jiǎn.

富不学奢而奢, 贫不学俭而俭。

富不學奢而奢, 貧不學儉而儉。

Lit [When people become] rich [they will naturally be] luxurious without any instruction; [when one becomes] poor, [one will automatically] be thrifty without having to be taught.

Topics LEARNING LUXURY POVERTY RICH THRIFT WEALTH

F59

[F59]

Fù cháo zhīxià wú wán luǎn.

覆巢之下无完卵。

覆巢之下無完卵。

Lit Beneath [an] overturned nest there are not unbroken eggs.

Fig If the base is destroyed, things which depend on it cannot survive. If the group is harmed, the individual can hardly survive.

Note [See also pò cháo zhīxià below.]

Topics DEPENDENCE GROUPS INDIVIDUALS SURVIVAL

F60

[F60]

Fùguì bù yā xiānglǐ.

富贵不压乡里。

富貴不壓鄉里。

Lit [When one gets] rich, [one should] not oppress [one's] fellow townspeople.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; see also guān dà, bù yā below.]

Topics OPPRESSION RICH SELF-RESTRAINT WEALTH Xǐngshì_Héngyán

F61

[F61]

Fùguì, cǎo tóu lù.

富贵草头露。

富貴草頭露。

Lit Wealth and honors [are as short-lived as] dewdrops [on the] tips of grass.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics HONORS TRANSIENCE WEALTH

F62

[F62]

Fùguì rú fúyún.*

富贵如浮云。

富貴如浮雲。

Lit Wealth and honors [are as ephemeral] as floating clouds.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Shù Ér; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics HONORS Lúnyǔ Shù Ér TRANSIENCE WEALTH

F63

[F63]

Fùguì tārén hé; pínjiàn qīnqi lí.

富贵他人合, 贫贱亲戚离。

富貴他人合, 貧賤親戚離。

Lit [When one is] rich, others [will come and] gather around; [when one is] poor, [even, one's] relatives will distance [themselves].

Note [See also pín jū nàoshì and qián jù rúxiōng below.]

Topics FAVORS FRIENDSHIP POVERTY RELATIVES SELF-INTEREST WEALTH

F64

[F64]

Fùguì wú gēn; pín jiàn wú miáo.

富贵无根, 贫贱无苗。

富貴無根, 貧賤無苗。

Lit There is no root for wealth or honors [and] no seedling for poverty.

Fig Riches, rank or poverty are not predestined.

Topics HONORS POVERTY PREDESTINATION RANK RICHES WEALTH

F65

[F65]

Fù hǔ, xiū kuān.

缚虎休宽。

縛虎休寬。

Lit [When] trussing [up a] tiger, [one should] not tie [it] loosely.

Fig One should be very careful when trying to capture a person of ability.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 12; see also shàn zhū, è ná below.]

Topics ABILITY CAPTURE CAUTION Suí_Táng_Yǎnyì

F66

[F66]

Fú hǔ yào zhī hǔ xìng.*

伏虎要知虎性。

Lit To tame a tiger [one] has to know its nature.

Fig To deal with (bad) people, one must understand how they think.

Topics EVIL TIGERS UNDERSTANDING

F67

[F67]

Fù jiā yī xí jiǔ; qióng hàn bànnián liáng.

富家一席酒, 穷汉半年粮。

富家一席酒, 窮漢半年糧。

Lit [The cost of a] rich family's feast [is as much as] half a year's grain [for a] poor man['s family].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 29.]

Topics FOOD INEQUALITY POVERTY RICH WEALTH Xǐngshì_Héngyán

F68

[F68]

Fǔ kuài bùpà mùchái yìng.

斧快不怕木柴硬。

Lit [If the] axe is sharp, it doesn't matter how hard the wood is.

Fig An able person is not afraid to take up a difficult task.

Topics ABILITY DIFFICULTY PERSEVERANCE

F69

[F69]

Fùle pín, hái chuān sān nián líng.

富了贫还穿三年绫。

富了貧還穿三年綾。

Lit [Even when a] rich [family] declines, [they can] still wear silk [clothing for] three years.

Fig A rich family has some property left even when they are in decline.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 8; see also dà chuán lànle above and qióng suī qióng and shòu sǐ de luòtuo and tóng pén lànle below.]

Topics DECLINE PROPERTY RICH WEALTH Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

F70

[F70]

Fùmǔ zhī chóu, bùgòngdàitiān.

父母之仇, 不共戴天。

Lit [One] cannot live under the same sky with the murderer of one's parents.

Note [Note: bùgòngdàitiān is an idiomatic expression.]

Topics bùgòngdàitiān idiomatic expression MURDER PATRICIDE

F71

[F71]

Fùnǚ néng dǐng bànbiāntiān.

妇女能顶半边天。

婦女能頂半邊天。

Lit Women can hold up half the sky.

Fig Women can do whatever men can do.

Note [A communist slogan often used by Mao Zedong.]

Topics Communist slogan Mao Zedong WOMEN

F72

[F72]

Fūqī wú gé xiǔ zhī chóu.

夫妻无隔宿之仇。

夫妻無隔宿之仇。

Lit Enmity between husband and wife doesn't last overnight.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 29; also said ... géyè zhī chóu; see also tiānshàng xiàyǔ below.]

Topics CONFLICT COUPLES MARRIAGE Rúlín_Wàishǐ

F73

[F73]

Fùrén, sìjì chuān yī; qióngrén, yī chuān sìjì.

富人四季穿衣, 穷人衣穿四季。

富人四季穿衣, 窮人衣穿四季。

Lit The rich wear [different] clothes [in the] four seasons, [while the] poor [have one set of] clothes [which they] wear [in all] four seasons.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CLOTHING POOR rhyme RICH SEASONS WEALTH

F74

[F74]

Fùrén, xīn hēi; qióngrén, shǒu hēi.

富人, 心黑; 穷人, 手黑。

富人, 心黑; 窮人, 手黑。

Lit Rich people [have] black hearts, [while] poor people [have] black hands.

Topics POOR RICH WEALTH

F75

[F75]

Fùshé zhē shǒu, zhuàngshì jiě wàn.

蝮蛇蜇手, 壮士解腕。

蝮蛇蜇手, 壯士解腕。

Lit [If a] poisonous snake bites [his] hand, a brave man [will] cut off [his] wrist.

Fig One must be resolute in dealing with affairs; if one is unwilling to make small sacrifices, one will suffer greater losses.

Topics BRAVERY RESOLVE SACRIFICES

F76

[F76]

Fǔtóu chī záozi; záozi chī mùtou.

斧头吃凿子, 凿子吃木头。

斧頭吃鑿子, 鑿子吃木頭。

Lit [An] axe [can] dent a chisel, [and a] chisel [can] dent wood.

Fig There is always one thing which can conquer another.

Note [See also yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics DIFFICULTY LIMITATIONS STRENGTH

F77

[F77]

Fú wú chóng shòu rì; huò yǒu bìng lái shí.

福无重受日, 祸有并来时。

福無重受日, 禍有並來時。

Lit Fortune does not have repeated days of receiving, [but with] misfortune there [can] be times [when it] comes in doubles.

Fig Good fortune does not repeat itself, but ill fortune can come repeatedly.

Note [Cf. fú wú shuāng zhì below.]

Topics FORTUNE MISFORTUNE

F78

[F78]

Fù wú sān dài xiǎng.

富无三代享。

富無三代享。

Lit [A rich family's] prosperity won't be enjoyed for three generations [because spoiled children and grandchildren will squander it all].

Topics CHILDREN EXTRAVAGANCE FAMILIES GENERATIONS GRANDCHILDREN PROSPERITY RICH RUIN SPOILING WEALTH

F79

[F79]

Fú wú shuāng zhì; huòbùdānxíng.

福无双至, 祸不单行。

福無雙至, 禍不單行。

Lit (Blessings never come in pairs, [and]) misfortunes never come singly.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 15; WM, chap. 37; note: huòbùdānxíng has become a set phrase; see also fú wú chóng shòu rì above.]

Topics BLESSINGS FORTUNE JW MISFORTUNE WM

F80

[F80]

Fù xián qiān kǒu shǎo; pín hèn yīshēn duō.

富嫌千口少, 贫恨一身多。

富嫌千口少, 貧恨一身多。

Lit [The] rich consider a thousand mouths [to feed as but] a few, [while a] poor [person considers himself to be one] too many.

Topics POVERTY RICH

F81

[F81]

Fùxiōng shījiào, zǐdì bù kān.

父兄失教, 子弟不堪。

Lit If father [or] eldest brother neglects disciplining [his children or younger brothers], the children will be unworthy.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 32; see also yǎng bù jiào below.]

Topics CHILD REARING CHILDREN DISCIPLINE EDUCATION ELDER BROTHERS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FATHERS

F82

[F82]

Fùyù niàn qī-zǐ; pínqióng sī niáng qīn.

富裕念妻子; 贫穷思娘亲。

富裕念妻子; 貧窮思娘親。

Lit [When] rich, [one] thinks [only] of [one's] wife [and] children, [but when] poor, [one] thinks of [one's] parents [for help and comfort].

Topics CHILDREN PARENTS POOR POVERTY RICH WEALTH

F83

[F83]

Fù yù xíngjié, zǐ bì shārén.

父欲行劫, 子必杀人。

父欲行劫, 子必殺人。

Lit [If] a father seeks to do robbery, [his] children will surely commit murder.

Fig If a father does something bad, his son will inevitably do something even worse.

Note [See also lǎozi tōu guā below.]

Topics CHILDREN EXAMPLE FATHERS MURDER PARENTS ROBBERY

F84

[F84]

Fù zhài, zǐ huán.

父债子还。

父債子還。

Lit A father's debts, a [dutiful] son is [obliged] to pay.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics DEBT DUTY FATHERS SONS Wǔ_Sōng

F85

[F85]

Fú zhōng fú huò; huò zhōng yù fú.

福中伏祸, 祸中寓福。

福中伏禍, 禍中寓福。

Lit In good fortune lurks misfortune, [and] in misfortune lies good fortune.

Note [See also huò yǔ fú wéi lín and huò xī fú suǒ yǐ below.]

Topics FORTUNE LUCK MISFORTUNE

F86

[F86]

Fú zì tiān lái.

福自天来。

福自天來。

Lit Blessings come from Heaven.

Topics BLESSINGS HEAVEN

F87

[F87]

Fù-zǐ wú gé xiǔ zhī chóu.

父子无隔宿之仇。

父子無隔宿之仇。

Lit [Between] father [and] son there is no enmity which outlasts the night.

Fig Nothing should come between father and son.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 31; see also fūqī wú gé xiǔ above.]

Topics CONFLICT FAMILIES FATHERS JW SONS

【L1】G G1

[G1]

Gài guān lùn dìng.

盖棺论定。

蓋棺論定。

Lit [Only after they have] shut the coffin [can one] pronounce certainly.

Fig Final judgment can be passed on a person only after he or she dies.

Note [Note: gàiguān-lùndìng has become a set literary expression.]

Topics DEATH FINALITY gàiguān-lùndìng JUDGMENTS literary_expression

G2

[G2]

Gǎnchē sān nián, zhī mǎ xìng.

赶车三年, 知马性。

趕車三年, 知馬性。

Lit [A driver who] drives a horse-cart [for] three years knows horse's natures [well].

Fig One learns from experience.

Topics EXPERIENCE LEARNING

G3

[G3]

Gàn dà zé zhī xié.

干大则枝斜。

幹大則枝斜。

Lit Big trunks have slanted branches.

Fig Big families often have good-for-nothing sons or grandsons.

Topics CHILDREN FAMILIES GENERATIONS SONS

G4

[G4]

Gāng zé yì zhé, róu zé cháng cún.

刚则易折, 柔则常存。

剛則易折, 柔則常存。

Lit [Anything which is] unyielding will break easily; [anything which is] soft will last long.

Fig Those who are unyielding invite trouble, while those who are flexible will survive.

Note [Note: gāngqiáng, “firm; unyielding.”]

Topics FLEXIBILITY gāngqiáng STUBBORNNESS SURVIVAL

G5

[G5]

Gànhuó bù yóu dōng, lèisǐ yě wú gōng.

干活不由东, 累死也无功。

幹活不由東, 累死也無功。

Lit [If one does] not do [one's] work according to [one's] employer['s wishes], even [if one] works hard, [one] will not be rewarded.

Note [Rhyme; cf. dōngjia, “boss.”]

Topics ACCOMMODATION dōngjia EMPLOYEES EMPLOYERS REWARDS rhyme

G6

[G6]

Gān jǐng bì xiān jié.

甘井必先竭。

Lit The well with sweet water will be exhausted first.

Fig People of ability are overburdened (and “burn out” early).

Note [Cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Shān Mù; see also néng zhě duō láo and the following entry.]

Topics ABILITY Shān Mù Zhuāngzǐ

G7

[G7]

Gānquán bì jié; zhí mù bì fá.

甘泉必竭,直木必伐。

Lit Sweet springs will run dry, [and] straight trees will be cut.

Fig People of ability are overburdened (and “burn out” early).

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics ABILITY

G8

[G8]

Gǎn rén bù kě gǎn shàng.

赶人不可赶上。

趕人不可趕上。

Lit [When] driving people, [one] should not drive [them too] hard.

Fig Never drive others too hard.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 2.]

Topics OTHERS SELF-RESTRAINT WM

G9

[G9]

Gān shǐ mǒ bù dào rén shēnshàng.

干屎抹不到人身上。

乾屎抹不到人身上。

Lit Dried dung cannot stick onto one's body.

Fig Slander cannot harm an honest person.

Note [See also shùshēn zhǎng de zhèng below.]

Topics HONESTY SLANDER

G10

[G10]

Gǎn shíwǔ bùrú gǎn chūyī.

赶十五不如赶初一。

趕十五不如趕初一。

Lit Doing [something on the] fifteenth [of the month] is not as good as doing [it on the] first [day of the month].

Fig Don't put things off. “Better earlier than later.”

Topics COMPARISON PROCRASTINATION TIMELINESS

G11

[G11]

Gān tǔ dǎ bù chéng gāo qiáng; méi qián gài bù qǐ wǎfáng.

干土打不成高墙, 没钱盖不起瓦房。

乾土打不成高牆, 沒錢蓋不起瓦房。

Lit High walls cannot be built with dry earth, [and] tiled roof houses cannot be built without money.

Fig One can do nothing without money.

Topics MONEY

G12

[G12]

Gān yú bù néng gěi māo zuò zhěntou.

干鱼不能给猫作枕头。

乾魚不能給貓作枕頭。

Lit A dried fish cannot be used as a cat's pillow [for it would be soon eaten up].

Fig Don't leave temptation lying around.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 55.]

Topics JW TEMPTATION

G13

[G13]

Gānzhe lǎolái tián; làjiāo lǎolái hóng.

甘蔗老来甜; 辣椒老来红。

甘蔗老來甜; 辣椒老來紅。

Lit [As they] get older, sugar cane [becomes] sweeter [and] peppers grow redder.

Fig The older people get, the more experienced and popular they become.

Note [Note: lǎoláihóng refers to people becoming successful in their more mature years; see also fà duǎn ér xīn cháng above.]

Topics AGE EXPERIENCE OLD_AGE

G14

[G14]

Gānzhe méiyǒu liǎngtóu tián.*

甘蔗没有两头甜。

甘蔗沒有兩頭甜。

Lit There is no sugar cane that is sweet at both ends.

Fig One can't “have it both ways” in life. It's impossible to have something perfect; there are always two sides to everything.

Note [See also shì ruò qiúquán below.]

Topics BOTH WAYS LIFE PERFECTION PERSPECTIVE

G15

[G15]

Gāofēi zhī niǎo, sǐ yú měishí; shēn qián zhī yú, sǐ yú fāng ěr.

高飞之鸟死于美食, 深潜之鱼死于芳饵。

高飛之鳥死於美食, 深潛之魚死於芳餌。

Lit A high-flying bird [may] die for tasty food; deep-water fish [may] die for tasty bait.

Fig If one wants to love or capture someone, one must first give him or her what he or she desires.

Topics CAPTURE DESIRE FOOD LOVE

G16

[G16]

Gāoguān qí shòu mǎ.

高官骑瘦马。

高官騎瘦馬。

Lit High officials ride thin horses.

Fig The rich do not show off their wealth.

Note [See also cáizhu shuō qióng huà above.]

Topics OFFICIALS RICH WEALTH

G17

[G17]

Gào rén sǐzuì, dé sǐzuì.

告人死罪, 得死罪。

Lit [Anyone who] lodges a [false] accusation against somebody for a capital crime [should] receive the death penalty.

Note [Rhyme; cf. JW, chap. 83.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS FALSITY JW MURDER

G18

[G18]

Gāoshān yǎng zhǐ, jǐngxíng xíng zhǐ.

高山仰止, 景行行止。

Lit The high mountains [one may] look up at; the royal road, [one may] travel.

Fig One should look up to role models of high moral character and conduct and try to follow their example.

Note [Originally from the Poetry Classic: Shījīng: Xiǎo Yá: Chē Xiá, quoted by Sima Qian in Shǐ Jì; note: jǐngxíng, “royal road or highway,” is a metaphor for “(one) taking the high [moral] road”; both halves are used independently as chengyu.]

Topics chengyu CONDUCT CONDUCT EXAMPLE IMITATION jǐngxíng MORALITY Poetry Classic Shǐ Jì Shījīng Sima_Qian

G19

[G19]

Gāo zhě bù shuō; shuōzhě bù gāo.

高者不说, 说者不高。

高者不說, 說者不高。

Lit [An] able person doesn't boast [and a] boaster is not able.

Topics ABILITY BOASTING

G20

[G20]

Gēbo nǐng bu guò dàtuǐ.

胳膊拧不过大腿。

胳膊擰不過大腿。

Lit The arm cannot overcome the thigh.

Fig The weaker cannot overcome the stronger.

Note [Cf. the píngshū: Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 43.]

Topics OVERCOMING píngshū STRONGER WEAKNESS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

G21

[G21]

Gēbo (/gēbei) shé le, wǎng xiù lǐ cáng.

胳膊(/胳臂)折了, 往袖里藏。

胳膊(/胳臂)折了, 往袖裡藏。

Lit [If one's] elbow is broken, [one should] hide [it] in one's sleeve.

Fig (1) If one has some shortcomings or if one has done something stupid or wrong, one cannot let it be known to others. (2) One tends to cover up or protect one's own people.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 7 and 68; Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 11 and 36; see also jiāchǒu bùkě and the following entry.]

Topics COVER-UP DRC FAVORITISM Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì MISTAKES SELF-PROTECTION SHORTCOMINGS

G22

[G22]

Gēbo zǒngshì cháo lǐ wān.

胳膊总是朝里弯。

胳膊總是朝裡彎。

Lit [One's] arms always bend inward.

Fig One usually favors and protects one's own people.

Note [See also quántou cháo wài and zhū zhuǎ zhǔ qiān gǔn below and the preceding entry.]

Topics FAVORITISM SELF-PROTECTION

G23

[G23]

Gé chóng dùpí, gé chóng shān.

隔重肚皮, 隔重山。

Lit [A stepchild of a] different womb is separated [from his stepmother and her own children as if they were] separated by mountains.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 38; see also hòumǔ de quántou and pí lǐ shēng de below.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì SEPARATION STEPCHILDREN STEPMOTHERS

G24

[G24]

Gé chóng lóubǎn, gé chóng tiān.

隔重楼板, 隔重天。

隔重樓板, 隔重天。

Lit A different floor, a different world.

Fig Every household is different.

Note [Note: jiǔ chóng tiān, “nine different levels of heaven”; see also chūmén sān bù above.]

Topics DIFFERENCES FAMILIES HOUSEHOLDS jiǔ_chóng_tiān

G25

[G25]

Gèchù gè xiāngsú; yī chù yī guīju.

各处各乡俗, 一处一规矩。

各處各鄉俗, 一處一規矩。

Lit Each place [has] its own local customs; [in] one place [there is] one code of conduct.

Fig Different places or groups have different standards or rules of behavior.

Note [Rhyme; see also shí lǐ bùtóng sú below and the following entry.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT CUSTOMS DIFFERENCES GROUPS LOCAL PLACE rhyme

G26

[G26]

Gé dào bù xiàyǔ; bǎi lǐ bùtóng fēng.

隔道不下雨, 百里不同风。

隔道不下雨, 百里不同風。

Lit [Just as] across the road, [it can be] not raining [i.e., different weather], [so a] hundred leagues [away] there are different customs.

Fig Different places have different customs.

Note [Note: fēngsú xíguàn “local customs”; one (huá)lǐ equals approximately one-half kilometer; see also bǎi lǐ, bùtóng fēng and chūmén sān lǐ above and the preceding entry.]

Topics CUSTOMS DIFFERENCES fēngsú xíguàn huálǐ lǐ

G27

[G27]

Gé guō fàn'er xiāng.

隔锅饭儿香。

隔鍋飯兒香。

Lit Food from a different cooking pan tastes better.

Fig “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

Topics COMPARISON ENVY

G28

[G28]

Géháng, bù gé lǐ.

隔行不隔理。

Lit [Although the] trades [may be] different, [there is] no difference in principles.

Fig Although the professions or specializations may be different, the same basic principles underlie them.

Note [Vs. the following entry.]

Topics PRINCIPLES PROFESSIONS SIMILARITIES TRADES

G29

[G29]

Géháng rú géshān.

隔行如隔山。

Lit Different professions [are as different] as different mountains.

Fig Difference in profession makes people feel worlds apart.

Note [Note: géháng rú géshān is used metaphorically to refer to being compartmentalized; see also tóngháng shì yuānjia below; vs. the preceding entry.]

Topics DIFFERENCES PROFESSIONS

G30

[G30]

Gé hé qiān lǐ yuǎn.

隔河千里远。

隔河千里遠。

Lit [Although] separated only by a river, [it's as though they were a] thousand leagues apart.

Fig It's hard to know the situation in a different place, (even though it may not be that far away).

Note [See also géshān rú gé tiān below.]

Topics DIFFERENCES KNOWING PLACE SEPARATION

G31

[G31]

Gè jiāmén, gè jiā hù.

各家门, 各家户。

各家門, 各家戶。

Lit [Behind] every door [is a] separate household.

Fig People should mind their own business.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 3, and DRC, chap. 71; see also gèrén zì sǎo below.]

Topics DIFFERENCES DRC INDIVIDUALISM INTERFERENCE PRIVACY SELF-RESTRAINT Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

G32

[G32]

Gèjìn-suǒnéng, ànláo-fēnpèi.

各尽所能, 按劳分配。

各盡所能, 按勞分配。

Lit [From] each according to [his] ability; [to] each according to [his] work.

Note [This Marxist slogan is referred to as the Socialist Principle of Distribution; see also the following entry.]

Topics ABILITY communism ECONOMICS JUSTICE Marxist SOCIETY WORK

G33

[G33]

Gèjìn-suǒnéng, ànxū-fēnpèi.

各尽所能, 按需分配。

各盡所能, 按需分配。

Lit [From] each according to [his] ability; [to] each according to [his] needs.

Note [This Marxist slogan is referred to as the Communist Principle of Distribution; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics ABILITY communism ECONOMICS JUSTICE Marxist NEEDS SOCIETY

G34

[G34]

Gēn bù zhèng, miáo bì wāi.

根不正, 苗必歪。

Lit [If the] root is not straight, the seedling will be crooked.

Fig One's character and behavior later in life depend on one's early upbringing. “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CHARACTER CHILD REARING EDUCATION UPBRINGING

G35

[G35]

Gēn bù zhèng, miáo bù shèng.

根不正, 苗不盛。

Lit [If the] root is not straight, the seedlings [will] not flourish.

Fig There can be no successful future for children without a good upbringing.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics CHILD REARING CHILDREN EDUCATION UPBRINGING

G36

[G36]

Gēng lǐ bù zháo, fàn lǐ zháo.

羹里不着, 饭里着。

羹裡不著, 飯裡著。

Lit [If one does] not meet in the soup, [one will] meet in the rice.

Fig If one creates an enemy, one is bound to encounter him sooner or later; it can't be avoided.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 31; see also yuānjia lù zhǎi below.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì CONFLICT ENEMIES FATE RIVALS

G37

[G37]

Gēn hǔ jìn shān; gēn yīng fēi tiān.

跟虎进山, 跟鹰飞天。

跟虎進山, 跟鷹飛天。

Lit [If one] follows a tiger, [one will] go into the mountains; [if one] follows an eagle, [one will] fly in the sky.

Fig One learns from the company one keeps.

Note [See also gēnzhe hǎorén below.]

Topics COMPANY EAGLES LEARNING TIGERS

G38

[G38]

Gé nián de huánglì, kànbude.

隔年的皇历, 看不得。

隔年的皇曆, 看不得。

Lit Last year's calendar is not to be looked at.

Fig One should not be bound by old, out of date rules.

Topics CHANGE PAST RULES

G39

[G39]

Gēn shēn bù jiǎn; wěi dà nán yáo.

根深不剪, 尾大难摇。

根深不剪, 尾大難搖。

Lit Deep roots are difficult to cut, [and] big tails are difficult to wave.

Fig When one's subordinates get too strong, they're hard to control.

Topics CONTROL HIERARCHY SUBORDINATES

G40

[G40]

Gēn shēn bùpà fēng yáodòng; shù zhèng hé chóu yuè yǐng yí.

根深不怕风摇动, 树正何愁月影移。

根深不怕風搖動, 樹正何愁月影移。

Lit A deep-rooted tree fears not the wind, [and] an upright tree does not worry about the moving shadow of the moon [distorting its image].

Fig A frank and righteous person need not be afraid of slander.

Note [See also hǎorén shuō bù huài and jiǎo zhèng bùpà and shùshēn zhǎng de zhèng below.]

Topics FRANKNESS HONESTY RECTITUDE SLANDER

G41

[G41]

Gēnzhe hǎorén, xué hǎorén; (gēnzhe lǎohǔ, xué yǎo rén).

跟着好人学好人, (跟着老虎学咬人)。

跟著好人學好人, (跟著老虎學咬人)。

Lit [When one] keeps good company, [one] learns to be good; ([when one] keeps company with tigers, [one] learns to bite people).

Fig One learns from the company one keeps.

Note [Rhyme; the first half is more commonly used alone; see also gēn hǔ jìn shān above and the following entry.]

Topics COMPANIONS COMPANY LEARNING rhyme TIGERS

G42

[G42]

Gēnzhe hǎorén, xué hǎorén; gēnzhe wūpó, tiào jiǎ shén.

跟着好人学好人, 跟着巫婆跳假神。

跟著好人學好人, 跟著巫婆跳假神。

Lit Keep company with good people [and you will] learn from them; keep company with witches [and you will] learn to go into trances.

Fig One is influenced by the company one keeps.

Note [Also said gēn hǎorén, xué hǎorén; see also gēnzhe wǎjiang below and the preceding entry.]

Topics COMPANIONS INFLUENCES LEARNING

G43

[G43]

Gēnzhe qín de méi lǎn de; kànzhe yìng de méi ruǎn de.

跟着勤的没懒的, 看着硬的没软的。

跟著勤的沒懶的, 看著硬的沒軟的。

Lit Keep company with diligent [people and you] won't be lazy; keep company with tough [people and you] won't be soft (i.e., cowardly).

Topics COMPANIONS COWARDICE DILIGENCE LAZINESS

G44

[G44]

Gēnzhe wǎjiang shuì sān tiān; bù huì gài fáng, yě huì bān zhuān.

跟着瓦匠睡三天, 不会盖房, 也会搬砖。

跟著瓦匠睡三天, 不會蓋房, 也會搬磚。

Lit [If you] stay with bricklayers for three nights, [you] may not learn how to build houses, [but] at least [you'll] learn how to carry bricks.

Fig One is influenced by those one spends time with.

Note [See also āizhe tiějiang and gēnzhe hǎorén above and rù háng sān rì and sān tiān zhù zài and shú dú Tángshī below.]

Topics COMPANIONS INFLUENCES LEARNING

G45

[G45]

Gé qiáng xū yǒu ěr; chuāng wài qǐ wú rén？

隔墙须有耳, 窗外岂无人？

隔牆須有耳, 窗外豈無人？

Lit On the other side of the wall there must be ears; outside the window, how can there not be someone [eavesdropping]?

Fig One must always assume that someone is listening. “The walls have ears.”

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 16; see also lùshang shuōhuà below and the following entry.]

Topics CAUTION EAVESDROPPING WM

G46

[G46]

Gé qiáng yǒu ěr.

隔墙有耳。

隔牆有耳。

Lit On the other side of the wall there must be ears.

Fig “The walls have ears.” One must be careful of eavesdroppers.

Note [See also méiyǒu bù tòufēng and qiáng yǒu fèng below and the preceding entry.]

Topics CAUTION EAVESDROPPING géqiáng-yǒu'ěr SECRETS

G47

[G47]

Gèrén chuán dǐxià yǒu shuǐ, gèrén zì xíng.

各人船底下有水, 各人自行。

Lit [Since] there's water under each individual's boat, [so] each person goes his [or her] own way.

Fig Each looks after him or herself and no one interferes with anyone else. You take care of your business and I'll take care of mine.

Note [Cf. Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 22; see also chuán duō bù ài above.]

Topics INDIVIDUALISM INTERFERENCE Píng Yāo Zhuàn SELF-INTEREST

G48

[G48]

Gèrén de mèng, gèrén yuán.

各人的梦, 各人圆。

各人的夢, 各人圓。

Lit Each person [tries to] interpret [his or her] own dream.

Fig One must deal with the consequences of one's own actions. “As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.”

Note [Note: guān mèng, “to interpret dreams.”]

Topics CONSEQUENCES DREAMS

G49

[G49]

Gèrén lěngnuǎn, gèrén zì zhī.

各人冷暖, 各人自知。

Lit Each individual knows best whether (s)he feels warm or chilly.

Fig One knows one's own situation best.

Topics INDIVIDUALS SELF

G50

[G50]

Gè rén tóushang, yī fāng tiān.

各人头上一方天。

各人頭上一方天。

Lit Each person [has] a patch of sky over [his or her] head.

Fig Each person leads his or her own life. Each person has his or her own “space” and should not be interfered with by others.

Note [See also rénrén tóu shàng dǐng below.]

Topics INDIVIDUALITY INTERFERENCE LIFE

G51

[G51]

Gèrén xǐ miàn, gèrén guāng.

各人洗面, 各人光。

Lit Each person washes [his (or her) own face and] each one shines.

Fig Each takes care of his or her own affairs and derives his or her own benefit. “As one sows, so shall one reap.”

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 13; see also gōng xiū, gōng dé below.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn INDIVIDUALISM INTERESTS

G52

[G52]

Gèrén yǒu gèrén de yuánfǎ.

各人有各人的缘法。

各人有各人的緣法。

Lit Each person has his [or her] destiny.

Fig Each person has his or her own predestined lot which predetermines our relations with each other, for good or ill.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 49; note: yuánfèn, a Buddhist term meaning the lot or luck by which people are brought together; see also jì zài Fó huì xià and yǒuyuán qiān lǐ below.]

Topics Buddhism DESTINY DRC FATE PREDETERMINISM yuánfèn

G53

[G53]

Gèrén zì sǎo mén qián xuě; mò guǎn tā jiā wǎ shàng shuāng.

各人自扫门前雪, 莫管他家瓦上霜。

各人自掃門前雪, 莫管他家瓦上霜。

Lit Each person sweeps the snow before his own door; never mind the frost on another family's roof.

Fig (It's advisable for) every individual to keep within his own province and refrain from encroaching upon others.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 24; advice traditional before 1949, which was criticized during the Cultural Revolution.]

Topics Cultural Revolution INDIVIDUALISM INTERFERENCE Jǐngshì Tōngyán SELF-RESTRAINT

G54

[G54]

Géshān rú gé tiān.

隔山如隔天。

Lit [Areas] separated by mountains [are like] separate worlds.

Fig Customs differ greatly from locality to locality.

Note [Note: géshān is also used to refer to a foster relationship; see also gé chóng dùpí and gé hé qiān lǐ yuǎn above.]

Topics CUSTOMS DIFFERENCES

G55

[G55]

Gè shīfu, gè chuánshòu; (gè bǎxì, gè biàn shǒu).

各师傅各传授, (各把戏各变手)。

各師傅各傳授, (各把戲各變手)。

Lit Every master teacher [has] his own teaching method ([and] every trick [has] its own artifice).

Note [Rhyme; cf. Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 13; note: biàn xì, “to do conjuring tricks”; see also xìfǎ rénrén below.]

Topics ARTIFICE biàn xì Lǎo Cán Yóujì rhyme TEACHERS TRICKS

G56

[G56]

Gé shuǐ wú xiāngyīn.

隔水无乡音。

隔水無鄉音。

Lit People who are separated by water don't have the same local accent (or dialect).

Topics ACCENT DIALECT SEPARATION

G57

[G57]

Gè yǎng de, gè téng.

各养的, 各疼。

各養的, 各疼。

Lit [The children that] each [one] has raised, each [one] loves.

Fig Each person loves his own children.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 5; see also cháng lǐ chūlai above.]

Topics CHILDREN LOVE PARENTS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

G58

[G58]

Gōng bù wǎng rén; dì bù kuī rén.

工不枉人; 地不亏人。

工不枉人; 地不虧人。

Lit [An investment of] hard effort is never in vain, [just as] the land does not cheat [these] people [who invest hard efforts in tilling it].

Fig The greater one's investment in terms of effort, the greater one's return will be.

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT LAND PROFIT RETURNS TILLING

G59

[G59]

Gōngdao, bù gōngdao, zì yǒu tiān zhīdao.

公道, 不公道, 自有天知道。

Lit Whether [something is] just or not, only Heaven knows.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics HEAVEN JUSTICE KNOWLEDGE rhyme

G60

[G60]

Gōngdao shìjiān wéi báifà.

公道世间惟白发。

公道世間惟白髮。

Lit The only equal treatment in the world [is] white hair [i.e., time].

Fig Only time treats everyone equally.

Note [A line from a Tang dynasty poem by Du Mu, entitled “Sòng Yínzi Yī Jué.”]

Topics AGE Du Mu EQUALITY OLD AGE POETRY Sòng Yínzi Yī Jué Tang dynasty TIME

G61

[G61]

Gōng dào, zìrán chéng.

功到自然成。

Lit [After] mastery has been achieved, success will naturally follow.

Fig Constant effort yields sure success.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 36; note: gōngdào zìránchéng is used alone as an idiom meaning “constant effort yields sure success”; see also tiědǎ fángliáng and zhǐyào gōngfu shēn below.]

Topics idiom JW PRACTICE SUCCESS

G62

[G62]

Gōngdào zì zài rénxīn.

公道自在人心。

Lit Justice resides naturally in people's hearts.

Fig In their hearts, everyone knows what is right.

Topics JUSTICE

G63

[G63]

Gōng duō chū qiǎo yì.

功多出巧艺。

功多出巧藝。

Lit More effort produces refined art.

Fig “Practice makes perfect.”

Note [Also said gōng duō, yì jiù shóu.]

Topics EFFORT PERFECTION PRACTICE SKILL

G64

[G64]

Gōng ér wàng sī; (guó ér wàng jiā).

公而忘私, (国而忘家)。

公而忘私, (國而忘家)。

Lit Public [business comes] before private [affairs], ([and] the country [comes] before one's family).

Note [Note: gōng'érwàngsī has become a chengyu referring to selflessness in the charge of one's official duties: see also dāngle bīng above and gōngshì gōng bàn and xiān gōng (ér) hòu sī below.]

Topics chengyu FAMILIES gōng'érwàngsī NATION PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY SELFLESSNESS

G65

[G65]

Gōngjìng bùrú cóngmìng.

恭敬不如从命。

恭敬不如從命。

Lit [Showing outward] respect is not as good as following orders.

Fig Obedience is a better way of showing respect than outward reverence.

Note [Usually said self-deprecatingly when accepting an invitation; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 3; DRC, chap. 62; and Lao She's Zhèng Hóng Qí Xià.]

Topics COMPARISON INVITATIONS Lao She ORDERS RESPECT Zhèng_Hóng_Qí_Xià

G66

[G66]

Gōng mén lǐ hǎo xiūxíng.

公门里好修行。

公門裡好修行。

Lit It's easier [for those who serve] in the yamen [to] “do good for others.”

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 25; note: The yámen was a county magistrate's office in traditional China; xiūxíng is a term meaning to practice Buddhism or Taoism; see also dāngquán ruò above.]

Topics Buddhism FAVORITISM MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS Rúlín Wàishǐ Taoism xiūxíng yámen

G67

[G67]

Gōngpíng chūyú zhòng yì.

公平出于众议。

公平出於眾議。

Lit Fairness comes out of public opinion.

Fig It is public opinion that decides whether something is fair or not.

Note [See also gǔ duō, chōng chū mǐ and línjū yǎnjing and shìfēi zì yǒu and zhòngrén yǎnjing below.]

Topics FAIRNESS JUSTICE PUBLIC_OPINION

G68

[G68]

Gōngpíng suànzhàng, yǒuyì cháng.

公平算帐, 友谊长。

公平算帳, 友誼長。

Lit A clear and open reckoning of accounts makes for long friendships.

Note [See also qīnxiōngdì míng suànzhàng below.]

Topics ACCOUNTING FRIENDSHIP LOANS MONEY

G69

[G69]

Gōng rén jiàn piào, shēngkou jiàn liào.

公人见票, 牲口见料。

公人見票, 牲口見料。

Lit Civil servants seeing [bank] notes [are as greedy as] draft animals seeing fodder.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics CIVIL SERVANTS GOVERNMENT GREED OFFICIALS

G70

[G70]

Gōng rén jiàn qián rú yíngzi jiàn xuè.

公人见钱如蝇子见血。

公人見錢如蠅子見血。

Lit Civil servants [are] as greedy for money as flies seeing blood.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 21; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CIVIL SERVANTS GOVERNMENT GREED OFFICIALS WM

G71

[G71]

Gōngshì bù sī yì.

公事不私议。

公事不私議。

Lit Public business [should] not be conducted in private.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics OFFICIAL BUSINESS PRIVATE PUBLIC

G72

[G72]

Gōngshì gōng bàn.*

公事公办。

公事公辦。

Lit Official business [should be] done [according to] official [principles].

Fig One should not let personal considerations interfere with one's execution of one's public duties.

Note [Note: gōngshì-gōngbàn is also used as a chengyu; see also dāngle bīng and gōng ér wàng sī above and xiān gōng (ér) hòu sī below.]

Topics chengyu gōngshì-gōngbàn OFFICIAL BUSINESS PRIVATE PUBLIC

G73

[G73]

Gōng shì gōng, sī shì sī.

公是公, 私是私。

Lit Official [business] is official [business]; private [affairs] are private [affairs].

Fig Public and private business should be kept separate.

Note [See also rénqíng guī rénqíng below.]

Topics PRIVATE PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY

G74

[G74]

Gōng tài mǎn zé zhé; yuè tài mǎn zé quē.

弓太满则折, 月太满则缺。

弓太滿則折, 月太滿則缺。

Lit [When a] bow [is pulled] too far, [it] will break; [when the] moon is [at its] fullest, [it] will wane.

Fig Things that reach their extreme will decline.

Note [Cf. Sima Qian's Shǐ Jì: Cài Zé Zhuàn; see also luòcháo zǒng yǒu below.]

Topics BALANCE Cài Zé Zhuàn EXTREMES MOON Shǐ Jì Sima_Qian

G75

[G75]

Gōng xiū, gōng dé; pó xiū, pó dé; (bù xiū, bù dé).

公修公得, 婆修婆得, (不修不得)。

Lit [When the] father-in-law does good, the father-in-law gains; [when the] mother-in-law does good, the mother-in-law gains; ([if one does]n't do [anything good], [one does]n't get [anything at all]).

Fig “As one sows, so shall one reap.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 96; note: xiū(xíng) means to practice Buddhism or Taoism; see also gōng mén lǐ hǎo xiūxíng above.]

Topics Buddhism CONSEQUENCES JUSTICE JW Taoism xiūxíng

G76

[G76]

Gōng yìng, xián cháng duàn; rén jiàng, huò bì suí.

弓硬弦长断, 人强祸必随。

弓硬弦長斷, 人強禍必隨。

Lit [Just as a] rigid bow always breaks its string, [so a] stubborn man inevitably invites disaster.

Fig Trouble will follow an unbending person, so be flexible.

Note [Note: juéjiàng, “stubborn; unbending.”]

Topics FLEXIBILITY juéjiàng STUBBORNNESS

G77

[G77]

Gōng yù shàn qí shì, bì xiān lì qí qì.*

工欲善其事, 必先利其器。

Lit A workman to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.

Fig Good preparation is prerequisite to the successful execution of a job.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Wèi Líng Gōng.]

Topics Confucian Analects Lúnyǔ PREPARATION TOOLS Wèi_Líng_Gōng

G78

[G78]

Gōngzhòng mǎ, gōngzhòng qí.

公众马, 公众骑。

公眾馬, 公眾騎。

Lit The communal horse, everybody can ride.

Fig Seeing as it's there for the taking, one might as well take one's share.

Note [See also bù chī bái bù chī and dàjiā mǎ('ér) above.]

Topics BENEFITS COMMUNITY SHARING

G79

[G79]

Gǒu bù chī shǐ, rén bù piānxīn.

狗不吃屎, 人不偏心。

Lit [When] dogs [no longer] eat excrement, [then] human beings will no [longer] practice favoritism.

Note [See also rén yǒu liángxīn below.]

Topics FAVORITISM

G80

[G80]

Gǒu bù shàngqián, yòng shí wèi; mǎ bù shàngtào, jià biān dǎ.

狗不上前用食喂, 马不上套驾鞭打。

狗不上前用食喂, 馬不上套駕鞭打。

Lit [If a] dog won't advance [toward you], use food to feed [it]; [if a] horse won't get into harness, use a whip to beat [it].

Fig One must deal with different people or situations with different tactics.

Topics DIFFERENCES SITUATIONS STRATEGY

G81

[G81]

Gǒu bù xián jiā pín; (rén bù xián dì báo).

狗不嫌家贫, (人不嫌地薄)。

狗不嫌家貧, (人不嫌地薄)。

Lit [Just as a] dog doesn't dislike [its] poor master, ([so] people don't complain [about their] poor land).

Fig People are attached to their home place. “Be it ever so humble there's no place like home.”

Note [The second part is usually omitted; see also ér bù xián above.]

Topics HOME LAND PLACE POVERTY

G82

[G82]

Gǒu bù yǎo bàinián de; guān bù dǎ sòng qián de.

狗不咬拜年的, 官不打送钱的。

狗不咬拜年的, 官不打送錢的。

Lit [Just as] dogs don't bite those [who come to] pay [formal] New Year's calls, [so] government officials don't [sentence to be] beat[en] those [who] send [gifts of] money.

Note [Rhyme, usually said of traditional magistrates before 1949; see also guānfǔ bù dǎ below.]

Topics CORRUPTION MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS rhyme

G83

[G83]

Gǒu cháo pì zǒu; rén cháo shì zǒu.

狗朝屁走, 人朝势走。

狗朝屁走, 人朝勢走。

Lit [Just as] dogs follow [the smell of] flatulence, [so] people follow the power[ful].

Note [See also gǒu bù chī shǐ above and gǒu yǎo chuān làn below.]

Topics POWER

G84

[G84]

Gǒu chī shǐ; láng chī rén.

狗吃屎, 狼吃人。

Lit Dogs eat excrement [and] wolves eat people.

Fig People cannot change their basic natures. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 31; see also gǒu gǎi bùliǎo and gǒu zǒu qiān lǐ and jiāngshān yì gǎi and shé zuān de kūdòng and yī rén, yī xiàng below.]

Topics CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN_NATURE

G85

[G85]

Gǒu dōu yǒu qiào wěiba de shíhou.

狗都有翘尾巴的时候。

狗都有翹尾巴的時候。

Lit Every dog has [his] time to stick up [his] tail.

Fig “Every dog will have his day.”

Note [Note: qiào wěiba, “to be cocky.”]

Topics qiào wěiba SUCCESS

G86

[G86]

Gǒu dù lǐ cáng bu zhù rè zhī yóu.

狗肚里藏不住热脂油。

狗肚裡藏不住熱脂油。

Lit No fatty oil can be kept in a dog's belly.

Fig A shallow person can keep nothing secret.

Topics SECRETS

G87

[G87]

Gǒu duō, bù pà láng; rén duō, bù pà hǔ.

狗多不怕狼, 人多不怕虎。

Lit [When] dogs are many, [they] do not fear wolves; [when] people are many, [they] do not fear tigers.

Fig There is strength in numbers.

Note [See also hǎo hǔ jià bu zhù below.]

Topics COOPERATION NUMBER UNITY

G88

[G88]

Gǒu gǎi bùliǎo chī shǐ.

狗改不了吃屎。

Lit Dogs cannot change eating excrement.

Fig Bad people cannot change their bad natures.

Note [See also gǒu chī shǐ above.]

Topics CHANGE HUMAN_NATURE

G89

[G89]

Gǒu jí tiào qiáng; rén jí xuánliáng.

狗急跳墙, 人急悬梁。

狗急跳牆, 人急懸梁。

Lit [Just as a] cornered dog [will] leap [over a] wall, [so a] desperate person [will] hang [himself from a] roof beam.

Fig Desperate people will resort to desperate measures.

Note [Rhyme; the first half is sometimes used alone as a chengyu metaphorically; see also zhí xiàng gǎn gǒu below.]

Topics chengyu DESPERATION gǒují-tiàoqiáng

G90

[G90]

Gǒu pà jiā wěi; rén pà shūlǐ.

狗怕夹尾, 人怕输理。

狗怕夾尾, 人怕輸理。

Lit [Just as what] dogs dislike [most is running away with their] tails between [their legs, so what] people dislike [most] is being [(shown to be) in the] wrong.

Topics FACE PROOF

G91

[G91]

Gǒu ròu gǔn sān gǔn, shénxiān zhàn bù wěn.

狗肉滚三滚, 神仙站不稳。

狗肉滾三滾, 神仙站不穩。

Lit [After] dog meat [has been] boiled three times, [even] gods cannot resist [it].

Fig No one can resist the temptation of delicious food.

Note [Note: Inviting people to dine is a common way of asking for and repaying favors in Chinese society; vs. the following entry. Especially around Canton and in Northeast China dog meat is considered a “hot” strengthening food to protect against cold weather.]

Topics FAVORS FOOD REPAYMENT TEMPTATION

G92

[G92]

Gǒu ròu shàngbude tái pán; xī níba hú bu shàng bì.

狗肉上不得台盘, 稀泥巴糊不上壁。

狗肉上不得臺盤, 稀泥巴糊不上壁。

Lit Dog meat cannot be served [to guests, just as] watery mud cannot be used to plaster walls.

Fig Some people are worthless or hapless beyond helping.

Note [Also said gǒu ròu bù shàng zhuō: (lit) Dog meat cannot be served at table; vs. the preceding entry.]

Topics HAPLESS HELP WORTHLESS

G93

[G93]

Gǒu shòu, zhǔrén xiū.

狗瘦, 主人羞。

Lit [When a] dog is thin, [its] master [feels] ashamed.

Fig A leader feels ashamed when his or her subordinates misbehave.

Topics FACE LEADERS MISBEHAVIOR SHAME

G94

[G94]

Gǒu tóu shàng chābude jīn huā.

狗头上插不得金花。

狗頭上插不得金花。

Lit [On a] dog's head [one] cannot place golden flowers.

Fig Some people, things, or situations are so bad, that attempts to beautify them simply make the whole situation worse.

Topics BEAUTY IMPROVEMENT SITUATIONS UGLINESS

G95

[G95]

Gǒu tóu shàng gē bu zhù ròu gǔtou.

狗头上搁不住肉骨头。

狗頭上擱不住肉骨頭。

Lit On a dog's head meaty bones can't be kept for long.

Fig Certain people or situations are just hopeless.

Topics IRREDEEMABLE SITUATIONS

G96

[G96]

Gǒu wéi bǎi bù wáng, zhǐshì mén qián láng.

狗为百步王, 只是门前狼。

狗為百步王, 只是門前狼。

Lit A dog is a king [within a radius of] one hundred paces, but is only a wolf in front of [his master's] door.

Fig Everyone feels that he or she is important within their own small sphere. “Every cock crows on its own dunghill.”

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics rhyme SELF-IMPORTANCE

G97

[G97]

Gǒuwō lǐ yǎng bù chū jīnqiánbào.

狗窝里养不出金钱豹。

狗窩裡養不出金錢豹。

Lit Spotted leopards can't be born in a doghouse.

Fig No person of high ability can be produced from a low environment.

Note [Vs. hánmén chū cáizǐ below.]

Topics ENVIRONMENT TALENT

G98

[G98]

Gǒuyǎn kàn rén dī.

狗眼看人低。

Lit [From the lowly perspective of a] dog's eyes, everyone looks short.

Fig A snobbish person looks down on those poorer or weaker than himself.

Note [Note the colloquial suyu expression: gǒuyǎn kàn rén, “to look down on others; to be snobbish.”]

Topics INSULTS PERSPECTIVE SNOBBERY suyu

G99

[G99]

Gǒu yǎo chuān làn de; rén tiǎn chuān hǎo de.

狗咬穿烂的, 人舔穿好的。

狗咬穿爛的, 人舔穿好的。

Lit Dogs bite the raggedly dressed, [while] people “lick up to” [i.e., flatter] the well-dressed.

Note [See also gǒu cháo pì zǒu above.]

Topics CLOTHING FLATTERY

G100

[G100]

Gǒu yǎo gǒu, liǎng zuǐ máo.

狗咬狗, 两嘴毛。

狗咬狗, 兩嘴毛。

Lit [When] dog bites dog, both [get a] mouthful of hair.

Fig When two (bad) parties engage in (an unjustifiable) dispute, they both end up losing or looking badly. “A curse upon both their houses.”

Note [Often used to describe two of the speaker's enemies fighting; gǒu-yǎo-gǒu refers to a “dog-eat-dog” conflict.]

Topics CONFLICT CURSE DISPUTES dog-eat-dog ENEMIES

G101

[G101]

Gǒu yǎo rén, yǒu yào yī; rén yǎo rén, méi yào zhì.

狗咬人有药医, 人咬人没药治。

狗咬人有藥醫, 人咬人沒藥治。

Lit [When a] person is bit[ten by a] dog, there are medicines [which can] cure [him, but if] one is bit[ten by another] person, there is no medicine [which can] cure [him].

Fig One who is falsely accused in a legal action is hard put to defend himself or herself.

Note [See also ruǎndāozi shārén and yù jiā zhī zuì below.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS FALSITY LAW LEGAL

G102

[G102]

Gǒu yě yǒu sān shēng kāng fēn.

狗也有三升糠分。

Lit Even a dog has [its share of] three bushels of rice husks.

Fig Each and every one should have a share of the food available.

Note [Note: a shēng is a unit of dry measure for grain equal to one liter.]

Topics FOOD JUSTICE SHARING shēng

G103

[G103]

Gǒu zǒu qiān lǐ chī shǐ; láng zǒu qiān lǐ chī rén.

狗走千里吃屎, 狼走千里吃人。

Lit [Although] a dog [may] travel a thousand leagues, [it will still] eat excrement; [and although a] wolf [may] travel a thousand leagues, [it will still] eat people.

Fig People cannot overcome their basic natures. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 31; note: the order of the two halves may be reversed; see also gǒu chī shǐ and gǒu gǎi bùliǎo above.]

Topics CHANGE Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HUMAN_NATURE

G104

[G104]

Gǒu zuǐ lǐ tǔ bù chū xiàngyá.

狗嘴里吐不出象牙。

狗嘴裡吐不出象牙。

Lit Out of a dog's mouth [will] never come ivory tusks.

Fig A filthy mouth cannot utter decent language.

Note [See also dúshé zuǐ lǐ above.]

Topics LANGUAGE OBSCENITIES TALK

G105

[G105]

Guǎ bù dí zhòng; ruò bù dí qiáng.

寡不敌众, 弱不敌强。

寡不敵眾, 弱不敵強。

Lit A few are no match for the many [and the] weak are no match for the strong.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 32; note: the first half is used as a chengyu: guǎbùdízhòng; originally: guǎ bù shèng zhòng from Hán Fēizǐ: Nán Sān.]

Topics chengyu COOPERATION guǎbùdízhòng Hán Fēizǐ JW Nán Sān STRONGER UNITY

G106

[G106]

Guā dì tiāo guā, tiāo de yǎnhuā.

瓜地挑瓜, 挑得眼花。

Lit [When one is] choosing melons in a melon field, [one has so many] to choose [from that one's] eyes [are] bedazzled.

Fig Too many choices make one indecisive. A “kid in a candy store” doesn't know which way to turn.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHOICES INDECISION rhyme

G107

[G107]

Guǎfu mén qián, shìfēi duō.

寡妇门前, 是非多。

寡婦門前, 是非多。

Lit In front of a widow's gate troubles are many.

Fig In front of a widow's house is a sure spot for trouble.

Note [Note: in traditional China widows were often the occasion of quarrels and trouble.]

Topics QUARRELING TROUBLE WIDOWS WOMEN

G108

[G108]

Guāi de yě shì téng; dāi de yě shì téng.

乖的也是疼, 呆的也是疼。

Lit Well behaved [children] are loved, [and] stupid [children] are also loved.

Fig Parents love their children alike whether they are quick to catch on or stupid.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 26.]

Topics CHILDREN Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn INTELLIGENCE LOVE PARENTS STUPIDITY

G109

[G109]

Guài rén bù zhī lǐ, zhī lǐ bù guài rén.

怪人不知理, 知理不怪人。

Lit [One who] blames others does not understand reason/how things are, [while one who] understands reason(s) doesn't blame others.

Note [Note: zhī lǐ means “to understand reason or (the reasons) why things are the way they are.” The two halves are also used in the reverse order (q.v.).]

Topics BLAME UNDERSTANDING zhī_lǐ

G110

[G110]

Guāi rén kàn yī yǎn; dāizi kàndào wǎn.

乖人看一眼; 呆子看到晚。

Lit [A] smart person [understands everything at] one glance, [while a] dullard [won't know anything even by] looking all day long.

Topics INTELLIGENCE UNDERSTANDING

G111

[G111]

Guài rén xū zài fù; xiāngjiàn yǒu héfáng？

怪人须在腹, 相见有何妨？

怪人須在腹, 相見有何妨？

Lit [If you] bear a grudge [against] someone, [you must] keep [it inside your] belly; [if you have to] meet each other, what harm is there?

Fig One should not avoid meeting a person against whom one harbors a grudge.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì; chap. 59.]

Topics Fēngshén Yǎnyì GRUDGES MEETING

G112

[G112]

Guān bù chāi bìngrén.

官不差病人。

Lit [An] official [should] not send [a] sick person on an errand.

Topics OFFICIALS SICKNESS

G113

[G113]

Guān bù lí yìn; huò bù lí shēn.

官不离印, 货不离身。

官不離印, 貨不離身。

Lit [Just as an] official is never without his [official] seal [of office, so a businessman's] goods are never far from his person.

Fig One always carries with one things of vital importance.

Note [See also chuán bù lí duò above.]

Topics BUSINESSMEN OFFICIALS TOOLS

G114

[G114]

Guān bùróng zhēn; sī kěróng chē.

官不容针, 私可容车。

官不容針, 私可容車。

Lit Officially [one can]not permit a needle, [but] privately [one] may let in a carriage.

Fig Officially no exceptions should be made, but privately rules may be greatly stretched.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 36; see also guān jìn, sī bù jìn below.]

Topics CORRUPTION EXCEPTIONS Jǐngshì Tōngyán LAW OFFICIALS PRIVATE PUBLIC RULES

G115

[G115]

Guāncai tóu biān nǎ yǒu zhòu sǐ guǐ？

棺材头边哪有咒死鬼？

棺材頭邊哪有咒死鬼？

Lit Where was there [ever a case of] someone in a coffin from being cursed to death?

Fig No one has ever died from being cursed at. One should not get upset at being cursed at.

Note [Cf. Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 9.]

Topics CURSING Píng Yāo Zhuàn SELF-RESTRAINT

G116

[G116]

Guàn céng wéi lǚ, piān lián kè.

惯曾为旅, 偏怜客。

慣曾為旅, 偏憐客。

Lit [One who is] used to constant traveling is inclined to have compassion for [other] travelers.

Fig People who have gone through similar experiences have sympathy for each other.

Topics EXPERIENCE SIMILARITIES SYMPATHY TRAVEL

G117

[G117]

Guān chà, lì chà; láirén bù chà.

官差吏差, 来人不差。

官差吏差, 來人不差。

Lit [That] official [may be] wrong [or this] mandarin [may be] wrong, [but] the messenger who [actually] comes [sent by the superiors] is not wrong.

Fig Right or wrong, people just (have to) follow orders or do their jobs; they're not to blame.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 3; Hé Diǎn, chap. 9.]

Topics BLAME DUTY Hé Diǎn HIERARCHY JW OFFICIALS

G118

[G118]

Guān chuán lòu; guān mǎ shòu; guān yǎng de lǎodiē bù zhǎng ròu.

官船漏, 官马瘦, 官养的老爹不长肉。

官船漏, 官馬瘦, 官養的老爹不長肉。

Lit Official ships leak; official horses grow thin; old fathers who are cared for in rotation [in their children's homes] won't grow fat.

Fig No one takes care of public property or interests; what belongs to everybody belongs to nobody.

Note [Rhyme; see also guān fáng lòu below.]

Topics PUBLIC PUBLIC INTEREST PUBLIC PROPERTY rhyme

G119

[G119]

Guān chūyú mín; mín chūyú tǔ.

官出于民, 民出于土。

官出於民, 民出於土。

Lit Officials come from the people, [just as] the people come from the land.

Fig Officials depend upon the people, just as the people depend upon the land.

Topics OFFICIALS PEOPLE

G120

[G120]

Guān dà, bù yā xiānglín.

官大不压乡邻。

官大不壓鄉鄰。

Lit [When an] official [assumes] high [office, he should] not oppress [his] hometown neighbors.

Note [See also fùguì bù yā above.]

Topics OFFICIALS

G121

[G121]

Guān dà yī jí, yā sǐ rén.

官大一级, 压死人。

官大一級, 壓死人。

Lit [An] official one rank higher [can] control a person

Note [one rank lower.]

Topics CONTROL HIERARCHY OFFICIALS RANK

G122

[G122]

Guǎn de sān céng mén lǐ; guǎnbude sān céng mén wài.

管得三层门里, 管不得三层门外。

管得三層門裡, 管不得三層門外。

Lit [One should only] care about affairs within [one's] family, not those outside of it.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 7; note: sān céng mén, (lit) “three layers of doors”; in traditional China, well-to-do extended families usually had three parallel rows of buildings within the walls of the compounds of their homes.]

Topics FAMILIES JPM OUTSIDERS PRIVACY sān_céng_mén

G123

[G123]

Guān duàn, shí tiáo lù.

官断十条路。

官斷十條路。

Lit Officials judging [a case have] ten different ways.

Fig It's difficult to anticipate the outcome of a law case [in traditional China] as every one is settled differently. Going to court is a “crap shoot”; there's no way to predict what will happen.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 81.]

Topics COURTS LAW OFFICIALS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

G124

[G124]

Guān fáng lòu; guān mǎ shòu; guān zhòng tángwū jī shǐ chòu.

官房漏, 官马瘦, 官众堂屋鸡屎臭。

官房漏, 官馬瘦, 官眾堂屋雞屎臭。

Lit Public buildings leak, public horses are thin, [and in the] public meeting halls [there are] stinking chicken droppings.

Fig No one takes care of public property.

Note [Rhyme; compare with guān wū lòu below.]

Topics PROPERTY PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY rhyme

G125

[G125]

Guānfǔ bù dǎ sònglǐ de. / Guān bù dǎ sònglǐ rén.

官府不打送礼的。 / 官不打送礼人。

官府不打送禮的。 / 官不打送禮人。

Lit Officials don't whip those who offer presents.

Fig Those who send bribes to the magistrate are sure to escape punishment.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 111; see also zāngguān bù dǎ below.]

Topics BRIBERY CORRUPTION MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS PUNISHMENT Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

G126

[G126]

Guān gāo bì xiǎn; shì dà bì qīng.

官高必险, 势大必倾。

官高必險, 勢大必傾。

Lit Officials [of] high [rank] must [face] danger, [and those whose] power is great [sooner or later] must collapse.

Fig The higher one's position is the more risk one faces. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

Topics DANGER OFFICIALS RANK RISK

G127

[G127]

Guāng gǔ chuízi dǎ bù xiǎng.

光鼓锤子打不响。

光鼓錘子打不響。

Lit A drumstick alone can't make much noise.

Fig It's impossible to accomplish much alone.

Topics COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS UNITY

G128

[G128]

Guānggùn bù chī yǎnqián kuī.

光棍不吃眼前亏。

光棍不吃眼前虧。

Lit A smart guy won't suffer a loss right under his nose.

Fig A clever person usually retreats or compromises under unfavorable conditions.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; also said hǎohàn bù chī, etc.]

Topics CLEVERNESS COMPROMISE LOSS RETREAT Wǔ_Sōng

G129

[G129]

Guānggùn dǎ jiǔ jiǔ; bù dǎ jiā yī.

光棍打九九, 不打加一。

Lit A smart guy hits ninety-nine, [but] not one more [i.e., one hundred].

Fig A clever person knows to stop before going too far.

Topics CAUTION CLEVERNESS SELF-RESTRAINT STRATEGY

G130

[G130]

Guānggùn dù lǐ yǒu bǎ chèng.

光棍肚里有把秤。

光棍肚裡有把秤。

Lit A smart guy has a steelyard [measure] in his heart.

Fig A clever person knows what's what.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics CLEVERNESS EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE Wǔ_Sōng

G131

[G131]

Guānggùn huítóu, èsǐ gǒu.

光棍回头饿死狗。

光棍回頭餓死狗。

Lit [If] a “smart guy” [can] turn over a new leaf, [then] dogs [can] starve to death [i.e., something impossible].

Fig It is very unlikely that (such) scoundrels can mend their ways.

Note [Cf. gǒu bù chī shǐ above.]

Topics CHANGE HUMAN NATURE SCOUNDRELS

G132

[G132]

Guānggùn shū zài tuǐ shàng; bù néng shū zài zuì shàng.

光棍输在腿上, 不能输在嘴上。

光棍輸在腿上, 不能輸在嘴上。

Lit A “smart guy” may lose by running away [from a fight, etc., but he] will never admit that he lost.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CLEVERNESS DEFEAT rhyme STRATEGY

G133

[G133]

Guǎng jiāo bùrú zéyǒu.

广交不如择友。

廣交不如擇友。

Lit Better to choose [one's] friends [with care] than to make friends indiscriminately.

Note [Cf. Lǐjì: Xué Jì.]

Topics Book of Rites FRIENDS Lǐjì Xué_Jì

G134

[G134]

Guǎng jì bùrú dàn mò.

广记不如淡墨。

廣記不如淡墨。

Lit A broad memory is not as [good as] pale ink.

Fig Written notes are always better than memory alone.

Note [See also hǎo jìxing bùrú and xīn jì bùrú below.]

Topics MEMORY NOTES WRITING

G135

[G135]

Guǎn gōng de, gōng wān; guǎn jiàn de, jiàn zhí.

管弓的弓弯, 管箭的箭直。

管弓的弓彎, 管箭的箭直。

Lit [Those who are] in charge of [making] bows [should make them] curved, [and those who are] in charge of [making] arrows [should make them] straight.

Fig Each should do his or her own duty or mind his or her own business. “You do your job and I'll do mine.”

Topics APPROPRIATENESS DIVISION OF LABOR INTERFERENCE NON-INTERFERENCE WORK

G136

[G136]

Guāng shuō bù liàn, wǎng xué bǎinián.

光说不练, 枉学百年。

光說不練, 枉學百年。

Lit All talk [but] no practice [is to] waste [one's] effort [though it be for one] hundred years.

Fig Talk without actual practice will come to nothing.

Topics EFFORT PRACTICE TALK

G137

[G137]

Guān guān xiānghù,* (yǒu qiānlián).

官官相护, (有牵连)。

官官相護, (有牽連)。

Lit Officials protect each other, ([as they all] have ties [between them]).

Note [Note: guānguān-xiānghù is used as a chengyu; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 5.]

Topics chengyu guānguān-xiānghù OFFICIALS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

G138

[G138]

Guāngyīn shì jiàn, rìyuè rú suō.

光阴是箭, 日月如梭。

光陰是箭, 日月如梭。

Lit Time [flies] like an arrow [and] the days and nights [as fast] as a shuttle.

Fig Time flies quickly.

Note [Note: rìyuè-rúsuō is used as a chengyu; cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 26; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 5; note: guāng-yīn, (lit) “light and shadow” means “time”; rì-yuè, (lit) “sun and moon,” means “days and nights.”]

Topics chengyu guāng-yīn Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō rì-yuè rìyuè-rúsuō TIME Xǐngshì_Héngyán

G139

[G139]

Guāngyīn sì jùnmǎ jiābiān; fú shì sì luòhuā (/liúshuǐ).

光阴似骏马加鞭, 浮世似落花(/流水)。

光陰似駿馬加鞭, 浮世似落花(/流水)。

Lit Time gallops by like a swift horse being whipped, [and] worldly affairs pass like flowers falling [or] water flowing away.

Topics CHANGE TIME TRANSIENCE

G140

[G140]

Guāngzhe jiǎo bù pà chuān xié de hàn.

光着脚不怕穿鞋的汉。

光著腳不怕穿鞋的漢。

Lit [Those who are] barefoot are not afraid of guys wearing shoes.

Fig The poor [who have nothing to lose] are not afraid of the rich. Desperate people have nothing to lose.

Topics DESPERATION POVERTY RICH

G141

[G141]

Guān jǐng bùrú tīng jǐng.

观景不如听景。

觀景不如聽景。

Lit Going sightseeing is not as [good as being] told by others.

Fig Descriptions are often better than the actual scene itself.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DESCRIPTIONS HEARSAY rhyme SIGHTSEEING

G142

[G142]

Guān jìn, sī bù jìn.

官禁私不禁。

Lit Officially, [some things are] prohibited, [but] privately [they are] not.

Note [See also guān bùróng zhēn above.]

Topics CORRUPTION PRIVATE PUBLIC

G143

[G143]

Guān jiǔ, zì fù.

官久自富。

Lit [When one has been in an] official [position for a] long time, [one will] naturally [become] wealthy.

Note [See also yī rén qīng zhèng fǔ below.]

Topics CORRUPTION OFFICIALS WEALTH

G144

[G144]

Guàn kǒu hǎo wǔ; rén kǒu nán wǔ.

罐口好捂, 人口难捂。

罐口好捂, 人口難捂。

Lit The mouths of jars may be stopped up, [but] the mouths of people [can]not be stopped.

Fig You cannot squelch public opinion.

Note [See also fáng mín zhī kǒu above.]

Topics MOUTHS PUBLIC_OPINION

G145

[G145]

Guānmén dǎ gǒu; sāwǎng bǔyú.*

关门打狗, 撒网捕鱼。

關門打狗, 撒網捕魚。

Lit Close the door [when you] beat a dog [so it can't get away]; cast the net wide [to] catch fish.

Fig Different matters require different tactics.

Note [Note: guānmén dǎ gǒu is a set phrase usually referring to bottling up an enemy to prevent his escape; sāwáng bǔyú is also a military expression meaning to deploy one's forces widely.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS STRATEGY TACTICS

G146

[G146]

Guānmén yǎng hǔ; hǔ dà shāngrén.

关门养虎, 虎大伤人。

關門養虎, 虎大傷人。

Lit [If you] raise a tiger [secretly] behind closed doors, [when the] tiger grows up [it will] harm you [or others].

Fig If one helps bad people, one will suffer the consequences later.

Note [Cf. Shuō Yuè Quán Zhuàn, chap. 40.]

Topics CONSEQUENCES EVIL HELP Shuō_Yuè_Quán_Zhuàn

G147

[G147]

Guān qí bù yǔ, zhēn jūnzǐ; luò zǐ wú huǐ, dàzhàngfu.

观棋不语真君子, 落子无悔大丈夫。

觀棋不語真君子, 落子無悔大丈夫。

Lit [One who while] watching a chess [game] keeps silent [is] a true gentleman; [one who] makes a move, [and does] not regret, [i.e., change] it [later, is a] good sportsman.

Note [Said, e.g., by chess players.]

Topics CHESS GENTLEMEN SPORT

G148

[G148]

Guān qīng, mín zì ān; (fǎ zhèng, tiān xīn shùn).

官清民自安, (法正天心顺)。

官清民自安, (法正天心順)。

Lit [When] officials [are] “clean,” [i.e., honest and upright], the people [will] naturally be peaceful; ([if] justice prevails, Heaven [will] respond favorably).

Note [From a play by the Yuan dynasty playwright Xuan Hanqing.]

Topics DRAMA HONESTY JUSTICE OFFICIALS PEACE Xuan Hanqing Yuan_dynasty

G149

[G149]

Guān qíng rú zhǐ báo.

官情如纸薄。

官情如紙薄。

Lit Feelings [between] officials [are as thin] as paper, [i.e., when one is in trouble, the others won't support him].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 27; note: rénqíng “relations; feelings”; qíngmian, “feelings; sensibilities”; see also rénqíng sì zhǐ below.]

Topics FEELINGS OFFICIALS qíngmian RELATIONS rénqíng SUPPORT TROUBLE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

G150

[G150]

Guān qīng, yámen shòu.

官清衙门瘦。

官清衙門瘦。

Lit [When] officials are “clean,” [i.e., honest and upright], [their subordinates in the] magistrate's office [will be] thin, [i.e., won't be rich].

Note [Also said guān qīng, sīlǐ shòu; “... the runners are thin”; note: yámén refers to the local magistrate's office in imperial China, usually in the county seat; see also dāngchāi de above and yámen de qián and yǒu guān, bù chóu zàolì below.]

Topics HONESTY MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS yámen

G151

[G151]

Guān qí yǒu, zhī qí rén.

观其友, 知其人。

觀其友, 知其人。

Lit To look at [someone]'s friends [is to] know that person.

Fig People are known by the company they keep.

Topics CHARACTER COMPANIONS FRIENDS

G152

[G152]

Guān rén rú guān yù; zhuō yǎn xǐ jī píng.

观人如观玉, 拙眼喜讥评。

觀人如觀玉, 拙眼喜譏評。

Lit Judging people['s characters is like] judging jade; the incompetent like to criticize.

Topics CHARACTER COMPETENCE CRITICISM

G153

[G153]

Guānr méile shāmào; wēnshén méile língguāng.

官儿没了纱帽, 瘟神没了灵光。

官兒沒了紗帽, 瘟神沒了靈光。

Lit [An] official [who] has lost [his] black gauze cap [is like a] God of Plagues without [his] halo.

Fig No one is afraid of an official who has lost his office.

Topics DECLINE OFFICIALS

G154

[G154]

Guǎn shān chī shān; guǎn shuǐ chī shuǐ.

管山吃山, 管水吃水。

Lit [Those who are] in charge of mountain [areas] eat [off the] mountains [and those who are] in charge of water [areas] eat [off the] waters.

Fig People in charge get different kinds of benefits depending on what they are in charge of.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 41; see also dǎyú de bù lí above and jìn shān shǐ mù and kào shān, chī shān below.]

Topics BENEFITS LEADERS OFFICIALS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

G155

[G155]

Guǎn sháo de, guǎn bùliǎo shāohuǒ.

管勺的, 管不了烧火。

管勺的, 管不了燒火。

Lit [The] cook cannot be in charge of stoking the fire.

Fig One should not interfere with other people's business.

Topics INTERFERENCE NON-INTERFERENCE PRIVACY

G156

[G156]

Guān wū lòu; guān mǎ shòu.

关屋漏, 关马瘦。

關屋漏, 關馬瘦。

Lit A house [which has been] closed up [for a long time will] leak, [and a] horse [which has been] shut up [for a long time will be] thin.

Fig People and things which are not used go into a decline.

Note [Rhyme; these characters may be a misinterpretation of guān fáng lòu above.]

Topics DISUSE

G157

[G157]

Guān wú sān rì jǐn.

官无三日紧。

官無三日緊。

Lit Officials are not strict for [even] three days.

Fig An official won't strictly enforce the rules for long.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 17; see also fǎ wú sān rì yán above.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí LAW OFFICIALS STRICTNESS

G158

[G158]

Guān xiàng guān; mín xiàng mín; (qióngrén xiàng de shì qióngrén).

官向官, 民向民, (穷人向的是穷人)。

官向官, 民向民, (窮人向的是窮人)。

Lit Officials are partial to officials, common people support common people, ([and] it's poor people who help each other).

Fig Like helps like.

Note [Rhyme; the last part is often omitted, or may vary, as guāngjiǎo de xiàngde shì qióngrén, “Those who are barefoot help the poor.”]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE HELP OFFICIALS POOR

G159

[G159]

Guǎnxiánshì, luò bùshi.

管闲事, 落不是。

管閑事, 落不是。

Lit “Poking one's nose into other people's business” [will] result in being blamed.

Topics INTERFERENCE NON-INTERFERENCE PRIVACY

G160

[G160]

Guān xíng hǎo guò; sīxíng nán ái.

官刑好过, 私刑难挨。

官刑好過, 私刑難挨。

Lit Official punishment [in a law court may] be borne, [but] illegal punishments are hard to bear.

Note [Said of punishments by landlords, money lenders, etc. in traditional China.]

Topics LANDLORDS PUNISHMENT traditional_China

G161

[G161]

Guān yú hǎi zhě nán wéi shuǐ.

观于海者难为水。

觀於海者難為水。

Lit One [who has] seen the sea [is] hard [put] to care about rivers.

Fig Having seen the greater world, one is beyond caring about trifles. To a sophisticated person, there is nothing new under the sun.

Note [From Mencius (Méngzi: Jìn Xīn Shàng); cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 15; see also céng jīng cānghǎi above.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EXPERIENCE Mencius PERSPECTIVE SOPHISTICATION

G162

[G162]

Guǎn zhōng kuī bào, kě jiàn yī bān.

管中窥豹, 可见一斑。

管中窺豹, 可見一斑。

Lit Peek [at a] leopard through [a bamboo] tube, [and you] can [only] see one spot.

Fig Even though one has only a limited knowledge of something, one can imagine the entire thing.

Note [Cf. Jìn Shū: Wáng Xiàn Zhī Zhuàn; note: guǎnzhōng-kuībào is used as a chengyu meaning “having a limited view or knowledge of something.”]

Topics chengyu guǎnzhōng-kuībào IMAGINATION Jìn Shū PERSPECTIVE Wáng_Xiàn_Zhī_Zhuàn

G163

[G163]

“Guān” zì, liǎng zhāng kǒu.

“官” 字, 两张口。

“官” 字, 兩張口。

Lit [The Chinese character for] “official” [looks like it contains] two [characters for] “mouth” (口).

Fig Government officials often “speak out of both sides of their mouths,” (i.e., say one thing at one time and something else at another) and do not keep their promises.

Note [This is an orthographic pun.]

Topics Chinese characters OFFICIALS orthographic pun PROMISES

G164

[G164]

Guàn zǐ rú shā zǐ.

惯子如杀子。

慣子如殺子。

Lit To spoil a child is like killing a child.

Fig Children must learn discipline in order to survive.

Note [Also said jiāo zǐ, shā zǐ; note: jiāoguàn, “to spoil (someone).”]

Topics CHILDREN jiāoguàn SPOILING

G165

[G165]

Guā shú yào zhāi; guǒ shú yào cǎi.

瓜熟要摘, 果熟要采。

瓜熟要摘, 果熟要採。

Lit [When they are] ripe, melons [and] fruit should be picked.

Fig Grasp the opportunity when conditions are favorable; “carpe diem.”

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics carpe diem CONDITIONS OPPORTUNITY rhyme

G166

[G166]

Guā shú zì luòdì; shuǐ dào zì chéng chuān.

瓜熟自落地, 水到自成川。

Lit [When] melons are ripe, [they will] naturally fall to the ground, [just as when] water comes, [it] naturally forms [into] rivers.

Fig Don't be impatient; things (will) happen naturally in their own time.

Topics IMPATIENCE NATURE PATIENCE TIME

G167

[G167]

Guā tián bù nà lǚ; lǐ xià bù zhèng guān.*

瓜田不纳履, 李下不正冠。

瓜田不納履, 李下不正冠。

Lit Don't tie your shoes in a melon patch, [and] don't adjust your hat under a plum tree.

Fig Don't engage in any behavior which might appear suspicious.

Topics APPEARANCES BEHAVIOR CONDUCT CONDUCT SUSPICION

G168

[G168]

Guā wú gǔnyuán; rén wú shíquán.

瓜无滚圆, 人无十全。

瓜無滾圓, 人無十全。

Lit [Just as] no melon is fully round, [so] no person is 10[0 percent] perfect.

Note [Rhyme; see also rén wú wánrén below.]

Topics PERFECTION rhyme

G169

[G169]

Guāzǐ bù bǎo, shì rénxīn.

瓜子不饱, 是人心。

瓜子不飽, 是人心。

Lit Melon seeds do not satisfy one's hunger completely, [but they at least] represent sincerity.

Fig (Like entertaining a guest with melon seeds: it's nothing much, but) it's the thought that counts.

Note [Usually said politely by a host.]

Topics COURTESY

G170

[G170]

Gǔ bù dǎ, bù xiǎng; huà bù shuō, bùmíng.

鼓不打不响, 话不说不明。

鼓不打不響, 話不說不明。

Lit [A] drum won't make sound unless [it's been] beaten; words not spoken [can]not be understood.

Fig One must speak up in order to be understood by others.

Note [Compare with the following two entries; cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 38; see also rén bù shuō below.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí GOSSIP REASONS

G171

[G171]

Gǔ bù dǎ, bù xiǎng; lǐ bù biàn, bùmíng.

鼓不打不响, 理不辩不明。

鼓不打不響, 理不辯不明。

Lit [Just as] without being beaten, drums won't sound, [so] without being debated over, the truth won't come clear.

Note [See also huà bù shuō, bùmíng below.]

Topics DEBATE TRUTH

G172

[G172]

Gǔ bù dǎ, bù xiǎng; zhōng bù zhuàng, bù míng.

鼓不打不响, 钟不撞不鸣。

鼓不打不響, 鐘不撞不鳴。

Lit [A] drum won't make sound unless [it's been] beaten, nor will a bell unless [it's been] struck.

Fig People won't make comments unless there is some reason.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 38; compare with the preceding two entries.]

Topics CAUSE Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí GOSSIP REASONS

G173

[G173]

Gūdān zhě nán qǐ; zhòng xíng zhě yì qū.

孤单者难起, 众行者易趋。

孤單者難起, 眾行者易趨。

Lit A single person can hardly get started [while] a group going together can easily advance.

Fig Many people make a job easier. “Many hands make light work.”

Topics COOPERATION UNITY WORK

G174

[G174]

Gū dú chù rǔ; jiāozǐ mà mǔ.

孤犊触乳, 骄子骂母。

孤犢觸乳, 驕子罵母。

Lit [Just as an] only calf will butt [up against its mother's] udders, [so a] spoiled child curses [at its] mother.

Fig Children should not be spoiled (especially by their mothers).

Note [Rhyme; note: calves bump their mother's udders when they wish to nurse.]

Topics CHILDREN MOTHERS SPOILING

G175

[G175]

Gǔ duō, chōng chū mǐ; rén duō, jiǎng chū lǐ.

谷多舂出米, 人多讲出理。

穀多舂出米, 人多講出理。

Lit [Just as when there is] more grain, [it's easier to] husk the rice, [so when there are] more people, [it's easier to] reason out the truth.

Fig Public opinion or discussion will expose the truth.

Note [Rhyme; see also gōngpíng chūyú above.]

Topics DISCUSSION PUBLIC OPINION rhyme TRUTH

G176

[G176]

Guǐ bù zhāo, bù lái.

鬼不招, 不来。

鬼不招, 不來。

Lit Devils don't come unless [they are] invoked.

Fig Bad people don't come unless they are invited. Bad behavior invites others of a similar ilk.

Topics BEHAVIOR EVIL

G177

[G177]

Guì de bù guì; jiàn de bù jiàn.

贵的不贵, 贱的不贱。

貴的不貴, 賤的不賤。

Lit Expensive goods are not really expensive [because they are of high quality, and] cheap goods are not really cheap [because they are usually of low quality].

Note [See also piányi wú hǎo huò and hǎo wù bù jiàn and yī fēn jiàqian below.]

Topics CHEAPNESS EXPENSE QUALITY VALUE

G178

[G178]

Guǐhuǒ bù gǎn jiàn zhēn huǒ.

鬼火不敢见真火。

鬼火不敢見真火。

Lit Fox fire dares not meet real fire.

Fig The crooked fear the upright. Uprightness can always overcome heterodoxy.

Topics FEAR HETERODOXY JUSTICE STRENGTH UPRIGHTNESS

G179

[G179]

Guì jīng, bù guì duō.

贵精, 不贵多。

貴精, 不貴多。

Lit Value quality; do not value quantity.

Fig It's quality, not quantity, that counts.

Note [Cf. Lao She's Zhèng Hóng Qí Xià.]

Topics Lao She QUALITY QUANTITY VALUE Zhèng_Hóng_Qí_Xià

G180

[G180]

Guìrén bù tà xiǎndì.

贵人不踏险地。

貴人不踏險地。

Lit A person of high rank does not go to dangerous places.

Fig Rich (or noble) people don't (have to) take risks.

Note [A traditional Chinese belief; see also jiā lěi qiānjīn below.]

Topics NOBLES RANK RICH RISK

G181

[G181]

Guìrén duō wàng shì.

贵人多忘事。

貴人多忘事。

Lit Noble people [tend to] forget things more [because they are so busy].

Fig A person of (your) eminence has so many important matters to deal with that some may become forgotten.

Note [Said either flatteringly or ironically; cf. DRC, chap. 6.]

Topics DRC FLATTERY FORGETTING HIERARCHY IRONY

G182

[G182]

Guìrén huàyǔ chí.

贵人话语迟。

貴人話語遲。

Lit A person [who assumes himself to be] important [deliberately] speaks slowly.

Topics SELF-IMPORTANCE TALK

G183

[G183]

Guìrén tái yǎn kàn, biànshì fúxīng lín.

贵人抬眼看, 便是福星临。

貴人抬眼看, 便是福星臨。

Lit [If a] noble person casts a [favorable] eye [on you], that's [your] lucky star drawing nigh.

Topics FAVORITISM LUCK

G184

[G184]

Guī shī wù yǎn qióngkòu mò zhuī.

归师勿掩, 穷寇莫追。

歸師勿掩, 窮寇莫追。

Lit [One should] not attack a retreating enemy [and] not pursue a hard-pressed foe;

Fig One should not press a defeated enemy so hard that they turn and fight in desperation. Don't force people into a corner (as they may fight back desperately like cornered rats).

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 95; Sunzi: Jūn Zhēng; vs. yí jiāng shèng yǒng below.]

Topics DESPERATION ENEMIES Jūn Zhēng R3K SELF-RESTRAINT STRATEGY

G185

[G185]

Guǐ (yě) pà èrén.

鬼(也)怕恶人。

鬼(也)怕惡人。

Lit (Even) ghosts are afraid of evil people.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 36; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 39.]

Topics EVIL FEAR JW Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

G186

[G186]

Guì yì jiāo; fù yì qī.

贵易交, 富易妻。

貴易交, 富易妻。

Lit [When a man] rises in status, [he] changes [his old] friends, [and when a man becomes] rich, [he] changes [his] wife, [i.e., takes an additional wife and neglects or abandons the first one].

Note [See also pínjiàn zhī zhī below.]

Topics CHANGE FRIENDS RANK RICH STATUS WIVES

G187

[G187]

Gǔ kōng, shēng gāo; rén kuáng, huà dà.

鼓空, 声高; 人狂, 话大。

鼓空, 聲高; 人狂, 話大。

Lit [Just as] empty drums [make the] loudest sound, [so] proud and self-conceited people talk big.

Note [See also hǎo māo bù jiào and kōng guànzi and shuǐ jìng zé and zhěng píng bù yáo below.]

Topics BRAGGING CONCEIT

G188

[G188]

Gǔlái cún lǎo mǎ, bùbì qǔ chángtú.

古来存老马, 不必取长途。

古來存老馬, 不必取長途。

Lit Since time immemorial [people have] kept old horses, not chosen [for their ability to go] long distances, [but because they know the routes from long experience].

Fig Value older people for their experience and knowledge, rather than for their physical strength.

Note [From a Tang dynasty poem “Jiāng Hàn” by Du Fu; see also lǎo mǎ shí tú below.]

Topics AGE Du Fu EXPERIENCE HORSES KNOWLEDGE Tang dynasty Zhāng_Hàn

G189

[G189]

Gǔlái fāng ěr xià, shéi néng bù tūn gōu？

古来芳饵下, 谁能不吞钩？

古來芳餌下, 誰能不吞鉤？

Lit Since time immemorial, [whenever there has been] fragrant bait [hung out], underneath [there has always been] someone unable [to resist] swallowing the hook.

Fig Where there are benefits to be got, there will always be people willing to take risks or die to get them.

Note [See also rén wèi cái sǐ and zhòngshǎng zhīxià below.]

Topics AVARICE BAIT GREED VICTIMS

G190

[G190]

Gūniang xián sǎo chǒu.

姑娘嫌嫂丑。

姑娘嫌嫂醜。

Lit A sister [says she] dislikes [her] elder brother's wife [for her] ugliness.

Fig One should not complain about things which are none of their business.

Note [Note: Traditionally the relation between gū-sǎo (brother's sister and brother's wife) is a troubled one.]

Topics gū-sǎo RESTRAINT UGLINESS

G191

[G191]

Gùnzi shāng ròu; èyǔ shāng gǔ.

棍子伤肉, 恶语伤骨。

棍子傷肉, 惡語傷骨。

Lit A club hurts the flesh, [but] evil words hurt the bone.

Note [See also biān zhǐ shāng ròu above.]

Topics SPEECH WORDS

G192

[G192]

Guó bùkě yī rì wú jūn.

国不可一日无君。

國不可一日無君。

Lit [A] nation cannot [afford even] one day without [its] ruler.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 3 and 85; see also cháotíng bùkě above.]

Topics cháotíng LEADERSHIP NATION R3K RULERS

G193

[G193]

Guō bù rè, bǐng bù tiē.

锅不热, 饼不贴。

鍋不熱, 餅不貼。

Lit [If the] wok [frying pan] is not hot, the cakes won't stick [to it].

Fig Wait until the time is right before taking action.

Topics ACTION STRATEGY TIMING wok

G194

[G194]

Guò ěr zhī yán bùkě tīng xìn.

过耳之言不可听信。

過耳之言不可聽信。

Lit Words overheard are not to be trusted.

Fig Hearsay is not reliable.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 10.]

Topics HEARSAY JW TRUST WORDS

G195

[G195]

Guǒ guā shīdì zé bù róng; yú lóng shī shuǐ zé bùlíng.

果瓜失地则不荣, 鱼龙失水则不灵。

果瓜失地則不榮, 魚龍失水則不靈。

Lit Fruit [and] melons without land won't grow; [and] fish [and] dragons without water can't function.

Fig No one can be divorced from the support of the masses.

Note [From a biography written by the Song dynasty poet Su Shi; note: dragons are believed to live in water.]

Topics GOVERNMENT PEOPLE Song dynasty Su_Shi

G196

[G196]

Guò hé mò wàng dāqiáo rén.

过河莫忘搭桥人。

過河莫忘搭橋人。

Lit [When you] cross a river, don't forget the people [who] built the bridge.

Fig (After one has succeeded,) one should not forget the people who have helped one in the past.

Note [Note: dāqiáo, (lit) “to build bridges,” has the figurative meaning of “to act as a go-between”; see also chīshuǐ bù wàng above.]

Topics GRATITUDE SUCCESS SUPPORT

G197

[G197]

Guójiā xīng-wáng, pǐfū yǒu zé.

国家兴亡, 匹夫有责。

國家興亡, 匹夫有責。

Lit [For] the rise and fall of the nation, [every] common man (sic) has a responsibility.

Fig All men (sic) share a common responsibility for the fate of their country.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 8.]

Topics CITIZENSHIP DUTY NATION RESPONSIBILITY Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

G198

[G198]

Guòle zhège cūn, méi zhège diàn.

过了这个村, 没这个店。

過了這個村, 沒這個店。

Lit Past this village there'll be no [more] inns [like this one].

Fig Don't pass up a good (or last) chance, as it will not come again.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 9; see also jī bù kě shī below.]

Topics CHANCE Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn TIMING

G199

[G199]

Guō lǐ yǒu, wǎn lǐ cái yǒu.

锅里有, 碗里才有。

鍋裡有, 碗裡才有。

Lit Only if [the collective] pot has [food in it will] there be [food] in [one's individual] bowl.

Note [This was a communist slogan in the 1950s; see also dà hé lǐ yǒu shuǐ above.]

Topics Communist slogan COMMUNITY FOOD INDIVIDUALS SHARING

G200

[G200]

Guó luàn chū zhōngchén.*

国乱出忠臣。

國亂出忠臣。

Lit [When the] country [is] in turmoil, [it will] come out [who] the loyal court officials [are].

Note [Originally guójiā hūnluàn, yǒu zhōngchén from Lǎozǐ, chap. 18; see also jífēng zhī jìncǎo and rén dào nánchù and shì biàn zhī rénxīn below.]

Topics COUNTRY GOVERNMENT Lǎozǐ LOYALTY OFFICIALS

G201

[G201]

Guòqù, wèilái, bùrú xiànzài.

过去未来, 不如现在。

過去未來, 不如現在。

Lit Neither past nor future are as good as the present.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FUTURE PAST PRESENT rhyme TIME

G202

[G202]

Guòtóu fàn bié chī; guòtóu huà bié jiǎng.

过头饭别吃, 过头话别讲。

過頭飯別吃, 過頭話別講。

Lit Don't eat excessive [amounts of] food, [and] don't talk excessive talk.

Fig Don't eat too much food [and] don't brag or exaggerate or say anything that will hurt or offend others.

Note [See also huà bùyào shuō below.]

Topics BRAGGING EATING FOOD MODERATION RESTRAINT SPEECH TALK

G203

[G203]

Guó yǐ mín wéi běn; mín yǐ shí wéi tiān.

国以民为本; 民以食为天。

國以民為本; 民以食為天。

Lit A country depends on [its] people as [its] base, [just as] the people depend on food [to survive].

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 81.]

Topics COUNTRY Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) GOVERNMENT PEOPLE

G204

[G204]

Guó yǒu guófǎ; jiā yǒu jiāguī.

国有国法, 家有家规。

國有國法, 家有家規。

Lit [Just as a] country has [its] laws, [so a] family has [its] rules.

Note [See also jiā yǒu jiāguī below.]

Topics FAMILIES LAW RULES

G205

[G205]

Guò zé wù dàn gǎi.

过则勿惮改。

過則勿憚改。

Lit [If you] have faults, do not fear to change [them].

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Xué Ér.]

Topics Confucian Analects FAULTS Lúnyǔ SELF-IMPROVEMENT Xué_Ér

G206

[G206]

Gǔ zhōng yú gōng, shēng wén yú wài.

鼓钟于宫, 声闻于外。

鼓鐘於宮, 聲聞於外。

Lit [If one] strikes the bell in the palace [the] sound [is] heard outside.

Fig Inside stories always leak out.

Note [Cf. Niè Hǎi Huā, chap. 16; see also zhōng zài sìyuàn below.]

Topics Niè Hǎi Huā SECRETS

G207

[G207]

Gǔ zuò, gǔ dǎ; luó zuò, luó qiāo.

鼓作鼓打, 锣作锣敲。

鼓作鼓打, 鑼作鑼敲。

Lit Beat drums [as they were] made [to be] beaten; beat gongs [as they were] made [to be] struck.

Fig Different problems should be dealt with in different appropriate ways.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS PROBLEMS

【L1】H H1

[H1]

Hǎi kuò cóng yú yuè; tiān kōng rèn niǎo fēi.

海阔从鱼跃, 天空任鸟飞。

海闊從魚躍, 天空任鳥飛。

Lit The sea is so broad [that] fish may swim freely, [and] the sky so vast [that] birds may fly as they will.

Fig The world is full of boundless opportunities. “The sky's the limit.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 84, and the chengyu: hǎikuò-tiānkōng, from a poem by the Tang dynasty monk Xuan Lan.]

Topics chengyu hǎikuò-tiānkōng JW OPPORTUNITY Xuan_Lan

H2

[H2]

Hǎi kū zhōng jiàn dǐ; rén sǐ bù zhīxīn.

海枯终见底, 人死不知心。

海枯終見底, 人死不知心。

Lit [When the] sea runs dry, [you can] see [its] bottom, [but even when a] person dies, [you] won't [ever] know [his or her true] mind.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 21; see also zhī rén, zhī miàn below.]

Topics Fēngshén Yǎnyì KNOWING MINDS TRUST

H3

[H3]

Hǎinèi cún zhījǐ, tiānyá ruò bǐlín.

海内存知己, 天涯若比邻。

海內存知己, 天涯若比鄰。

Lit In this world, [as long as one] has a true friend, the remotest corner of the earth [is as close] as [one's] next door neighbor.

Fig Great distances cannot separate close friends.

Note [Said when parting or in letters; originally from a Tang dynasty poem “Sòng Dù Shào Fù Zhī Rèn Shǔ Chuān” by Wang Bo; used by Mao Zedong to describe the close relationship between China and Albania in the 1960s.]

Topics Albania DISTANCE FRIENDS LETTERS PARTING RELATIONSHIPS Sòng_Dù_Shào_Fù

H4

[H4]

Hàirén zhī xīn, bùkě yǒu; fáng rén zhī xīn, bùkě wú.

害人之心不可有, 防人之心不可无。

害人之心不可有, 防人之心不可無。

Lit An intention to harm others [one] should not have, [but] an intention to [be on] guard [against] others [one] cannot do without.

Fig One should never intend to do harm to others, but should always guard against the harm others might do to oneself.

Topics CAUTION INTENTIONS SELF-PROTECTION

H5

[H5]

Hàirén zhōng hài jǐ.

害人终害己。

害人終害己。

Lit [Those who] harm others ultimately harm themselves.

Note [Cf. the píngshū: Shuō Táng, chap. 62.]

Topics HARM INTENTIONS JUSTICE píngshū Shuō_Táng

H6

[H6]

Hǎishàng wú yú, xiā zìdà.

海上无鱼, 虾自大。

海上無魚, 蝦自大。

Lit [When] there are no fish in the seas, the shrimp are arrogant.

Fig When there are no people of true ability about, lesser people will naturally become leaders.

Note [See also shān zhōng wú lǎohǔ.]

Topics ABILITY LEADERS POWER

H7

[H7]

Hǎi shēn bùpà yú dà.

海深不怕鱼大。

海深不怕魚大。

Lit The sea [is so] deep [that it can hold all] fish, however big [they are].

Fig Broad-minded people can be tolerant toward others with a variety of differing opinions.

Topics OPINIONS TOLERANCE

H8

[H8]

Hǎishuǐ bùkě dǒu liáng.

海水不可斗量。

Lit The water in the sea cannot be measured with a bushel.

Fig A great person cannot be judged by ordinary standards.

Note [Often preceded by rén bù kě mào xiàng below.]

Topics GREATNESS JUDGMENTS STANDARDS

H9

[H9]

Hǎi yuè shàng kě qīng; kǒu nuò bù kě yí.

海岳尚可倾, 口诺不可移。

海岳尚可傾, 口諾不可移。

Lit Even seas [and] mountains may be overturned, [but] oral promises can't be changed.

Fig One must keep one's word at all costs.

Note [See also xǔ rén yī wù and yī yǔ wéizhòng below.]

Topics HONOR PROMISES

H10

[H10]

Hǎi zài shēn yǒu dǐ; shān zài gāo yǒu dǐng.

海再深有底, 山再高有顶。

海再深有底, 山再高有頂。

Lit The sea has a bottom, however deep; [and] the mountain has a top, however high.

Fig Everything has a limit.

Topics LIMITS

H11

[H11]

Háma tiào sān tiào, háiyào xiēyīxiē.

蛤蟆跳三跳, 还要歇一歇。

蛤蟆跳三跳, 還要歇一歇。

Lit [After] three leaps, even a frog needs a rest.

Fig Everyone needs time to rest or to collect one's thoughts.

Topics RESTING

H12

[H12]

Hángháng chū zhuàngyuán.

行行出状元。

行行出狀元。

Note [See qīshí'èr háng, hángháng below.]

H13

[H13]

Hángjiā kàn méndao; wàiháng kàn rènao.

行家看门道, 外行看热闹。

行家看門道, 外行看熱鬧。

Lit An expert knows what to look for [in a performance, while] a layman [just] watches the show.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 93; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 3; note: méndào refers to “tricks of the trade.”]

Topics EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE méndao TRICKS Wǔ Sōng Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

H14

[H14]

Hángjiā mò shuō lìba huà.

行家莫说力八话。

行家莫說力八話。

Lit An expert [should] never [pretend to] speak lay language.

Fig An expert should not pretend to be a layman (in order to avoid extra work, etc.) as he will be found out.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 11; note: lìba is colloquial for “layman; non-specialist.”]

Topics colloquial Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EXPERTISE LAYMEN lìba PRETENDING

H15

[H15]

Hángjiā shēnshen shǒu, biàn zhī yǒu méiyǒu.

行家伸伸手, 便知有没有。

行家伸伸手, 便知有沒有。

Lit [As soon as an] expert extends his hand [to a job], he [immediately] knows what is and what is not.

Fig An expert knows what's what as soon as he “rolls up his sleeves” and puts his hand to it. A specialist can size up a situation at a glance.

Note [Rhyme; see also yǎn qiǎo hé xū below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE rhyme

H16

[H16]

Hān guā zhǎng de dà.

憨瓜长得大。

憨瓜長得大。

Lit Simpletons [who do not take things too seriously] grow healthy.

Note [Note the colloquial expression: xīnkuān tǐ pàng “(One whose) heart (is) carefree grows fat.”]

Topics colloquial expression FOOLS HEALTH xīnkuān_tǐ_pàng

H17

[H17]

Hán māo bù zhuō shǔ.

寒猫不捉鼠。

寒貓不捉鼠。

Lit A cat [that is afraid of] cold won't [go out to] catch mice.

Fig A person who is afraid of hardships won't accomplish anything in life.

Topics DIFFICULTY EFFORT FEAR HARDSHIPS SUCCESS

H18

[H18]

Hánmén chū cáizǐ; gāoshān chū jùn niǎo.

寒门出才子, 高山出俊鸟。

寒門出才子, 高山出俊鳥。

Lit Poor families [can] produce talented people, [just as] the high [remote] mountains [can] produce beautiful birds.

Note [Vs. gǒuwō lǐ above; see also shēnshān chū jùn niǎo below.]

Topics POVERTY TALENT

H19

[H19]

Hànqíng jí rú huǒ.

旱情急如火。

Lit A drought is as urgent as a fire.

Fig Sending relief to a drought-stricken area is as urgent as putting out a fire.

Topics DROUGHT HELPING RELIEF

H20

[H20]

Hán róng zhōng yǒuyì; rènyì shì shēng zāi.

含容终有益, 任意是生灾。

含容終有益, 任意是生災。

Lit Yielding [to others] in the end brings benefits, [while] being willful is to invite disaster.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 34; see also ráorén bù shì below.]

Topics FLEXIBILITY WILL WILLFULNESS Xǐngshì Héngyán YIELDING

H21

[H21]

Hān tóu lángr, zēng fú, zēng shòu.

憨头郎儿, 增福增寿。

憨頭郎兒, 增福增壽。

Lit Fools [always] get lucky [and] live long.

Note [Cf. the classical novel Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 93.]

Topics FOOLS Jìnghuā Yuán LUCK

H22

[H22]

(Hán Xìn jiàng bīng,) duōduō-yìshàn.

(韩信将兵,) 多多益善。

(韓信將兵,) 多多益善。

Lit ([Just as with] Han Xin commanding troops,) the more [there are], the better.

Fig The more one has, the better.

Note [Han Xin was a general who helped Liu Bang in the early Han period; cf. Shǐ Jì: Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn; also quoted in Mao Zedong's Collected Works (Máo Zédōng Xuǎnjí), vol. 5, p. 116; the second half is often omitted when this is used as a xiehouyu.]

Topics duōduō-yìshàn Han dynasty Han Xin Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn Liu Bang Máo Zédōng Xuǎnjí MORE QUANTITY Shǐ Jì xiehouyu

H23

[H23]

Hào chá zhě bù rù jiǔlóu.

好茶者不入酒楼。

好茶者不入酒樓。

Lit Tea-drinkers don't enter wine shops.

Fig Each person has his or her own individual interests and tastes.

Topics INDIVIDUALISM INTERESTS TASTES

H24

[H24]

Hǎo dì bù zhòng, cǎo chéng wō.

好地不种, 草成窝。

好地不種, 草成窩。

Lit [Even on] cultivated land, [if] not sown, weeds [will] grow [so tall that wild animals will] nest [in it].

Fig Even given favorable conditions, one must invest some effort in order to achieve anything.

Note [Also said hǎo tián bù chù, cǎo chéng wō.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CONDITIONS EFFORT SUCCESS

H25

[H25]

Hǎo duòshǒu néng shǐ bā miàn fēng.*

好舵手能使八面风。

好舵手能使八面風。

Lit A good helmsman can take advantage of winds from any direction.

Fig A good leader can deal with any situation which arises and/or can bring into full play the talents of all his subordinates.

Topics LEADERSHIP SITUATIONS TALENT

H26

[H26]

Hǎo ér, hǎo nǚ, yǎnqián huā.

好儿, 好女, 眼前花。

好兒, 好女, 眼前花。

Lit Good sons [and] daughters [are like] flowers in season; [i.e., they will soon disappear].

Fig (Even good) sons and daughters will eventually leave their parents.

Topics CHILDREN DAUGHTERS PARENTS SEPARATION SONS

H27

[H27]

Hǎo fàn bùpà wǎn; (qù huà bù xián màn).

好饭不怕晚, (趣话不嫌慢)。

好飯不怕晚, (趣話不嫌慢)。

Lit [As long as it's a] good meal, [it] doesn't matter [if it's] late; ([as long as it's an] interesting [story, it] doesn't matter [if it's told] slowly).

Fig The best food takes time to prepare, (and the best stories are told slowly). As long as one has great achievements, it doesn't matter if they come slowly or late in one's life or career.

Note [Rhyme; see also chí huā màn fā above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT ACHIEVEMENT CAREER LIFE QUALITY STORIES TIME

H28

[H28]

Hǎo gǒu bù lánlù (/dǎnglù).

好狗不拦路(/挡路)。

好狗不攔路(/擋路)。

Lit A good dog does not block the road.

Fig A good person should not act as an obstacle to others' progress. One should not be a “dog in the manger.”

Topics BEHAVIOR GENTLEMEN GOODNESS SELFISHNESS

H29

[H29]

Hǎo gǒu hù sān lín; hǎohàn hù sān cūn.

好狗护三邻, 好汉护三村。

好狗護三鄰, 好漢護三村。

Lit [Just as a] good dog protects [its] three neighbors [so a] hero protects [his] three [neighboring] villages.

Fig A good man should protect his neighbors from danger.

Note [See also hǎohàn hù sān lín below.]

Topics HEROES NEIGHBORS

H30

[H30]

Hǎo guān yì zuò; hǎorén nán zuò.

好官易做, 好人难做。

好官易做, 好人難做。

Lit [To be a] good official is easy, [but to be a] good person is difficult.

Fig It is (even) harder to be a good person than to be a good government official.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 14; note: zuò (hǎo) rén, “to be a good person.”]

Topics BEHAVIOR DIFFICULTY GOODNESS R3K

H31

[H31]

Hǎohàn bù chī yǎnqián kuī.

好汉不吃眼前亏。

好漢不吃眼前虧。

Lit A hero [will] not suffer a loss [right] under his nose.

Fig A smart person never deliberately puts himself at a disadvantage or “butts his head against a brick wall.” A wise person doesn't put up a fight when the odds are against him. “Discretion is the better part of valor.”

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; Mao Dun's Zǐyè (Midnight); see also guānggùn bù chī above.]

Topics DISADVANTAGE DISCRETION Mao Dun NUMBER ODDS WISDOM Wǔ Sōng Zǐyè

H32

[H32]

Hǎohàn bù dǎ, bùcéng xiāngshí.

好汉不打, 不曾相识。

好漢不打, 不曾相識。

Lit [If two] heroes never fight [they can] never know each other well [enough to be friends].

Fig Some people have to fight before they can become friends. “From an exchange of blows, friendship grows.”

Note [See also bù dǎ, bù (chéng) above.]

Topics FIGHTING FRIENDSHIP

H33

[H33]

Hǎohàn bù gǎn fá tùr.

好汉不赶乏兔儿。

好漢不趕乏兔兒。

Lit A good [hunts]man doesn't chase tired hares.

Fig A decent person doesn't take unfair advantage of others. “Don't shoot sitting ducks.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 71.]

Topics ADVANTAGE FAIRNESS GENTLEMEN GOODNESS JW RESTRAINT

H34

[H34]

Hǎohàn bùpà chūshēn dī.

好汉不怕出身低。

好漢不怕出身低。

Lit [If one is] a good person, it doesn't matter [if one has] humble origins.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 11.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GOODNESS ORIGINS SOCIAL_CLASS

H35

[H35]

Hǎohàn bù tí dāngnián yǒng.

好汉不提当年勇。

好漢不提當年勇。

Lit A [true] hero doesn't bring up [his] past bravery.

Fig A hero never brags about his past glories.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 87; also said hǎohàn bù kuā dāng nián yǒng.]

Topics BRAGGING BRAVERY HEROES MODESTY Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

H36

[H36]

Hǎohàn hù sān lín.

好汉护三邻。

好漢護三鄰。

Lit A good man [should] protect [his] neighbors [from danger].

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 90; see also hǎo gǒu hù sān lín above.]

Topics HEROES NEIGHBORS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

H37

[H37]

Hǎohàn liúxuè, bù liúlèi.

好汉流血, 不流泪。

好漢流血, 不流淚。

Lit A hero sheds blood [but] not tears.

Fig A brave man would rather shed blood than to show weakness by crying.

Note [See also zhàngfu yǒu lèi below.]

Topics CRYING HEROES PRIDE WEAKNESS

H38

[H38]

Hǎohàn pà lǎnhàn; lǎnhàn hái pà wāi sǐ chán.

好汉怕懒汉, 懒汉还怕歪死缠。

好漢怕懶漢, 懶漢還怕歪死纏。

Lit [Even] heroes are afraid of rascals, [and] even rascals are afraid of [the kind of lazy fools who talk nonsense and] pester [one] to death.

Fig Never waste your time arguing with fools and rascals.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FOOLS rhyme

H39

[H39]

Hǎohàn shàngchǎng, yī rén dǐng liǎ.

好汉上场, 一人顶俩。

好漢上場, 一人頂倆。

Lit When a hero comes out [to do battle], [he] alone is equal to two [in the fight].

Fig One well-trained person can do the job of two.

Note [Rhyme; see also lǎojiàng chūmǎ below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE rhyme TRAINING

H40

[H40]

Hǎohàn shí hǎohàn; (xīngxīng xī xīngxīng).

好汉识好汉, (惺惺惜惺惺)。

好漢識好漢, (惺惺惜惺惺)。

Lit [Just as one] hero [can] recognize [another] hero, ([so] clever people are attracted to [other] clever people).

Fig Good people appreciate each other's abilities; “like attracts like.”

Note [Also said hǎohàn xī hǎo hàn, “good people are attracted to each other”; the two halves may be reversed; see also yīngxióng shí yīngxióng below.]

Topics APPRECIATION CLEVERNESS HEROES JUDGMENT

H41

[H41]

Hǎohàn shuō zuò, jiù zuò.

好汉说做就做。

好漢說做就做。

Lit [As soon as a] hero says [he will] do [something], then [he] does [it].

Fig A gentleman always keeps his word.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics GENTLEMEN PROMISES RELIABILITY

H42

[H42]

Hǎohàn yī yán, kuài mǎ yī biān.

好汉一言, 快马一鞭。

好漢一言, 快馬一鞭。

Lit A good man [need only give his] one word [just as a] swift horse [needs only] one [touch of the] whip.

Fig A good man always keeps his word.

Note [Rhyme; also said jūnzǐ yī yán below; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics GENTLEMEN PROMISES RELIABILITY rhyme

H43

[H43]

Hǎohàn zhǐpà bìng lái mó.

好汉只怕病来磨/魔。

好漢只怕病來磨/魔。

Lit A hero fears [nothing] but illness [wearing him down].

Fig Even a brave person cannot avoid illness.

Note [Note: in the original source Wǔ Dài Shǐ Yányì, chap. 57, the character for mó, “demon / magic” was used.]

Topics HEROES ILLNESS Wǔ_Dài_Shǐ_Yányì

H44

[H44]

Hǎohàn zuòshì, hǎohàn dāng.

好汉做事, 好汉当。

好漢做事, 好漢當。

Lit [What a] hero does, a hero bears [the consequences of].

Fig A good person takes responsibility for the consequences of his or her own actions (“like a man”).

Topics CONSEQUENCES HEROES RESPONSIBILITY

H45

[H45]

Hǎohàn zuòshì, zuòdào tóu; hǎo mǎ dēngchéng, pǎodào tóu.

好汉做事做到头, 好马登程跑到头。

好漢做事做到頭, 好馬登程跑到頭。

Lit [Whenever a] true man does a job, [he] does [it] thoroughly, [just as when a] good horse sets out, [it always] completes [its] journey.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics rhyme THOROUGHNESS WORK

H46

[H46]

Hǎo hé bùrú hǎo sàn.

好合不如好散。

Lit [Even] more important than a friendly meeting is a friendly parting.

Topics FRIENDLINESS MEETING PARTING

H47

[H47]

Hǎohuà bù bèirén, bèirén méi hǎohuà.

好话不背人, 背人没好话。

好話不背人, 背人沒好話。

Lit Good [things need] not [be] said behind people's backs; [any] words [said] behind someone's back must be bad.

Note [See also hǎoshì bù mán below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR HONESTY SLANDER

H48

[H48]

Hǎohuà bù zài duō, jǐ jù chéng zhījǐ.

好话不在多, 几句成知己。

好話不在多, 幾句成知己。

Lit Agreeable speech lies not in quantity; a few [such] words can make bosom friends.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AMIABILITY rhyme SPEECH WORDS

H49

[H49]

Hǎohuà néng chuān tiě.

好话能穿铁。

好話能穿鐵。

Lit Reasonable speech can penetrate iron.

Fig (1) Reason is a strong force. (2) Sincere words can move people.

Topics PERSUASION REASON SINCERITY SPEECH

H50

[H50]

Hǎo hǔ jià bu zhù qún láng.

好虎架不住群狼。

Lit A strong tiger is no match for a pack of wolves.

Fig One is no match against many.

Note [See also gǒu duō, bù pà láng above.]

Topics COMPETITION CONFLICT NUMBER STRENGTH

H51

[H51]

Hǎo huò wúxū zhāolái; (hǎo jiǔ bùyòng guà zhāopái).

好货无须招徕, (好酒不用挂招牌)。

好貨無須招徠, (好酒不用掛招牌)。

Lit Goods of fine quality have no need [of promotion to] attract [customers, (and] good wine does not need to hang [out a] sign).

Fig High quality goods and people of talent need no promotion. “Good wine needs no bush.”

Note [The two parts of this rhymed couplet are often used separately with the same meaning; see also hǎo jiǔ bùyòng and jiǔ hǎo, rén zì lái below.]

Topics couplet PROMOTION QUALITY rhyme

H52

[H52]

Hǎo jiādàng pà sān fèn fēn.

好家当怕三份分。

好家當怕三份分。

Lit A good estate should not be divided.

Topics DIVISION INHERITANCE PROPERTY

H53

[H53]

Hǎo jiè hǎo huán; zài jiè bù nán.

好借好还, 再借不难。

好借好還, 再借不難。

Lit [If] well-borrowed [and] well-returned, [then] borrowing again [will] not be difficult.

Fig Return what you borrow promptly and you will be welcome to borrow again.

Note [Rhyme; cf. JW, chap. 16.]

Topics BORROWING JW PROMPTNESS rhyme

H54

[H54]

Hǎo jiǔ bùpà xiàngzi shēn.

好酒不怕巷子深。

Lit A good wine fears not the depth of a lane [i.e., the place where it is sold being “off the beaten track”].

Fig Good quality or ability will attract customers, no matter how remote they are.

Note [See also jiǔ hǎo, rén zì lái below and the following entry.]

Topics ABILITY QUALITY WINE

H55

[H55]

Hǎo jiǔ bùyòng guà zhāopái.

好酒不用挂招牌。

好酒不用掛招牌。

Lit Good wine does not require hanging [out a] sign [to attract customers].

Fig Goods of fine quality or people of ability have no need of promotion to attract customers. “A good wine needs no bush.”

Note [See also hǎo huò wúxū above and the preceding entry.]

Topics QUALITY REPUTATION WINE

H56

[H56]

Hǎo jiǔ shuō bù suān; suān jiǔ shuō bù tián.

好酒说不酸, 酸酒说不甜。

好酒說不酸, 酸酒說不甜。

Lit Good wine won't become sour, however it is downplayed; sour wine won't become sweet, however it is praised.

Fig Good people are good, and bad people are bad, no matter what others say about them.

Note [See also hǎorén shuō bù huài below.]

Topics PRAISE QUALITY SLANDER

H57

[H57]

Hǎo jìxing bùrú làn bǐtóu.

好记性不如烂笔头。

好記性不如爛筆頭。

Lit A good memory is not as good as the ragged tip of a [brush] pen.

Fig It is much better to take written notes than to rely on one's memory.

Note [See also xīn jì bùrú below.]

Topics FORGETTING MEMORY REMEMBERING WRITING

H58

[H58]

Hǎole shāngbā, wàngle tòng.

好了伤疤望了痛。

好了傷疤望了痛。

Lit Once the wound is healed, one forgets the pain.

Fig One forgets the bitter past when one has become better off.

Topics CHANGE FORGETTING MEMORY PAIN REMEMBERING

H59

[H59]

Hǎo mǎ bù chī huítóu cǎo.

好马不吃回头草。

好馬不吃回頭草。

Lit A good horse will never [return to] graze on grass [it has already] passed by.

Fig A gentleman will not return to a position or offer which he has previously declined.

Note [See also měnghǔ bù chī below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR GENTLEMEN PRIDE

H60

[H60]

Hǎo māo bù jiào; hǎo gǒu bù tiào.

好猫不叫, 好狗不跳。

好貓不叫, 好狗不跳。

Lit Good cats don't mew [and] good dogs don't jump about.

Fig People of ability never show off.

Note [Rhyme; see also gǔ kōng, shēng gāo above and hǔ bào bù wài and kōng guànzi and shuǐ jìng zé below.]

Topics ABILITY BRAGGING MODESTY rhyme SHOWING_OFF

H61

[H61]

Hǎo mǎ yá qián bù dītóu.

好马崖前不低头。

好馬崖前不低頭。

Lit A fine horse won't lower its head [i.e., give up] before a cliff.

Fig A strong-willed person won't succumb to difficulties.

Topics DETERMINATION DIFFICULTIES HORSES RESOLVE

H62

[H62]

Hǎo mèng nán cháng; cǎiyún yì sàn.

好梦难长, 彩云易散。

好夢難長, 彩雲易散。

Lit Sweet dreams are short-lived, [and] rosy clouds are easily dispersed.

Fig Good times don't last long.

Note [Cf. Míng Shǐ Yǎnyì, chap. 37; see also hǎo wù bù jiānláo below.]

Topics Míng Shǐ Yǎnyì TIME TRANSIENCE

H63

[H63]

Hǎo nán bù chī hūn shí fàn; hǎo nǚ bù chuān jià shí yī.

好男不吃婚时饭, 好女不穿嫁时衣。

好男不吃婚時飯, 好女不穿嫁時衣。

Lit A good man does not eat [his] wedding food, [and] a good woman does not wear [her] wedding clothes.

Fig Men and women who have high aspirations do not live on the property they get from their parents when they marry.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 85; also said hǎo nán bù chī fēnjiā fàn; etc., “A good man never depends on the property he receives as a family inheritance, etc.” in Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 11.]

Topics JPM MARRIAGE MEN PROPERTY Rúlín Wàishǐ SELF-SUFFICIENCY WOMEN

H64

[H64]

Hǎo nán bù gēn nǚ dòu.

好男不跟女斗。

好男不跟女鬥。

Lit Good men do not fight with women.

Fig No decent man will fight a woman

Note [Cf. Lao She's play Lóng Xū Gōu (Dragon Beard Ditch).]

Topics Dragon Beard Ditch FIGHTING Lao She Lóng Xū Gōu MEN SELF-CONTROL WOMEN

H65

[H65]

Hǎo péngyou qín suànzhàng.

好朋友勤算帐。

好朋友勤算帳。

Lit Good friends are diligent about settling accounts.

Fig Prompt payments of loans makes for good friendships. “Short reckonings make long friends.”

Note [See also qīnxiōngdì míng below.]

Topics ACCOUNTING FRIENDSHIP LOANS MONEY REPAYMENT

H66

[H66]

Hǎo quán bù yíng tóu sān shǒu; zìyǒu gāozhāo zài hòutou.

好拳不赢头三手, 自有高招在后头。

好拳不贏頭三手, 自有高招在後頭。

Lit A good boxer doesn't (try to) win [with his] first three blows; [his] high skill [in martial arts in fact won't be seen until] the end.

Fig A superior fighter holds back at first, to give his opponent time to reveal his weaknesses, so he can evaluate and take advantage of them.

Topics BOXING FIGHTING MARTIAL ARTS STRATEGY

H67

[H67]

Hǎo qǔzi bù chàng sān biàn.*

好曲子不唱三遍。

Lit A good tune [should] not be sung three times.

Fig People get tired of repetition even of something basically good.

Note [Also said hǎo qǔzi chàng sān biàn, yě yào kǒu chòu, “A good tune sung three times will make one's mouth stink”; vs. hǎoxì nàikàn below; see also huà shuō sān biàn below.]

Topics BOREDOM REPETITION

H68

[H68]

Hǎorén bù chángshòu; huòhai yīqiān nián.

好人不长寿, 祸害一千年。

好人不長壽, 禍害一千年。

Lit Good people don't always live long [while] bad people [may last] a thousand years.

Fig It's fate that decides.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 73; here huòhai, “calamities,” refers to bad people.]

Topics FATE huòhai JPM

H69

[H69]

Hǎorén hái děi kào yī zhuāng.

好人还得靠衣装。

好人還得靠衣裝。

Lit Even fine people need fine clothes [to present themselves properly].

Note [See also rén kào yī zhuāng below.]

Topics CLOTHING FINERY PRESENTATION

H70

[H70]

Hǎorén pà kuā; huàirén pà bā.

好人怕夸, 坏人怕疤。

好人怕誇, 壞人怕疤。

Lit Good people [should] beware of praise, [while] evil people are wary of exposure.

Topics EVIL EXPOSURE PRAISE

H71

[H71]

Hǎorén shuō bù huài; hǎo jiǔ jiǎo bù suān.

好人说不坏, 好酒搅不酸。

好人說不壞, 好酒攪不酸。

Lit Good people cannot [be made] bad [by] talk, [just as] good wine won't [become] sour [by being] stirred.

Fig Slander can't harm a truly upright person.

Note [See also gēn shēn bùpà fēng and hǎo jiǔ shuō bù suān above.]

Topics RECTITUDE SLANDER TALK

H72

[H72]

Hǎorén xiāngféng, èrén yuǎnlí.

好人相逢, 恶人远离。

好人相逢, 惡人遠離。

Lit [When] good people get together, evil people keep their distance.

Topics EVIL GOODNESS

H73

[H73]

Hǎorén xiāngféng, èshì xiāng lí.

好人相逢, 恶事相离。

好人相逢, 惡事相離。

Lit [When] good people meet, evil doings leave.

Fig When bad people get together, no good can come of it.

Topics EVIL

H74

[H74]

Hǎoshì bùchūmén; èshì chuán qiān lǐ.

好事不出门, 恶事传千里。

好事不出門, 惡事傳千里。

Lit Good news [about someone] never gets past the door; [but] bad news [about someone] is transmitted a thousand leagues away.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 73; WM, chap. 24; compare Mark Twain's “A lie gets halfway around the world before truth puts on its boots”; the order of the two halves may be reversed (q.v.).]

Topics BAD NEWS GOOD NEWS GOSSIP JW Mark Twain NEWS WM

H75

[H75]

Hǎoshì bù mán rén; mán rén méi hǎoshì.

好事不瞒人, 瞒人没好事。

好事不瞞人, 瞞人沒好事。

Lit [One's] good deeds, [one does]n't keep secret [from] others, [and anything that is] kept secret [from] others is [always] not good.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; see also hǎohuà bù bèirén above.]

Topics GOOD DEEDS SECRETS Wǔ_Sōng

H76

[H76]

Hǎoshì bù zài máng lǐ.

好事不在忙里。

好事不在忙裡。

Lit Good deeds do not exist in haste.

Fig One can't accomplish anything (good) by hurrying.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT HASTE

H77

[H77]

Hǎoshì duō mó.

好事多磨。

Lit [Accomplishing] great things [has] many hardships.

Fig In accomplishing anything worthwhile, one is bound to encounter setbacks.

Note [Note: originally hǎoshì referred to a successful marriage or engagement, so “it takes many twists and turns to accomplish a good marriage” is sometimes equated with “The course of true love never did run smooth.” Cf. JW, chap. 28; DRC, chap. 1; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 9.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DIFFICULTIES DRC Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí hǎoshì-duōmó JW LOVE MARRIAGE

H78

[H78]

Hǎoshì guòtóu fǎn chéng huàishì.

好事过头反成坏事。

好事過頭反成壞事。

Lit [If a] good thing [is carried] to excess, [it will] rather become a bad thing.

Fig A good thing overdone turns into a bad thing. There's such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Note [See also féi jī bù xiàdàn above.]

Topics EXCESS MODERATION

H79

[H79]

Hǎoshì méi xiàshāo.

好事没下梢。

好事沒下梢。

Lit Good deeds [sometimes] have no [good] ending.

Fig Good deeds sometimes come to nothing.

Note [Xiàshāo, literally the thin end of a pole, log, etc., here refers to an ending.]

Topics GOOD DEEDS RECOMPENSE xiàshāo

H80

[H80]

Hǎo shí shì tārén; è shí shì jiārén.

好时是他人; 恶时是家人。

好時是他人; 惡時是家人。

Lit [In] good times, [people regard their relatives as] being strangers, [but in] bad times, [people regard them as] being family.

Note [Rhyme; see also pínjiàn, qīnqi lí and pín jū nàoshì below.]

Topics DIFFICULTY FAMILIES RELATIVES rhyme

H81

[H81]

Hǎoshǒu bù dí shuāng quán; shuāng quán nán dí sì shǒu.

好手不敌双拳, 双拳难敌四手。

好手不敵雙拳, 雙拳難敵四手。

Lit [One] good hand is no match for two fists, [and] a pair of fists is no match for four hands.

Fig Even a good fighter can't fight two at once, nor can two fight four.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 77; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 29; note: hǎoshǒu, (lit) a “good hand,” means an experienced hand or expert.]

Topics JW LIMITATIONS NUMBER STRENGTH Xǐngshì_Héngyán

H82

[H82]

Hǎo sǐ bùrú è huó.

好死不如恶活。

好死不如惡活。

Lit A good death is not as good as a terrible life.

Fig A poor life is better than a good death.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 63; see hǎo sǐ bù làn huózhe in Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 23 and Lao She's play Cháguǎn (“Teahouse”); see also zài shēng yī rì below.]

Topics BRAVERY Cháguǎn COURAGE DEATH Lao She LIFE Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

H83

[H83]

Hǎo sǔn chū zài líba wài.

好笋出在篱笆外。

好筍出在籬笆外。

Lit Good [bamboo] shoots grow outside the fence.

Fig Good products come from remote places and talented people may come from poor regions.

Note [See also shēnshān chū jùn niǎo below.]

Topics PRODUCTS QUALITY TALENT

H84

[H84]

Hǎo tiě bù dǎ dīng; hǎo nán bù dāngbīng.*

好铁不打钉, 好男不当兵。

好鐵不打釘, 好男不當兵。

Lit [Just as] good iron won't be hammered [into] nails, [so] good men [should] not be made [into common] soldiers.

Note [Rhyme; a pre-1949 saying.]

Topics rhyme SOLDIERS

H85

[H85]

Hào wèn jìnhū zhì; zhī chǐ jìnhū yǒng.

好问近乎智, 知耻近乎勇。

好問近乎智, 知恥近乎勇。

Lit Inquisitiveness is close to wisdom; [and] shame is close to bravery.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Píng Jìnhóu Zhǔfù Lièzhuàn.]

Topics BRAVERY INQUISITIVENESS SHAME Shǐ Jì WISDOM

H86

[H86]

Hǎo wù bù jiàn; jiàn wù bù hǎo.

好物不贱, 贱物不好。

好物不賤, 賤物不好。

Lit Good goods are not cheap, and [cheap] goods are not good.

Fig Goods of high quality are not cheap, and inexpensive goods are (usually) not good.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn. chap. 85; see also guì de bù guì above; and yī fēn jiàqian below.]

Topics CHEAPNESS EXPENSE QUALITY Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

H87

[H87]

Hǎo wù bù jiānláo.

好物不坚牢。

好物不堅牢。

Lit Beautiful things are not durable.

Fig Happy times do not last long.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 29; see also the following entry.]

Topics BEAUTY Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō TIME TRANSIENCE

H88

[H88]

Hǎo wù nán quán; hóng luó chǐ duǎn.

好物难全, 红罗尺短。

好物難全, 紅羅尺短。

Lit Anything good can hardly be kept intact; [expensive] red silk is measured [in] short [lengths].

Fig “The good die young.”

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 89; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics DEATH FATE GOODNESS JPM QUALITY TRANSIENCE YOUTH

H89

[H89]

Hǎo xié bù tà chòu gǒu shǐ.

好鞋不踏臭狗屎。

Lit Fine shoes don't step in stinking dog excrement.

Fig Decent people don't condescend to arguing with scoundrels.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 52.]

Topics ARGUMENTS DECENCY SCOUNDRELS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

H90

[H90]

Hǎoxì nàikàn; hǎo qǔ zhōngtīng.

好戏耐看, 好曲中听。

好戲耐看, 好曲中聽。

Lit A good opera bears [many] watchings, [and] a good tune deserves [many] hearings.

Fig One never gets tired of a good opera or a good song.

Note [Vs. hǎo qǔzi bù chàng above.]

Topics OPERA QUALITY SONGS

H91

[H91]

Hǎoxīn bù dé hǎo bào.

好心不得好报。

好心不得好報。

Lit Good-heartedness does not [always] receive a good recompense.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 97; vs. the following entry.]

Topics GOODNESS JPM RECOMPENSE

H92

[H92]

Hǎoxīn yǒu hǎo bào.

好心有好报。

好心有好報。

Lit Good-heartedness meets with good recompense.

Fig One's charity is or will be rewarded.

Note [Also said hǎoxīn zì yǒu hǎo bào; see the preceding entry and shàn yǒu shànbào below.]

Topics CHARITY GOODNESS RECOMPENSE

H93

[H93]

Hǎo yǒu hǎo bào; è yǒu èbào.

好有好报, 恶有恶报。

好有好報, 惡有惡報。

Lit Goodness is repaid with goodness [and] evil is repaid with evil.

Fig One should do good and not do evil; those who do evil things suffer themselves sooner or later.

Note [See also shàn yǒu shànbào and xíngshàn, dé shàn below.]

Topics EVIL GOODNESS JUSTICE RECOMPENSE REPAYMENT

H94

[H94]

Hǎo yǔ, tiān liúkè.

好雨, 天留客。

Lit [By such a] good rain, Heaven has detained the guest.

Note [Said by a host when a guest is unable to part because of bad weather. This is a shorter version of a longer written sentence: xià yǔ(,) tiān(,) liú kè(;) tiān(;) liú(,) wǒ bù liú, often cited as a humorous ambiguity, where the punctuation marks in parenthesis indicate the possible pause junctures in reading. The alternative reading means: “When it rains, Heaven detains the guest(s); Heaven detains them, not I.” See also rén liú, sānfēn jiǎ below.]

Topics GUESTS HOSTS RAIN

H95

[H95]

Hǎo zhàng bùrú wú.

好帐不如无。

好帳不如無。

Lit A good debt [i.e., where terms are favorable] is [still] not as good as not having [any debt at all].

Fig It is better not to be in debt, no matter how favorable the terms of a loan.

Topics DEBT LOANS

H96

[H96]

Hàozi jíle yě yǎo māo.

耗子急了也咬猫。

耗子急了也咬貓。

Lit A rat [when] cornered [will] even bite [a] cat.

Fig In a desperate situation one can do anything.

Note [See also ègǒu bù pà above and tùzi jíle and zhí xiàng gǎn gǒu below.]

Topics DESPERATION

H97

[H97]

Hǎo zǐ wù yòng duō; yī gè dǐ shí gè.

好子勿用多, 一个抵十个。

好子勿用多, 一個抵十個。

Lit One doesn't need many sons; one [good son] is equal to ten [ordinary sons].

Topics SONS

H98

[H98]

Hébāo shí gè dòng, zhuànqián bùgòu yòng.

荷包十个洞, 赚钱不够用。

荷包十個洞, 賺錢不夠用。

Lit [If your] purse [has] ten holes [in it, however much] money [you] earn, [you will] never have enough.

Fig If one has too many expenditures or if one is not economical, no money will ever be accumulated.

Note [Rhyme; note: hébāo originally referred to a purse; it now refers to a pocket.]

Topics ECONOMY FRUGALITY hébāo MONEY rhyme THRIFT

H99

[H99]

Hēguànle de shuǐ; shuōguànle de zuǐ.

喝惯了的水, 说惯了的嘴。

喝慣了的水, 說慣了的嘴。

Lit [Just as one is] used to drinking water, [so one is also] used to speaking [the truth].

Topics SPEECH TRUTH

H100

[H100]

Hé hé, shítou zài.

河涸, 石头在。

河涸, 石頭在。

Lit The river [may] run dry, [but] the stones remain.

Fig Even though one may fail, one's aspirations remain.

Topics ASPIRATIONS FAILURE HOPE

H101

[H101]

Héhuā suī hǎo, yě yào lǜ yè fúchí.*

荷花虽好,也要绿叶扶持。

荷花雖好,也要綠葉扶持。

Lit Although the lotus is beautiful, [it] completely depends on the support [of its] green leaves.

Fig Everyone needs the support of others.

Note [Also said hé huā hái děi lù yè fú; often quoted by Mao Zedong; see also mǔdan suī hǎo and qī fēn luó-gǔ and yī gè líba below.]

Topics HELP Mao Zedong SUPPORT

H102

[H102]

Hēi fà bù zhī qínxué zǎo; bǎishǒu fāng huǐ dúshū chí.

黑发不知勤学早, 白首方悔读书迟。

黑髮不知勤學早, 白首方悔讀書遲。

Lit [When one has] black hair [and one does] not know [how important it is to] study hard early [in life, then] only [later when one has a] white head will [one] regret [that it is] too late to study.

Fig If one doesn't study hard when young, then one will regret it later, when one is too old to learn.

Note [See also lǎo bù xiēxīn and qián sānshí nián shuì and shàozhuàng bù nǔlì below.]

Topics AGE REGRET STUDYING

H103

[H103]

Hēi guō lǐ zhǔchū xiāng mǐfàn.

黑锅里煮出香米饭。

黑鍋裡煮出香米飯。

Lit Tasty rice is cooked out of a black pot.

Fig People or things are not to be judged by their superficial appearances. “Don't judge a book by its cover.”

Topics APPEARANCES JUDGMENT

H104

[H104]

Hēixīn rén dào yǒu mǎ'ér qí.

黑心人倒有马儿骑。

黑心人倒有馬兒騎。

Lit A black-hearted person may in fact have a horse to ride.

Fig Contrary to our expectations, evil people may lead happy, prosperous lives.

Topics EVIL

H105

[H105]

Hé lǐ méi yú, shì shàng kàn.

河里没鱼, 市上看。

河裡沒魚, 市上看。

Lit [One can see whether there are] fish in the river [or] not [by] looking in the market.

Fig One can judge things by inference.

Note [See also mǐ liáng zài shì shàng below.]

Topics INFERENCE MARKETS

H106

[H106]

Hé lǐ wú yú, shì shàng zhǎo.

河里无鱼市上找。

河裡無魚市上找。

Lit [When] there are no fish in the river, seek in the market.

Fig One has to look in the right place if one wants to find something.

Topics FINDING MARKETS

H107

[H107]

Hé lǐ wú yú, xiā yě guì.

河里无鱼, 虾也贵。

河裡無魚, 蝦也貴。

Lit [When] there are no fish in the river, shrimp [becomes] expensive.

Fig When there are no products of good quality available, even products of poorer quality will sell at higher prices.

Note [See also lǎn huò děng hángshì below.]

Topics PRICE PRODUCTS QUALITY

H108

[H108]

Hé lǐ yānsǐ shuǐ yāzi.

河里淹死水鸭子。

河裡淹死水鴨子。

Lit [Even] ducks may be drowned in the river.

Fig People of ability sometimes fail out of negligence or over-confidence.

Note [See also shàn yóu zhě nì below.]

Topics ABILITY FAILURE NEGLIGENCE OVER-CONFIDENCE

H109

[H109]

Hé lǐ yǒu xiā, shuǐ zé jìng.

河里有虾, 水则净。

河裡有蝦, 水則凈。

Lit [If] there are shrimp in the river, the water will be clear.

Fig There is always one thing which can overcome another.

Note [See also lǎoshǔ zài dà and yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics LIMITS OVERCOMING

H110

[H110]

Hèngcái bù fù mìng qióngrén.

横财不富命穷人。

橫財不富命窮人。

Lit Ill-gotten gains won't enrich one [who is] destined to be poor.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 18.]

Topics FATE POVERTY RICHES Xǐngshì_Héngyán

H111

[H111]

Hèn xiǎo fēi jūnzǐ; wú dú bù zhàngfu.

恨小非君子, 无毒不丈夫。

恨小非君子, 無毒不丈夫。

Lit [One who] hates little is not a great man; [one who] has no viciousness, is not a hero.

Fig Great men harbor deep hatreds and heroes must be ruthless.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 120; the second half is often used independently as a set phrase, as in Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 92; vs. liàng xiǎo fēi jūnzǐ below.]

Topics HATE HEROES JPM RUTHLESSNESS STRENGTH WM wúdúbùzhàngfu

H112

[H112]

Hěnxīn zuò cáizhu.

狠心做财主。

狠心做財主。

Lit [It requires a] cruel heart to be a wealthy person.

Note [Note: cáizhǔ originally referred to the rural gentry.]

Topics cáizhǔ CRUELTY RICH WEALTH

H113

[H113]

Héqi xiū tiáo lù; rě rén zhù dǔ qiáng.

和气修条路, 惹人筑堵墙。

和氣修條路, 惹人築堵牆。

Lit Amiability builds roads, [while] offending [people] builds walls.

Fig Amiability makes friends, while hurting people makes enemies.

Topics AMIABILITY ENEMIES FRIENDSHIP OFFENDING

H114

[H114]

Héshang jiàn qián, jīng yě mài.

和尚见钱, 经也卖。

和尚見錢, 經也賣。

Lit [When a] monk sees money [he will] even sell [his books of Buddhist] scriptures.

Fig Some people will sell their souls for money.

Topics AVARICE GREED MONEY

H115

[H115]

Héshang wú ér, xiàozǐ duō.

和尚无儿, 孝子多。

和尚無兒, 孝子多。

Lit [Although] monks have no children, [yet they may have] many filial sons [because others respect and support them].

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 85.]

Topics CHILDREN DRC FILIALITY RESPECT SUPPORT

H116

[H116]

Héshang zài, bōyú zài.

和尚在, 钵盂在。

和尚在, 缽盂在。

Lit [Where] there's [a] monk, there's [his] alms bowl.

Fig As long as one is alive, one's relationships to others continue to exist.

Topics RELATIONSHIPS

H117

[H117]

Hé shēn, shuǐliú jìng; xī qiǎn, shuǐ shēng xuān.

河深水流静, 溪浅水声喧。

河深水流靜, 溪淺水聲喧。

Lit [If the] river is deep, the water flows quietly; [if the] stream is shallow, the water sounds noisy.

Fig People of great knowledge are usually modest and quiet, whereas people of little knowledge often do a lot of empty talking or boasting.

Note [See also gǔ kōng, shēng gāo above and kōng guànzi and zhěng píng bù yáo below.]

Topics BOASTING BRAGGING KNOWLEDGE MODESTY

H118

[H118]

Hé shì bù biǎo lǐ.

和事不表理。

Lit [If you want to] settle [a] matter peacefully, don't discuss [who is] right or wrong.

Topics DISPUTES

H119

[H119]

Héshuǐ bù fàn jǐngshuǐ.

河水不犯井水。

Lit River water does not intrude into well water.

Fig No one should encroach upon the precincts of another.

Note [More commonly said jǐngshuǐ bù fàn héshuǐ above.]

H120

[H120]

Héshuǐ bù zhǎng, xiān jià qiáo; yǔshuǐ wèi luò, xiān dā péng.

河水不涨先架桥, 雨水未落先搭棚。

河水不漲先架橋, 雨水未落先搭棚。

Lit Build the bridge first, [when] the river [has] not [yet] risen; build the shed first before it rains.

Fig Always make preparations well in advance.

Note [See also píngshí duō dǎ jǐng below.]

Topics PREPARATION

H121

[H121]

Héshuǐ gān, jǐngshuǐ gān.

河水干, 井水干。

河水乾, 井水乾。

Lit [When the] river [runs] dry, [the] wells [will also be] dry.

Fig There are always connections or causes between phenomena. Things are interrelated.

Topics CAUSE INTERCONNECTIONS INTERDEPENDENCE

H122

[H122]

Hé shuǐ wú yú; hé guān wúsī？

何水无鱼, 何官无私？

何水無魚, 何官無私？

Lit What water is without fish, [and] where are there officials without selfishness? [I.e., there aren't any.]

Fig Officials are always interested in their own personal gain.

Note [Note: sīxīn, “seeking personal gain.”]

Topics CORRUPTION OFFICIALS sīxīn

H123

[H123]

Hè suǒ lóng zhōng, zhǎnchì nán.

鹤锁笼中, 展翅难。

鶴鎖籠中, 展翅難。

Lit A crane locked in a cage has difficulty spreading [its] wings.

Fig A person of intelligence or talent cannot bring his or her full potential into play under adverse conditions.

Topics CONDITIONS INTELLIGENCE LIMITATIONS POTENTIAL TALENT

H124

[H124]

Hé yǒu hédào; shān yǒu shānlù.

河有河道, 山有山路。

Lit Rivers have their courses, [and] mountains have their roads.

Fig (1) Everything has its own ways. (2) Everyone has his or her own way of life.

Topics DIFFERENCES INDIVIDUALS

H125

[H125]

Hé yǒu jiǔ qū bā wān; rén yǒu sān huí liù zhuǎn.

河有九曲八弯, 人有三回六转。

河有九曲八彎, 人有三回六轉。

Lit [Just as] rivers have nine twists [and] eight bends, [so] people [also frequently] have changes [of attitude, mind, or character over time].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHANGES MINDS rhyme

H126

[H126]

Hé yǒu liǎng àn; shì yǒu liǎngmiàn.

河有两岸, 事有两面。

河有兩岸, 事有兩面。

Lit [Just as a] river has two banks, [so] every matter has two sides.

Topics FAIRNESS OBJECTIVITY

H127

[H127]

Hóng pí luóbo, zǐ pí suàn; yǎng liǎn lǎopo, dītóu hàn.

红皮萝卜紫皮蒜, 仰脸老婆低头汉。

紅皮蘿卜紫皮蒜, 仰臉老婆低頭漢。

Lit [Just as] red radishes [and] purple garlic [are spicy], [so] women [who walk with their] faces looking up [and] men [who walk with their] heads down [are hard to deal with]. [Note: In traditional China, women who walked with their faces not lowered were thought to be assertive or aggressive, and men who walked with their heads facing down were said to be scheming and cunning.]

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics APPEARANCES ASSERTIVENESS CUNNING MEN rhyme SCHEMING traditional China WOMEN

H128

[H128]

Hòu chā yī rì yāng; wǎnshōu shí tiān gǔ.

后插一日秧; 晚收十天谷。

後插一日秧; 晚收十天穀。

Lit Transplant rice seedlings one day late [and your] harvest [will be] ten days late.

Fig One will suffer losses if one puts things off or lets opportunities slip by.

Note [See also jìjié bù ràng rén below.]

Topics LAZINESS LOSSES OPPORTUNITY PROCRASTINATION

H129

[H129]

Hóu mén shēn sì hǎi.

侯门深似海。

侯門深似海。

Lit Noblemen's doors [are as] deep as the sea.

Fig It's difficult to visit a noble person's home. The mansions of the nobility are inaccessible to the common people.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 6, and the chengyu: hóumén-sìhǎi.]

Topics chengyu DRC hóumén-sìhǎi NOBILITY RICH SOCIAL_CLASS

H130

[H130]

Hòumǔ de quántou; yún lǐ de rìtóu.*

后母的拳头, 云里的日头。

後母的拳頭, 雲裡的日頭。

Lit [A] stepmother's fists [are a hidden menace, like] the sun in the clouds.

Note [Originally Wǎn niáng de quántou ... in Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 5; see also gé chóng dùpí above and pí lǐ shēng de below.]

Topics Rúlín Wàishǐ STEPMOTHERS

H131

[H131]

Hòu wèi bì xī dú.

厚味必腊毒。

Lit [The most] delicious food is always the most poisonous.

Fig The most enjoyable things in life are often harmful to one's health. “The best things in life are either illegal or fattening.”

Note [A common belief; cf. Guó Yǔ: Zhōu (Xià)]

Topics EXCESS Guó Yǔ HEALTH SELF-RESTRAINT

H132

[H132]

Hóuzi bù zuān quān, duō qiāo jǐ biàn luó.

猴子不钻圈, 多敲几遍锣。

猴子不鑽圈, 多敲幾遍鑼。

Lit [If the trained circus] monkey [is] not [willing to] jump through the hoop, [one only needs to] strike the gong a few more times.

Fig If one trick doesn't work, one will have to try another. “There's more than one way to skin a cat.”

Topics PERSISTENCE STRATEGY TRICKS

H133

[H133]

Hóuzi jīnglíng, guāng gǔtou.

猴子精灵, 光骨头。

猴子精靈, 光骨頭。

Lit Monkeys [may be] “clever” [but they nevertheless are] only [skin and] bones [i.e., not fat, despite their cleverness].

Fig Cleverness isn't everything. There is such a thing as being too smart.

Note [Note: jīnglíng, used of children, means “clever, smart”; see also cōngming fǎn bèi above.]

Topics CLEVERNESS jīnglíng

H134

[H134]

Huà bù shuō, bùmíng; mù bù zuān, bù tòu.

话不说不明, 木不钻不透。

話不說不明, 木不鑽不透。

Lit Words not spoken [can]not be understood, [just as] wood not drilled [can]not be penetrated.

Fig You can't make yourself understood if you don't speak up.

Note [See also gǔ bù dǎ above and zhōng bù dǎ below.]

Topics CLARITY UNDERSTANDING WORDS

H135

[H135]

Huà bù tóujī, bàn jù duō.

话不投机, 半句多。

話不投機, 半句多。

Lit [If the] talk is disagreeable, [then another] half sentence is too much.

Fig It's a waste of breath to continue to talk with someone with whom one does not agree.

Note [Note: huàbùtóujī is used as a set phrase meaning “to be at loggerheads”; see also jiǔ féng zhījǐ below.]

Topics AGREEMENT DISAGREEMENT TALK

H136

[H136]

Huà bùyào shuōsǐ; lù bùyào zǒu jué.

话不要说死, 路不要走绝。

話不要說死, 路不要走絕。

Lit Don't say anything absolutely [and] don't walk too far.

Fig In saying or doing anything, one should allow for unseen circumstances. Never “paint yourself into a corner”; always leave yourself some room to maneuver.

Note [Note: zǒu juélù means “to get into an impasse”; see also guòtóu fàn bié chī above.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES EXTREMES juélù MODERATION zǒu_juélù

H137

[H137]

Huācǎo shēng zì shān zhōng; yànyǔ chūzì xīnzhōng.

花草生自山中, 谚语出自心中。

花草生自山中, 諺語出自心中。

Lit [Just as] flowers [and] grass grow in the mountains, [so] proverbs come from the hearts [of the people].

Note [See also qiézi bù kāi xū below.]

Topics PROVERBS

H138

[H138]

Huà chū yuānjia kǒu; lì chū yǒu biāo niú.

话出冤家口, 力出有膘牛。

話出冤家口, 力出有膘牛。

Lit [Critical] words come from the mouths of those who love [one], [just as] strength comes from oxen [which] are fat.

Fig (Only) those who have one's best interests at heart will (take the trouble to) criticize one.

Note [Rhyme; note: yuānjia (lit) “rival” is also a term of affection used to mean “lover,” “sweetheart,” and is often used to refer to one's spouse or child.]

Topics CRITICISM LOVE rhyme SPOUSE yuānjia

H139

[H139]

Huā dào chūntiān, zìrán kāi.

花到春天, 自然开。

花到春天, 自然開。

Lit [When] spring comes, flowers [will] naturally bloom.

Fig Things develop naturally in their own time.

Topics NATURE SPRING TIME

H140

[H140]

Huà dào shéjiān, liú bàn jù.

话到舌尖, 留半句。

話到舌尖, 留半句。

Lit [When] words [come] to the tip of [your] tongue, hold [back] half [of them].

Fig Don't say everything you think. It is not always wise to tell the whole truth. “(Speech is silver;) silence is gold.”

Topics CAUTION SELF-RESTRAINT SILENCE TALK

H141

[H141]

Huā duì huā, liǔ duì liǔ; pò běnjī duì shé tiáozhou.

花对花柳对柳, 破畚箕对折笤帚。

花對花柳對柳, 破畚箕對折笤帚。

Lit [Just as] flowers are matched to flowers [and] willows are matched to willows, [so a] broken dust pan is matched to a rotten broom.

Fig Somewhere there is a woman for every man. “Every Jack has his Jill.”

Note [Cf. Shí Diǎn Fóu, chap. 6; also said ... pò fèn jī duì làn sàozhou “a broken dung-carrying basket matches a rotten broom”; see also zhèng guō pèi hǎo zào below.]

Topics COUPLES MARRIAGE MEN pò fèn jī WOMEN

H142

[H142]

Huà duō, méi rén xìn; yǔ dà, làole tián.

话多没人信, 雨大涝了田。

話多沒人信, 雨大澇了田。

Lit Too many words, people won't believe, [just as] too much rain [will] flood a field.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MODERATION rhyme TALK

H143

[H143]

Huà duō yì shī; xiàn cháng yì duàn.

话多易失, 线长易断。

話多易失, 線長易斷。

Lit Too much talk [makes it] easy [to] slip, [just as] too long [a] thread is easy to break.

Topics CAUTION TALK

H144

[H144]

Huā féng shí fā.

花逢时发。

花逢時發。

Lit Flowers bloom when their time comes.

Fig People have good luck when fortune decrees.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 15; see also huā luò, huā kāi below.]

Topics FATE Fēngshén Yǎnyì FORTUNE GOOD LUCK TIMING

H145

[H145]

Huà guǐ róngyì; huà rén nán.

画鬼容易, 画人难。

畫鬼容易, 畫人難。

Lit [It is] easier to draw a devil than to draw people; [i.e., if it is harder to portray familiar things like people, dogs and horses accurately, because they are familiar to everyone, while it is easier to portray ghosts and spirits because they are rarely seen, and they often change their appearances, so there is no set standard to judge by.]

Fig It is easier to do things in an individualistic, idiosyncratic way than to follow fixed procedures according to a set standard.

Note [Originally from Hán Fēizǐ.]

Topics BEHAVIOR Hán Fēizǐ IDIOSYNCRACY INDIVIDUALISM STANDARDS

H146

[H146]

Huāhuā jiàozi, rén tái rén.

花花轿子, 人抬人。

花花轎子, 人抬人。

Lit [Even if one sits in a] beautifully decorated sedan-chair, [one still needs] others to lift one up.

Fig Everyone relies on “mutual back-scratching.”

Note [This is often used in two parts as a xiehouyu.]

Topics OTHERS SUCCESS SUPPORT xiehouyu

H147

[H147]

Huái shàn rú zhēn; tuō è rú lǚ.

怀善如珍, 脱恶如履。

懷善如珍, 脫惡如履。

Lit [One should] hold onto [one's] virtue as [one would] a treasure, [and one should] throw off [one's] bad habits as [one would discard] old shoes.

Topics HABITS REPUTATION VIRTUE

H148

[H148]

Huàishì chuán qiān lǐ; hǎoshì bùchūmén.

坏事传千里, 好事不出门。

壞事傳千里, 好事不出門。

Note [See hǎoshì bùchūmén above.]

H149

[H149]

Huàjiàng bù gěi shén zuòyī.

画匠不给神作揖。

畫匠不給神作揖。

Lit Artisan-painters [who make the statues of gods] don't bow to them.

Fig Those who know the backgrounds of famous people don't always respect them.

Note [See also jìn sì rénjiā below.]

Topics FAME GODS RESPECT

H150

[H150]

Huà jīng sān zhāng zuǐ; chángchong yě zhǎng tuǐ.

话经三张嘴; 长虫也长腿。

話經三張嘴; 長蟲也長腿。

Lit [After] words [have] passed [through] three mouths, even snakes [will be believed to have] grown legs.

Fig Rumors exaggerate everything, (so don't believe them).

Note [Rhyme; note: chángchong (lit) “long worm” means “snake”; see also dōngmén shī tiáo above.]

Topics chángchong EXAGGERATION rhyme RUMORS

H151

[H151]

Huā kāi, tiānxià nuǎn; huā luò, tiānxià hán.

花开天下暖, 花落天下寒。

花開天下暖, 花落天下寒。

Lit [When] flowers bloom, it's warm everywhere; [when] flowers wither, it's cold everywhere.

Fig People are warm toward those who are rich or in power and cold to those who are poor or out of power.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AFFECTION FICKLENESS OFFICE POWER rhyme

H152

[H152]

(Huà lóng, huà hǔ, nán huà gǔ;) zhī rén, zhī miàn, bù zhīxīn.

(画龙画虎, 难画骨;) 知人知面, 不知心。

(畫龍畫虎, 難畫骨;) 知人知面, 不知心。

Lit ([Although when one] draws a dragon [or] a tiger, it is difficult to draw their bones; [so) one can] know a person's figure [or] face [but] not his heart.

Fig It is difficult to know people's true nature.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 45; also said huà hǔ, huà pí gǔ, etc., as in Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 1; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 80. The first part may be omitted, as in Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 51; see also hǎi kū zhōng jiàn above and suī yǒu qīn fù and zhī rén, zhī miàn below.]

Topics APPEARANCES Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō JPM KNOWING MINDS TRUST

H153

[H153]

Huā luò, huā kāi, zì yǒu shí.

花落花开, 自有时。

花落花開, 自有時。

Lit Flowers bloom [and] fade naturally at their [appointed] times.

Fig People's fortunes are all determined by fate.

Note [See also huā féng shí fā above.]

Topics FATE FORTUNE

H154

[H154]

Huā mùguā, kōng hǎokàn.

花木瓜, 空好看。

Lit The prettiest papaya are the emptiest [inside].

Fig “Beauty is only skin deep.”

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 24.]

Topics BEAUTY WM

H155

[H155]

Huángdì yě yǒu cǎoxié qīn.

皇帝也有草鞋亲。

皇帝也有草鞋親。

Lit Even the emperor has straw-sandal relatives.

Fig Everyone has poor relations.

Note [See also cháotíng hái yǒu above.]

Topics POVERTY RELATIVES

H156

[H156]

Huángguā páo bù guòlái, páo hùzǐ.

黄瓜刨不过来, 刨瓠子。

黃瓜刨不過來, 刨瓠子。

Lit [Those who] can't skin cucumbers, skin soft-skinned gourds.

Fig Those who can't bully the powerful, bully the weak.

Note [Note the chengyu: qīruǎn-pàyìng, “bullying the weak but fearing the strong.”]

Topics BULLYING chengyu qīruǎn-pàyìng WEAKNESS

H157

[H157]

Huángjīn bù dǎ, bù chéngqì.

黄金不打, 不成器。

黃金不打, 不成器。

Lit Gold without being hammered won't become [useful] utensils.

Fig Without education or training one will not (grow up to) be a useful person.

Note [Note: chéngqì, (lit) “become an instrument,” means to grow up to be a useful person; bùchéngqì is also an idiom meaning “good-for-nothing; worthless.”]

Topics bùchéngqì chéngqì EDUCATION TRAINING

H158

[H158]

Huángjīn wèi wéi guì; ānlè zhíqián duō.

黄金未为贵, 安乐值钱多。

黃金未為貴, 安樂值錢多。

Lit Gold is not the only [thing which is] valuable; peace [and] happiness are worth more [than] money.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 55; also said xiū dào huángjīn guì, ānlè zuì zhíqián.]

Topics HAPPINESS PEACE VALUE

H159

[H159]

Huángjīn wú jiǎ; xìfǎ wú zhēn.

黄金无假, 戏法无真。

黃金無假, 戲法無真。

Lit There is no false gold [and] there are no true magic tricks.

Fig Truth is truth and falsehood is falsehood.

Note [See also shì zhēn, nán jiǎ and shì zhēn, nán miè and zhēn de, jiǎ bùliǎo below.]

Topics FALSITY MAGIC TRUTH

H160

[H160]

Huángjīn yǒu jià; rén wú jià.

黄金有价, 人无价。

黃金有價, 人無價。

Lit Gold has a price [but] people are priceless.

Note [From the Qing dynasty sǎn qǔ verse; Jì Shēng Cǎo.]

Topics HUMAN BEINGS Jì Shēng Cǎo PRICE Qing dynasty sǎn qǔ VALUE

H161

[H161]

Huánglián jiù rén, wú gōng; rénshēn shārén, wú guò.

黄连救人无功, 人参杀人无过。

黃連救人無功, 人參殺人無過。

Lit Chinese goldthread [root] cures people, [but it is] not praised [because it is bitter]; ginseng [root sometimes] kills people [but it is] not condemned [because it is widely believed to have beneficial medicinal properties.]

Fig People do not always get the credit or blame they truly deserve.

Note [Note: huángliánmù, Chinese pistache or “goldthread,” is a bitter medicinal herb.]

Topics BLAME Chinese pistache ginseng goldthread huángliánmù JUSTICE

H162

[H162]

Huánglián shù, gēn pán gēn; qióngkǔ rén, xīnliánxīn.

黄连树根盘根, 穷苦人心连心。

黃連樹根盤根, 窮苦人心連心。

Lit [Just as the] roots of the Chinese goldthread tree entwine around one another, [so] hearts of the poor are linked one to another.

Note [Rhyme; note: the Chinese goldthread tree is used to produce an extremely bitter medicine, and is a common image for the bitterness of poverty; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Chinese goldthread POVERTY rhyme

H163

[H163]

Huáng lí, hēi lí; dé shǔ zhě xióng.

黄狸黑狸, 得鼠者雄。

黃狸黑狸, 得鼠者雄。

Lit [It doesn't matter if a] leopard cat [is] yellow or black; [as long as it can] catch mice, [it's] great.

Note [Cf. Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì: Xiùcai Qū Guài; see also bái māo, hēi māo above.]

Topics Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì PRAGMATISM Xiùcai_Qū_Guài

H164

[H164]

Huāngnián dàdùzi.*

荒年大肚子。

Lit [In] famine years [people have] greater appetites.

Fig The less people have, the more they want.

Topics APPETITE DESIRE FAMINE

H165

[H165]

Huāngnián wú liùqīn.

荒年无六亲。

荒年無六親。

Lit [In] famine years [people try to survive], ignoring [even their] relatives.

Note [Note: liùqīn, (lit) “the six relations” (i.e., father, mother, elder brothers, younger brothers, wife, children), more generally refers to any kin; see also rén qióng duàn liùqīn below.]

Topics FAMINE liùqīn RELATIVES six_relations

H166

[H166]

Huángniú guò hé, gè gù gè; bānjiū shàng shù, gè jiào gè.

黄牛过河各顾各, 斑鸠上树各叫各。

黃牛過河各顧各, 斑鳩上樹各叫各。

Lit [When] oxen cross a river, each takes care of itself, [and when] turtledoves are in the trees, each sings its own tune.

Fig (It's a fact that) everyone looks after himself or herself without concern for others.

Topics SELF-INTEREST

H167

[H167]

Huángquán lùshàng wú lǎoshào.

黄泉路上无老少。

黃泉路上無老少。

Lit On the road to the netherworld, there is no [difference between the] young [and the] old.

Fig Death may befall both old and young alike.

Topics DEATH

H168

[H168]

Huángshǔláng bù xián xiǎo jī shòu.

黄鼠狼不嫌小鸡瘦。

黃鼠狼不嫌小雞瘦。

Lit A yellow weasel doesn't care whether chickens are thin [or not].

Fig Some chiselers try to exploit as much advantage as possible, no matter how small it may be.

Topics ADVANTAGE EXPLOITATION PETTINESS

H169

[H169]

Huángshǔláng zhuān tiāo bìng yāzi yǎo.

黄鼠狼专挑病鸭子咬。

黃鼠狼專挑病鴨子咬。

Lit Weasels specifically look for sick ducks to bite.

Fig Evil doers always target the most vulnerable.

Note [Also said huángshǔláng dān yǎo bìng yāzi.]

Topics BULLYING EVIL WEAKNESS

H170

[H170]

Huáng tiān bù fù hǎoxīn rén.

皇天不负好心人。

皇天不負好心人。

Lit Heaven will not disappoint kindhearted persons.

Topics HEAVEN JUSTICE RECOMPENSE

H171

[H171]

Huáng tiān bù fù kǔxīn rén.

皇天不负苦心人。

皇天不負苦心人。

Lit Heaven does not disappoint people who take pains.

Fig Providence doesn't let down those who do their best. “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

Note [Cf. Mao Dun's novel Zǐyè (Midnight).]

Topics HEAVEN Mao Dun SELF-HELP Zǐyè

H172

[H172]

Huānxǐ pòcái, bù zài xīn shàng.

欢喜破财, 不在心上。

歡喜破財, 不在心上。

Lit [If one] loses money (or property) [when one is] happy, [one] won't take it to heart.

Fig Happiness is more important than money.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 11; see also cái qù, shēn ānlè above and pòcái shì dǎng zāi below.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí HAPPINESS MONEY

H173

[H173]

Huānyú xián yè duǎn; jìmò hèn gēng cháng.

欢娱嫌夜短, 寂寞恨更长。

歡娛嫌夜短, 寂寞恨更長。

Lit [When one is] happy [one] feels [that the] nights are short, [but when one is] lonely, [one hates the] night hours [being] long.

Fig Happy nights are short and lonely nights are long.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 21; note: traditionally nights in China are divided into five two-hour periods called gēng; see sān gè wǔgēng below.]

Topics gēng HAPPINESS LONELINESS rhyme SLEEP WM wǔgēng

H174

[H174]

Huà pà sān tóu duìmiàn; shì pà wāgēn jué màn.

话怕三头对面, 事怕挖根掘蔓。

話怕三頭對面, 事怕挖根掘蔓。

Lit [One's] speech [should be able to] withstand three person['s] bearing witness, [and one's] deeds [should be able to] withstand tracing [to their] root causes.

Fig What one says and does should always be able to bear the scrutiny of outsiders.

Topics ACTIONS HONESTY SPEECH TRUST

H175

[H175]

Huāqián nán mǎi huítóu kàn.

花钱难买回头看。

花錢難買回頭看。

Lit Spending money cannot buy hindsight.

Fig Looking back and summing up one's experience is priceless.

Topics EXPERIENCE HINDSIGHT LIFE PERSPECTIVE

H176

[H176]

Huà shì kāi xīn de yàoshi.

话是开心的钥匙。

話是開心的鑰匙。

Lit Words are the keys to (opening) the heart.

Fig The proper words can (en)lighten people's minds.

Note [Note: kāixīn, normally one word meaning “to make happy,” here has the sense of “getting through to.”]

Topics ENLIGHTENMENT SPEECH WORDS

H177

[H177]

Huà shuō sān biàn dàn rú shuǐ.

话说三遍淡如水。

話說三遍淡如水。

Lit Words spoken three times [are] bland as water.

Fig Gossip or anything else repeated over and over is boring.

Note [See also hǎo qǔzi bù chàng above.]

Topics BOREDOM GOSSIP REPETITION

H178

[H178]

Huà shuō wéi kōng; luòbǐ wéi shí.

话说为空, 落笔为实。

話說為空, 落筆為實。

Lit Words spoken are empty, [but] putting pen to paper is real.

Fig Talk is empty, but a written record is binding.

Note [A line from the modern play Bái Máo Nǚ (The White-Haired Girl).]

Topics Bái Máo Nǚ DRAMA MEMORY TALK White-Haired Girl WRITING

H179

[H179]

Huā wú bǎi rì hǎo; shítou yě yǒu fānzhuǎn shí.

花无百日好, 石头也有翻转时。

花無百日好, 石頭也有翻轉時。

Lit No flower ever blossoms for a hundred days, [and] there will be a day when even stones will turn over.

Fig You will not always be in a superior position and I will not always be in a disadvantageous one. “Every dog will have his day.”

Topics ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE TIME

H180

[H180]

Huā wú qiān rì hóng.

花无千日红。

花無千日紅。

Lit No flower blooms for a thousand days.

Fig Nothing beautiful or good lasts forever.

Note [See also rén wú qiān rì hǎo below.]

Topics BEAUTY GOODNESS TIME TRANSIENCE

H181

[H181]

Huà xū tōngsú, fāng chuán yuǎn.

话须通俗, 方传远。

話須通俗, 方傳遠。

Lit Speech must be colloquial if it is to spread far.

Fig Only sayings which have become popular spread far and wide.

Topics PROVERBS SPEECH

H182

[H182]

Huā yǒu chóng kāi rì; rén wú zài shàonián.

花有重开日, 人无再少年。

花有重開日, 人無再少年。

Lit Flowers have a time to reblossom, [but] human beings are never young again.

Fig One is only young once.

Topics TIME TRANSIENCE YOUTH

H183

[H183]

Hǔ bào bù wài qí zhǎo.

虎豹不外其爪。

Lit Tigers [and] leopards don't show their claws.

Fig People of real ability don't show off vainly.

Note [Cf. Huái Nán Zǐ: Bīng Lüè Xùn; see also hǎo māo bù jiào above and shuǐ jìng zé below.]

Topics ABILITY Bīng Lüè Xùn Huái Nán Zǐ MODESTY VANITY

H184

[H184]

Hǔ bēi shì; lí bēi shēn.

虎卑势, 狸卑身。

虎卑勢, 狸卑身。

Lit Tigers and foxes lower [their] bodies [in order to attack, instead of to yield, as it might first appear].

Fig Some people pretend to yield when in fact they are preparing to attack.

Note [See also jiāng fēi zhě yì fú below.]

Topics APPEARANCES ATTACKS CONCESSIONS DECEIT YIELDING

H185

[H185]

Hù chuāng, hù de yī bāo nóng.

护疮, 护得一包脓。

護瘡, 護得一包膿。

Lit [If one] hides [a] sore, [one will] get a pustule.

Fig If one covers up one's mistakes, one may suffer greater losses later on.

Topics MISTAKES

H186

[H186]

Hǔ dú, bù shí ér/zǐ.

虎毒, 不食儿/子。

虎毒, 不食兒/子。

Lit Tigers [although] fierce, never eat [their own] cubs.

Fig Even wild animals don't harm their own kind.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 27; Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 83.]

Topics Fēngshén Yǎnyì HUMANITY RELATIVES

H187

[H187]

Hǔ fù wú quǎnzǐ.

虎父无犬子。

虎父無犬子。

Lit A tiger father [i.e., courageous] won't have a dog son [as incapable as a puppy].

Fig A brave father won't have a good-for-nothing son.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 83; see also hǔ mén wú quǎn zhǒng below.]

Topics COURAGE FATHERS R3K SONS

H188

[H188]

Hú-Guǎng shú, tiānxià zú.

湖广熟, 天下足。

湖廣熟, 天下足。

Lit [When the two] Hu provinces [(Hunan and Hubei)] have a bumper harvest, the whole country will be free from hunger.

Note [Rhyme; note: in the Ming dynasty Hú-guǎng was the name of the region which included the present provinces of Hunan and Hubei; see also liǎng Guǎng shú, etc., and Sū-Hú shú below.]

Topics HARVEST Hubei province Huguang province Hunan province HUNGER Ming_dynasty

H189

[H189]

Huì dǎ, huì suàn, qián-liáng bù duàn; xì shuǐ cháng liú, chī-chuān bù chóu.

会打会算钱粮不断, 细水长流吃穿不愁。

會打會算錢糧不斷, 細水長流吃穿不愁。

Lit [If one] knows how to figure and reckon, [one's] money [and] food won't run out; [just as a] fine [steady trickle of] water [will] flow [for a] long [time, so one will] not [have to] worry about eating and clothing.

Fig Good bookkeeping means good housekeeping; a long-term budget ensures plenty of food and clothing.

Note [Rhyme; note: xìshuǐ-chángliú is an idiom meaning “to economize to avoid a shortage.”]

Topics BOOKKEEPING BUDGETING HOUSEKEEPING idiom PLANNING rhyme THRIFT xìshuǐ-chángliú

H190

[H190]

Huìgū bù zhī chūnqiū.

蟪蛄不知春秋。

Lit Summer cicadas don't know [either] spring [or] autumn.

Fig Those who know little of the world are shortsighted.

Note [Note: cicadas live mainly in the summer and die in early autumn; cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Xiāo Yāo Yóu; see also jǐngwā bù kěyǐ and xià chóng bù kě below.]

Topics LIMITATIONS NARROWNESS Xiāo Yāo Yóu Zhuāngzǐ

H191

[H191]

Huì jià, jià duìtóu; bù huì jià, jià ménlóu.

会嫁嫁对头, 不会嫁嫁门楼。

會嫁嫁對頭, 不會嫁嫁門樓。

Lit [A woman who] knows how to marry [well will] marry one [she] loves; [a woman who does] not know how to marry well [will] marry [for] a big house.

Fig It is better for a woman to marry for love than for property, power, or position.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; note: ménlóu refers to a house with a gate with a roof on it, found only in rich people's homes; see also huì xuǎn de xuǎn below.]

Topics LOVE MARRIAGE ménlóu PROPERTY rhyme WOMEN Xǐngshì_Héngyán

H192

[H192]

Huì jiào de gǒu bù xiōng.

会叫的狗不凶。

會叫的狗不凶。

Lit Dogs who bark are not fierce.

Fig People who shout usually don't resort to violence. “Barking dogs don't bite.”

Note [See also ài jiào de máquè above.]

H193

[H193]

Huì jiāo péngyou, jiāo xiē tiějiang, mùjiang; bù huì jiāo péngyou, jiāo xiē dàoshì, héshang.

会交朋友, 交些铁匠木匠; 不会交朋友, 交些道士和尚。

會交朋友, 交些鐵匠木匠; 不會交朋友, 交些道士和尚。

Lit [One who is] good at choosing friends makes friends with blacksmiths [and] carpenters; [one who is] not, makes friends with Taoists and [Buddhist] monks.

Fig It is better to make friends with people who can be of practical use to one.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIPS rhyme UTILITY

H194

[H194]

Huì shuō de, liǎngtóu mán; bù huì shuō de, liǎngtóu chuán.

会说的两头瞒, 不会说的两头传。

會說的兩頭瞞, 不會說的兩頭傳。

Lit Those [who really] know how to talk [successfully] hide [things from] both sides, [while] those who do, do not pass [rumors] to both sides.

Fig Good mediators are selective in what they repeat.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MEDIATION rhyme RUMORS TALK

H195

[H195]

Huì shuō de rě rén xiào; bù huì shuō de rě rén tiào.

会说的惹人笑, 不会说的惹人跳。

會說的惹人笑, 不會說的惹人跳。

Lit [One who is] good at talking stirs others [to] laugh; [one who is] not stirs others [to] jump [up in anger].

Note [Rhyme; see also sān jù huà néng below.]

Topics ANGER APPROPRIATENESS LAUGHTER rhyme TALK

H196

[H196]

Huì xuǎn de xuǎn érláng; bù huì xuǎn de xuǎn tiánzhuāng.

会选的选儿郎, 不会选的选田庄。

會選的選兒郎, 不會選的選田莊。

Lit [Parents who] choose well [for their daughter to marry] choose [on the basis of the] young man; [parents who do] not choose well [for their daughter] choose [on the basis of the size of the] country estate [of the prospective in-laws].

Note [Rhyme; see also huì jià, jià duìtóu above.]

Topics DAUGHTERS MARRIAGE PARENTS rhyme

H197

[H197]

Huì yán ruò huángjīn.

惠言若黄金。

惠言若黃金。

Lit Wise and sincere words are as precious as gold.

Note [A line from a Tang dynasty poem by Chǔ Guāngxì.]

Topics Chǔ Guāngxì POETRY SINCERITY Tang_dynasty

H198

[H198]

Huìyǎn shí yīngxióng.

慧眼识英雄。

慧眼識英雄。

Lit Discerning eyes [can] distinguish a hero [from the common crowd].

Fig Discerning eyes can tell greatness (from mediocrity).

Note [Note: huìyǎn was originally a Buddhist term referring to eyes which can see the past and the future.]

Topics Buddhism DISCERNMENT GREATNESS huìyǎn

H199

[H199]

Huǐ-yù cónglái bùkě tīng.

毁誉从来不可听。

毀譽從來不可聽。

Lit Slanders [and] praises [should] never be taken to heart.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 4.]

Topics Jǐngshì Tōngyán PRAISE SLANDER

H200

[H200]

Huì zhuō lǎoshǔ de māor bù jiào.

会捉老鼠的猫儿不叫。

會捉老鼠的貓兒不叫。

Lit A cat which knows how to catch mice doesn't mew.

Fig One who has real skill doesn't show it off.

Topics SHOWING OFF SKILL

H201

[H201]

Huì zǒu, zǒu bu guò yǐngzi; huì shuō, shuō bu guò zhēnlǐ.

会走走不过影子, 会说说不过真理。

會走走不過影子, 會說說不過真理。

Lit [Just as even a] good walker can never catch up with his shadows, [so even a] good talker can never argue with truth or reason.

Topics REASON TALK TRUTH

H202

[H202]

Hù jiā zhī gǒu, dàozéi suǒ wù.

户家之狗, 盗贼所恶。

戶家之狗, 盜賊所惡。

Lit Dogs which guard the house are deeply hated by robbers.

Fig Those who wish you ill will dislike those who remain loyal to you.

Note [Cf. Sòng Shǐ: Zhào Fàn Zhuàn.]

Topics LOYALTY Sòng Shǐ TRUST Zhào_Fàn_Zhuàn

H203

[H203]

Hǔláng tóngxí, gè huái díyì.

虎狼同席, 各怀敌意。

虎狼同席, 各懷敵意。

Lit Tigers [and] wolves [may] sit together, [but they] each harbor enmity [for the other].

Fig Sometimes people are forced into (superficial) alliances (e.g., Mao Zedong and Chiang Kaishek during the Sino-Japanese War).

Note [Rhyme note: hǔláng, (lit) “tigers and wolves,” also refers to robbers and bandits.]

Topics ALLIANCES Chiang Kaishek ENEMIES hǔláng Mao Zedong rhyme Sino-Japanese_War

H204

[H204]

Húli bù zhī wěiba chòu.

狐狸不知尾巴臭。

Lit [A] fox doesn't know [its] tail stinks.

Fig One cannot see one's own shortcomings.

Note [See also lǘ bù zhī below.]

Topics SELF-KNOWLEDGE SHORTCOMINGS

H205

[H205]

Húli kān jī, yuè kān yuè xī.

狐狸看鸡, 越看越稀。

狐狸看雞, 越看越稀。

Lit [If you let a] fox watch chickens, the chickens will become fewer and fewer.

Fig If one appoints the wrong person to a task or position, things will get worse. “Don't set a fox to guard a chicken coop.”

Note [See also mò jiào hóuzi below.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS TRUST

H206

[H206]

Húli shuōjiào, yìzài tōu jī.

狐狸说教, 意在偷鸡。

狐狸說教, 意在偷雞。

Lit [While] a fox [may] preach religion, [its] intention lies in stealing chickens.

Fig Whatever sweet words the wicked may utter, their true intentions are still evil.

Topics EVIL INTENTIONS WICKEDNESS

H207

[H207]

Húli wěiba cáng bu zhù.

狐狸尾巴藏不住。

Lit A fox cannot hide [its] tail.

Fig One's evil character, deeds, or intentions cannot be covered up.

Note [Note: húli wěiba, “fox's tail,” here means “something which gives away a person's true character or evil intent.”]

Topics APPEARANCES CHARACTER COVER-UP EVIL húli_wěiba

H208

[H208]

Húli zài jiǎohuá, yě dòu bu guò hǎo lièshǒu.

狐狸再狡猾, 也斗不过好猎手。

狐狸再狡猾, 也鬥不過好獵手。

Lit [The] fox, [no matter] how cunning, still cannot outsmart a skilled hunter.

Fig A tricky person may be clever, but the one who catches or exposes him or her is even more clever.

Topics CLEVERNESS TRICKS

H209

[H209]

Húli zuòmèng, yě xiǎng jī.

狐狸做梦, 也想鸡。

狐狸做夢, 也想雞。

Lit Even [when a] fox is dreaming, [it] thinks about chickens.

Fig Bad people are incorrigible. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

Note [See also zéirén ān de below.]

Topics CHARACTER EVIL INCORRIGIBILITY

H210

[H210]

Hǔ luò píng yáng bèi gǒu/quǎn qī.

虎落平阳被狗/犬欺。

虎落平陽被狗/犬欺。

Lit A tiger, [when leaving the hill and] descending to the flatlands, [will be] insulted by dogs.

Fig Out of one's normal position or situation, one is at a disadvantage.

Note [See also lóng yóu qiánshuǐ below.]

Topics BULLYING DISADVANTAGE INSULTS POSITION POWER WEAKNESS

H211

[H211]

Hú mǎ yī běifēng; Yuè niǎo cháo nán zhī.

胡马依北风, 越鸟巢南枝。

胡馬依北風, 越鳥巢南枝。

Lit Horses in the north face the north wind [and] birds in the south make their nests [on the] south [facing] branches.

Fig All people suffer from homesickness.

Note [Originally from the poem “Kǒngquè Dōng Nán Fēi” in the Han dynasty yuèfǔ style; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 19. Hú here refers to (the land of) minorities to the north and west of China in ancient times; Yuè was the name of a kingdom in present day Zhejiang during the Spring and Autumn period. See also hú sǐ bì shǒu qiū below.]

Topics Han dynasty HOMESICKNESS Hú minority Kǒngquè Dōng Nán Fēi Xǐngshì Héngyán Yuè yuèfǔ

H212

[H212]

Hǔ mén chū bàozi.

虎门出豹子。

虎門出豹子。

Lit [From within] a tiger's gates leopards are produced.

Fig Courageous fathers have courageous offspring.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics CHILDREN COURAGE FATHERS

H213

[H213]

Hǔ mén wú quǎn zhǒng.

虎门无犬种。

虎門無犬種。

Lit [In] a tiger's gates there are no puppy dogs.

Fig Courageous fathers have courageous offspring.

Note [Cf. Mao Dun's novel Zǐyè (Midnight); see also hǔ fù wú quǎnzǐ above.]

Topics CHILDREN COURAGE FATHERS Mao Dun Midnight Zǐyè

H214

[H214]

Húnshēn shì tiě, dǎ de duōshao dīngr？

浑身是铁, 打得多少钉儿？

渾身是鐵, 打得多少釘兒？

Lit [If your] entire body were [made of] iron, how many nails could be made [of it]?

Fig One person alone has not that much strength or power.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 14; Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 24.]

Topics INDIVIDUALS JPM LIMITATIONS POWER STRENGTH Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

H215

[H215]

Hūnyīn quàn lǒng; huò suì quàn kāi.

婚姻劝拢; 祸祟劝开。

婚姻勸攏; 禍祟勸開。

Lit [One should try to] bring together estranged couples [and to] drive away the spirits of misfortune.

Fig One should try to promote good and drive away misfortune.

Note [See also nìng chāi qiān zuò miào below.]

Topics CONDUCT GOODNESS MISFORTUNE

H216

[H216]

Huò bēi bù bèn jīngjì; rén qióng bù bèn qīnqi.

货卑不奔经纪, 人穷不奔亲戚。

貨卑不奔經紀, 人窮不奔親戚。

Lit [Just as one] should not show poor-quality goods to traders, [so one should] not go to [one's] relations [for help when one is] poor.

Fig Just as poor-quality goods are looked down upon by traders, so poor people are looked down upon by their relatives.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics POVERTY RELATIVES rhyme SNOBBERY

H217

[H217]

Huò bǐ huò děi rēng; rén bǐ rén děi sǐ.

货比货得扔, 人比人得死。

貨比貨得扔, 人比人得死。

Lit [If some] goods [are] compared with others, [then the inferior ones] ought to be thrown out; [if some] people [are] compared with others, [then the inferior ones ought to] die.

Fig One should not compare goods or people; just be content with what you have or can afford. “Comparisons are odious.”

Note [See also rén bǐ rén below.]

Topics COMPARISON

H218

[H218]

Huò bù dān xíng.

祸不单行。

禍不單行。

Lit Misfortunes never come singly.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 15; WM, chap. 37; this usually follows fú wú shuāng zhì above (q.v.); note: huòbùdānxíng has become a set phrase.]

Topics FORTUNE MISFORTUNE

H219

[H219]

Huò bù hào, bù néng wéi huò.

祸不好, 不能为祸。

禍不好, 不能為禍。

Lit [If one is] not fond [of things that are likely to invite] disaster, [then one's life] cannot become a disaster.

Topics CAUTION DISASTER SELF-RESTRAINT

H220

[H220]

Huò bù rù shèn jiā zhī mén.

祸不入慎家之门。

禍不入慎家之門。

Lit Misfortune [does] not enter the door of a prudent family.

Fig Misfortune won't befall a family whose members are cautious [in their words and deeds].

Topics CAUTION FAMILIES MISFORTUNE PRUDENCE

H221

[H221]

Huǒ cóng xiǎo shí jiù; shù cóng xiǎo shí xiū.

火从小时救, 树从小时修。

火從小時救, 樹從小時修。

Lit Put out the fire when [it is] small; prune the tree when [it is] young.

Fig (1) Try to solve problems as soon as they appear. (2) Educate children when they are young and malleable.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHILDREN EDUCATION PROBLEMS rhyme

H222

[H222]

Huò dào dìtóu sǐ.

货到地头死。

貨到地頭死。

Lit [When] goods [arrive at their] destination [they become] dead [i.e., they then must be sold for whatever price they can fetch].

Fig Regardless of how much you paid for something, it is only worth what the market will currently bear.

Topics BUSINESS ECONOMICS MARKETS PRICE

H223

[H223]

Huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo.

活到老, 学到老。

活到老, 學到老。

Lit [If one] lives to an old age, [one will continue to] learn until old age.

Fig You're never too old to learn. It's never to late to learn.

Note [See also xué dào lǎo and zuò dào lǎo below.]

Topics LEARNING OLD_AGE

H224

[H224]

Huò dào líntóu, huǐ hòu chí.

祸到临头, 悔后迟。

禍到臨頭, 悔後遲。

Lit [When] disaster is upon [one's] head, [then it is] too late for regret.

Note [Now more commonly said huò dào líntóu hòuhuǐ chí.]

Topics CAUTION DISASTER REGRET SELF-RESTRAINT

H225

[H225]

Huǒ dào zhūtóu làn; qián dào gōngshì bàn.

火到猪头烂, 钱到公事半。

火到豬頭爛, 錢到公事半。

Lit [Just as] cooking makes a pig's head tender, [so] money [applied to a matter gets it] done.

Fig Bribery is the ultimate arbitrator of official decisions.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 47; Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 13; note: huǒhou refers to the degree and duration of heating or cooking.]

Topics BRIBERY huǒhou JPM OFFICIALS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

H226

[H226]

Huò fú jiē yóu zì shēngchéng.

祸福皆由自生成。

禍福皆由自生成。

Lit Fortune [and] misfortune both are produced by [one's] own [conduct].

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Xiāng Gōng 23 Nián.]

Topics CONDUCT FORTUNE MISFORTUNE Xiāng Gōng 23 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

H227

[H227]

Huò hǎo, kè zì lái.

货好, 客自来。

貨好, 客自來。

Lit [If the] goods are good, customers [will] come as a matter of course.

Fig “Good wine needs no bush.”

Note [See also hǎo huò wúxū zhāolái above and jiǔ hǎo, rén zì lái below.]

Topics BUSINESS CUSTOMERS QUALITY

H228

[H228]

Huò jiàn běn zhǔ, huì shuōhuà.

货见本主, 会说话。

貨見本主, 會說話。

Lit [When] goods see [their] original owner [they] will talk.

Fig Every owner recognizes his or her own wares.

Topics BUSINESS PROPERTY

H229

[H229]

Huò mài yǔ shí jiā.

货卖与识家。

貨賣與識家。

Lit Goods [should be] sold to those [who] can appreciate [their true value].

Note [See also mài jīn xū xiàng below.]

Topics APPRECIATION BUSINESS

H230

[H230]

Huó máng jiǎn kuàidāo.

活忙拣快刀。

活忙揀快刀。

Lit [When] things are busy, choose [a] sharp knife.

Fig When there are many problems to solve, choose an able person who can “cut to the heart of the matter” and grasp the key issue(s).

Topics ABILITY PROBLEMS

H231

[H231]

Huǒ shāo bājiāo, xīn bù sǐ.

火烧芭蕉, 心不死。

火燒芭蕉, 心不死。

Lit The banana [tree] is burnt [but its] core remains.

Fig Some people do not give up easily, or are not easily reconciled to defeat.

Topics DEFEAT RESOLVE STUBBORNNESS

H232

[H232]

Huǒ shāo dào shēn, gè zì qù sǎo; fēng chài rù huái, suíjí jiěyī.

火烧到身,各自去扫; 蜂虿入怀,随即解衣。

火燒到身,各自去掃; 蜂蠆入懷,隨即解衣。

Lit [When] fire approaches [one's own] body, one naturally goes for a broom [to beat out the fire]; [when] a bee or a poisonous insect gets into [one's] clothes, [one] disrobes at once.

Fig When disasters come, each person runs for his own life.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 17; Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 28; Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 13.]

Topics DANGER DISASTER Jǐngshì Tōngyán Rúlín Wàishǐ SELF-INTEREST WM

H233

[H233]

Huǒ shāo méimao, qiě gù yǎnqián.

火烧眉毛, 且顾眼前。

火燒眉毛, 且顧眼前。

Lit [When] fire approaches [your] eyebrows, just mind [what's] before [your] eyes.

Fig In extremely urgent situations, one has to take care of the immediate problem, regardless of the long-term consequences.

Note [Note: zànqiě, “temporarily”; huǒshāo-méimao is used as a set phrase meaning a desperate or urgent situation.]

Topics CONSEQUENCES DANGER huǒshāo-méimao IMMEDIACY zànqiě

H234

[H234]

Huò shì cǎo; kè shì bǎo.

货是草, 客是宝。

貨是草, 客是寶。

Lit Goods are straw, [but] customers are treasure.

Fig Goods are as worthless as straw unless there are customers to buy them.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BUSINESS CUSTOMERS rhyme

H235

[H235]

Huó sī chéng yī lǚ; jī cùn chéng yī chǐ.

和丝成一缕, 积寸成一尺。

和絲成一縷, 積寸成一尺。

Lit Mixed silk fibers become one thread; accumulated inches make one foot.

Fig To accomplish anything one has to make consistent efforts over time.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT EFFORT TIME

H236

[H236]

Huò wú dàxiǎo, quē zhě biàn guì.

货无大小, 缺者便贵。

貨無大小, 缺者便貴。

Lit It doesn't matter whether the goods are large or small; what is scarce is expensive.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 35.]

Topics ECONOMICS EXPENSE SCARCITY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

H237

[H237]

Huò xī fú suǒ yǐ; fú xī huò suǒ fú.

祸兮福所倚, 福兮祸所伏。

禍兮福所倚, 福兮禍所伏。

Lit Good fortune lies within bad fortune, [and] bad fortune hides within good fortune.

Fig People's luck changes; whether something is good luck or bad is not always clear.

Note [A citation from Lǎozǐ (Dào Dé Jīng), chap. 58, quoted in Mao Zedong's Máo Dùn Lùn (On Contradiction); see also fú zhōng fú huò above and huò zhōng yù fú and Sài wēng shī mǎ below.]

Topics Dào Dé Jīng FORTUNE Lǎozǐ LUCK Máo Dùn Lùn Mao Zedong MISFORTUNE On_Contradiction

H238

[H238]

Huò yào mài dāngshí.

货要卖当时。

貨要賣當時。

Lit Goods should [be] sold in season [i.e., when they are in fashion or demand].

Fig “Strike while the iron is hot.” “Timing is all.”

Note [Note: dāngshí equals dānglìng, “in season”; dānglìng shāngpǐn, “seasonal goods.”]

Topics BUSINESS dānglìng dāngshí TIMING

H239

[H239]

Huò yóu è zuò; fú zì dé shēng.

祸由恶作, 福自德生。

禍由惡作, 福自德生。

Lit Misfortunes [come] from [one's] evil doings; good fortune [results] from [one's] virtue.

Topics CONDUCT FORTUNE MISFORTUNE VIRTUE

H240

[H240]

Huò yǒu gāodī sān děng jià; kè wú yuǎnjìn yībān kàn.

货有高低三等价, 客无远近一般看。

貨有高低三等價, 客無遠近一般看。

Lit Goods come in different grades [which are sold at different] prices, [but all] customers whether [they come from] near [or] far [should be] treated the same.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 84.]

Topics BUSINESS CUSTOMERS EQUALITY JW

H241

[H241]

Huò yǔ fú wéi lín.

祸与福为邻。

禍與福為鄰。

Lit Disaster and good fortune are [close] neighbors.

Fig Fortune and misfortune are closely related.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 81; see also fú zhōng fú huò above.]

Topics DISASTER Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) FATE FORTUNE MISFORTUNE

H242

[H242]

Huò zhě zhī fǎn, mí dào bù yuǎn.

祸者知返, 迷道不远。

禍者知返, 迷道不遠。

Lit [If] one who gets lost knows [enough] to turn back, [(s)he] won't go too far in the wrong direction.

Fig One who knows to correct his or her mistakes in time won't get into serious trouble.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MISTAKES rhyme SELF-CORRECTION TROUBLE

H243

[H243]

Huò zhōng yù fú; fú zhōng fú huò.

祸中寓福, 福中伏祸。

禍中寓福, 福中伏禍。

Lit In calamity lies good fortune, [and] in good fortune hides calamity.

Note [See also fú zhōng fú huò and huò xī fú suǒ yǐ and huò yǔ fú wéi lín above.]

Topics DISASTER FORTUNE

H244

[H244]

Hǔ shēng sān zǐ, bì yǒu yī biāo.

虎生三子, 必有一彪。

Lit [If a] tiger has three cubs, there must be one [which is most] ferocious.

Fig A strong or capable person must have at least one strong, capable child.

Topics CHILDREN PARENTS

H245

[H245]

Hū shé róngyì; qiǎn shé nán.

呼蛇容易, 遣蛇难。

呼蛇容易, 遣蛇難。

Lit Calling a snake out is easier than driving it away.

Fig It's easier to get people to come than to ask them to leave.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 16.]

Topics DIFFICULTY Jǐngshì Tōngyán VISITORS

H246

[H246]

Hǔ shòu, xióngxīn zài.

虎瘦, 雄心在。

Lit [A] tiger, [although] thin, still has ambitions.

Fig A person, although old, weak, or in distress, may still have ambitions.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 33.]

Topics AMBITION JW

H247

[H247]

Hú sǐ bì shǒu qiū.

狐死必守丘。

Lit [When a] fox dies, [it] must face [its] den.

Fig Everyone gets homesick sometimes.

Note [Part of a line from an ancient poem by Qu Yuan in Chù Cí: Jiǔ Zhāng: Āi Yǐng, cited in Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 19; see also hú mǎ yī běifēng below.]

Topics Āi Yǐng Chù Cí HOMESICKNESS Jiǔ Zhāng Qu Yuan Xǐngshì_Héngyán

H248

[H248]

Hǔ sǐ, bù luò jià.

虎死, 不落架。

Lit A tiger [may] die, [but it does] not lose [its majesty].

Fig A dead tiger is still a tiger. Although someone powerful dies, his influence remains.

Note [Note: jiàzi, “skeleton; haughty manner”; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 1; see also fènghuáng luò jià above.]

Topics DEATH INFLUENCE jiàzi POWER Wǔ_Sōng

H249

[H249]

Hǔ sǐ liú pí; rén sǐ liúmíng.

虎死留皮, 人死留名。

Lit [When a] tiger dies, [it] leaves its skin; [when a] person dies, (s)he leaves [his or her] reputation.

Fig A person's good name is the most important thing in life.

Note [Also said bào sǐ liú pí, etc., “When a leopard dies, etc.”; see also rén de míng and rén guò liúmíng below.]

Topics DEATH REPUTATION

H250

[H250]

Hútuzhàng hǎo suàn; jiāwù shì nánchán.

糊涂帐好算, 家务事难缠。

糊塗帳好算, 家務事難纏。

Lit [It's] easier to clear up muddled account [books] than to deal with a family's affairs.

Fig Relations among family members are extremely complex and hard to deal with.

Note [See also qīngguān nán duàn and wàirén nán guǎn below.]

Topics FAMILIES

H251

[H251]

Hǔ zài ruǎn dìshang yì shīzú; rén zài tián yán lǐ huì shuāijiāo.

虎在软地上易失足, 人在甜言里会摔交。

虎在軟地上易失足, 人在甜言裡會摔交。

Lit [Just as it is] easy for a tiger to lose its footing on soft ground, [so it is] easy for people to get tripped [up] in sweet words.

Fig People are often deceived by flattery.

Topics DECEIT FLATTERY TALK WORDS

H252

[H252]

Hú zhōng wú jiǔ, nán liúkè.

壶中无酒, 难留客。

壺中無酒, 難留客。

Lit [When] there's no wine in the pot [it's] difficult [to expect one's] guests to stay.

Fig If one has no money, one will have no friends.

Topics FRIENDS GUESTS WINE

【L1】J J1

[J1]

Jiā bù hé, wàirén qī.

家不合, 外人欺。

Lit A family in disharmony [will] be bullied by outsiders.

Note [Also said jiā bù hé, bèi rén qī; note: qīwǔ, “to bully”; see also jiā hé wànshì xīng below.]

Topics BULLYING COOPERATION FAMILIES qīwǔ STRENGTH UNITY WEAKNESS

J2

[J2]

Jiāchǒu bùkě wài yáng.*

家丑不可外扬。

家醜不可外揚。

Lit Family scandals should not be raised outside [the home].

Fig “Don't wash your (family's) dirty linen in public.” Internal matters should not be discussed in front of outsiders.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 5; see also chòu yú bù jiàn and gēbo shé le above.]

Topics DIRTY LINEN Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí FAMILIES PRIVACY SCANDALS SECRETS

J3

[J3]

Jià chūqu de nǚ'ér; pō chūqu de shuǐ.*

嫁出去的女儿, 泼出去的水。

嫁出去的女兒, 潑出去的水。

Lit [A] daughter married off [is like] water poured out [on the ground].

Fig Once a girl is married off (in traditional China), she has no more ties to her natal family.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 81.]

Topics DAUGHTERS DRC MARRIAGE traditional_China

J4

[J4]

Jià fū, suí fū.

嫁夫随夫。

嫁夫隨夫。

Lit Marry [a] husband [and] follow [him] forever.

Note [See also jià jī, suí jī below.]

Topics COMMITMENT HUSBANDS MARRIAGE WIVES

J5

[J5]

Jiā fù, xiǎo'ér jiāo.

家富, 小儿娇。

家富, 小兒嬌。

Lit [If] the family is rich, the child(ren) will be spoiled.

Note [See also jiào fù chūlái and jiāozǐ bùxiào below.]

Topics CHILDREN FAMILIES SPOILING WEALTH

J6

[J6]

Jià gāo, zhāo yuǎnkè.

价高, 招远客。

價高, 招遠客。

Lit [One who pays] high prices [i.e., a wholesale buyer] will get sellers from afar.

Topics BUSINESS PRICE

J7

[J7]

Jiā hé wànshì xīng.

家和万事兴。

家和萬事興。

Lit A family [in] harmony [will] prosper in everything.

Note [Cf. the Qing dynasty novel: Èrshí Nián Mùdǔ Zhī Guài Xiànzhuàng, chap. 87; see also jiā bù hé above and jiā yǒu yīxīn below.]

Topics COOPERATION Èrshí Nián Mùdǔ FAMILIES Qing dynasty SUCCESS

J8

[J8]

Jiājiā de guōzi yǒu hēi wū.

家家的锅子有黑污。

家家的鍋子有黑污。

Lit Every family's cooking pot has one black spot.

Fig Every family has a “skeleton in the cupboard.”

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES FAMILIES PRIVACY SECRETS

J9

[J9]

Jiājiā dōu yǒu yī běn nán niàn de jīng.*

家家都有一本难念的经。

家家都有一本難念的經。

Lit Every family has one sutra [which is] hard to chant.

Fig Each family has its own problems. Every family has a “skeleton in the cupboard.”

Note [See also shéi jiā zào tū and yī jiā bù zhī below and the preceding entry.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES FAMILIES PRIVACY SECRETS

J10

[J10]

Jiājiā mài suān jiǔ; bù fàn shì gāoshǒu.

家家卖酸酒,不犯是高手。

家家賣酸酒,不犯是高手。

Lit [When] every [wine] shop is selling sour wine, [the ones who] don't [appear] to be top notch [by comparison].

Fig Small cheats get caught, but the master criminals get away.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHEATING COMPARISON CRIME INJUSTICE rhyme

J11

[J11]

Jiājiào suī yán, chǒushì nánmiǎn.

家教虽严, 丑事难免。

家教雖嚴, 醜事難免。

Lit Although a family's teaching [may be] strict, scandals are hard to avoid.

Fig Scandals will happen, even in the best regulated families.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FAMILIES rhyme RULES SCANDALS TEACHING

J12

[J12]

Jiā jī dǎ de tuántuánzhuàn; yějī dǎ de tiē tiān fēi.

家鸡打得团团转, 野鸡打得贴天飞。

家雞打得團團轉, 野雞打得貼天飛。

Lit Domestic fowl [when] beaten [will just] run around in circles [in their coop, but] wild fowl, [when] beaten, [will] fly away.

Fig A family member has to stay with the family even though suffering abuse, while an outsider would certainly leave.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 12.]

Topics FAMILIES JPM SUFFERING

J13

[J13]

Jià jī, suí jī; jià gǒu, suí gǒu.*

嫁鸡随鸡, 嫁狗随狗。

嫁雞隨雞, 嫁狗隨狗。

Lit [A woman] married to a cock follows the cock, [and a woman] married to a dog follows the dog.

Fig Whatever a woman's husband is, she is committed to follow him forever (in traditional China).

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 81; Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 38; see also jià fū, suí fū above.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì COMMITMENT DRC MARRIAGE traditional China WIVES

J14

[J14]

Jiā lěi qiānjīn, zuò bù chuí táng.

家累千金, 坐不垂堂。

Lit [Those whose] families [have] accumulated a lot of money never sit under eaves [where they might be hit by falling tiles].

Fig Wealthy people are (able to be) more cautious about their own safety.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Sīmǎ Xiàngrú Lièzhuàn; note: qiānjīn, (lit) “[a] thousand [ounces of] gold,” is a metaphor for “a lot of money”; zuòbùchuítáng is a set phrase meaning “stay of harm's way”; see also guìrén bù tà xiǎndì above.]

Topics CAUTION qiānjīn (gold) SAFETY Shǐ Jì Sīmǎ Xiàngrú Lièzhuàn SOCIAL CLASS WEALTH zuòbùchuítáng

J15

[J15]

Jiā lǐ shì, jiā lǐ liǎo.

家里事, 家里了。

家裡事, 家裡了。

Lit Family matters [should be] settled at home.

Topics COOPERATION FAMILIES PRIVACY

J16

[J16]

Jiàn ān sī mǎ; dǔwù-sīrén.

见鞍思马, 睹物思人。

見鞍思馬, 睹物思人。

Lit Seeing a saddle [makes one] think of a horse, [and] seeing [his or her] belongings [makes one] think of [a dear] one.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 44; note: dǔwù-sīrén is a chengyu meaning “seeing something reminds one of someone”; see also jiàn jǐng shēng qíng below.]

Topics chengyu DRC dǔwù-sīrén FEELINGS MEMORIES REMEMBERING

J17

[J17]

Jiàn cù suī lì, bù shè bù fā; rén suī cōngming, bù xué bù zhī.

箭簇虽利,不射不发; 人虽聪明,不学不知。

箭簇雖利,不射不發; 人雖聰明,不學不知。

Lit Although the head of an arrow is sharp, [if it is] not discharged [it will] not fly; [similarly,] although a person [may be] intelligent, [if (s)he does] not study, [(s)he will] not be knowledgeable.

Topics INTELLIGENCE KNOWLEDGE STUDYING

J18

[J18]

Jiǎn dào piányi chái; shāopò jiā dǐ guō.

拣到便宜柴, 烧破夹底锅。

揀到便宜柴, 燒破夾底鍋。

Lit Picking up cheap firewood [is not worth it if you] burn up [your] thick [(lit) double]-bottomed cooking pot.

Fig By exploiting petty advantages, one often suffers great losses.

Note [Note the colloquial expression: dé bù shǎng shī, “the gain is not worth the loss.”]

Topics colloquial expression dé bù shǎng shī LOSSES PETTINESS

J19

[J19]

Jiāng fēi zhě yì fú.

将飞者翼伏。

將飛者翼伏。

Lit [Birds which are] getting ready to fly lower [their] wings.

Fig (1) One should prepare before making one's move. (2) Don't be misled by quiet appearances.

Note [See also hǔ bēi shì above.]

J20

[J20]

Jiāng hǎi bù jù xì liú, Tài Shān bù jù tǔ shí.

江海不拒细流, 泰山不拒土石。

江海不拒細流, 泰山不拒土石。

Lit Rivers [and] seas do not reject small [streams] joining [them]; Mount Tai does not refuse to receive earth [and] stones.

Fig People of virtue are always willing to learn from anyone.

Note [See also dàhǎi bù xián shuǐ above.]

Topics LEARNING VIRTUE

J21

[J21]

Jiānghé bù qū, shuǐ bù liú.

江河不曲, 水不流。

Lit [If the] rivers do not bend, the water [will] not flow forward.

Fig Setbacks and hardships spur one to forge ahead.

Topics DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS LEARNING

J22

[J22]

Jiānghú yuè lǎo, yuè hánxīn.

江湖越老, 越寒心。

Lit The older a wayfarer gets, the more disappointed [he becomes].

Fig The more one sees of life and the world, the more disillusioned one becomes.

Note [Note: jiānghú refers to those who lead a vagrant life, sometimes to tramps and gypsies, but here refers to those who are worldly-wise.]

Topics DISILLUSION EXPERIENCE jiānghú

J23

[J23]

Jiàng mén bì yǒu jiàng; xiàng mén bì yǒu xiàng.

将门必有将, 相门必有相。

將門必有將, 相門必有相。

Lit [In a] general's family there must be [more] generals, [and in a] prime minister's family there must be [more] prime ministers.

Fig Like breeds like.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Mèng Cháng Jūn Lièzhuàn; see also fèng shēng fèng above.]

Topics FAMILIES Mèng Cháng Jūn Lièzhuàn Shǐ Jì SIMILARITIES

J24

[J24]

Jiāngshān yì gǎi, běnxìng nán yí.

江山易改, 本性难移。

江山易改, 本性難移。

Lit It's easier to move mountains or rivers [than to] change [a person's] basic nature. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 35; see also gǒu chī shǐ above and shé rù zhú dòng and tōu shí (de) māor and yī rén, yī xiàng below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR bíngqìng CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN NATURE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J25

[J25]

Jiàngshuài wúnéng, lèisǐ sān-jūn.

将帅无能, 累死三军。

將帥無能, 累死三軍。

Lit [If a] general is incompetent, [he may] wear out three armed forces.

Fig An incompetent leader can cause great harm to his subordinates.

Note [See also bīng xióng above; note: technically sān-jūn referred to combined forces of infantry, charioteers, and cavalry, and now refers to the three branches of the armed services: army, navy, and air force.]

Topics COMPETENCE COMPETENCE LEADERSHIP MILITARY sān-jūn SUBORDINATES

J26

[J26]

(Jiāng) Tàigōng diàoyú, yuàn zhě shànggōu.*

(姜)太公钓鱼, 愿者上钩。

(姜)太公釣魚, 願者上鉤。

Lit [When] the Heavenly Master (Jiang) Taigong went fishing, [only] willing fish took the hook.

Fig Only willing victims let themselves be caught.

Note [Jiang Ziya or Jiang Taigong (“Heavenly Master Jiang”), a premier in the Western Zhou dynasty noted for his eccentricities, always went fishing by holding a straightened unbaited hook suspended above the water. Cf. Wǔ Wáng Fá Zhòu Pínghuà (King Wuwang's Expedition against King Zhou) and Fēng Shén Yǎnyi (The Romance of the Deification of the Gods), chap. 23. This popular saying was used by Mao Zedong to describe those Chinese intellectuals taking American relief aid in an essay praising one who did not, Zhu Ziqing.]

Topics Fēngshén Yǎnyì Mao Zedong Wǔ Wáng Fá Zhòu Zhu_Ziqing

J27

[J27]

Jiàn guài bù guài; qí guài zì bài.

见怪不怪, 其怪自败。

見怪不怪, 其怪自敗。

Lit [When you see] strange [things] don't be afraid, [and] their fearful [aspect] will naturally disappear.

Note [Rhyme; cf. DRC, chap. 94.]

Topics DRC FEAR rhyme

J28

[J28]

Jiàn guān, sānfēn zāi.

见官, 三分灾。

見官, 三分災。

Lit [When one] meets with a [government] official, [one has at least a] thirty percent [chance of] calamity.

Note [Said in traditional China.]

Topics DANGER DISASTER OFFICIALS

J29

[J29]

Jiànguo guǐ, pà hēi.

见过鬼, 怕黑。

見過鬼, 怕黑。

Lit [After] having seen a ghost, [one] is afraid of the dark.

Fig “Once bitten, twice shy.”

Note [See also yīzhāo bèi shé yǎo below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE FEAR

J30

[J30]

Jiàng xiàng běn wú zhǒng; nán'ér dāng zìqiáng.

将相本无种, 男儿当自强。

將相本無種, 男兒當自強。

Lit Generals [and] prime ministers are not born; heroes must themselves work hard [to achieve greatness].

Fig People are not born to greatness; rather they must achieve it by their own efforts.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 24; Shǐ Jì: Chén Shè Shì Jiā; Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 21.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT EFFORT Fēngshén Yǎnyì GREATNESS Gǔ-Jīn_Xiǎoshuō

J31

[J31]

Jiàng xiàng chū hánmén.

将相出寒门。

將相出寒門。

Lit Generals [and] prime ministers (can) come from poor families.

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, Act 5, Scene 3; vs. jiàng mén bì yǒu jiàng above.]

Topics OFFICIALS POVERTY SOCIAL CLASS Xīxiāng_Jì

J32

[J32]

Jiāngyīn mò dòngshǒu; Wúxī mò kāikǒu.

江阴莫动手, 无锡莫开口。

江陰莫動手, 無錫莫開口。

Lit Don't fight [with people from] Jiangyin [in Jiangsu province, as they are generally believed to be physically belligerent], [and] don't argue with [people from] Wuxi [also in Jiangsu province, as they are believed to be quarrelsome].

Fig Don't (try to) compete with experts.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics chengyu FIGHTING Jiangsu province Jiangyin rhyme Wuxi

J33

[J33]

Jiāng yù qǔ zhī, bì xiān yǔ zhī.

将欲取之, 必先与之。

將欲取之, 必先與之。

Lit [If in the] future [one] desires to get something, [one] must first give something.

Fig In order to get, one must first give.

Note [Cf. Lǎozǐ, chap. 33, paraphrased by Mao Zedong in reference to the nationalization of private enterprises; see his Collected Works Máo Zédōng Xuǎnjí, vol. 4.]

Topics Collected Works FUTURE INVESTMENT Lǎozǐ Máo Zédōng Xuǎnjí RECIPROCITY

J34

[J34]

Jiàng zài móu ér bù zài yǒng; bīng zài jīng ér bù zài duō.

将在谋而不在勇, 兵在精而不在多。

將在謀而不在勇, 兵在精而不在多。

Lit [The quality of a] general lies in [his] strategy, rather than in [his] courage, [and the effectiveness of] soldiers lies in [their] quality, rather than in [their] number.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō (Yù Shì Míng Yán), chap. 21; the second half may be used alone (q.v.).]

Topics COURAGE Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō MILITARY NUMBER QUALITY STRATEGY Yù_Shì_Míng_Yán

J35

[J35]

Jiàng zàiwài, jūn mìng yǒusuǒ bù shòu.

将在外, 君命有所不受。

將在外, 君命有所不受。

Lit [When a] general is out [in battle], [even] the emperor's orders [may] some[times] not be obeyed.

Fig A field commander must decide even against the king's orders. The person responsible on the spot sometimes has to make decisions contrary to his (original) orders.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Sūnzǐ Wú Qǐ Lièzhuàn; Shǐ Jì: Sīmǎ Ráng Jū Lièzhuàn; R3K, chap. 103; see also chūbīng bù yóu jiàng above.]

Topics DECISIONS MILITARY ORDERS R3K RESPONSIBILITY Sheng Zhi Wu Qi Liè Zhuàn Shǐ Jì Shǐ_Jì

J36

[J36]

Jiàn huǒ bù miè, huǒ shāo shēn; jiàn shé bù dǎ, shé yǎo rén.

见火不灭, 火烧身; 见蛇不打, 蛇咬人。

見火不滅, 火燒身; 見蛇不打, 蛇咬人。

Lit [When one] sees a fire [and does] not put [it] out, the fire [will] burn him; [if one] sees a snake [and does] not strike [it], the snake [will] bite him.

Fig One should nip trouble in the bud or (be prepared to) suffer the consequences.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CONSEQUENCES FORESTALLING PREPARATION TROUBLE

J37

[J37]

Jiàn jǐng shēng qíng.

见景生情。

見景生情。

Lit Seeing [certain] places or sights arouses [one's] feelings.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 35; this rhyme is a colloquial version of the chengyu: chùjǐng-shēngqíng; note: jǐngxiàng, “scene, sight, circumstances”; see also jiàn ān sī mǎ above.]

Topics chengyu chengyu chùjǐng-shēngqíng FEELINGS jǐngxiàng PLACE SCENERY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J38

[J38]

Jiàn lǎo wú máng; rén lǎo wú gāng.

剑老无芒, 人老无刚。

劍老無芒, 人老無剛。

Lit [When] swords [get] old, [they] have no edge; [when] people [get] old, [they] have no strength.

Fig When people get older, they lose their strength of will.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 32; note: fēngmáng, “cutting edge”; “abilities.”]

Topics AGE Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) fēngmáng OLD AGE rhyme STRENGTH WILL

J39

[J39]

Jiàn lǐ mǎi lái, jiàn lǐ mài; róngyì dé lái, róngyì shě.

贱里买来贱里卖, 容易得来容易舍。

賤裡買來賤裡賣, 容易得來容易捨。

Lit Cheaply bought, cheaply sold; easy come, easy go.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 76.]

Topics JPM PRICE VALUE

J40

[J40]

Jiàn pín xiū xiào, fù xiū kuā; shéi shì cháng pín jiǔ fù jiā？

见贫休笑富休夸, 谁是常贫久富家？

見貧休笑富休誇, 誰是常貧久富家？

Lit [If you] see poor [people] don't idly laugh; [if you are] rich, don't idly boast; whose family will be always poor or always rich?

Fig Don't laugh at the poor and don't boast of your wealth; no one will be poor or rich all his or her life.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BEHAVIOR LIFE POVERTY rhyme RICH WEALTH

J41

[J41]

Jiàn rén bù shīlǐ; duō zǒu èrshí lǐ.

见人不施礼, 多走二十里。

見人不施禮, 多走二十里。

Lit [If when you] meet someone [you do] not greet [them] politely [when asking for directions, you may] walk an extra twenty miles.

Fig If one is not willing to approach others correctly and learn from them, one will not succeed.

Note [Rhyme; note: shīlǐ or xínglǐ, “to salute; to greet politely, e.g., by bowing”; see also rén shēnglù bù shú below.]

Topics COURTESY GREETINGS LEARNING rhyme shīlǐ xínglǐ

J42

[J42]

Jiàn rén bù shì, zhū è zhī gēn; jiàn jǐ bù shì, bǎi shàn zhī mén.

见人不是诸恶之根, 见己不是百善之门。

見人不是諸惡之根, 見己不是百善之門。

Lit Seeing [only other] people's problems [is the] root of all kinds of evils; seeing [one's] own mistakes [is the] door to goodness.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EVIL GOODNESS OBJECTIVITY rhyme SELF-KNOWLEDGE

J43

[J43]

Jiàn rén tiāodàn bù chīlì.

见人挑担不吃力。

見人挑擔不吃力。

Lit [One who only] watches others carrying burdens does not get tired.

Fig No one can truly know the weight of another's burden. If one has not done something oneself, one can't know what it's like.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 5; see also kàn rén tiāodàn below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE Hé Diǎn LEARNING

J44

[J44]

Jiǎn rì bùrú zhuàng rì.

拣日不如撞日。

揀日不如撞日。

Lit Choosing a day is not as good as chancing upon a day.

Fig Chancing upon an opportune time is even better than planning in advance. [Said when one encounters a good opportunity.]

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 1; see also lái de zǎo bùrú below.]

Topics CHANCE Hé Diǎn LUCK OPPORTUNITY PLANNING

J45

[J45]

Jiàn shàn, zé xué; yǒu guò, zé gǎi.

见善则学, 有过则改。

見善則學, 有過則改。

Fig [If you] see goodness, learn [from it]; [if you] have faults, reform [them].

Topics BEHAVIOR EXAMPLE GOODNESS LEARNING

J46

[J46]

Jiàn shé bù dǎ, sānfēn zuì.

见蛇不打, 三分罪。

見蛇不打, 三分罪。

Lit [If one] sees a snake [and] does not strike [it, one is] thirty percent guilty.

Fig Not to oppose evil whenever one sees it is wrong.

Topics EVIL RESPONSIBILITY

J47

[J47]

Jiàn shí bù qiǎng, dào lǎo bù zhǎng.

见食不抢, 到老不长。

見食不搶, 到老不長。

Lit [If when you] see food [you] don't take [it], [when you] get old [you will] not be healthy.

Note [A rhyme said humorously to one's guests at banquets to encourage them to eat more.]

Topics AGE COURTESY EATING HEALTH rhyme

J48

[J48]

Jiàn tù fàngyīng; yù zhāng fā jiàn.

见兔放鹰, 遇獐发箭。

見兔放鷹, 遇獐發箭。

Lit [When you] see the hare, loose the falcon; [when you] see the river deer, loose your arrow.

Fig (1) Seize the opportunity when it presents itself. (2) Take aim at your target before you act.

Note [See also bù jiàn tùzi above.]

Topics OPPORTUNITY PREPARATION

J49

[J49]

(Jiàn tù gù quǎn wèi wéi wǎn;) wáng yáng bǔ láo wèi wéi chí.

(见兔顾犬未为晚,) 亡羊补牢未为迟。

(見兔顧犬未為晚,) 亡羊補牢未為遲。

Lit (It is not too late to set the dog on the hare after you see it [run by]), nor is it too late to mend the fold after [some of the] sheep have been lost.

Fig “Better late than never.”

Note [Cf. Zhànguó Cè: Chù Cè Sì; the first half is often omitted, and the second part used alone (q.v.).]

Topics LATENESS LOSS REPAIRS Zhànguó_Cè

J50

[J50]

Jiàn xián, bù jiàn yú.

荐贤, 不荐愚。

薦賢, 不薦愚。

Lit Recommend [the] talented, not [the] stupid.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6.]

Topics RECOMMENDATION STUPIDITY TALENT Wǔ_Sōng

J51

[J51]

Jiàn yì bù wéi, wú yǒng.

见义不为无勇。

見義不為無勇。

Lit [One who] knows what is right, [but] doesn't fight [for it is] not brave.

Fig One who does not have the courage to oppose injustice is a coward.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Ji: Yàn Zhì Lièzhuàn; note the chengyu: jiànyì-yǒngwéi, “bravely fight for justice.”]

Topics BEHAVIOR chengyu COURAGE INJUSTICE jiànyì-yǒngwéi Shǐ Jì Yàn_Zhì_Lièzhuàn

J52

[J52]

Jiàn yī shì; zhī shí shì.

见一事, 知十事。

見一事, 知十事。

Lit See one thing [and you will] know ten.

Fig A clever person learns or generalizes from what (s)he already knows or sees.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics CLEVERNESS GENERALIZING INTELLIGENCE LEARNING

J53

[J53]

Jiàn yī shì; zhī yī shì.

见一事, 知一事。

見一事, 知一事。

Lit See one thing [and you will] learn [another] one [from it].

Fig A clever person learns something from experience.

Topics CLEVERNESS EXPERIENCE GENERALIZING INTELLIGENCE LEARNING

J54

[J54]

Jiàn zài xián shàng, bùdé bù fā.

箭在弦上, 不得不发。

箭在弦上, 不得不發。

Lit [Once the] arrow is (fitted) on the bow string, one cannot but shoot [it].

Fig Once things have reached a certain point, there is no turning back. The only way to go is forward.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 32; note: jiànzàixiánshàng is a set phrase meaning “everything is ready and there can be no turning back”; see also kāigōng, méiyǒu below.]

Topics ACTION COMMITMENT jiànzàixiánshàng R3K

J55

[J55]

Jiànzhèng, jiànzhèng; bù jiàn, bù zhèng.

见证见证, 不见不证。

見證見證, 不見不證。

Lit [What one] witnesses, [one can bear] witness to; [if you did] not see it, don't bear witness.

Fig Never bear witness in a law court if you didn't see something with your own eyes.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics COURTS LAW TRUTH WITNESS Wǔ_Sōng

J56

[J56]

Jiàn zhě yì; xué zhě nán.

见者易, 学者难。

見者易, 學者難。

Lit One who [only] sees [things thinks they are] easy, [but] one who studies [them knows they are] difficult.

Fig Seeing is easy; learning is difficult.

Topics LEARNING STUDYING

J57

[J57]

Jiào bù yán, shī zhī duò.*

教不严, 师之惰。

教不嚴, 師之惰。

Lit [If the] teaching is not strict, [it's because] the teacher is lazy.

Note [From the classical primary textbook Sān Zì Jīng (The Three Character Classic); see also the line which precedes this one: yǎng bù jiào, fù zhī guò, “If one raises a child without discipline, it's an error by its father” (q.v.) below.]

Topics EDUCATION Sān Zì Jīng TEACHERS TEACHING Three_Character_Classic

J58

[J58]

Jiáo de cài gēn, bǎi shì kě zuò.

嚼得菜根, 百事可做。

Lit [One who has] chewed vegetable roots [for lack of anything better to eat] can accomplish anything.

Fig One who has gone through hardships can do anything.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS

J59

[J59]

Jiāo duōle bù nián; huà duōle bù tián.

胶多了不粘, 话多了不甜。

膠多了不粘, 話多了不甜。

Lit Too much glue won't stick, [and] many words won't be sweet [to the ears].

Fig Don't talk too much.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics rhyme SELF-RESTRAINT TALK WORDS

J60

[J60]

Jiào fù chūlái; jiào ér yīnghái.

教妇初来, 教儿婴孩。

教婦初來, 教兒嬰孩。

Lit Teach [your] wife [when she first arrives at her husband's family's home, and] train [your] child [when it's] an infant.

Fig It is best to begin disciplining wives and children to behave correctly as early as possible.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Yán Shì Jiā Xùn: Jiào Zǐ; note: jiàoyǎng, “raise; train; educate”; see also dāngmiàn jiào zǐ above.]

Topics CHILDREN DISCIPLINE EDUCATION Jiào Zǐ rhyme TEACHING WIVES Yán_Shì_Jiā_Xùn

J61

[J61]

Jiàohuāzi yě yǒu sān gè qióng péngyou.

叫花子也有三个穷朋友。

叫花子也有三個窮朋友。

Lit Even beggars have three poor friends.

Fig Everyone has some friends (to help out).

Topics FRIENDS HELPING

J62

[J62]

Jiàohuì túdi, èsǐ shīfu.

教会徒弟, 饿死师傅。

教會徒弟, 餓死師傅。

Lit [After he has] taught all [his skills to his] apprentice, the master [will] starve to death.

Fig Don't teach people everything you know.

Note [Note the colloquial expression: liú yīshǒu, “to hold back a trick or two.”]

Topics colloquial expression liú yīshǒu SKILL TEACHING TRICKS

J63

[J63]

Jiào rén bù shíběn; shétou dǎ gè gǔn.

叫人不蚀本, 舌头打个滚。

叫人不蝕本, 舌頭打個滾。

Lit Greeting someone doesn't cost you anything [except] a roll of your tongue.

Fig It doesn't cost one anything to be civil to others.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 5; see also qǐngjiào biérén below.]

Topics CIVILITY COURTESY GREETINGS rhyme Wǔ_Sōng

J64

[J64]

Jiāo rén, jiāoxīn; jiāo huā, jiāo gēn.

交人交心, 浇花浇根。

交人交心, 澆花澆根。

Lit To communicate [with] people, open [your] heart, [just as when] watering flowers [you should] water [their] roots.

Fig To make friends, frankness and sincerity are the most important things.

Note [Technically a rhyme; the order of the two halves may be reversed.]

Topics COMMUNICATION FRANKNESS FRIENDSHIP rhyme SINCERITY

J65

[J65]

Jiǎo shàng de pào, zìjǐ zǒu de; shēnshang de chuāng, zìjǐ rě de.

脚上的泡自己走的, 身上的疮自己惹的。

腳上的泡自己走的, 身上的瘡自己惹的。

Lit Blisters raised on [one's] feet [are due to one's] own walking, [and] boils growing on [one's] body [are of one's] own doing.

Fig The cause of the problem lies with oneself. “As one makes one's bed, so one must lie in it.”

Topics CAUSE PROBLEMS SELF

J66

[J66]

Jiàoshòu, jiàoshòu; yuè jiāo, yuè shòu.

教授教授, 越教越瘦。

Lit Professor(s), professor(s); the more they profess, the thinner they get.

Note [Pun; a satirical comment on the low salaries of academics in China, originally criticizing the inflationary policies of the late 1940s, resurrected in the 1990s; cf. sòutóu “stupid person” is Wu dialect.]

Topics DIALECT INFLATION PROFESSORS pun sòutóu TEACHING Wu_dialect

J67

[J67]

Jiāoshū sān nián, jiāo zìshēn.

教书三年, 教自身。

教書三年, 教自身。

Lit To teach [students for] three years [is to] teach oneself.

Fig A teacher learns more by teaching others. To teach is to learn.

Note [See also jiào-xué xiāng zhǎng below.]

Topics LEARNING STUDENTS TEACHERS TEACHING

J68

[J68]

Jiǎo tà liǎng chuán bì luòshuǐ.

脚踏两船必落水。

腳踏兩船必落水。

Lit [One who] straddles two boats is bound to fall [into the] water.

Fig Fence-straddlers will eventually get into trouble.

Topics CHOICES FENCE STRADDLING INDECISION

J69

[J69]

Jiǎo tù sǐ, liáng gǒu pēng; gāo niǎo jìn, liánggōng cáng.

狡兔死,良狗烹; 高鸟尽,良弓藏。

狡兔死,良狗烹; 高鳥盡,良弓藏。

Lit [When] the wiliest hare is caught, the good [hunting] dog is [killed and] cooked; [when] the high [flying] birds are all [shot], the fine bow/archer is put away.

Fig When victory is won, those who have performed meritorious service are eliminated or ignored.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Shǐ Jì: Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn; note: liánggōng, (lit) “fine bow,” can also refer to a fine archer.]

Topics Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn INJUSTICE liánggōng REWARDS rhyme SERVICE Shǐ_Jì

J70

[J70]

Jiǎo tù yǒu sān kū.*

狡兔有三窟。

Lit A wily hare has three burrows.

Fig A clever person always makes alternative, “back-up” plans.

Note [Originally from Zhànguó Cè: Qí Cè Sì; as a chengyu: jiǎotù-sānkū.]

Topics chengyu CLEVERNESS jiǎotù-sānkū PREPARATION Qí Cè Sì Zhànguó_Cè

J71

[J71]

Jiào-xué xiāng zhǎng.

教学相长。

教學相長。

Lit Teachers [and] students mutually benefit.

Fig Teaching benefits teacher and students alike.

Note [This is sometimes treated as a chengyu; see also jiāoshū sān nián above.]

Topics chengyu TEACHING

J72

[J72]

Jiāoyǎng bùrú lì jiān.

娇养不如历艰。

嬌養不如歷艱。

Lit Better let [one's children] go through hardships than to spoil [them].

Note [Note the chengyu: jiāoshēng-guànyǎng, “pampered since childhood.”]

Topics chengyu CHILDREN DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE jiāoshēng-guànyǎng SPOILING

J73

[J73]

Jiāoyì bù chéng, rényì zài.

交易不成, 仁义在。

交易不成, 仁義在。

Lit [Although the] business transaction did not go through, the feeling of friendship remains.

Note [Now more commonly said mǎi-mài bù chéng, qíngyì zài. (q.v.).]

Topics BUSINESS FRIENDSHIP jiāoyì qíngyì RELATIONSHIPS rényì

J74

[J74]

Jiāoyǒu mǎn tiānxià, zhīxīn yǒu jǐ rén？*

交友满天下, 知心有几人？

交友滿天下, 知心有幾人？

Lit [One may] have friends all over the world, [but] there are [very] few people [who] truly understand [one's] heart.

Note [The two halves are often used separately.]

Topics FRIENDS FRIENDSHIP UNDERSTANDING

J75

[J75]

Jiǎo zhèng bùpà xié wāi.

脚正不怕鞋歪。

腳正不怕鞋歪。

Lit A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe.

Fig An upright person need not fear slander or rumors. A clear conscience laughs at false accusations.

Note [See also gēn shēn bùpà above and xīn zhèng bùpà below.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS CONSCIENCE FALSITY LIES RECTITUDE RUMORS SLANDER

J76

[J76]

Jiāo zhě yú; yú zhě jiāo.

骄者愚, 愚者骄。

驕者愚, 愚者驕。

Lit The proud [are] foolish; the foolish [are sure to be] proud.

Topics FOOLISHNESS PRIDE

J77

[J77]

Jiāozǐ bùxiào.

骄子不孝。

驕子不孝。

Lit [A] spoil[ed] child is unfilial.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Liáng Xiào Wáng Shì Jiā; see also jiā fù, xiǎo'ér jiāo above.]

Topics CHILDREN FILIALITY Liáng Xiào Wáng Shì Jiā Shǐ Jì SPOILING

J78

[J78]

Jiā pín bù bàn sùshí; cōng rǒng bùxiá cǎoshū.

家贫不办素食, 匆冗不暇草书。

家貧不辦素食, 匆冗不暇草書。

Lit [If you are] poor, don't [think you can] entertain [your guests with] vegetarian food; [if] in a hurry, [you're] too busy to write in a fancy running hand.

Fig Don't attempt to take (what might appear to be) shortcuts. If you're going to do something, you have to do it right. One has to observe the proper forms if one wants to do something successfully.

Topics EFFORT SHORTCUTS SUCCESS

J79

[J79]

Jiā pín, bù shì pín; lù pín, pín shā rén.

家贫不是贫, 路贫贫杀人。

家貧不是貧, 路貧貧殺人。

Lit Poverty at home is not poverty, [but] poverty on the road [can] kill one.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 24; also said zàijiā bù shì pín ... etc.; see also qióng jiā, fù lù below.]

Topics DANGER HOME POVERTY Rúlín Wàishǐ TRAVEL

J80

[J80]

Jiā pín chū xiàozǐ.*

家贫出孝子。

家貧出孝子。

Lit Poor families produce dutiful sons.

Topics DUTY FILIAL PIETY POVERTY SONS

J81

[J81]

Jiā pín sī liáng qī.

家贫思良妻。

家貧思良妻。

Lit [When the] family is poor, [they will] think [of getting a] good wife [to help out].

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Wèi Shì Jiā.]

Topics DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW POVERTY Shǐ Jì Wèi Shì Jiā WIVES

J82

[J82]

Jiāshū dǐ wàn jīn.*

家书抵万金。

家書抵萬金。

Lit A letter from home is worth ten thousand [ounces of] gold.

Note [A line from the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu's poem: “Chūn Wàng.”]

Topics Chūn Wàng Du Fu HOME LETTERS Tang_dynasty

J83

[J83]

Jiāsī bù lùn zūn-bēi.

家私不论尊卑。

家私不論尊卑。

Lit Family property [should be shared by all the family members], no matter how high or low in seniority.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 10.]

Topics FAMILIES Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō PROPERTY SENIORITY SHARING

J84

[J84]

Jiā wú èr zhǔ; guó wú èr wáng.*

家无二主, 国无二王。

家無二主, 國無二王。

Lit A family [can]not have two masters, [just as] a country [can]not have two kings.

Note [Cf. Lǐjì: Fāng Xì; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 95; JW, chap. 39; see also yī shān bù néng.]

Topics Book of Rites FAMILIES Fāng Xì HOUSEHOLDS LEADERSHIP Lǐjì Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

J85

[J85]

Jiā wú quán fàn.

家无全犯。

家無全犯。

Lit [An entire (extended)] family does not commit crimes.

Fig An entire (extended) family cannot be held responsible for the crimes by one or a few of its members.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 40; JW, chap. 63; see also xiǎo'ér fànzuì and yī rén zuò zuì below.]

Topics CRIME FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS Jǐngshì Tōngyán RESPONSIBILITY

J86

[J86]

Jiā wú shēnghuó jì, bùpà dǒu liáng jīn.

家无生活计, 不怕斗量金。

家無生活計, 不怕斗量金。

Lit [If] a family has no [long-term] plan for making a living, even bushels of gold won't help.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 24; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 96; see also jī cái qiānwàn and jiā yǒu qiānjīn below.]

Topics huójì Jǐngshì Tōngyán JPM SKILL WEALTH WORKING

J87

[J87]

Jiā wú zhǔ, wū dǎo shù.

家无主, 屋倒竖。

家無主, 屋倒豎。

Lit [If a] home has no one in charge, [the house will] turn upside down.

Note [A rhyme often said after the mistress of the house dies; cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 16; Niè Hǎi Huā, chap. 14; JPM, chap. 3.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì HOME HOUSEHOLDS JPM Niè_Hǎi_Huā

J88

[J88]

Jiā yán, ér xuéhǎo; zǐ xiào, fù xīnkuān.

家严儿学好, 子孝父心宽。

家嚴兒學好, 子孝父心寬。

Lit [When] the family/home is strict, the children learn from good example; [when] the sons are filial, the father['s heart is] carefree.

Note [Note: kuānxīn, “carefree”; jiāyán is also used as a respectful term to refer to one's father.]

Topics CHILDREN EDUCATION jiāyán kuānxīn

J89

[J89]

Jià yī bù zé zhǔ.

价一不择主。

價一不擇主。

Lit [With] one [set] price, [the seller] doesn't [have to] solicit any particular customers.

Fig If a business sets one fixed price, then customers will come to them naturally.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 22; note: zhǔgù, “customer.”]

Topics BUSINESS PRICE zhǔgù

J90

[J90]

Jiā yǒu cháng yè, suī jī bù è; guó yǒu cháng fǎ, suī wēi bù wáng.

家有常业虽饥不饿, 国有常法虽危不亡。

家有常業雖飢不餓, 國有常法雖危不亡。

Lit [Just as a] family with an established profession won't go hungry in times of famine, [so a] country governed by laws [rather than by men] won't be conquered in times of danger.

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Shì Xié.]

Topics DANGER FAMILIES Hán Fēizǐ LAW PROFESSION Shì Xié SKILL WORKING

J91

[J91]

Jiā yǒu huángjīn; wài yǒu dǒu chèng.

家有黄金, 外有斗秤。

家有黃金, 外有斗秤。

Lit [If you] have gold at home, other [people can] gauge [it to the] bushel.

Fig Outsiders are able to estimate one's wealth.

Note [Note: a dǒu (= one deciliter) is a standard measure for grain.]

Topics deciliter dǒu NEIGHBORS PRIVACY WEALTH

J92

[J92]

Jiā yǒu huànnàn; lín bǎo xiāngzhù.

家有患难, 邻保相助。

家有患難, 鄰保相助。

Lit [If] misfortune befalls a family, neighbors help one another.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 14.]

Topics HELP JPM MISFORTUNE NEIGHBORS

J93

[J93]

Jiā yǒu jiāguī; jūn yǒu jūnfǎ.

家有家规, 军有军法。

家有家規, 軍有軍法。

Lit A family has [its] family rules, [just as] the army has military regulations.

Note [See also guó yǒu guófǎ above.]

Topics FAMILIES MILITARY RULES

J94

[J94]

Jiā yǒu jiā zhǔ; miào yǒu miàozhǔ.

家有家主, 庙有庙主。

家有家主, 廟有廟主。

Lit Every house has its master, [just as] every temple has its head [priest].

Fig Every organization has a leader.

Note [Rhyme; see also jiā yǒu qiān kǒu below.]

Topics LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION

J95

[J95]

Jiā yǒu qiānjīn bùrú rì jìn fēnwén.

家有千金不如日进分文。

家有千金不如日進分文。

Lit Having a thousand [ounces of] gold at home is not as [good as having a] daily (i.e., steady) income of [one] single penny.

Note [See also jiā wú shēnghuó jì above.]

Topics BUDGETING COMPARISON MONEY qiānjīn (gold) WEALTH WORKING

J96

[J96]

Jiā yǒu qiān kǒu; zhǔshì yī rén.

家有千口, 主事一人。

Lit [Although there may be] many people in a family [there can only be] one master.

Note [Cf. Èr Shí Zǎi Fán Huá Mèng, chap. 12; see also jiā wú èr zhǔ above and jiā zhōng bǎi shì below.]

Topics Èr Shí Zǎi Fán Huá Mèng FAMILIES LEADERSHIP

J97

[J97]

Jiā yǒu qiānwàn; xiǎo chù bùkě bù suàn.

家有千万, 小处不可不算。

家有千萬, 小處不可不算。

Lit [Even if your] family has a large fortune, small expenditures must still be carefully calculated.

Topics BUDGETING EXPENDITURES FAMILIES MONEY PLANNING WEALTH

J98

[J98]

Jiā yǒu sān dǒu liáng, bù dāng háizi wáng.

家有三斗粮, 不当孩子王。

家有三斗糧, 不當孩子王。

Lit [If you] have three bushels of grain at home, never be a teacher of children.

Note [A rhyme; used before 1949 to comment on the low status of primary and high school teachers; cf. Dàxué Chūnqiū, Book 30; note: a dǒu (equals one deciliter) is a standard measure of grain.]

Topics Dàxué Chūnqiū deciliter dǒu rhyme TEACHERS TEACHING

J99

[J99]

Jiā yǒu wànguàn cái bùrú yīshēn jiàn.

家有万贯财不如一身健。

家有萬貫財不如一身健。

Lit [Even if one's] family has ten thousand strings of [one thousand copper cash] coins, it's not as good as a healthy body.

Fig “Health is better than wealth.”

Note [Note: guàn literally refers to a string of one thousand copper coins or “cash” used in dynastic China; wànguàn means “wealthy”; see also the chengyu: yáochǎn-wànguàn, “having great wealth.”]

Topics CASH chengyu COMPARISON FAMILIES guàn HEALTH WEALTH yáochǎn-wànguàn

J100

[J100]

Jiā yǒu wútóng, zhāo fènghuáng; jiā yǒu guānggùn, zhāo guānggùn.

家有梧桐招凤凰, 家有光棍招光棍。

家有梧桐招鳳凰, 家有光棍招光棍。

Lit [Just as] a Chinese parasol tree at [one's] home [will] attract [Chinese] phoenixes, [so] a [poor] bachelor in [one's] home [will] attract others [of his kind].

Fig “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Note [Note: guānggun here refers to men who are too poor to marry; see also méiyǒu wútóng shù below.]

Topics BACHELORS guānggun POVERTY

J101

[J101]

Jiā yǒu yī lǎo; huángjīn huó bǎo.*

家有一老, 黄金活宝。

家有一老, 黃金活寶。

Lit [If a] family has an old person, [he or she is] a golden living treasure.

Fig An old person in the family is a living treasure [who will always offer good advice].

Note [Rhyme; see also bù tīng lǎorén above.]

Topics ADVICE AGE EXPERIENCE FAMILIES OLD AGE rhyme

J102

[J102]

Jiā yǒu yīxīn, yǒuqián mǎi jīn; jiā yǒu èr xīn, wú qián mǎi zhēn.

家有一心有钱买金, 家有二心无钱买针。

家有一心有錢買金, 家有二心無錢買針。

Lit [If the whole] family [is of] one mind, [they will] have money to buy gold; [if the whole] family [is of] two minds, [they will] not have [enough] money to buy [even] a needle.

Fig Family unity is of paramount importance in ensuring a family's success.

Note [Note: èrxīn as one word means “disloyal”; see also jiā hé wànshì xīng above.]

Topics COOPERATION FAMILIES MONEY SUCCESS UNITY

J103

[J103]

Jiā zéi nán fáng.*

家贼难防。

家賊難防。

Lit A thief inside [one's] home is difficult to guard against.

Note [Note: jiāzéi-nánfáng is also treated as a chengyu; see also méi(yǒu) jiā zéi and yuǎn zéi bì yǒu and zéi wú lì dǐ below.]

Topics chengyu jiāzéi-nánfáng PRECAUTIONS ROBBERY THIEVES

J104

[J104]

Jiā zhōng bǎi shì xīng, quán kào zhǔrén mìng.

家中百事兴, 全靠主人命。

家中百事興, 全靠主人命。

Lit The prosperity of a family depends completely on its master's fate.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 22.]

Topics FAMILIES FATE Jǐngshì Tōngyán LEADERSHIP PROSPERITY rhyme SUCCESS

J105

[J105]

Jī bù chī wú gōng zhī shí.

鸡不吃无工之食。

雞不吃無工之食。

Lit Chickens do not eat food [that they] have not earned.

Fig One should not take anything from others which one does not deserve.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 47; see also jūnzǐ bù chī and wú gōng, bù shòu below.]

Topics CONDUCT DESERVING JW SELF-RESTRAINT

J106

[J106]

Jī bù kě shī; shí bùzài lái.*

机不可失, 时不再来。

機不可失, 時不再來。

Lit Don't let slip an opportunity; time [passed will] never come again. “Carpe diem.”

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn; note: jībùkěshī is also treated as a set phrase; see also guòle zhège cūn above.]

Topics carpe diem Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn jībùkěshī OPPORTUNITY Shǐ Jì TIME

J107

[J107]

Jī bù mì, huò xiān zhāo.

机不密, 祸先招。

機不密, 禍先招。

Lit [If one's] plans are not kept [secret], misfortunes [will be] encountered first [i.e., before the plans can be implemented].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; note: jīmì de shì, “secret matter(s).”]

Topics DANGER jīmì de shì SECRETS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J108

[J108]

Jī bù zé shí; hán bù zé yī; huāng bù zé lù; pín bù zé qī.

饥不择食, 寒不择衣, 慌不择路; 贫不择妻。

飢不擇食, 寒不擇衣, 慌不擇路; 貧不擇妻。

Lit A hungry person finds no fault with the food; a cold person is not choosy about clothing; one who is fleeing never considers the path, [and one who is] poor can't be choosy in [his choice of a] wife.

Fig People who are in need cannot afford to be choosy. “Beggars can't be choosers.”

Note [Rhyme: cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Jìn Xīn Shàng; WM, chaps. 3 and 61; note: jībù-zéshí is also used as a chengyu; see also jī zhě yì wéi shí below.]

Topics chengyu CHOICES jībùkěshī Mencius NECESSITY NEED rhyme WM

J109

[J109]

Jī cái qiānwàn bùrú bójì zài shēn.

积财千万不如薄技在身。

積財千萬不如薄技在身。

Lit Hoarding a large fortune is not as good as [being] in possession of some slight [technical] skill.

Fig One can always make one's living if one has a skill.

Note [Cf. Yán Shì Jiā Xùn: Hǎn Xué; see also jiā wú shēnghuó jì below.]

Topics Hǎn Xué HOARDING SKILL WEALTH WORKING Yán_Shì_Jiā_Xùn

J110

[J110]

Jī dù bù zhī yā dù shì.

鸡肚不知鸭肚事。

雞肚不知鴨肚事。

Lit The chicken's belly doesn't know what's going on in the duck's belly.

Fig One never knows what's going on in others' minds.

Topics MINDS UNDERSTANDING

J111

[J111]

Jī duō bù xiàdàn; rén duō chī xiánfàn.

鸡多不下蛋, 人多吃闲饭。

雞多不下蛋, 人多吃閑飯。

Lit [If there are] too many hens, [they] won't lay eggs, [and if there are] too many people, [they just] sit idle.

Note [Note: chī xiánfàn, (lit) “eat idle food,” means “to lead an idle life.”]

Topics IDLENESS NUMBER ORGANIZATION

J112

[J112]

Jì dú wú guò duànliáng.

计毒无过断粮。

計毒無過斷糧。

Lit The most damaging strategy is to cut off [one's enemies' supplies of] food.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 90.]

Topics FOOD MILITARY STRATEGY Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

J113

[J113]

Jièchuāng yào shǎo bu liǎo chòu liúhuáng.

疥疮药少不了臭硫磺。

疥瘡藥少不了臭硫磺。

Lit Scabies medicine must contain stinky sulfur.

Fig Sometimes things can't be accomplished without involving some unpleasant person(s).

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DIFFICULTIES

J114

[J114]

Jiēdǐ jiù pà lǎo xiāngqīn.

揭底就怕老乡亲。

揭底就怕老鄉親。

Lit [If one is afraid of having one's] secret(s) exposed, [those] to fear [most are one's] fellow townsmen.

Fig People from one's home town are most likely to know or reveal one's background.

Topics FEAR PRIVACY SECRETS

J115

[J115]

Jiē guǒ de shù yì zāo dǎ.

结果的树易遭打。

結果的樹易遭打。

Lit Trees that bear fruit are often beaten.

Fig People of accomplishment are always envied or attacked.

Note [See also shù dà zhāofēng and yáoyáo zhě yì zhé below.]

Topics ENVY TALENT

J116

[J116]

Jiè jiǔ xiāochóu, chóu gèng chóu;* (chōu dāo duàn shuǐ, shuǐ gèng liú).

借酒消愁, 愁更愁; (抽刀断水, 水更流)。

借酒消愁, 愁更愁; (抽刀斷水, 水更流)。

Lit Drowning [one's] sorrows in drink [only] makes them worse; ([just as when one] draws [one's] sword to stop the water, the water [will] flow even more [when the sword is removed]).

Note [The order of the two halves may be reversed (q.v.).]

Topics LIQUOR SORROW WORRIES

J117

[J117]

Jiè lái de shuǐ bù jiěkě.

借来的水不解渴。

借來的水不解渴。

Lit Water borrowed [from others] won't satisfy [your] thirst.

Fig You can't always rely on other people's help to solve your own problems.

Topics HELP PROBLEMS SELF-RELIANCE

J118

[J118]

Jiè lái de yīshang bù hétǐ.

借来的衣裳不合体。

借來的衣裳不合體。

Lit Clothes borrowed from others won't fit.

Fig Borrowed items or glory will not improve one's own appearance, and in fact will make one appear worse for having borrowed them.

Topics APPEARANCES BORROWING CLOTHING

J119

[J119]

Jiélìng bù dào, bù zhī lěngnuǎn; rén bù xiāngchǔ, bù zhī hòubáo.

节令不到,不知冷暖; 人不相处,不知厚薄。

節令不到,不知冷暖; 人不相處,不知厚薄。

Lit [When the] season [has] not arrived, [one can]not know [whether it is going to be] warm [or] cold; [similarly, when] people do not deal with each other [regularly], [they do] not know [whether their relationship is] close or not.

Topics RELATIONSHIPS

J120

[J120]

Jiě líng háishì xì líng rén.

解铃还是系铃人。

解鈴還是繫鈴人。

Lit [The one who should] untie the bell [is the very] person [who] tied [it on].

Fig The only one who can solve the problem is the one who created it in the first place.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 90; based on a Chan (Zen) fable about removing a bell from a tiger's neck.]

Topics Chan DRC PROBLEMS RESOLUTIONS Zen

J121

[J121]

Jiè wú gòu; sī wú rǔ.

戒无诟, 思无辱。

戒無詬, 思無辱。

Lit [If one always] admonishes oneself, [one will] not be sullied; [if one always] thinks [before acting, one will] not be disgraced.

Fig If one always thinks carefully and watches one's own behavior, one will avoid disgrace.

Note [Cf. Shuō Yuǎn: Jìng Shèn.]

Topics ACTION BEHAVIOR CAUTION DISGRACE Jìng Shèn PREPARATION SELF-RESTRAINT Shuō_Yuǎn

J122

[J122]

Jiéyù shì zuìhǎo de yàopǐn.

节欲是最好的药品。

節欲是最好的藥品。

Lit Restraint from [one's] desires is the best medicine [for one's well being].

Note [Note: liùyù, the “six desires” listed in the Buddhist scriptures: sex, appearance, posturing, language, smoothness, longing.]

Topics liùyù RESTRAINT

J123

[J123]

Jièzhài bù shì jiācái.

借债不是家财。

借債不是家財。

Lit Borrowed money is not [one's] own property.

Fig Never depend on borrowing for a living.

Topics BORROWING

J124

[J124]

Jiè zhài huánzhài; kūlong cháng zài.

借债还债, 窟窿长在。

借債還債, 窟窿長在。

Lit [If one] borrows money [to] pay [one's] debts, the deficit is still there.

Note [Rhyme; originally jiē (揭) zhài ... etc.]

Topics BORROWING DEBT MONEY rhyme

J125

[J125]

Jièzhài yào rěn; huánzhài yào hěn.

借债要忍, 还债要狠。

借債要忍, 還債要狠。

Lit [In] contracting debts [one] must be self-restraining as much as possible, [but in] repaying debts [one] must be resolute [until] they are completely paid off.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BORROWING DEBT MONEY REPAYMENT

J126

[J126]

Jífēng zhī jìncǎo; bǎn dàng jiàn zhōngchén.

疾风知劲草, 板荡见忠臣。

疾風知勁草, 板蕩見忠臣。

Lit [From a] strong wind, [one may] know the strength of the grass, [and from] troubled times [one may] see the loyalty of officials.

Fig It is in hard times that people's true characters are revealed.

Note [Cf. Hòu Hàn Shū: Wáng Bà Zhuàn; note: bǎn dàng, (lit) “wayward [and] unscrupulous,” alludes to two poems in the Poetry Classic: Shījīng: Dà Yá; see also guó luàn chū zhōngchén above and rén dào nánchù and shì biàn zhī rénxīn below.]

Topics bǎn dàng CHARACTER Dà Yá Hòu Hàn Shū LOYALTY OFFICIALS Poetry Classic Shījīng TESTING TROUBLE Wáng_Bà_Zhuàn

J127

[J127]

Jīhán qǐ dào xīn.*

饥寒起盗心。

飢寒起盜心。

Lit Hunger and cold tempt [people] to steal.

Topics HUNGER POVERTY STEALING TEMPTATION THEFT

J128

[J128]

Jìjié bù ràng rén.

季节不让人。

季節不讓人。

Lit The seasons do not yield to anyone.

Fig The seasons do not wait for (farming) people. One must do things at the appropriate time. “Time waits for no man.”

Note [See also hòu chā yī rì yāng above.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS SEASONS TIME TIMING

J129

[J129]

Jì lái zhī, zé ān zhī.*

既来之, 则安之。

既來之, 則安之。

Lit Since [you] are here, just be content with it [i.e., the environment or circumstances, no matter how undesirable they are].

Fig It is best to make the best of things (or) take things as they come.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Jì Shì; Xīxiāng Jì, Act 2, Scene 2.]

Topics ACCEPTANCE CIRCUMSTANCES Confucian Analects DRAMA ENVIRONMENT Jì Shì Lúnyǔ OPERA Xīxiāng_Jì

J130

[J130]

Jīmáo shàng bùliǎo tiān.

鸡毛上不了天。

雞毛上不了天。

Lit A chicken feather cannot ascend to heaven.

Fig Common people cannot accomplish anything great.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT COMMON_PEOPLE

J131

[J131]

Jīmáo yě néng fēi shàngtiān.

鸡毛也能飞上天。

雞毛也能飛上天。

Lit A chicken feather can fly up to heaven.

Note [Jī máo shàng tiān is an expression used by Mao Zedong in 1958 to describe the realization of the poor peasants' People's Communes in contrast to the negative thinking expressed in the traditional saying jī máo shàng bù liǎo tiān, “A chicken feather cannot ascend to heaven”; see the preceding entry.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT Mao Zedong POSSIBILITY

J132

[J132]

Jìn chú, dé shí; jìn mín, dé lì.

近厨得食, 近民得力。

近廚得食, 近民得力。

Lit [Stay] close to the kitchen [and you will] have food; [stay] close to the people [and you will] have power.

Note [This is a reversed revision of an older proverb: jìn guān dé lì; jìn chú de shí, “stay close to officials and you will have power; stay close to the kitchen, and you will have food”; see also jìn shuǐ lóutái below.]

Topics FOOD KITCHENS OFFICIALS POWER

J133

[J133]

Jǐnfáng nù lǐ xìng; màn fā xǐ zhōng yán.

谨防怒里性, 慢发喜中言。

謹防怒裡性, 慢發喜中言。

Lit [One must] guard against losing [one's] temper in anger, [and be] slow in speech when happy.

Fig One should be temperate in one's speech at all times, and avoid saying things in anger or in the joy of the moment which one might regret later.

Note [Note: shǐ xìngzi, “to get into a temper.”]

Topics ANGER REGRET shǐ xìngzi SPEECH TEMPER

J134

[J134]

Jīngāng-nùmù bùrú Púsà dī méi.

金刚怒目不如菩萨低眉。

金剛怒目不如菩薩低眉。

Lit A Buddha's warrior attendant's fierce stare is not as [useful as a] Buddha with [his] eyes lowered.

Fig Kind advice is more effective than angry criticism. “You will catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.”

Note [Cf. Tài Píng Guǎng Jì, chap. 174; note: jīngāng-nùmù is a chengyu meaning “to be fierce of visage”; see also duō zāihuā above.]

Topics ADVICE chengyu CRITICISM jīngāng-nùmù Tài_Píng_Guǎng_Jì

J135

[J135]

Jīngāng sīdǎ, Fó yě lǐ bù xià.

金刚厮打, 佛也理不下。

金剛廝打, 佛也理不下。

Lit [When the] Buddha's warrior attendants fight [with each other], even the Buddha can do nothing.

Fig When people in a family or group quarrel or fight, even their elders can't judge who is to blame, who started it, etc.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ARGUMENTS CONFLICT FAMILIES QUARRELING rhyme

J136

[J136]

Jīngchéng suǒ zhì, jīnshí-wéikāi.*

精诚所至, 金石为开。

精誠所至, 金石為開。

Lit Wherever [there is] sincerity, metal [and] stone [can] be parted.

Fig No difficulty is insurmountable if one is sincere.

Note [Note jīnshí, (lit) “metal and stone” is used as a literary metaphor for hardness; jīnshí-wéikāi is a chengyu meaning “sincerity can make metal and stone crack”; see also zhìchéng suǒ zhì below.]

Topics chengyu DIFFICULTIES jīnshí jīnshí-wéikāi SINCERITY

J137

[J137]

Jǐng gān cái zhī shuǐ kěguì.

井干才知水可贵。

井幹才知水可貴。

Lit Not until the well [goes] dry [does one] know the value of water.

Fig One does not appreciate the true value of things until they are gone.

Note [See also chuān wà bù zhī above and yǒu māo, bù zhī below.]

Topics APPRECIATION

J138

[J138]

Jīng gōng zhī niǎo shāng qū mù.

惊弓之鸟伤曲木。

驚弓之鳥傷曲木。

Lit The bird [who has been] frightened by a bow is [also] afraid of bent twigs.

Note [Note: jīnggōngzhīniǎo is often used alone as a chengyu meaning “a badly frightened person”; see also yīzhāo bèi shé yǎo below.]

Topics chengyu EXPERIENCE FEAR

J139

[J139]

Jìngle fùmǔ, bù pà tiān; jiǎole zūshuì, bù pà guān.

敬了父母, 不怕天; 缴了租税, 不怕官。

敬了父母, 不怕天; 繳了租稅, 不怕官。

Lit [If you] respect [your] parents, [you need] not be afraid of Heaven; [if you have] paid [your] taxes, [you need] not be afraid of [government] officials.

Fig If one behaves properly, one need never fear punishment, either here or in the hereafter.

Note [Note: zūshuì, “land taxes and other levies.”]

Topics BULLYING INITIATIVE zūshuì

J140

[J140]

Jīng rén bù guì yù; jiāo rén bù guì zhū.

荆人不贵玉; 蛟人不贵珠。

荊人不貴玉; 蛟人不貴珠。

Lit Those who are engaged in [the production of] jade and pearls don't regard them as precious.

Fig Rich people who are born into a comfortable life simply take it for granted.

Note [Rhyme; note: Jīng originally referred to Bian He, who discovered jade at Jing mountain in the kingdom of Chu in Hubei province; jiāo refers to a mythical sea creature.]

Topics Bian He EXPERIENCE Hubei province jiāo rhyme RICH WEALTH

J141

[J141]

Jīng rén jù, tiānwài dé.

惊人句, 天外得。

驚人句, 天外得。

Lit Amazing phrases come from beyond the heavens.

Fig Memorable lines (e.g., epigrams, aphorisms, poetry, etc.) just “come” to people, purely through inspiration; “it just came to me.”

Topics INSPIRATION

J142

[J142]

Jīngshǒu sānfēn féi.*

经手三分肥。

經手三分肥。

Lit [Whenever anything] passes through [one's] hands, [one is bound to get at least] thirty percent “greased.”

Fig When one is in an official position, one can always get some personal benefit out of it.

Topics BENEFITS OFFICIALS

J143

[J143]

Jǐngshuǐ bù fàn héshuǐ.

井水不泛河水。

Lit Well water does not interfere with river water.

Fig One should not interfere with the business of others.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 69; see also héshuǐ bù fàn above.]

Topics BEHAVIOR DRC INTERFERENCE PRIVACY

J144

[J144]

Jǐngshuǐ bù wàiliú; mìshì bù wàichuán.

井水不外流, 秘事不外传。

井水不外流, 秘事不外傳。

Lit [Just as] well water does not leak out, [so] secrets [should] not [be allowed to] leak out [either].

Topics SECRETS

J145

[J145]

Jǐngshuǐ wú dà yú; xīn lín wú cháng mù.

井水无大鱼, 新林无长木。

井水無大魚, 新林無長木。

Lit [In] well water there are no big fish, [and in] a new[ly planted] forest there are no tall trees.

Fig Talented people can't be produced under unfavorable conditions or without proper education.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Lǚ Shì Chūnqiū: Yǒu Shǐ Lán; Yù Dà; see also tǔ bì zé cǎomù below.]

Topics CONDITIONS EDUCATION Lǚ Shì Chūnqiū rhyme TALENT Yǒu Shǐ Lán Yù_Dà

J146

[J146]

Jǐng táo sān biàn, chī tiánshuǐ; rén cóng sān shī, wǔyì gāo.

井淘三遍吃甜水, 人从三师武艺高。

井淘三遍吃甜水, 人從三師武藝高。

Lit [Just as a] well dredged three times gives fresh water, [so] a person who has followed [i.e., learned a trade from] three masters is most skilled.

Note [See also jǐng yào táo below.]

Topics LEARNING SKILL

J147

[J147]

Jìng tā yī zhàng bùrú gào tā yī zhuàng.

敬他一丈不如告他一状。

敬他一丈不如告他一狀。

Lit [In dealing with] bullies, deferring to them is not as [good as] suing them.

Fig It's better to take the initiative and stand up to bullies than to submit to them.

Topics BULLYING GAMBLING RESISTANCE

J148

[J148]

Jīngtōng zàiyú yùnyòng.

精通在于运用。

精通在於運用。

Lit Mastery lies in application.

Fig “Practice makes perfect.”

Topics EXPERTISE MASTERY PRACTICE

J149

[J149]

Jǐngwā bù kěyǐ yǔ hǎi.

井蛙不可以语海。

井蛙不可以語海。

Lit [To] frogs [in a] well, [one] may not speak [of the] sea.

Fig There is little point in discussing with narrow-minded people things beyond their understanding.

Note [Cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Qiū Shuǐ; in Zhuāngzǐ this is followed by xià chóng bù kěyǐ yǔ bīng (q.v.); note also the chengyu: jǐngdǐzhīwā, (lit) “frog(s) in the bottom of a well,” and the word jǐngwā, both meaning “person(s) with limited outlooks”; see also huìgū bù zhī above.]

Topics chengyu jǐngdǐzhīwā jǐngwā NARROW-MINDEDNESS Qiū Shuǐ UNDERSTANDING Zhuāngzǐ

J150

[J150]

Jīngyàn dà sì xuéwen.

经验大似学问。

經驗大似學問。

Lit Experience is superior to learning.

Topics EXPERIENCE LEARNING

J151

[J151]

Jǐng yào táo; rén yào jiāo.

井要淘; 人要教。

Lit [Just as] wells must be [repeatedly] dredged, [so] people must be [repeatedly] taught.

Note [Rhyme; see also jǐng táo sān biàn above.]

Topics CONDUCT EDUCATION PARENTS TAXES TEACHING

J152

[J152]

Jīng yī shì, zhǎng yī zhì.

经一事, 长一智。

經一事, 長一智。

Lit Have an experience, grow in knowledge.

Fig Wisdom comes from experience.

Note [See also bù jīng yī shì and chī yī qiàn below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE WISDOM

J153

[J153]

Jìn hé mò wǎng shǐ shuǐ; jìn shān mò wǎng shāo chái.

近河莫枉使水, 近山莫枉烧柴。

近河莫枉使水, 近山莫枉燒柴。

Lit [Even if you are] close to the river don't waste water; [even if you are] close to the mountain don't waste fire wood.

Fig Be economical even in times of plenty.

Topics FRUGALITY THRIFT

J154

[J154]

Jīn jiāng huǒ shì fāng zhī sè; rén yòng cái jiāo shǐ jiàn xīn.

金将火试方知色, 人用财交始见心。

金將火試方知色, 人用財交始見心。

Lit [Just as it is only when] gold is tested in fire [can one] know [its relative] purity, [so it's only when you] deal with people about money matters [that you] begin to know [their] hearts.

Note [Note: chéngsè, “relative purity (of gold or silver)”; see also zhēn jīn bùpà huǒ below.]

Topics chéngsè EXPERIENCE MONEY UNDERSTANDING

J155

[J155]

Jìnle miào mén, jiù suí héshang.

进了庙门, 就随和尚。

進了廟門, 就隨和尚。

Lit Having entered the temple, then follow the [Buddhist] monks.

Fig “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Note [See also rùjìng wèn jìn below.]

Topics Buddhism CUSTOMS

J156

[J156]

Jìnle Sānbǎodiàn dōu shì shāoxiāng rén.

进了三宝殿都是烧香人。

進了三寶殿都是燒香人。

Lit Having entered the worship hall [of a Buddhist temple], all are [there to] burn incense.

Fig If people come together, it must be for some (common) reason or object. In the temple all are pilgrims.

Note [Rhyme; note: Sān Bǎo Diàn usually refers to the main worship hall of a Buddhist temple; see also jì zài Fó huì xià above.]

Topics Buddhism FATE Sān_Bǎo_Diàn

J157

[J157]

Jīnqián rú fèntǔ; rénpǐn zhí qiān jīn.

金钱如粪土, 人品值千斤。

金錢如糞土, 人品值千斤。

Lit Gold and money are [worthless as] dung [and] dirt, [while one's] integrity is as valuable as gold.

Topics HONOR INTEGRITY

J158

[J158]

Jìn rén lì; tīng tiānmìng.

尽人力, 听天命。

盡人力, 聽天命。

Lit Do your best [and] resign yourself to fate.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 48; see also móushì zài rén below.]

Topics DRC FATE

J159

[J159]

Jīnrì bù zhī láirì shì.*

今日不知来日事。

今日不知來日事。

Lit Today [one does] not know what will come tomorrow.

Fig One can't predict the future. One never knows what's going to happen next in life.

Topics CHANGE LIFE PREDICTIONS

J160

[J160]

Jīnrì shì, jīnrì bì.*

今日事, 今日闭。

今日事, 今日閉。

Lit Today's affairs [should be] finished today.

Fig “Don't put of until tomorrow what you can do today.”

Topics ACTION PROCRASTINATION TIMELINESS

J161

[J161]

Jìn shān duō yǔ; jìn hǎi duō fēng.

近山多雨, 近海多风。

近山多雨, 近海多風。

Lit Close to the mountains [there is] more rain; close to the sea [there is] more wind.

Fig One is always influenced by one's surroundings.

Topics ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDINGS

J162

[J162]

Jǐnshàng-tiānhuā cháng shíyǒu; xuězhōng-sòngtàn néng jǐ rén？

锦上添花常时有, 雪中送炭能几人？

錦上添花常時有, 雪中送炭能幾人？

Lit There are sometimes [people who] “add flowers onto brocade,” [but] how many people “send charcoal in snowy weather.”

Fig There will always be people who come to flatter you when you are successful, but no one will come to help you when you are in need; the world is full of “fair weather friends,” but “nobody knows you when you're down and out.”

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 20; also said zhǐyǒu jǐnshàng-tiānhuā; nǎ dé xuězhōng-sòngtàn (q.v.); note: jǐnshàng-tiānhuā, “adding flowers to brocade” and xuězhōng-sòngtàn “sending charcoal in snowy weather” are commonly used fused phrase literary idioms (chengyu); note: shíyǒu, “to happen now and then.”]

Topics chengyu Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì FAIR-WEATHER FLATTERY FRIENDSHIP HELP jǐnshàng-tiānhuā MONEY NEED SINCERITY xuězhōng-sòngtàn

J163

[J163]

Jìn shān shǐ mù; jìn shuǐ shí yú.

近山使木, 近水食鱼。

近山使木, 近水食魚。

Lit Close to the mountains, [one may have] wood to use; close to the water, [one may have] fish to eat.

Fig Make full use of whatever favorable conditions or resources you may have.

Note [Rhyme; see also dǎyú de bù lí above and kào shān, chī shān below.]

Topics CONDITIONS RESOURCES rhyme

J164

[J164]

Jīnshēng bù yǔrén-fāngbiàn; niànjīng Mítuó zǒngshì kōng.

今生不与人方便, 念经弥陀总是空。

今生不與人方便, 念經彌陀總是空。

Lit [If one] doesn't help others in this life, [even if one] chants all of the names of the Buddhas, it will be of no use.

Note [Note: Mítuó is short for Āmítuófó, a name for the Buddha often chanted by Buddhist monks in China; yǔrén-fāngbiàn is a set phrase meaning “to make things easy for others.”]

Topics Āmítuófó BEHAVIOR Buddhist monks CHANTING CHARITY HELPING Mítuó PRAYING yǔrén-fāngbiàn

J165

[J165]

Jìn shuǐ lóutái, (xiān dé yuè).*

近水楼台, 先得月。

近水樓臺, 先得月。

Lit The balconies [or towers] nearest the water (get the moon[light] first).

Fig Those with “connections” to an organization (or a person with power) get preferential treatment.

Note [A quotation from Qīng Yè Lù by the Song dynasty poet Yu Wenbao; this has become a set idiom, written jìnshuǐ-lóutái-xiāndéyuè, meaning “to be in a favored position”; the last three words are often omitted, as in a xiehouyu, making the first four characters appear to be a chengyu with the same meaning.]

Topics chengyu CONNECTIONS FAVORITISM INFLUENCE jìnshuǐ-lóutái ORGANIZATIONS POWER PREFERENCE Qīng Yè Lù Song dynasty xiehouyu Yu_Wenbao

J166

[J166]

Jìn shuǐ zhī yú xìng; jìn shān shí niǎo yīn.

近水知鱼性, 近山识鸟音。

近水知魚性, 近山識鳥音。

Lit [One who lives] near the river knows the habits of fish, [and one who lives] near the mountains knows the songs of birds.

Fig People are most familiar with their immediate surroundings.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCE FAMILIARITY rhyme

J167

[J167]

Jìn sì rénjiā bù zhòng sēng.

近寺人家不重僧。

Lit People [who live] close to a temple don't hold monks in great respect.

Fig People pay no attention to talented people or unusual happenings in their immediate environment. “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

Note [See also huàjiàng bù gěi above and yuǎn lái de héshang below.]

Topics ENVIRONMENT FAMILIARITY OVERFAMILIARITY

J168

[J168]

Jīn wō, yín wō bùrú zìjiā de cǎo wō.*

金窝, 银窝不如自家的草窝。

金窩, 銀窩不如自家的草窩。

Lit Gold or silver mansions are not as good as one's own thatched house.

Fig “There's no place like home.”

Note [Also said ... bùrú zìjiā de qióng wō.]

Topics HOME

J169

[J169]

Jīn wú zúchì; rén wú wánrén.*

金无足赤, 人无完人。

金無足赤, 人無完人。

Lit [Just as] gold [can]not be pure, [so] people [can]not be perfect.

Note [Often quoted by Mao Zedong; the two halves are often reversed (q.v.); see also shì ruò qiúquán below.]

Topics LIMITATIONS Mao Zedong PERFECTION

J170

[J170]

Jīn xiānglín; yín qīnjuàn.

金乡邻, 银亲眷。

金鄉鄰, 銀親眷。

Lit Neighbors [are as precious as] gold [whereas] relatives [are only as precious as] silver.

Note [See also yuǎnqīn bùrú and yuǎnqīn, jìnlín below.]

Topics NEIGHBORS RELATIVES

J171

[J171]

Jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù.

紧行无好步。

緊行無好步。

Lit [In] hurried going there are no good steps.

Fig Haste makes for missteps. “Haste makes waste.”

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 74; Hé Diǎn, chap. 3; see also jí xíng wú shàn jì; jí zhōng yǒu shī; tān kuài chū chācuò and yù sù zé bù dá below.]

Topics CAUTION HASTE Hé Diǎn R3K STEPS WASTE

J172

[J172]

Jìn xìn shū bùrú wú shū.

尽信书不如无书。

盡信書不如無書。

Lit Completely believing books is not as [good as] not having any books [at all].

Fig It is better not to have any books at all than to believe in them implicitly.

Note [Cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Jìn Xìn Xià and Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 14.]

Topics BELIEF BOOKS Jìn Xìn Xià Lǎo Cán Yóujì Mencius

J173

[J173]

Jǐn yán shèngyú fúyào.

谨言胜于服药。

謹言勝於服藥。

Lit Prudent speech is better than taking medicine.

Fig An once of prudence in one's speech is worth “a pound of cure” if one is not prudent in speech.

Topics PRUDENCE SPEECH

J174

[J174]

Jīn-yín bù guòshǒu.

金银不过手。

金銀不過手。

Lit Gold [and] silver [should] not pass through [someone else's] hands.

Fig Money dealings should be done face-to-face by the two parties directly involved, and not through some third party, in order to avoid misunderstandings later.

Topics BUSINESS MONEY

J175

[J175]

Jīn-yín bù lòubái.

金银不露白。

金銀不露白。

Lit [One's] gold [and] silver [should] not be revealed.

Fig Never display (all) your assets.

Note [See also cái bù lòubái above and qiáncái bù lòu and zhēn yínzi below.]

Topics CAUTION MONEY OSTENTATION PROPERTY

J176

[J176]

Jīn zānzi diào zài jǐng lǐtou; yǒu nǐ de cái shì nǐ de.

金簪子掉在井里头, 有你的才是你的。

金簪子掉在井裡頭, 有你的才是你的。

Lit [A] gold pin [may] fall into a well, [but if it's] yours, then [it's] yours.

Fig If one is destined to get something one will get it eventually, against all odds.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 30.]

Topics Chu kingdom DRC FATE LUCK

J177

[J177]

Jīnzhāo yǒu jiǔ, jīnzhāo zuì.

今朝有酒, 今朝醉。

Lit Today [we] have wine [so] today [let us get] drunk.

Fig Enjoy the present; “gather ye rosebuds while ye may”; “carpe diem.”

Note [A line from the Tang dynasty poet Luo Yin's poem “Zì Qiǎn,” (“Dispelling One's Sorrows”).]

Topics carpe diem DRINKING LIFE LIQUOR TRANSIENCE Zì_Qiān

J178

[J178]

Jǐn zhuāngjia; màn mǎi-mài.

紧庄稼, 慢买卖。

緊莊稼, 慢買賣。

Lit [One has to be] urgent [in doing] farm work [i.e., to catch the seasons, weather, etc., but] unhurried [in doing] business [in order to maximize profit].

Topics AGRICULTURE BUSINESS FARMING

J179

[J179]

Jìn zhū zhě chì; jìn mò zhě hēi.*

近朱者赤, 近墨者黑。

Lit One [who is] near vermilion [will take on a] red[dish hue], [and] one [who is] near ink [will become] black[ened].

Fig One is influenced by one's surroundings and/or the company one keeps.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 22; see also āi jīn sì jīn.]

Topics COMPANIONS ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE JW

J180

[J180]

Jīnzi háishì jīnzi huàn.

金子还是金子换。

金子還是金子換。

Lit Gold must be exchanged for gold.

Fig Nobility must be matched with nobility.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 46; also said jīnzi zōng děi jīnzi huán.]

Topics DRC FAIRNESS NOBILITY

J181

[J181]

Jírén zìyǒu tiān xiàng.

吉人自有天相。

Lit Virtuous people naturally have Heaven's help.

Fig Heaven rewards the good.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 25; JW, chap. 27; also said jírén zìyǒu tiān bǎoyòu, “Heaven protects the good”; jírén is sometimes shànrén.]

Topics GOODNESS HEAVEN JW Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J182

[J182]

Jī shàn féng shàn; jī è féng è.

积善逢善, 积恶逢恶。

積善逢善, 積惡逢惡。

Lit [One who] accumulates good [deeds will] encounter good[ness]; [one who] accumulates evil [deeds will] meet with evil.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 26.]

Topics CONDUCT DESSERTS EVIL GOODNESS Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō RETRIBUTION

J183

[J183]

Jī shàn wú rén jiàn; cúnxīn yǒu tiān zhī.

积善无人见, 存心有天知。

積善無人見, 存心有天知。

Lit [When one] does good deeds, [even though] no one sees, [one's] good intentions are seen by Heaven.

Fig The truly virtuous do good regardless of whether anyone knows about it or not.

Topics CONDUCT GOODNESS INTENTIONS

J184

[J184]

Jī shàn zhī jiā bì yǒuyú qìng.

积善之家必有余庆。

積善之家必有餘慶。

Lit A family [which] accumulates [many] good deeds will have a surplus of blessings.

Note [Cf. Zhōu Yì: Kūn.]

Topics BEHAVIOR Buddhism FAMILIES Kūn VIRTUE Zhōu_Yì

J185

[J185]

Jī shǎo chéng duō; jí yè chéng qiú.

积少成多, 集腋成裘。

積少成多, 集腋成裘。

Lit [If one] accumulates [many] small [amounts, they will] become a lot; the smallest, finest fragments of fox fur, sewn together, will make a fine robe.

Fig “Many a little makes a mickle.”

Note [Both halves are used separately as chengyu; cf. Hàn Shū: Dǒng Zhòng Shū Zhuàn and Shèn Zǐ: Zhī Zhōng; see also jī yǔ chén zhōu below.]

Topics ACCUMULATION chengyu Dǒng Zhòng Shū Zhuàn Hàn Shū jīshǎo-chéngduō jíyè-chéngqiú PREPARATION QUANTITY SAVING Shèn Zǐ Zhī_Zhōng

J186

[J186]

Jī shí dé yīkǒu, qiángsì bǎo shí dé yī dǒu.

饥时得一口, 强似饱时的一斗。

飢時得一口, 強似飽時的一斗。

Lit A mouthful of food in times of hunger is better than a bushel of grain in times of fullness.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 37; note: a dǒu is a unit of dry measure for grain equal to one deciliter.]

Topics deciliter dǒu HUNGER NECESSITY rhyme Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J187

[J187]

Jí shuǐ bù yǎngyú.

急水不养鱼。

急水不養魚。

Lit [In] rapid[ly flowing] water, [one can]not raise fish.

Fig Short-tempered people can't get along with others.

Topics ANGER TEMPER

J188

[J188]

Jí shuǐ yě yǒu huítóu làng.

急水也有回头浪。

急水也有回頭浪。

Lit A rushing torrent also makes backward waves.

Fig One will sometimes meet with setbacks even when everything is going smoothly.

Topics DIFFICULTIES

J189

[J189]

Jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén.

己所不欲, 勿施于人。

己所不欲, 勿施於人。

Lit That which oneself does not want, [one should] not do to [other] people.

Fig Do not unto others what you would not like yourself.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Wèi Líng Gōng; this is sometimes referred to as “The Silver Rule.”]

Topics BEHAVIOR Confucian Analects Lúnyǔ Silver Rule Wèi_Líng_Gōng

J190

[J190]

Jiǔ bìng chéng liángyī.

久病成良医。

久病成良醫。

Lit Prolonged illness makes [a patient] a good doctor.

Fig Experience is a good teacher.

Note [See also chī yào sān nián above and sān zhé gōng zhī below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE ILLNESS LEARNING

J191

[J191]

Jiǔ bìngchuáng qián méi xiàozǐ.

久病床前没孝子。

久病床前沒孝子。

Lit There are no filial children beside the bed [of a parent who has been] sick for [too] long.

Note [See also bǎi rì chuáng qián and chuángtóu yǒu luó gǔ above.]

Topics CHILDREN FILIALITY ILLNESS PARENTS

J192

[J192]

Jiùbīng rú jiùhuǒ.

救兵如救火。

Lit [Sending] relieving troops [i.e., reinforcements] is as [urgent as] fighting a fire.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 10.]

Topics FIRES Hé Diǎn HELPING MILITARY

J193

[J193]

Jiǔ bù jiě zhēn chóu.

酒不解真愁。

Lit Liquor cannot dispel real sorrows.

Note [See also jiè jiǔ xiāochóu and yào bù néng zhì below; vs. jiǔ xiāo bǎi chóu and pòchú wànshì below.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR SORROW WORRIES

J194

[J194]

Jiǔ bù yán gōng.

酒不言公。

Lit [While drinking] wine, don't talk [about] public [business].

Note [See also chī jiǔ bù yán gōngwù above.]

Topics CONDUCT LIQUOR

J195

[J195]

Jiǔ bù zuì rén, rén zì zuì; sè bù mí rén, rén zì mí.

酒不醉人人自醉, 色不迷人人自迷。

Lit Wine does not intoxicate people, [but] people get [themselves] drunk; lust does not lead men astray, [but] men lead [themselves] astray.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 24; WM, chap. 21; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 23; see also jiǔ sè huò zhī méi below.]

Topics DESIRE Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn Jǐngshì Tōngyán LIQUOR LUST MEN SEX WM

J196

[J196]

Jiǔ céng zhī tái qǐ yú lěi tǔ.

九层之台起于垒土。

九層之臺起於壘土。

Lit (Even) a nine-storied terrace [must be] built up layer by layer.

Fig Great achievements are the result of continued accumulated efforts.

Note [See also qiān lǐ zhī xíng below.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT COOPERATION

J197

[J197]

Jiǔ chén, wèi chún; rén lǎo, shí shēn.

酒陈味醇, 人老识深。

酒陳味醇, 人老識深。

Lit [As] wine matures, [its] flavor mellows; [as] people get older, [their] understanding is deeper.

Fig Both wine and judgment mature with age.

Topics AGE EXPERIENCE JUDGMENT UNDERSTANDING WINE

J198

[J198]

Jiǔ dào zhēnxìng.

酒道真性。

Lit [When drinking] wine, [one] speaks [and reveals one's] true nature.

Fig In vino veritas.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 38; see also jiǔ hòu tù zhēnyán and jiǔ rù, shé chū and zuì shì xǐng shí yán below.]

Topics LIQUOR SELF-REVELATION

J199

[J199]

Jiù de bù qù; xīn de bù lái.

旧的不去, 新的不来。

舊的不去, 新的不來。

Lit [If] the old doesn't go away, the new won't come.

Note [Said of housecleaning, governments, etc.]

Topics CHANGE NEW OLD

J200

[J200]

Jiǔ duō shāng shēn, qì dà shāngrén.

酒多伤身, 气大伤人。

酒多傷身, 氣大傷人。

Lit [As too] much wine harms the health, [so too] great anger hurts [other] people.

Topics ANGER LIQUOR

J201

[J201]

Jiǔ dǔ, shénxiān shū.

久赌, 神仙输。

久賭, 神仙輸。

Lit [After] a long time gambling, [even a] god [will] lose.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; see also jiǔ dǔ wú shèng jiā below.]

Topics GAMBLING Wǔ_Sōng

J202

[J202]

Jiǔ dǔ wú shèng jiā.

久赌无胜家。

久賭無勝家。

Lit [With] constant gambling there's no winner.

Fig A constant gambler will inevitably lose.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics GAMBLING Wǔ_Sōng

J203

[J203]

Jiǔ féng zhījǐ qiān zhōng shǎo; huàbùtóujī, bàn jù duō.*

酒逢知己千盅少; 话不投机, 半句多。

酒逢知己千盅少; 話不投機, 半句多。

Lit [When sharing] liquor [among] close friends, a thousand cups are too few, [but when people] talk at cross purposes, a half a sentence [can be too] much.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 70; now more commonly qiān bēi shǎo ...; note: huàbùtóujī, “to be at loggerheads,” is treated as a set phrase; see also huà bù tóujī above.]

Topics DISAGREEMENT FRIENDSHIP LIQUOR Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

J204

[J204]

Jiù hán mòrú zhòng qiú; zhǐ bàng mòrú zìxiū.

救寒莫如重裘, 止谤莫如自修。

救寒莫如重裘, 止謗莫如自修。

Fig To protect [one against] cold, there is nothing better than a heavy fur coat; to put a stop to slander there is no better way than to improve [one's] behavior.

Lit [Rhyme; cf. Sān Guó Zhì: Wèi Shū: Wáng Chǎng Zhuàn]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT rhyme Sān Guó Zhì SLANDER Wáng Chǎng Zhuàn Wèi_Shū

J205

[J205]

Jiǔ hǎo, rén zì lái.

酒好, 人自来。

酒好, 人自來。

Lit [If the] wine is good, people [will] come as a matter of course.

Fig Goods of quality or people of ability will attract notice without promotion. “Good wine needs no bush.” “If a man builds a better mouse trap, the world will beat a path to his door.”

Note [See also hǎo huò wúxū and hǎo jiǔ bùpà and hǎo jiǔ bùyòng above.]

J206

[J206]

Jiǔ hòu tù zhēnyán.

酒后吐真言。

酒後吐真言。

Lit After [drinking] liquor, [one] spits out true words.

Fig “In wine there is truth”; in vino veritas.

Note [Cf. Cao Yu's modern play Wáng Zhāojūn, Act 4; see also jiǔ dào zhēnxìng above and jiǔ rù, shé chū and zuì shì xǐng below.]

Topics Cao Yu in vino veritas LIQUOR TALK TRUTH Wáng Zhāojūn WORDS

J207

[J207]

Jiǔ hòu wú dé.

酒后无德。

酒後無德。

Lit After [too much] liquor, there is no virtue.

Fig After one drinks too much, one has no manners.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 45.]

Topics BEHAVIOR DRC LIQUOR SELF-RESTRAINT VIRTUE

J208

[J208]

Jiùhuǒ xū jiù miè; jiù rén xū jiù chè.

救火需救灭, 救人需救彻。

救火需救滅, 救人需救徹。

Lit To put out a fire, [one] must put [it] out thoroughly; to help a person, [one] must help [him] out completely.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 9; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 8; see also jiù rén, jiù dàodǐ below.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FIRES HELPING WM

J209

[J209]

Jiùjí, bù jiù qióng.

救急不救穷。

救急不救窮。

Lit [One may] help [others in an] emergency, [but do] not help [those who are in constant] poverty.

Fig One can help others (occasionally) in emergencies, but one cannot (be expected to) help others all the time.

Note [Also said as jiùjí, jiù bùliǎo qióng.]

Topics HELPING POVERTY

J210

[J210]

Jiùle luòshuǐgǒu, huítóu yǎo yīkǒu.

救了落水狗, 回头咬一口。

救了落水狗, 回頭咬一口。

Lit [If you] save a drowning dog, [you'll be] bitten by it later.

Fig If you help bad people, you'll be harmed by them later.

Note [Rhyme; note: luòshuǐgǒu, (lit) “a dog in the water,” is a metaphor for “one who is in trouble”; also note: dǎ luòshuǐgǒu, (lit) “to beat a dog in the water”; (fig) “to exterminate bad people completely,” was used in an essay in “Fén” by Lu Xun entitled “'Fèi'è Bōlài' Yīnggāi Huǎnxíng”; see also yí jiāng shèng yǒng below.]

Topics CAUTION DANGER EXTERMINATION Fèi'è Bōlài Fén HELP Lu_Xun

J211

[J211]

Jiǔlìng dà rú jūnlìng.*

酒令大如军令。

酒令大如軍令。

Lit Drinking games are [to be observed even] more seriously than military orders.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 40; note: (xíng) jiǔ lìng, “(to play) drinking games”; cāi quán xíng lìng, “finger games played when drinking.”]

Topics cāi quán DRC DRINKING GAMES jiǔ lìng LIQUOR

J212

[J212]

Jiǔliú rě rén xián.

久留惹人嫌。

Lit Staying [too] long makes people tire of one.

Fig Never overstay your welcome.

Note [See also jiǔ zhù lìngrén jiàn below.]

Topics GUESTS HOSPITALITY

J213

[J213]

Jiùmìng rú jiùhuǒ.

救命如救火。

Lit Saving a life [is] as [urgent as] putting out a fire.

Topics LIFE LIFE-SAVING

J214

[J214]

Jiǔ néng chéngshì; jiǔ néng bài shì.

酒能成事, 酒能败事。

酒能成事, 酒能敗事。

Lit Liquor can accomplish things [and] liquor can ruin things.

Fig Affairs can be either settled or ruined by wine.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 4.]

Topics AGREEMENT DISAGREEMENT LIQUOR WM

J215

[J215]

Jiǔ péng, fàn yǒu; méi qián, fēnshǒu.

酒朋饭友, 没钱分手。

酒朋飯友, 沒錢分手。

Lit [The kind of] friends [who join one only for] wine and food, [when there is] no more money, [will] leave [you].

Note [Rhyme; note: jiǔròu-péngyou, “fair weather friends”; see also the following entries.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDSHIP jiǔròu-péngyou LIQUOR rhyme

J216

[J216]

Jiǔ péng, fàn yǒu; nándé chángjiǔ.

酒朋饭友, 难得长久。

酒朋飯友, 難得長久。

Lit [The kind of] friendship [based on] wine and food seldom lasts long.

Note [Rhyme; see also the preceding entry and the following entries.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDSHIP LIQUOR rhyme

J217

[J217]

Jiǔqián, jiǔqián; jiǔ hòu wú yán.

酒钱酒钱, 酒后无言。

酒錢酒錢, 酒後無言。

Lit Wine money, wine money; after drinking there's no [coherent] talking.

Fig [It's better to] pay for your drinks first, as after you're drunk, there'll be no talking to you.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR MONEY rhyme

J218

[J218]

Jiù rén, jiù dàodǐ; sòng rén, sòng dàojiā.

救人救到底, 送人送到家。

Lit [If you are going to] help someone, help [him] thoroughly, [and if you are going to] see someone off, see [him all the way] home.

Fig If you're going to help someone or do something, do it thoroughly.

Note [See also bāng rén, bāng dàodǐ and jiùhuǒ xū jiù miè above and sòng rén, sòng dàojiā below.]

Topics HELPING THOROUGHNESS

J219

[J219]

Jiù rén xū jiù jí.

救人须救急。

救人須救急。

Lit [To really] help a person, [one] must help [him] in [times of] emergency.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 10; see also jūnzǐ zhōu rén below.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES HELP Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J220

[J220]

Jiù rén yī mìng, shèng zào qī jí fútú.

救人一命, 胜造七级浮屠。

救人一命, 勝造七級浮屠。

Lit To save one human life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda [to the Buddha].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 22; JW, chap. 80; Hé Diǎn, chap. 5; note: fútú, originally a transliteration of the Sanskrit word for Buddha, here means “pagoda”; see also diǎn tǎ qī céng above and zàijiā jìng fùmǔ below.]

Topics Buddha CHARITY fútú Hé Diǎn HELP JW LIFE Sanskrit Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J221

[J221]

Jiǔròu-péngyou duō duō yǒu, luònán zhīzhōng bàn gè wú.

酒肉朋友多多有, 落难之中半个无。

酒肉朋友多多有, 落難之中半個無。

Lit There are many, many “friends” [who come just to enjoy] good wine and food, [but when you] fall into difficulty, not even half [a] one [will come to help].

Note [Note: jiǔròu-péngyou, “fair weather friends”; see also the preceding and following entries.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDSHIP LIQUOR

J222

[J222]

Jiǔròu-péngyou hǎo zhǎo; huànnànzhījiāo nán féng.

酒肉朋友好找, 患难之交难逢。

酒肉朋友好找, 患難之交難逢。

Lit [It's] easy to make friends [who come only for] wine and food, [but] difficult to meet friends [who will] share hardships [with you].

Note [Note: huànnànzhījiāo is a set phrase meaning “a friend in adversity”; see also the preceding three entries.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDSHIP HARDSHIPS huànnànzhījiāo LIQUOR

J223

[J223]

Jiǔ rù, shé chū.

酒入舌出。

Lit [When] wine [is] in, [the] tongue [is] out.

Fig It is easy to make indiscreet remarks under the influence of alcohol, (so beware!).

Note [Rhyme; see also jiǔ dào zhēnxìng above.]

Topics INDISCRETION LIQUOR rhyme

J224

[J224]

Jiǔ sè huò zhī méi.

酒色祸之媒。

酒色禍之媒。

Lit Wine [and] sexual desire [are the] agents of disaster.

Note [See also jiǔ bù zuì rén above.]

Topics DESIRE DISASTER LIQUOR LUST SELF-RESTRAINT SEX WINE

J225

[J225]

Jiùshēng, bù jiù sǐ.

救生, 不救死。

Lit Save the living; not the dead.

Fig The living can be saved, but the dead cannot. Save or concentrate your efforts where they can do some good.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 23.]

Topics CHARITY EFFORT Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì LIFE-SAVING

J226

[J226]

Jiǔ xiāng, bùpà jià gāo.

酒香, 不怕价高。

酒香, 不怕價高。

Lit [If the] wine smells good, it doesn't matter how high the price [is].

Fig (Any) goods of high quality may command a high price.

Topics GOODS QUALITY

J227

[J227]

Jiǔ xiāo bǎi chóu.

酒消百愁。

Lit Wine destroys all worries.

Note [See also yī zhǎn néng xiāo below; vs. jiǔ bù jiě above.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR WORRIES

J228

[J228]

Jiǔ zhù lìngrén jiàn.

久住令人贱。

久住令人賤。

Lit One who lives [under another's roof] too long [will be] looked down upon.

Fig Never overstay your welcome.

Note [See also jiǔliú rě rén xián above.]

Topics GUESTS HOSPITALITY

J229

[J229]

Jiǔ zhù línjū wéi yī zú.

久住邻居为一族。

久住鄰居為一族。

Lit Long-standing neighbors become [like] clan-relatives.

Note [See also duōnián línjū above and yuǎnqīn bùrú jìnlín below.]

Topics NEIGHBORS

J230

[J230]

Jiǔ zǐ bù wàng méi.

九子不忘媒。

Lit [Even after having had] nine sons, [a married couple] should not forget the matchmaker [who first introduced them].

Fig One should always be grateful to one's benefactor(s).

Topics GRATITUDE

J231

[J231]

Jiǔ zǐ bù zàng fù, yī nǚ dǎ jīng guān.

九子不葬父, 一女打荆官。

九子不葬父, 一女打荊官。

Lit [Even if] nine sons were unwilling [to pay for the] burial of their father, one daughter still would weave a coffin out of bush branches.

Note [Daughters were sometimes believed to be even more filial than sons in traditional China.]

Topics DAUGHTERS DEATH FATHERS FILIALITY

J232

[J232]

Jiǔzuì zǒng yǒu yī xǐng; cáimí yǒng wú zhǐjìng.

酒醉总有一醒; 财迷永无止境。

酒醉總有一醒; 財迷永無止境。

Lit Drunkenness always has an awakening, [but] a money-grubber['s desire] knows no limits.

Topics AVARICE GREED

J233

[J233]

Jìwǎng-bùjiù.

既往不咎。

Lit See chéngshì bù shuō above.

Topics chengyu jìwǎng-bùjiù

J234

[J234]

Jí xíng wú hǎo bù.

急行无好步。

急行無好步。

Lit [In] hurried going there are no good steps.

Fig Haste makes for missteps. “Haste makes waste.”

Note [See also jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù above and xìngjí diàobude and yù sù zé bù dá below.]

Topics CAUTION HASTE STEPS WASTE

J235

[J235]

Jí xíng wú shàn jì.

疾行无善迹。

疾行無善跡。

Lit Hasty walking leaves no good traces.

Fig “Haste makes waste.”

Note [See also jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù above.]

Topics HASTE MODERATION

J236

[J236]

Jí-xiōng xiāng jiù; huànnàn xiāng fú.

吉凶相救, 患难相扶。

吉凶相救, 患難相扶。

Lit Victims of misfortune aid each other [and] those in distress support each other.

Note [Rhyme; cf. R3K.]

Topics HELP MISFORTUNE rhyme

J237

[J237]

Jī yǔ chén zhōu; qún qīng zhé zhóu.

积羽沉舟, 群轻折轴。

積羽沉舟, 群輕折軸。

Lit [An] accumulation of feathers [can] sink a boat, [and] many light [things can] break an axle.

Fig Many small problems can lead to great disasters. Tiny things can become a mighty force.

Note [Cf. Zhànguó Cè: Wěi Cè Yì; the first part may be used alone as a chengyu.]

Topics ACCUMULATION CAUTION chengyu DISASTER jīyǔ-chénzhōu PROBLEMS STRENGTH Wěi Cè Yì Zhànguó_Cè

J238

[J238]

(Jì) zài ǎi yán xià, zěn gǎn bù dītóu？

(既)在矮檐下, 怎敢不低头？

(既)在矮檐下, 怎敢不低頭？

Lit (Since) [one stands] under low eaves, how can one dare not to lower one's head?

Fig When one depends on others (for food, pay, support, etc.), one must do whatever they say.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 28; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 90; Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 90; note the chengyu: jì rén líxià, (lit) “to live under another's roof”; (fig) “to depend on someone for a living.”]

Topics chengyu DEPENDENCE Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) jìrén líxià JPM WM

J239

[J239]

Jì zài Fó huì xià, dōu shì yǒu yuán rén.

既在佛会下, 都是有缘人。

既在佛會下, 都是有緣人。

Lit Since [we are all] in the Buddhist brotherhood, [we must] all have been destined [to meet] by fate.

Fig If people come together, it must be because they share a common destiny.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 36; note: yuánfèn, “fate which brings people together”; see also gèrén yǒu gèrén and jìnle Sānbǎodiàn above and xiāngféng hébì below.]

Topics Buddhism FATE JW yuánfèn

J240

[J240]

Jī zhě yì wéi shí; kě zhě yì wéi yǐn.

饥者易为食, 渴者易为饮。

飢者易為食, 渴者易為飲。

Lit The hungry are not choosy about food, [and] the thirsty are not choosy about drink.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 10; see also jī bù zé shí above.]

Topics HUNGER NECESSITY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J241

[J241]

Jí zhōng yǒu shī.*

急中有失。

Lit In haste there is loss.

Fig It is easy to make mistakes when one is in a hurry. “Haste makes waste.”

Note [See also jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù and yù sù zé bù dá below and the preceding entry.]

Topics HASTE MISTAKES WASTE

J242

[J242]

Jí zǒu bīng; màn zǒu ní.

急走冰, 慢走泥。

Lit [One has to] walk fast [on] ice [and] walk slowly [on a] mud[dy road].

Fig Different problems should be dealt with in different ways.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS PROBLEMS

J243

[J243]

Juānjuān bù sāi, jiāng wéi jiānghé.

涓涓不塞, 将为江河。

涓涓不塞, 將為江河。

Lit [If] small trickles are not stopped, [they] will become rivers.

Note [Cf. Liù Tāo: Shǒu Tǔ Xù Niè Hǎi Huā, chap. 56; see also jī yǔ chén zhōu above.]

Topics DISASTERS Liù Tāo PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION Shǒu Tǔ Xù_Niè_Hǎi_Huā

J244

[J244]

Jǔ dàshì zhě bì yǐ rén wéi běn.

举大事者必以人为本。

舉大事者必以人為本。

Lit One who would pursue a great cause must take human beings as the basis.

Fig The success of any great enterprise depends on the people involved.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 41.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT R3K SUCCESS

J245

[J245]

Jūnlìng rú shān (dǎo).

军令如山(倒)。

軍令如山(倒)。

Lit A military order is like a mountain (falling).

Fig Military orders carry great weight and must be obeyed without question.

Note [Cf. Míng Shǐ Yǎnyì, chap. 16.]

Topics MILITARY Míng Shǐ Yǎnyì OBEDIENCE ORDERS

J246

[J246]

Jūn shǎng bù yú yuè.

军赏不踰月。

軍賞不踰月。

Lit Soldiers' [monthly] payments [should] not be overdue [or they'll revolt].

Note [A warning to leaders; cf. Hàn Shū: Chén Tāng Zhuàn; also said bīng shǎng bù yú rì “Soldiers' pay should not be a day late.”]

Topics Chén Tāng Zhuàn Hàn Shū MILITARY PAYMENT PUNCTUALITY

J247

[J247]

Jūnwáng fākuáng, bǎixìng zāoyāng.

君王发狂, 百姓遭殃。

君王發狂, 百姓遭殃。

Lit [When] kings go mad, the common people suffer disasters.

Note [Rhyme; note: (lǎo) bǎixìng, “common people.”]

Topics bǎixìng COMMON PEOPLE KINGS lǎobǎixìng MADNESS

J248

[J248]

Jūn wú méi, zhōng dào huí.

军无媒, 中道回。

軍無媒, 中道回。

Lit [If an] army has no guide [in its march], [it will have to] turn back half way along.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xīn Táng Shū: Gāo Lì Zhuàn.]

Topics Gāo Lì Zhuàn GUIDE LEADERSHIP MILITARY Xīn_Táng_Shū

J249

[J249]

Jūn yǒu tóu; jiàng yǒuzhǔ.

军有头, 将有主。

軍有頭, 將有主。

Lit Soldiers have [their] leaders [and] generals have their masters.

Fig At all levels of an organization everyone has someone to answer to.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, (Yù Shì Míng Yán), chap. 21.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HIERARCHY MILITARY ORGANIZATION Yù_Shì_Míng_Yán

J250

[J250]

Jūn yǒu zhèng chén; fù yǒu zhèng zǐ.

君有诤臣, 父有诤子。

君有諍臣, 父有諍子。

Lit Princes [may] have ministers [who] remonstrate [with them and] fathers [may] have sons who oppose [them].

Fig Sometimes it is necessary for subordinates to criticize their superiors.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 89.]

Topics CONDUCT CRITICISM Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) REMONSTRATING SUBORDINATES

J251

[J251]

Jūnzhōng wú xìyán.

军中无戏言。

軍中無戲言。

Lit In military [affairs] there is no joking.

Fig Military orders must be carried out.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 95; this has become an idiomatic phrase.]

Topics idiomatic phrase MILITARY R3K

J252

[J252]

Jūnzǐ bàochóu, shí nián bù wǎn.*

君子报仇, 十年不晚。

君子報仇, 十年不晚。

Lit [For a] gentleman [to] take [his] revenge, ten years is not too late.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 31; see also the following entry.]

Topics GENTLEMEN REVENGE

J253

[J253]

Jūnzǐ bàochóu, zhídài sān nián; xiǎorén bàochóu, zhǐ zài yǎnqián.

君子报仇直待三年, 小人报仇只在眼前。

君子報仇直待三年, 小人報仇只在眼前。

Lit A gentleman, to take his revenge, [will] wait for three years, [while] a base person takes [his] revenge immediately.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 34; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics GENTLEMEN REVENGE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

J254

[J254]

Jūnzǐ bù chī wú míng zhī shí.

君子不吃无名之食。

君子不吃無名之食。

Lit A gentleman never eats food which he doesn't deserve.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 34; see also jī bù chī above, and wú gōng, bù shòu below.]

Topics CONDUCT EATING FOOD GENTLEMEN JPM

J255

[J255]

Jūnzǐ bù gēn niú shǐ qì.

君子不跟牛使气。

君子不跟牛使氣。

Lit A gentleman never argues with an ox [i.e., a brute; a base person].

Topics ARGUMENTS CONDUCT GENTLEMEN RESTRAINT

J256

[J256]

Jūnzǐ bù jiàn xiǎorén guò.*

君子不见小人过。

君子不見小人過。

Lit A gentleman does not begrudge a base person's trespasses.

Fig A gentleman never pays attention to the wrongs which base people commit.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 32; see also chéng dàshì and dàrén bù jì above.]

Topics CONDUCT Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GENTLEMEN TRESPASSES

J257

[J257]

Jūnzǐ bù niàn jiù è.

君子不念旧恶。

君子不念舊惡。

Lit A gentleman does not bear grudges.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 31; note: bùniàn-jiù'è has become a set phrase meaning “to forgive and forget”; see also jūnzǐ jì ēn, below.]

Topics bùniàn-jiù'è GENTLEMEN GRUDGES

J258

[J258]

Jūnzǐ bù qī ànshì.

君子不欺暗事。

Lit A gentleman never does bad things in secret [i.e., things against his conscience].

Note [Originally fú qī ànshì, qǐ kuàng sān guāng, from Jiǎn Wén Dì Jì: Tí Bì Zì Xù; see also míngrén bù zuò below.]

Topics CONDUCT CONSCIENCE GENTLEMEN Jiǎn Wén Dì Jì SECRETS Tí_Bì_Zì_Xù

J259

[J259]

Jūnzǐ bù xiū dāngmiàn.

君子不羞当面。

君子不羞當面。

Lit A gentleman does not cause [another] embarrassment to [his] face [or in front of others].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 81, Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 47.]

Topics CONDUCT EMBARRASSMENT GENTLEMEN JPM Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

J260

[J260]

Jūnzǐ chéng rén zhī měi.*

君子成人之美。

Lit A gentleman [always helps] others attain [their] desires.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Yán Yuān; note: chéngrénzhīměi has become a set phrase meaning “to help someone to fulfill his wishes.”]

Topics chéngrénzhīměi CONDUCT Confucian Analects GENTLEMEN HELP Lúnyǔ Yán_Yuān

J261

[J261]

Jūnzǐ chéng rén zhī měi, (bù chéng rén zhī è).

君子成人之美, (不成人之恶)。

君子成人之美, (不成人之惡)。

Lit A gentleman helps others in [doing] good, [but does] not help others in [doing] evil.

Note [From the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Yán Yuān; the second half is usually omitted; see the preceding entry.]

Topics chéngrénzhīměi CONDUCT Confucian Analects EVIL GOODNESS Lúnyǔ Yán_Yuān

J262

[J262]

Jūnzǐ dòng kǒu, bù dòngshǒu.

君子动口, 不动手。

君子動口, 不動手。

Lit Gentlemen move [their] mouths [but] not [their] fists.

Note [See Lu Xun's short story A Q Zhēn Zhuàn (The True Story of Ah Q); see also the following entry.]

Topics A Q Zhēn Zhuàn BEHAVIOR FIGHTING GENTLEMEN Lu_Xun

J263

[J263]

Jūnzǐ dòng kǒu; xiǎorén dòngshǒu.

君子动口, 小人动手。

君子動口, 小人動手。

Lit A gentleman uses [his] mouth, [while only] a base person uses [his] fists.

Fig Gentlefolk settle their differences verbally, not with brute force.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 44; also said jūnzǐ kāi kǒu; xiǎorén kāi quán; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CONDUCT FIGHTING GENTLEMEN Guānchǎng_Xiànxíng_Jì

J264

[J264]

Jūnzǐ fáng huàn wèi rán.

君子防患未然。

Lit A gentleman tries to prevent disaster before it befalls.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 56, and the chengyu: fánghuàn-wèirán, “to take preventative measures”; see also fáng huàn yú wèirán above and jūnzǐ wèn zāi below.]

Topics chengyu DISASTER fánghuàn-wèirán GENTLEMEN Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì PREPARATION

J265

[J265]

Jūnzǐ fáng wèirán, bù chù xiányí jiān.

君子防未然, 不处嫌疑间。

君子防未然, 不處嫌疑間。

Lit [A] gentleman guards against the unforeseen, [and does] not put [himself] under suspicion.

Fig A wise man is cautious and avoids the appearance of wrong-doing.

Note [Cf. the Han dynasty yuèfǔ (song poem) “Jūnzǐ Xíng”; see also fáng huàn yú wèirán above and the preceding entry.]

Topics CAUTION CONDUCT GENTLEMEN Han dynasty Jūnzǐ Xíng PREPARATION yuèfǔ

J266

[J266]

Jūnzǐ hé ér bùtóng.

君子和而不同。

Lit A gentleman gets along [with others], but is not like [them].

Topics BEHAVIOR GENTLEMEN

J267

[J267]

Jūnzǐ huái xíng; xiǎorén huái huì.

君子怀刑, 小人怀惠。

君子懷刑, 小人懷惠。

Lit Gentlemen think of the law, [while] base persons think of favors [they may receive].

Note [Note: yōuhuì, “benefits”; see also yì dòng jūnzǐ below.]

Topics CONDUCT FAVORS GENTLEMEN LAW yōuhuì

J268

[J268]

Jūnzǐ jì ēn, bù jìchóu.

君子记恩, 不记仇。

君子記恩, 不記仇。

Lit A gentleman remembers others' favors to him [but does] not remember enmity [over wrongs others have done to him].

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 51; see also jūnzǐ bù niàn jiù è above.]

Topics CONDUCT FAVORS GENTLEMEN REMEMBERING TRESPASSES Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

J269

[J269]

Jūnzǐ jīn rén zhī è; xiǎorén lì rén zhī wēi.

君子矜人之扼, 小人利人之危。

Lit A gentleman pities people's distress, [while] a base person takes advantage of people's difficulties.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 55.]

Topics Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) EXPLOITATION GENTLEMEN HELP PETTINESS PITY

J270

[J270]

Jūnzǐ juéjiāo bù chū èshēng.

君子绝交不出恶声。

君子絕交不出惡聲。

Lit A gentleman terminates a friendship without making any complaint.

Note [Cf. Zhànguó Cè: Hán Cè 2; Shǐ Jì: Yuè Yì Lièzhuàn; also said jūnzi jiāo jué, bù yuànyán; see also the following entry.]

Topics COMPLAINTS FRIENDSHIP GENTLEMEN Hán Cè 2 Shǐ Jì Yuè Yì Lièzhuàn Zhànguó_Cè

J271

[J271]

Jūnzǐ juéjiāo, bù jìchóu.

君子绝交, 不记仇。

君子絕交, 不記仇。

Lit A gentleman ends a friendship without any grudges.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP GENTLEMEN GRUDGES

J272

[J272]

Jūnzǐ qiān yán yǒu yī shī; xiǎorén qiān yán yǒu yī dàng.

君子千言有一失, 小人千言有一当。

君子千言有一失, 小人千言有一當。

Lit [Even a] gentleman [may] make one slip in a thousand words, [and even a] base person [may occasionally] get one in a thousand right.

Note [A line from the famous Yuan dynasty playwright Guan Hanqing's play Lǔ Zài Láng.]

Topics GENTLEMEN Guan Hanqing Lǔ Zài Láng SPEECH WORDS Yuan_dynasty

J273

[J273]

Jūnzǐ tǎndàngdàng; (yǒu huà dāng miàn jiǎng).

君子坦荡荡,(有话当面讲)。

君子坦蕩蕩,(有話當面講)。

Lit A gentleman [is] straightforward and frank; ([whatever he] has to say, [he says] to one's face).

Note [Rhyme; the first part is from the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Shù Ér; the second part is a modern addition.]

Topics Confucian Analects FRANKNESS GENTLEMEN Lúnyǔ rhyme Shù Ér SPEECH STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS

J274

[J274]

Jūnzǐ wèn zāi, bù wèn fú.

君子问灾, 不问福。

君子問災, 不問福。

Lit A gentleman is concerned about [future] adversities, [so as to be well prepared], [but] not about [future] blessings.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 61; also said jūnzǐ wèn huò, bù wèn fù, in Xīyáng Jì, chap. 3 and Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 69; see also jūnzǐ fáng huàn above.]

Topics GENTLEMEN PREPARATION Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì Xīyáng_Jì

J275

[J275]

Jūnzǐ yán xiān, bù yán hòu.

君子言先, 不言后。

君子言先, 不言後。

Lit A gentleman speaks before [the fact, but] not after.

Fig A gentleman makes everything clear beforehand.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6.]

Topics CONDUCT GENTLEMEN SPEECH Wǔ_Sōng

J276

[J276]

Jūnzǐ yī yán, kuài mǎ yī biān.*

君子一言, 快马一鞭。

君子一言, 快馬一鞭。

Lit A gentleman [need only give his] word, [just as a] swift horse [needs only] one [touch of the] whip.

Fig A gentleman's word, once given, cannot be retracted. A gentleman always keeps his word.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 53; see also hǎohàn yī yán above; vs. kuàimǎ yī biān below.]

Topics GENTLEMEN HONOR JPM PROMISES TRUST

J277

[J277]

Jūnzǐ yī yán, sìmǎ-nánzhuī.

君子一言, 驷马难追。

君子一言, 駟馬難追。

Lit Once a gentleman [has given his] word, a team of four horses cannot overtake it.

Fig A gentleman never goes back on his word.

Note [Note: sìmǎ-nánzhuī is used as a chengyu meaning “What has been said cannot be unsaid”; see also yī yán jì chū below.]

Topics chengyu COMMITMENT GENTLEMEN HONOR PROMISES sìmǎ-nánzhuī TRUST

J278

[J278]

Jūnzǐ yù yú yì; xiǎorén yù yú lì.

君子欲于义, 小人欲于利。

君子欲於義, 小人欲於利。

Lit A gentleman desires according to righteousness, [while] a base person desires according to [personal] profit.

Note [Rhyme; see also yì dòng jūnzǐ below.]

Topics CONDUCT GENTLEMEN PROFIT rhyme RIGHTEOUSNESS

J279

[J279]

Jūnzǐ zài dé, bù zài yī.

君子在德, 不在衣。

Lit [The worth of a] gentleman resides in [his] virtue, not in [his fine] clothing.

Topics CLOTHING GENTLEMEN VIRTUE

J280

[J280]

Jūnzǐ zhēng lǐ; xiǎorén zhēngzuǐ.

君子争理, 小人争嘴。

君子爭理, 小人爭嘴。

Lit Gentlemen strive [to observe] proper etiquette, [while] lowly persons strive [with their] mouths [i.e., eating and drinking].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 78; note: zhēngzuǐ is a colloquial expression meaning either to “talk back” or to “hog food.”]

Topics colloquial expression CONDUCT ETIQUETTE GENTLEMEN Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn zhēngzuǐ

J281

[J281]

Jūnzǐ zhī jiāo, dàn rú shuǐ.*

君子之交, 淡如水。

Lit Friendship between gentlemen [is] clear as water.

Fig Although the friendship between (upper class) gentlefolk may appear distant, the friendship is still very much there, untainted by shallow self-interest.

Note [Often followed by xiǎorén zhī jiāo, tián rú mì (q.v.); cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Shān Mù and Shǐ Jì: Biǎo Jì; note: dàn, (lit) “insipid; tasteless,” has Taoist connotations of purity.]

Topics Biǎo Jì FRIENDSHIP GENTLEMEN SELF-INTEREST Shān Mù Shǐ Jì Zhuāngzǐ

J282

[J282]

Jūnzǐ zhī zé, wǔ shì ér zhǎn.

君子之泽, 五世而斩。

君子之澤, 五世而斬。

Lit The virtue of good men will not last [more than] five generations.

Fig The good influence of righteous people cannot last much longer than their lifetimes.

Note [Note: the ideal traditional Chinese family would have “five generations under one roof.”]

Topics GENERATIONS RIGHTEOUSNESS TIME VIRTUE

J283

[J283]

Jūnzǐ zhōují/jì, bù jì fù.

君子周急/济, 不继富。

君子周急/濟, 不繼富。

Lit A man of virtue helps [people in] distress, rather than adding to [those who are] well-off.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Yōng Yě; note: zhōujì, “to help out the needy.”]

Topics CHARITY Confucian Analects Lúnyǔ VIRTUE Yōng Yě zhōujì

J284

[J284]

Jūnzǐ zhōu rén zhī jí.

君子周人之急。

Lit A gentleman helps people [in] urgent [need].

Note [See the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Yōng Yě.]

Topics Confucian Analects GENTLEMEN HELP Lúnyǔ Yōng_Yě

J285

[J285]

Jǔshǒu bù dǎ wú niáng zǐ; kāikǒu bù mà péilǐ rén.

举手不打无娘子, 开口不骂赔礼人。

舉手不打無娘子, 開口不罵賠禮人。

Lit Never raise your hand to strike a motherless child; never open your mouth to swear at one [who] offers an apology.

Topics APOLOGIES CHILDREN CURSING ORPHANS

【L1】K K1

[K1]

Kāigōng, méiyǒu huítóu jiàn.

开弓没有回头箭。

開弓沒有回頭箭。

Lit [Once the] bow is pulled, the arrow will never return.

Fig Once action has been initiated, one should carry it through to the end. There's no turning back.

Note [See also jiàn zài xián shàng above.]

Topics ACTION COMMITMENT DETERMINATION RESOLVE

K2

[K2]

Kāikai mén lái, qī jiàn shì: chái-mǐ-yóu-yán-jiàng-cù-chá.

开开门来七件事, 柴米油盐酱醋茶。

開開門來七件事, 柴米油鹽醬醋茶。

Lit Everyday at the outset [(lit) once one opens the door], [one has to deal with the] seven [daily necessities of life]: fuel, rice, oil, salt, [soy] sauce, vinegar, [and] tea.

Fig First and foremost everyone has to make sure that one has the basic necessities of daily life.

Note [Note: chái-mǐ-yóu-yán, (lit) “fuel, rice, oil and salt,” and yóu-yán-jiàng-cù, “oil, salt, soybean sauce, and vinegar,” are common expressions meaning “the chief daily necessities of life.”]

Topics EATING FOOD LIFE LIVING WORKING

K3

[K3]

Kāitóu fàn hǎochī; kāitóu huà nánshuō.

开头饭好吃, 开头话难说。

開頭飯好吃, 開頭話難說。

Lit [To] start a meal is easy, [but to] start a conversation is difficult.

Topics CONVERSATION STARTING

K4

[K4]

Kāi yú háng bùguǎn biē shì.

开鱼行不管鳖市。

開魚行不管鱉市。

Lit A fish-seller doesn't concern himself with the market [price of] soft-shelled turtles. (pun)

Fig One should not stick one's nose into things which don't concern one.

Note [Note: biē shì, “market (price of) soft-shelled turtles” is a pun on bié (rén de) shì, “other (people's) affairs.”]

Topics pun SELF-RESTRAINT

K5

[K5]

Kǎn bù dǎo dà shù, nòng bù duō cháihuo.

砍不倒大树, 弄不多柴火。

砍不倒大樹, 弄不多柴火。

Lit [If you] don't chop down the big trees, [you] can't get much firewood.

Fig If one doesn't invest great capital, effort, or risk, one cannot expect great profits.

Note [See also yào dé fù below.]

Topics CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROFIT RISK

K6

[K6]

Kàn cài chīfàn; liángtǐ-cáiyī.

看菜吃饭, 量体裁衣。

看菜吃飯, 量體裁衣。

Lit [The amount of] rice [one] eats depends on [how well] the [accompanying] dishes [are prepared, and one's] clothes [are] cut [by] measuring [one's] body.

Fig One adjusts oneself to circumstances.

Note [Quoted by Mao Zedong in Fǎnduì Dǎng Bāgǔ; note: liángtǐ-cáiyī is used as a chengyu meaning “to act according to actual circumstances”; see also chīfàn, chuān yī above and kào shān, chī shān and kězhe tóu and yǒu chǐ shuǐ below.]

Topics ADAPTING chengyu CIRCUMSTANCES ENVIRONMENT Fǎnduì Dǎng Bāgǔ liángtǐ-cáiyī Mao_Zedong

K7

[K7]

Kàn de pò; rěn bu guò.

看得破, 忍不过。

看得破, 忍不過。

Lit [Although one] can see through it, [one] can [hardly] endure [it].

Fig Although one can understand something philosophically, (sometimes) one just can't stand it.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 40; cf. the (Buddhist) chengyu: kàn pò hóngchén, “to see through the emptiness of the material world.”]

Topics Buddhism ENDURANCE Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn PATIENCE PHILOSOPHY

K8

[K8]

Kàn de rén zhòng, dédào rén yòng.

看得人重, 得到人用。

Lit [One who gives proper] respect [to] others [will] be employed [by] others.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EMPLOYMENT RESPECT rhyme

K9

[K9]

Kàn huā róngyì; zāihuā nán.

看花容易, 栽花难。

看花容易, 栽花難。

Lit To look at flowers is easy, [but to] grow flowers is difficult.

Fig It's easy to observe something, but harder to do it oneself.

Note [See also kàn shí róngyì below.]

Topics DIFFICULTY EFFORT FLOWERS OBSERVING WORKING

K10

[K10]

Kǎnle nǎodài, bùguò wǎn dà bāla.

砍了脑袋, 不过碗大疤瘌。

砍了腦袋, 不過碗大疤瘌。

Lit [Even if one is] beheaded, [it will] only [leave a] scar [as big] as a bowl.

Fig I don't care even if you chop off my head. True heroes do not fear death.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 75.]

Topics DEATH FEAR HEROES Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

K11

[K11]

Kàn rén, kàn xīn; tīng huà, tīngyīn.

看人看心, 听话听音。

看人看心, 聽話聽音。

Lit To [truly] understand a person, look at his heart; to [truly] understand [someone's] speech, listen to the tone [i.e., the underlying implicit message].

Note [Rhyme; note: tīngyīn is a colloquial expression meaning to “take a hint”; vs. luó-gǔ tīng yīn and yào zhī xīnfùshì below.]

Topics colloquial expression rhyme SPEECH tīngyīn UNDERSTANDING WORDS

K12

[K12]

Kàn rén tiāodàn bù chīlì.

看人挑担不吃力。

看人挑擔不吃力。

Lit To watch [another] person carrying a load does not require any exertion.

Fig No one knows the weight of another's burden.

Note [See also jiàn rén tiāodàn above.]

Topics EFFORT OBSERVING OTHERS

K13

[K13]

Kàn shí róngyì; zuò shí nán.

看时容易, 做时难。

看時容易, 做時難。

Lit When [one is] watching [it seems] easy, [but] when [one has to] do [it oneself, it is] difficult.

Note [See also kàn huā róngyì above.]

Topics DIFFICULTY OBSERVING

K14

[K14]

Kǎn yī zhī, sǔn bǎi zhī.

砍一枝, 损百枝。

砍一枝, 損百枝。

Lit [If you] chop off one branch, [you] harm a hundred branches.

Fig If you hurt one person, you harm many.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 64; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 21.]

Topics CONNECTIONS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HARM INTERCONNECTIONS JPM

K15

[K15]

Kào lìliang néng jǔ qiānjīn; kào zhìhuì néng jǔ wàn jīn.

靠力量能举千斤, 靠智慧能举万斤。

靠力量能舉千斤, 靠智慧能舉萬斤。

Lit Using [brute] strength, [one can] hold a thousand catties, [but] using wisdom, [one can] hold ten thousand.

Fig Brain power is stronger than muscle power.

Note [Note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton, very heavy, weighty”; see also zhì dí qiān jūn below.]

Topics jīn qiānjīn (wt.) STRENGTH WISDOM

K16

[K16]

Kào rén fú, zǒu bùliǎo cháng lù.

靠人扶, 走不了长路。

靠人扶, 走不了長路。

Lit [If one] relies on others' support, [one] cannot walk a long way.

Fig One should depend on oneself in doing everything.

Note [Rhyme; see also the following entry.]

Topics SELF-RELIANCE

K17

[K17]

Kào rén, kào pǎo le; kào qiáng, kào dǎo le.

靠人靠跑了, 靠墙靠倒了。

靠人靠跑了, 靠牆靠倒了。

Lit [If you always] depend on others, [others will] run away; [if you always] lean against a wall, [the wall] will collapse.

Fig One should depend on oneself in doing everything.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics SELF-RELIANCE

K18

[K18]

Kào shān, chī shān; kào shuǐ, chīshuǐ.*

靠山吃山, 靠水吃水。

Lit [If one lives] beside a mountain, [one's living] depends on [the resources of] the mountain; [if one lives] close to water, [one is] dependent on [the resources of] the water.

Fig One must make a living according to one's given circumstances.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 41; see also guǎn shān chī shān and jìn shān shǐ mù and kàn cài chīfàn above and the following entry.]

Topics ADAPTING CIRCUMSTANCES ENVIRONMENT Rúlín Wàishǐ WORKING

K19

[K19]

Kào shān, shān dǎo; yī qiáng, qiáng tā.

靠山山倒, 依墙墙塌。

靠山山倒, 依牆牆塌。

Lit [If one] depends on the mountain [for a living for too long, the] mountain [will] collapse; [if one always] leans against a wall [for support, the] wall will collapse.

Fig One should always depend on oneself.

Note [Note: kàoshān is also used with the idiomatic meaning of a patron or backer; see also the following entry.]

Topics kàoshān PATRONAGE SELF-RELIANCE

K20

[K20]

Kàozhe dà hé, yǒu shuǐ chī; kàozhe dà shù, yǒu chái shāo.

靠着大河有水吃, 靠着大树有柴烧。

靠著大河有水吃, 靠著大樹有柴燒。

Lit [Those who live] by a river [always] have water to drink [and those who live] near big trees [always] have firewood to burn.

Fig If one allies oneself with powerful people, one always benefits from their largesse.

Note [See the preceding entry.]

Topics BENEFITS CONNECTIONS INFLUENCE POWER RELATIONSHIPS

K21

[K21]

Kèbó bù zhuànqián; zhōnghòu bù shéběn.

刻薄不赚钱, 忠厚不折本。

刻薄不賺錢, 忠厚不折本。

Lit Sharpness [does] not earn [one] money, [and] honesty [will] not lose money.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 3.]

Topics CLEVERNESS EXPLOITATION HONESTY MONEY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

K22

[K22]

Kèbó chéng jiā, lǐ wú jiǔ xiǎng.

刻薄成家, 理无久享。

刻薄成家, 理無久享。

Lit [One who] exploits [others in order to] make [his] fortune, [by] reason [will] not enjoy [his] riches for long.

Topics EXPLOITATION FORTUNE WEALTH

K23

[K23]

Kě bù jí yǐn; è bù jí wèi.

渴不急饮, 饿不急喂。

渴不急飲, 餓不急喂。

Lit [When] thirsty, don't drink too fast, [and when] hungry, don't eat too fast.

Fig Always remain coolheaded in times of emergency.

Topics EMERGENCIES

K24

[K24]

Kè bù sòngkè.

客不送客。

Lit A guest [need] not see off [another] guest.

Note [Said by a departing guest to another guest; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 10.]

Topics COURTESY DEPARTURES GUESTS Wǔ_Sōng

K25

[K25]

Kè dà, qī háng; háng dà, qī kè.

客大欺行, 行大欺客。

Lit [When the] customer is richer, [(s)he] bullies the business[person]; [when the] business[person] is richer, (s)he bullies the customer(s).

Topics BULLYING BUSINESS CUSTOMERS WEALTH

K26

[K26]

Kè lái, zhǔrén huān; kè zǒu, zhǔrén kuān.*

客来主人欢, 客走主人宽。

客來主人歡, 客走主人寬。

Lit [When the] guests come, the host is happy; [when the] guests are gone, the host is at ease.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics GUESTS HOSTS rhyme

K27

[K27]

Kèmǎ shàng bùliǎo zhèn.

骒马上不了阵。

騍馬上不了陣。

Lit A mare can't be ridden into battle.

Fig Women cannot cope with great affairs or appear on grand occasions.

Topics WOMEN

K28

[K28]

Kěn xué zhī rén rú hé dào; bù xué zhī rén rú hāo cǎo.

肯学之人如禾稻, 不学之人如蒿草。

肯學之人如禾稻, 不學之人如蒿草。

Lit People [who are] willing to learn are [as useful] as rice seedlings, [while] people [who are] not [willing to] learn are as [useless as] wormwood grass.

Note [Note: hāocǎo, artemisca or bitter fleabane, is a worthless weed that looks like rice seedlings.]

Topics artemisca bitter fleabane EDUCATION hāo cǎo LEARNING

K29

[K29]

Kè sàn, zhǔrén kuān. / Kè qù zhǔ ān.

客散主人宽。 / 客去主安。

客散主人寬。 / 客去主安。

Lit [When the] guests have left, the host is at peace.

Topics GUESTS HOSTS

K30

[K30]

Kě shí yī dī rú gānlù; yào dào zhēn fāng, bìng jí chú.

渴时一滴如甘露; 药到真方, 病即除。

渴時一滴如甘露; 藥到真方, 病即除。

Lit [When] thirsty, one drop [of water is] like sweet dew; [when the] medicine [is formulated] according to the proper prescription, the illness is eradicated.

Fig In order to solve a problem, one must find exactly the right solution.

Note [See also mǎ'ér zhuā zōng below.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

K31

[K31]

Kè suí zhǔ biàn.

客随主便。

客隨主便。

Lit Guest(s) [should act] according to the host's convenience.

Fig It is only right to do as one's host sees fit.

Topics COURTESY GUESTS HOSTS

K32

[K32]

Kě yù ér bù kě qiú.*

可遇而不可求。

Lit [(Sometimes it happens by chance that) one] may come by [something by sheer luck], but not by searching [for it].

Fig Sometimes things just “fall into one's lap.”

Note [See also qiúzhī-bùdé and tàpò tiě xié and yǒuyì zhònghuā below.]

Topics FINDING LUCK SEARCHING TIMING

K33

[K33]

Kězhe tóu, zuò màozi.

可着头, 做帽子。

可著頭, 做帽子。

Lit Before making a hat, measure the head.

Fig Live within your means. “Cut your coat according to your cloth.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 75; see also chīfàn, chuān yī and kàn cài chīfàn above and shǒuzhe duōdà below.]

Topics BUDGETING LIVING

K34

[K34]

Kōng guànzi, huíshēng xiǎng.

空罐子, 回声响。

空罐子, 回聲響。

Lit The empty jar makes the loudest echo.

Fig Those with the least accomplishments usually boast the loudest.

Note [See also gǔ kōng, shēng gāo above and shuǐ shēn bù xiǎng and zhěng píng bù yáo below.]

Topics BOASTING

K35

[K35]

Kōnghuà suí fēng sìchù piāo; yànyǔ rù xīn jìde láo.

空话随风四处飘, 谚语入心记得牢。

空話隨風四處飄, 諺語入心記得牢。

Lit Empty words are scattered in all directions by the wind, [but] proverbs learned by heart are fixed in the mind.

Topics MEMORIZATION MEMORY PROVERBS

K36

[K36]

Kǒngquè àixī yǔmáo; hǎorén zhēnxī míngyù.

孔雀爱惜羽毛, 好人珍惜名誉。

孔雀愛惜羽毛, 好人珍惜名譽。

Lit [Just as] peacocks treasure [their] feathers, [so] good people treasure [their] reputations.

Topics REPUTATION

K37

[K37]

Kōngxīn dà shù bù chéngcái.

空心大树不成材。

空心大樹不成材。

Lit Trees with hollow cores can't become fine wood. (fig/pun) One who has no education can accomplish nothing.

Note [Note: mùcái, “wooden material” and réncái, “talented people”; chéngcái, (1) “grow into useful timber”; (2) “become a useful person”; bùchéngcái is also an idiomatic expression meaning “good-for-nothing”; see also shù bù xiū below.]

Topics bùchéngcái chéngcái EDUCATION idiomatic expression pun

K38

[K38]

Kǒu bù'èrjià.

口不二价。

口不二價。

Lit [An honest (business) person] never says two prices.

Note [Note: bù'èrjià is a set phrase meaning “(having a) single/fixed price.”]

Topics bù'èrjià BUSINESS PRICE

K39

[K39]

Kǒu rú jiōng, yán yǒuhéng; kǒu rú zhù, yán wú jù.

口如扃, 言有恒; 口如注, 言无据。

口如扃, 言有恆; 口如注, 言無據。

Lit [If one's] mouth [is] like a door-bolt, [one's] words have credence; [if one's] mouth [runs on] like a wine pot, [one's] words are unreliable.

Note [Note: zhù here refers to an ancient wine pot in use between the Tang and the Yuan dynasties; this proverb was quoted by the Ming dynasty empress dowager Rén Xiào Wén in her essay in Nèi Xùn: Shèn Yán Zhāng.]

Topics CREDIBILITY empress dowager Ming dynasty Nèi Xùn Rén Xiào Wén RESTRAINT Shèn Yán Zhāng Tang dynasty Yuan dynasty zhù

K40

[K40]

Kǒu shé cónglái shì huò jī.

口舌从来是祸基。

口舌從來是禍基。

Lit [The] mouth [and] tongue have always been the roots of disaster.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán. chap. 33; note: kǒushé as a single word (cí) means “quarrel, dispute”; see also the following entry.]

Topics RESTRAINT SPEECH Xǐngshì_Héngyán

K41

[K41]

Kǒu shì huò zhī mén; shé wéi zhǎn shēn dāo.

口是祸之门, 舌为斩身刀。

口是禍之門, 舌為斬身刀。

Lit [Your] mouth is the door to disaster; [your] tongue is the knife [that will] kill you.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 3; see also bìng cóng kǒu rù and chūkǒu xū chéngshí above and the preceding entry.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō RESTRAINT SPEECH

K42

[K42]

Kuàidāo bù mó shì kuài tiě.

快刀不磨是块铁。

快刀不磨是塊鐵。

Lit Sharp knives [that are] not [kept] sharpened are [mere] pieces [of] iron.

Fig Talented people must be challenged to sharpen their wits and prevent them from becoming “rusty.”

Topics CHALLENGES TALENT

K43

[K43]

Kuàidāo bù xiāo zìjǐ de bǐng.

快刀不削自己的柄。

Lit A sharp knife doesn't cut its own handle.

Fig One shouldn't harm one's own self, family, or group.

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 122; but see also càidāo bù néng above.]

Topics CONDUCT Dàng Kòu Zhì FAMILIES HARM SELF

K44

[K44]

Kuàidāo xiàmiàn wú yìng mù.

快刀下面无硬木。

快刀下面無硬木。

Lit Under a sharp knife there is no hard wood.

Fig So long as one is resolute and strong-willed, there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome.

Topics DETERMINATION RESOLVE SUCCESS

K45

[K45]

Kuàihuo guāngyīn róngyì guò.

快活光阴容易过。

快活光陰容易過。

Lit Happy times pass by easily.

Fig Happy days fly fast. “Time flies when one is having fun.”

Note [Cf. Niè Hǎi Huā, chap. 31.]

Topics HAPPINESS Niè Hǎi Huā TIME

K46

[K46]

Kuàimǎ bùyòng biān cuī; xiǎng gǔ bùyòng zhòng chuí.

快马不用鞭催, 响鼓不用重槌。

快馬不用鞭催, 響鼓不用重槌。

Lit A swift horse needs no whipping [and] a good drum needs no heavy beating.

Fig An intelligent person needs only a hint (or rigorous training).

Note [Rhyme; see also míngrén bùyòng below.]

Topics CLEVERNESS DISCIPLINE INTELLIGENCE rhyme TRAINING

K47

[K47]

Kuàimǎ pǎo duàn tuǐ.

快马跑断腿。

快馬跑斷腿。

Lit [A] fast horse [will be] run [till its] legs [are] broken.

Fig People of ability are usually given more work.

Note [Said either as a compliment or as a complaint; see also néng zhě duō láo below.]

Topics ABILITY

K48

[K48]

Kuàimǎ yě yào xiǎngbiān cuī; xiǎng gǔ yě yào zhòng chuí léi.

快马也要响鞭催, 响鼓也要重槌擂。

快馬也要響鞭催, 響鼓也要重槌擂。

Lit Even a fast horse needs the crack of the whip to urge [it on]; even a loud drum needs a heavy stick to beat [it].

Fig Greater demands are laid on people of intelligence so that they will produce more or do better. Certain people perform better under pressure.

Topics ABILITY DEMANDS INTELLIGENCE PERFORMANCE PRESSURE

K49

[K49]

Kuàimǎ yī biān; kuài rén yī yán.

快马一鞭, 快人一言。

快馬一鞭, 快人一言。

Lit [Just as a] fast horse [needs only] one [touch of the] whip, [so a] straightforward person needs only a word [in order to understand or to make a decision.]

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 53; note shuǎngkuài, “straightforward”; note: kuài rén, kuài shì, “a straightforward person [does] things straightforward[ly] (without first weighing the pros and cons)” and kuài rén, kuài yǔ, “A straightforward person speaks frankly”; see also jūnzǐ yī yán, kuài mǎ yī biān above.]

Topics chengyu DECISIONS FRANKNESS JPM kuài rén kuài shì kuài rén kuài yǔ shuǎngkuài STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS

K50

[K50]

Kuān dǎ dìjiǎo, zhǎi lěi qiáng.

宽打地脚, 窄垒墙。

寬打地腳, 窄壘牆。

Lit [In building a wall, the] foundation [should be] laid wide [and the] wall [should be] built up narrow.

Fig In studying, one's fundamental knowledge should be solid.

Topics FOUNDATIONS KNOWLEDGE STUDYING

K51

[K51]

Kuángfēng bù jìngrì; bàoyǔ bù zhōngzhāo.

狂风不竟日, 暴雨不终朝。

狂風不竟日, 暴雨不終朝。

Lit Fierce winds don't last the day; hailstorms don't last the morning.

Fig Raging storms don't last long. Difficult times will come to an end sooner or later.

Topics DIFFICULTIES STORMS

K52

[K52]

Kǔhǎi wúbiān, huítóu shì àn.*

苦海无边, 回头是岸。

苦海無邊, 回頭是岸。

Lit The “bitter sea” is boundless; if you “turn around” [i.e., repent and believe in the Buddha], there's the shore [i.e., salvation].

Fig If one commits any mistakes, fix them as soon as possible.

Note [Note: kǔhǎi is a Buddhist term referring to the “Sea of Woes,” i.e., the bitterness of earthly life; cf. the chengyu: kǔhǎi yú shēng, “surviving in the bitter sea of life”; huítóu-shì'àn is used as a Buddhist chengyu with the meaning “repent and be saved”; see also yǒu chóu jiē kǔhǎi below.]

Topics bitter sea Buddhism chengyu ERRORS huítóu-shì'àn kǔhǎi kǔhǎi kǔhǎi yú shēng LIFE REPENTANCE SALVATION Sea of Woes SURVIVAL

K53

[K53]

Kǔnbǎng bù chéng fūqī.

捆绑不成夫妻。

捆綁不成夫妻。

Lit [One can]not bind [a man and a woman together] to make [them] husband [and] wife.

Fig Force alone cannot accomplish anything.

Note [Cf. Mao Zedong's speech: “Zài Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Dì-Bā Jiè Zhōngyáng Wěiyuánhuì Dì-Èrcì Quántǐ Huìyì Shàng de Jiǎnghuà” (“Speech to the Second Plenary Session of the Central Party Committee of the Eighth Party Congress”); see also qiǎngpò bù chéng below.]

Topics FORCE HUSBANDS Mao Zedong MARRIAGE WIVES

K54

[K54]

Kùn lóng yì yǒu shàngtiān shí.

困龙亦有上天时。

困龍亦有上天時。

Lit Even a dragon in difficulty [may] soar to the sky [some]time.

Fig A person who is in difficult straits at present may nevertheless succeed later on.

Topics DIFFICULTIES PATIENCE SUCCESS TIMING

K55

[K55]

Kūshù bù jiē guǒ; kōnghuà bù zhíqián.

枯树不结果, 空话不值钱。

枯樹不結果, 空話不值錢。

Lit [Just as] withered trees don't bear fruit, [so] empty words are worthless.

Topics SPEECH WORDS

K56

[K56]

Kǔ yán yào; gānyán jí.

苦言药, 甘言疾。

苦言藥, 甘言疾。

Lit Bitter words [are like] medicine [that cures diseases]; [it's] sweet words [that bring] illness.

Fig Accept well meant criticism and beware of flattery.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Shāng Jūn Lièzhuàn.]

Topics CAUTION Shāng Jūn Lièzhuàn Shǐ Jì WORDS

K57

[K57]

Kū yè de háizi duō chīnǎi.

哭夜的孩子多吃奶。

Lit Babies [who] cry [at] night get more milk.

Fig Those who speak out or complain get more help. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

Topics COMPLAINTS

【L1】L L1

[L1]

Lā bù kāi yìnggōng, shè bù sǐ èláng.

拉不开硬弓, 射不死饿狼。

拉不開硬弓, 射不死餓狼。

Lit [If one is] unable to draw a strong bow, [one will] not be able to shoot the evil wolf to death.

Fig One must (be able to) take strong measures to deal with a powerful or dangerous enemy.

Topics ENEMIES STRENGTH

L2

[L2]

Lādào cháng lǐ yībàn, shōudào dùn lǐ cái suàn.

拉到场里一半, 收到囤里才算。

拉到場裡一半, 收到囤裡才算。

Lit [When the harvest of grain has been] carried to [the threshing] ground, [you only have] half [of it]; only when [it has] entered the granary, [can one] count [on it all].

Fig Things half-done are not done.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COMPLETION rhyme THOROUGHNESS

L3

[L3]

Lái de yì, qù de yì.*

来得易, 去得易。

來得易, 去得易。

Lit “Easy come, easy go.”

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31; also said lái de róngyi, qù de kuài.]

Topics COSTS EASE Jǐngshì Tōngyán POSSESSIONS VALUE

L4

[L4]

Lái de zǎo bùrú lái de qiǎo.*

来的早不如来的巧。

來的早不如來的巧。

Lit Coming early is not as good as to come just at the right moment.

Note [Rhyme; see also jiǎn rì bùrú above.]

Topics COMPARISON PUNCTUALITY rhyme TIMING

L5

[L5]

Lái ér bù wǎng, fēilǐ yě.*

来而不往非礼也。

來而不往非禮也。

Lit Taking and not giving is not polite.

Fig It's impolite not to reciprocate a gift.

Note [Cf. Lǐjì: Qū Lǐ Shàng; now sometimes used ironically to justify striking back, like “One good turn deserves another.”]

Topics Book of Rites COURTESY FIGHTING GIFTS IRONY Lǐjì Qū Lǐ Shàng RECIPROCITY

L6

[L6]

Làiháma xiǎng chī tiān'é ròu.

癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉。

癩蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉。

Lit Toads want to eat swan's flesh.

Fig People often engage in wishful thinking.

Note [Often said of a man hopelessly desiring a woman; cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 3; DRC, chap. 11.]

Topics DESIRE DRC HOPES MEN Rúlín Wàishǐ WISHFUL THINKING WOMEN

L7

[L7]

Lái shì rénqíng; qù shì zhài.

来是人情, 去是债。

來是人情, 去是債。

Lit To receive [a] present or favor is to incur [a] debt.

Topics DEBT FAVORS PRESENTS rénqíng

L8

[L8]

Lái shì shìfēi rén; qù shì shìfēi zhě.

来是是非人, 去是是非者。

來是是非人, 去是是非者。

Lit [As] the source [of the trouble] is a troublemaker, [the one to] get rid [of the trouble should be] the troublemaker.

Fig Since he caused the trouble it's up to him to fix it.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 68; see also jiě líng háishì above.]

Topics CAUSE DRC REPARATIONS RESPONSIBILITY shìfēi rén SOURCES TROUBLE

L9

[L9]

Lái shuō shìfēi zhě, jiùshì shìfēi rén.

来说是非者, 就是是非人。

來說是非者, 就是是非人。

Lit One who comes to gossip (or sow dissension) is [usually] involved in the trouble.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 29.]

Topics DISSENSION GOSSIP INVOLVEMENT JW MOTIVES TROUBLE

L10

[L10]

Lái zài huā shù xià, bì shì cǎi huā rén.

来在花树下, 必是采花人。

來在花樹下, 必是採花人。

Lit [Anyone who] comes under the flower tree must be one [who intends to] pick flowers.

Fig People do not go somewhere without a motive.

Note [See also wú shì, bù dēng below.]

Topics MOTIVES

L11

[L11]

Láizhě bù jù; jù zhě bù lái.

来者不惧, 惧者不来。

來者不懼, 懼者不來。

Lit Those who come [are surely] not afraid; those who are afraid won't come.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 46; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 34.]

Topics Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) FEAR MOTIVES STRATEGY VISITING

L12

[L12]

Láizhě bùshàn; shàn zhě bù lái.*

来者不善, 善者不来。

來者不善, 善者不來。

Lit Those who come are not good, [and] those [who are] good don't come.

Fig Only those with evil or ulterior motives will come to trouble one.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 12; see also dāizhě bù lái above.]

Topics EVIL MOTIVES STRATEGY VISITING Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

L13

[L13]

Lá kǒuzi yào jiàn xuè.

拉口子要见血。

拉口子要見血。

Lit [When a] wound is made, blood should be seen.

Fig Anything one does should show a result.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 19.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT BLOOD Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FIGHTING RESULTS

L14

[L14]

Làn bíkǒng Púsà, xǐ wén chòu zhūtóu.

烂鼻孔菩萨, 喜闻臭猪头。

爛鼻孔菩薩, 喜聞臭豬頭。

Lit A Buddha [with a] festering nose likes to smell a stinking pig's head.

Fig “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Note [Note the chengyu: chòu wèi xiāng tóu, “Evil doers congregate together.”]

Topics chengyu COMPANY EVIL SIMILARITIES

L15

[L15]

Làn chuán piān yù dāngtóu làng.

烂船偏遇当头浪。

爛船偏遇當頭浪。

Lit Broken ships always sail against adverse tides.

Fig Misfortunes always befall unlucky people. “Misfortunes never come singly.”

Note [See also pò chuán piān yù and wū lòu gèng zāo below.]

Topics IDLENESS LAZINESS PLANNING

L16

[L16]

Lǎnduò de mǎ, lùchéng yuǎn; lìnsè de rén, péngyou yuǎn.

懒惰的马路程远, 吝啬的人朋友远。

懶惰的馬路程遠, 吝嗇的人朋友遠。

Lit [Just as a] horse [which is] lazy [will make one feel that] the journey [is a] long [distance]; [so a] person [who is] cheap [will find his friends keep a] long [distance from him as well].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FRIENDS LAZINESS PETTINESS rhyme

L17

[L17]

Lǎnduò, tǎofàn gùn.

懒惰讨饭棍。

懶惰討飯棍。

Lit Laziness [is a] beggar['s] stick.

Fig The root cause of beggary is laziness.

Topics BEGGARS BEGGING LAZINESS

L18

[L18]

Lǎnduò yīshí; sǔnshī yīshēng.

懒惰一时, 损失一生。

懶惰一時, 損失一生。

Lit Be lazy for one time [and you will] lose [for your] whole life.

Fig One should be diligent at all times; don't waste time idly.

Topics DILIGENCE IDLENESS LAZINESS

L19

[L19]

Làng cóng fēng lái; cǎo cóng gēn lái.

浪从风来, 草从根来。

浪從風來, 草從根來。

Lit Waves come from wind; grass comes from roots.

Fig There's a cause for everything.

Note [Rhyme; see also fēng bù chuī above.]

Topics CAUSE rhyme

L20

[L20]

Làn guō zìyǒu làn guōgài; chǒu rén zìyǒu chǒurén ài.*

烂锅自有烂锅盖, 丑人自有丑人爱。

爛鍋自有爛鍋蓋, 醜人自有醜人愛。

Lit [Just as a] worn-out pot naturally has a worn-out lid, [so one] ugly person naturally has [another] ugly person to love.

Fig An ugly man or woman will always have another woman or man to love them. “There's no pot so ugly it can't find a lid.”

Note [Rhyme; see also huā duì huā above and zhèng guō pèi hǎo zào below.]

Topics LOVE MARRIAGE MATCHMAKING rhyme

L21

[L21]

Láng wú géyè ròu; shǔ wú géyè liáng.

狼无隔夜肉; 鼠无隔夜粮。

狼無隔夜肉; 鼠無隔夜糧。

Lit Wolves never keep meat overnight; rats never keep [their] grain overnight.

Fig Some people seem to be congenitally shortsighted.

Note [The second half is also used alone (q.v.).]

Topics SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

L22

[L22]

Lángzhōng yī bù hǎo zìjǐ de bìng.*

郎中医不好自己的病。

郎中醫不好自己的病。

Lit A doctor can't cure [his] own sickness.

Fig Some people criticize others, but not themselves.

Note [Cf. “Physician, heal thyself.”]

Topics CRITICISM DOCTORS SELF-CRITICISM

L23

[L23]

Làngzǐ dāngjiā, èsǐ quánjiā.

浪子当家, 饿死全家。

浪子當家, 餓死全家。

Lit [When a] prodigal son [takes] charge of the family, the whole family [will] starve to death.

Topics FAMILIES MANAGEMENT PRODIGAL RUIN

L24

[L24]

Làngzǐ-huítóu, jīnbuhuàn.

浪子回头金不换。

浪子回頭金不換。

Lit A prodigal son [who] reforms [can]not be exchanged [for] gold.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 15; also said bàizǐ huítóu ... ; note: làngzǐ-huítóu is treated as a chengyu meaning “return of a prodigal son,” and jīnbuhuàn has become an idiomatic phrase meaning “invaluable; priceless.”]

Topics BEHAVIOR chengyu CHILDREN Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn jīnbuhuàn làngzǐ-huítóu PARENTS PRODIGAL REFORM SONS

L25

[L25]

Láng zǒu qiān lǐ chī rén; gǒu dào tiānbiān chī shǐ.

狼走千里吃人, 狗到天边吃屎。

狼走千里吃人, 狗到天邊吃屎。

Lit [Even if a] wolf travels a thousand miles, [it will still] eat people [and even if a] dog gets as far as the horizon, [it will still] eat excrement.

Fig People cannot change their basic character. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

Note [See also gǒu chī shǐ and gǒu zǒu qiān lǐ and jiāngshān yì gǎi above and shé zuān de kūdòng and yī rén, yī xiàng below.]

Topics CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN_NATURE

L26

[L26]

Lǎnhàn píng zuǐqín; hǎohàn píng tuǐqín.

懒汉凭嘴勤, 好汉凭腿勤。

懶漢憑嘴勤, 好漢憑腿勤。

Lit Lazybones rely on [their] mouths, [while] diligent people rely on [their] legs.

Fig Lazy people are fond of talking, while diligent people work tirelessly.

Topics DILIGENCE IDLENESS LAZINESS

L27

[L27]

Lǎn huò děng hángshì.

懒货等行市。

懶貨等行市。

Lit Goods of poor quality [have to] wait for [a rise in] market prices [caused by scarcity].

Fig If conditions are not favorable at the present time, wait for an opportunity later.

Note [See also hé lǐ wú yú above.]

Topics CONDITIONS GOODS OPPORTUNITY QUALITY TIMING

L28

[L28]

Lā niú bù shàng shù; lā gǒu bù shàng péng.

拉牛不上树, 拉狗不上棚。

拉牛不上樹, 拉狗不上棚。

Lit [One can]not pull [an] ox onto [a] tree, nor [can one] pull [a] dog onto [the roof of a] shed.

Fig You can't do anything by going against the objective realities of nature.

Topics NATURE OBJECTIVITY REALITY

L29

[L29]

Lǎn lǘ shàng mò, (shǐ niào duō).

懒驴上磨, (屎尿多)。

懶驢上磨, (屎尿多)。

Lit [When a] lazy donkey turns a grindstone, ([it] takes lots of [time off for] shitting [and] pissing).

Note [A joking description of one who works slowly or delays; also used as a xiehouyu.]

Topics LAZINESS PROCRASTINATION WORKING xiehouyu

L30

[L30]

Lánlù shítou yǒu rén bān.

拦路石头有人搬。

攔路石頭有人搬。

Lit Stones blocking the road [will sooner or later be] removed by someone.

Fig Obstacles will always be overcome sooner or later.

Topics OBSTACLES SUCCESS

L31

[L31]

Làn má nǐng chéng shéng, lìliang dà qiānjīn.

烂麻拧成绳, 力量大千斤。

爛麻擰成繩, 力量大千斤。

Lit [Even] rotten hemp twisted into a rope [will have a] strength [as] great [as] a thousand pounds.

Fig In unity there is strength.

Note [Note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics COOPERATION qiānjīn (wt.) STRENGTH UNITY

L32

[L32]

Lǎn māo dǎi bu zhù sǐ lǎoshǔ.

懒猫逮不住死老鼠。

懶貓逮不住死老鼠。

Lit A lazy cat can't [even] catch a dead mouse.

Fig Lazy people won't do even the simplest of things.

Topics IDLENESS LAZINESS

L33

[L33]

Lǎn rén huítóu, lì dà rú niú.

懒人回头, 力大如牛。

懶人回頭, 力大如牛。

Lit [If a] lazybones mends [his] ways, [his] strength is as [that of a] bull.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics IDLENESS LAZINESS rhyme

L34

[L34]

Lǎn rén zuòshì yī dàn tiāo.

懒人做事一担挑。

懶人做事一擔挑。

Lit Lazy people work [by] carrying [everything all on] one shoulder pole.

Fig Lazy people do everything at once, at the last minute, rather than according to a set plan.

Topics IDLENESS LAZINESS

L35

[L35]

Lǎo bàng chū míngzhū.*

老蚌出明珠。

Lit Older [freshwater] mussels [may] produce bright pearls.

Fig An older couple may give birth to a fine son or daughter.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 32; see also lǎogua wō lǐ and pò jiǎn chū below.]

Topics AGE BIRTH CHILDREN Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì COUPLES EXPECTATIONS INHERITANCE

L36

[L36]

Lǎo bù jūlǐ; bìng bù jūlǐ.

老不拘礼, 病不拘礼。

老不拘禮, 病不拘禮。

Lit [Both] the old and the sick need not observe the [usual polite] courtesies.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 12.]

Topics AGE COURTESY ILLNESS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

L37

[L37]

Lǎo bù lǎo, zìjǐ xiǎo.

老不老, 自己晓。

老不老, 自己曉。

Lit Old [or] not, oneself knows [best].

Fig One is only as old as one feels oneself to be.

Note [Rhyme; compare the common suyu expression: Rén lǎo; xīn bù lǎo, “old in body, (but) not in spirit.”]

Topics AGE suyu

L38

[L38]

Lǎo bù líjiā shì guìrén; shào bù líjiā shì fèirén.

老不离家是贵人, 少不离家是废人。

老不離家是貴人, 少不離家是廢人。

Lit [An] old “stay-at-home” is fortunate; [a] young “stay-at-home” is a good-for-nothing.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE IDLENESS OLD AGE rhyme YOUTH

L39

[L39]

Lǎo bù xiēxīn, shào bù nǔlì.

老不歇心, 少不努力。

Lit [If one's] mind [can]not rest [when one is] old, [it is because one was] lazy [when one was] young.

Note [Cf. xīnlì, “mental and physical labor”; see also hēi fà bù zhī above and shàozhuàng bù nǔlì below.]

Topics AGE LAZINESS

L40

[L40]

Lǎo bù yǐ jīngǔ wéi néng.

老不以筋骨为能。

老不以筋骨為能。

Lit The old cannot exhibit their ability using [their] muscles.

Fig Older people cannot compete with younger people in physical strength, (although they may have superior abilities in other areas).

Topics ABILITY AGE OLD AGE STRENGTH WORKING YOUTH

L41

[L41]

Lǎogua wō lǐ chū fènghuáng.

老鸹窝里出凤凰。

老鴰窩裡出鳳凰。

Lit A phoenix [may] come out of a crow's nest.

Fig Talented people may come from an ordinary family, or beautiful girls from a poor family.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 65; see also lǎo bàng chū míngzhū above.]

Topics BEAUTY CHILDREN DRC EXPECTATIONS GIRLS INHERITANCE POVERTY TALENT

L42

[L42]

Lǎohǔ háiyǒu gè dǎdǔnr de shíhou.

老虎还有个打盹儿的时候。

老虎還有個打盹兒的時候。

Lit There are times when even tigers take a nap.

Fig Even the most alert people will sometimes slacken their vigilance. “Even Homer sometimes nods.”

Topics ALERTNESS ATTENTION LAPSES MISTAKES VIGILANCE

L43

[L43]

Lǎohǔ jiè zhū; yǒu jìn, méi chū.

老虎借猪, 有进没出。

老虎借豬, 有進沒出。

Lit [When] a tiger borrows a pig, [it] goes in [but does] not come out.

Fig When a powerful person “borrows” something, do not expect to have it returned.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BORROWING POWER rhyme

L44

[L44]

Lǎohǔ jīnqiánbào; gè zǒu gè de dào.

老虎金钱豹, 各走各的道。

老虎金錢豹, 各走各的道。

Lit A tiger [and] a leopard each takes its own road.

Fig People should mind their own business.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics INTERFERENCE PRIVACY rhyme

L45

[L45]

Lǎohǔ pìgu mōbude.

老虎屁股摸不得。

Lit A tiger's backside [no one] dares to touch.

Fig A person who thinks him or herself above criticism puts on airs.

Note [Used sarcastically by Mao Zedong to describe cadres who thought they were “untouchable,” i.e., immune from criticism; a popular slogan used during the Cultural Revolution.]

Topics ARROGANCE CRITICISM Cultural Revolution Mao Zedong UNTOUCHABILITY

L46

[L46]

Lǎohǔ yī gè néng lánlù; hàozi yī wō dé wèi māo.

老虎一个能拦路, 耗子一窝得喂猫。

老虎一個能攔路, 耗子一窩得喂貓。

Lit One tiger alone can block the road, [but] one [whole] nest of rats [can only] make a meal for a cat.

Fig One person of high ability is worth more than a whole group of people of low ability.

Topics ABILITY COMPARISON

L47

[L47]

Lǎo jiàn chūnhán, qiūhòu rè.

老健春寒, 秋后热。

老健春寒, 秋後熱。

Lit [An] old [person, although] healthy, [is like a chilly] spring or a warm autumn [i.e., cannot last long].

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 57.]

Topics AGE chūnhán DEATH DRC HEALTH ILLNESS INFIRMITY OLD AGE qiūhòu TIME WEAKNESS

L48

[L48]

Lǎojiàng chūmǎ, yī gè dǐng liǎ.*

老将出马, 一个顶俩。

老將出馬, 一個頂倆。

Lit [When] an old general goes into action, alone [he] can fight two [at a time].

Fig An experienced hand can get twice as much done.

Note [Rhyme; see also hǎohàn shàngchǎng above.]

Topics ACTION EXPERIENCE MILITARY rhyme WORKING

L49

[L49]

Lǎolao jiā de gǒu; chīwánle jiù zǒu.

姥姥家的狗, 吃完了就走。

Lit Granny's dog leaves as soon as it finishes eating its food.

Note [This rhyme is a common teasing endearment said lovingly by grandparents when their grandchildren leave after visiting.]

Topics EATING GRANDCHILDREN GRANDPARENTS JOKING rhyme TEASING VISITING

L50

[L50]

Lǎo mǎ shí tú.*

老马识途。

老馬識途。

Lit [An] old horse knows the road.

Fig Older people are more experienced.

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Shuō Lín Shàng; this is often mistaken as being a chengyu; see also gǔlái cún lǎo mǎ above and shēngjiāng shì lǎo below.]

Topics AGE chengyu EXPERIENCE Hán Fēizǐ lǎomǎ-shítú OLD AGE Shuō_Lín_Shàng

L51

[L51]

Lǎo mǐfàn niē shā bù chéng tuán.

老米饭捏杀不成团。

老米飯捏殺不成團。

Lit Steamed stale rice, [even if] squeezed very hard, [just] won't stick together.

Fig People who don't get along well will not cooperate or work well together, no matter how hard you try to force them.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6.]

Topics COOPERATION FORCE UNITY Wǔ_Sōng

L52

[L52]

Lǎorén bù jiǎng gǔ, hòushēng huì shī pǔ.

老人不讲古, 后生会失谱。

老人不講古, 後生會失譜。

Lit [If] the old don't recall the [values of the] past [for the young, their] descendants will go against [traditional moral] standards.

Note [Rhyme; note: here shī pǔ or lípǔ, (lit) “to lose the family lineage records” or “departing from the standard”; “beyond reasonable limits” is a colloquial expression for a lapse in moral standards.]

Topics AGE colloquial expression DESCENDANTS EDUCATION EXAMPLE lípǔ MORALS rhyme shī pǔ STANDARDS TEACHING TRADITION YOUTH

L53

[L53]

Lǎorén hào shù yuǎn shì.

老人好述远事。

老人好述遠事。

Lit Old people are fond of talking about the distant past.

Topics AGE OLD AGE PAST REMEMBERING TALK

L54

[L54]

Lǎoshǔ guò jiē, rénrén hǎn dǎ.

老鼠过街, 人人喊打。

老鼠過街, 人人喊打。

Lit [When a] rat crosses the street, everyone shouts [and] beats [it].

Fig Evil people are hated by everyone.

Note [Cf. Mao Zedong's essay: “Fǎnduì Dǎng Bāgǔ”; in Máo Zédong Xuǎnjí, vol. 4: 77; this is often used as a political slogan against “counter-revolutionary elements” in society; also said guò jiē lǎoshǔ etc.]

Topics CRITICISM EVIL Fǎnduì Dǎng Bāgǔ Mao Zedong POLITICS SLOGANS

L55

[L55]

Lǎoshǔ zài dà yě pà māo.

老鼠再大也怕猫。

老鼠再大也怕貓。

Lit However big a rat is, it still fears a cat.

Fig There's always somebody bigger or stronger.

Note [See also yī wù xiáng yī wù, “One thing can conquer another.”]

Topics LIMITS OVERCOMING

L56

[L56]

Lǎotóu yào qǐng; xiǎohái yào hǒng.

老头要请, 小孩要哄。

老頭要請, 小孩要哄。

Lit [One should] be polite to the old [and] coaxing to children.

Note [Cf. hǒng háizi, “to coax, 'con', or humbug; to tell 'white lies' to.”]

Topics AGE CHILDREN COAXING COURTESY hǒng_háizi

L57

[L57]

Láoxīn bùrú láolì.

劳心不如劳力。

勞心不如勞力。

Lit Racking [one's] brains (or worrying) is not as good as serious labor (or action).

Fig Better set to work than just sit thinking or worrying.

Note [Cf. the Song dynasty author Lu Juren's Guān Zhēn.]

Topics COMPARISON DILIGENCE Guān Zhēn Lu Juren PROCRASTINATION Song dynasty Song dynasty THINKING WORKING

L58

[L58]

Láoxīn zhě zhì rén; láolì zhě zhì yú rén.*

劳心者治人, 劳力者治于人。

勞心者治人, 勞力者治於人。

Lit Those who labor with their minds rule others [and] those who labor physically are ruled by others.

Note [A quotation from Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Téng Wén Gōng Shàng.]

Topics Confucian Analects INTELLECTUALS LABOR Mencius MINDS SOCIAL CLASS Téng Wén Gōng Shàng WORKING

L59

[L59]

Lǎo yào diānkuáng, shào yào wěn.

老要癫狂, 少要稳。

老要癲狂, 少要穩。

Lit The old may be a bit unconventional (or unrestrained), [but] the young should be steady.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 22.]

Topics AGE BEHAVIOR CONVENTIONS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn SELF-RESTRAINT YOUTH

L60

[L60]

Lǎo yī, shào bǔ.

老医少卜。

老醫少卜。

Lit Old doctors [and] young diviners [are the best].

Fig The best doctors are old and the best diviners are young.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 28.]

Topics AGE DIVINATION DOCTORS Xǐngshì Héngyán YOUTH

L61

[L61]

Lǎozi fàngpì, xiǎozi pǎo èr lǐ dì.

老子放屁, 小子跑二里地。

Lit [When] the superior breaks wind, [his] subordinates [have to] run two lǐ.

Fig Subordinates have to remain at their superiors beck and call, often running around on (what they consider to be) “fool's errands.”

Note [See also shàngsi fàng gè pì below.]

Topics HIERARCHY SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS

L62

[L62]

Lǎozi tōu guā, dào guǒ; érzi shārén, fànghuǒ.

老子偷瓜盗果, 儿子杀人放火。

老子偷瓜盜果, 兒子殺人放火。

Lit [If] the father steals melons [and] pilfers fruit [i.e., commits petty theft], the son [will] commit murder and arson.

Fig One must set a good example for one's offspring in deeds as well as in words.

Note [Rhyme; see also fù yù xíngjié above.]

Topics ACTIONS CHILDREN EXAMPLE FATHERS PARENTS rhyme SONS TALK TEACHING THEFT

L63

[L63]

Làyuè shuǐtǔ guì sānfēn.

腊月水土贵三分。

臘月水土貴三分。

Lit [In the] twelfth lunar month water [and] land are more expensive.

Fig Everything is more expensive in the depths of winter.

Topics COSTS EXPENSE LAND PRICE SCARCITY WATER WINTER

L64

[L64]

Léishēng dà, yǔdiǎn xiǎo.

雷声大, 雨点小。

雷聲大, 雨點小。

Lit [When the] thunder is loud, [the] raindrops are small.

Fig (It is often the case that) those who engage in a lot of talk about (doing) something in fact take very little or no action on the matter. “Much talk, little action.” “Much cry and little wool.”

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 20.]

Topics ACTION BRAGGING JPM TALK

L65

[L65]

Lè jí shēng bēi; pǐ jí tài lái.*

乐极生悲, 否极泰来。

樂極生悲, 否極泰來。

Lit Extreme happiness begets sorrow; [from] extreme misery good [fortune] springs.

Note [This is a combination of two common chengyu which appears in WM, chap. 24; note: pǐ, here “misfortune,” and tài, here “good fortune,” are terms from the Yìjīng (Book of Changes); note: lèjí-shēngbēi and pǐjí-tàilái may be used as chengyu.]

Topics Book of Changes chengyu chengyu FORTUNE HAPPINESS lèjí-shēngbēi MISERY pǐjí-tàilái TRAGEDY WM Yìjīng

L66

[L66]

Lè mò lèyú hào shàn, kǔ mò kǔyú duō tān.

乐莫乐于好善, 苦莫苦于多贪。

樂莫樂於好善, 苦莫苦於多貪。

Lit [As to] happiness, [there is] no happiness [greater] than doing good [to others]; [as to] bitterness, [there is] no bitterness [greater] then greed.

Note [Rhyme; see the chengyu: hàoshàn-lèshī, “doing good and helping others.”]

Topics AVARICE BITTERNESS chengyu GREED GREED hàoshàn-lèshī HAPPINESS rhyme

L67

[L67]

Lěng liàn “sāniǔ”; rè liàn “sānfú.”

冷练“三九” 热练“三伏”。

冷練“三九” 熱練“三伏”。

”

Lit [One must] train in the coldest days of winter [and in] the hottest days of summer.

Fig Only in situations of extreme hardship can one train oneself to be strong.

Note [Note: sānjiǔ(tiān) refers to the third nine-day period following the winter solstice, and sānfú refers to the three ten-day periods of the hot season.]

Topics COLD HARDSHIPS HEAT sānfú sānjiǔ (tiān) STRENGTH TRAINING

L68

[L68]

Lěng pà fēng qǐ; qióng pà qiànzhài.

冷怕风起, 穷怕欠债。

冷怕風起, 窮怕欠債。

Lit [Just as when] cold, [one is] afraid of a rising wind, [so when] poor, [one is] afraid of getting into debt.

Fig When one is in unfortunate circumstances, one dreads unfavorable happenings even more.

Note [See also wú fēng, hán yěhǎo below.]

Topics DEBT POVERTY

L69

[L69]

Lěng shì yī gè rén lěng; rè shì dàjiā rè.

冷是一个人冷, 热是大家热。

冷是一個人冷, 熱是大家熱。

Lit [When it's] cold [one is] cold alone, [but when it's] hot, everyone is hot [together].

Fig Cold, sorrow, or privation are suffered individually, but warmth is shared by everyone.

Topics COLD HEAT INDIVIDUALS PRIVATION SHARING SORROW SUFFERING WARMTH

L70

[L70]

Lěng shǒu nán zhuā rè mántou.

冷手难抓热馒头。

冷手難抓熱饅頭。

Lit A cold [bare] hand is hard put to grasp a hot steamed bun.

Fig Sometimes it's hard to know where to start (in dealing with somebody or something).

Topics BEGINNING HESITATION

L71

[L71]

Lěngshuǐ yào rén tiāo; rèshuǐ yào rén shāo.

冷水要人挑, 热水要人烧。

冷水要人挑, 熱水要人燒。

Lit Cold water needs people to carry [it and] hot water needs people to heat [it].

Fig Without people doing things, nothing can get done.

Note [Rhyme; see also tiānshàng wú yún below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT PEOPLE rhyme

L72

[L72]

Lěng tāng, lěng fàn hǎochī; lěng yán, lěng yǔ nántīng.

冷汤冷饭好吃, 冷言冷语难听。

冷湯冷飯好吃, 冷言冷語難聽。

Lit Cold soups [and] cold rice are all right to eat, [but] cold words [and] cold remarks grate on the ear.

Topics COLD WORDS

L73

[L73]

Lěngtiān mò zhē huǒ; rètiān mò zhēfēng.

冷天莫遮火, 热天莫遮风。

冷天莫遮火, 熱天莫遮風。

Lit [In] cold weather, don't block the fire [from others]; [in] hot weather, don't block the wind [from others].

Fig One should always take others' interests into consideration instead of only considering one's own.

Topics CONSIDERATION OTHERS SELFLESSNESS

L74

[L74]

Liǎn chǒu, guài bù zháo jìngzi.

脸丑, 怪不着镜子。

臉醜, 怪不著鏡子。

Lit [If one's] face is ugly, [one] cannot blame the mirror.

Fig If one misbehaves, one cannot blame others for the results.

Topics BEHAVIOR BLAME CONSEQUENCES MISBEHAVIOR

L75

[L75]

Liáng cái bù zhōng xiǔ yú yán xià; liáng jiàn bù zhōng mì yú xiá zhōng.

良材不终朽于岩下, 良剑不终秘于匣中。

良材不終朽於岩下, 良劍不終秘於匣中。

Lit Good lumber won't end up rotting at the foot of a cliff [in the mountains where it was cut, and a] fine sword won't end up hidden in its case.

Fig Able persons will not remain unknown and unemployed forever.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 87.]

Topics ABILITY Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) EMPLOYMENT RECOGNITION TALENT

L76

[L76]

Liàng dà, fú yě dà; (jī shēn, huò yì shēn).

量大福也大, (机深祸亦深)。

量大福也大, (機深禍亦深)。

Lit The greater [one's] magnanimity [toward others], the greater [one's] good fortune [will be]; (the more complex [one's] schemes [are], the greater the disaster [to follow]).

Note [Cf. Shuǐhǔ Quán Zhuàn, chap. 19; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 36; note: dùliàng dà, “magnanimous”; the first part is usually used alone.]

Topics dùliàng dà Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí MAGNANIMITY SCHEMES Shuǐhǔ_Quán_Zhuàn

L77

[L77]

Liǎng Guǎng shú, tiānxià zú.*

两广熟, 天下足。

兩廣熟, 天下足。

Note [See Hú-Guǎng shú, tiānxià zú above.]

L78

[L78]

Liǎng guó jiāozhàn, bù zhǎn láishǐ.*

两国交战, 不斩来使。

兩國交戰, 不斬來使。

Lit [When] two countries are at war, [their] envoys [should] not be killed.

Fig [Now used to mean:] “Blame not the bearer of bad tidings.” “Don't blame me; I'm just the messenger.”

Note [Also said liǎng guó xiāng zhèng bù zhài lái shǐ.]

Topics ANGER BAD NEWS BLAME MESSENGERS WAR

L79

[L79]

Liáng gǔ shēn cáng ruò xū.

良贾身藏若虚。

良賈身藏若虛。

Lit A good businessman hides [his goods] in secret places as [if he had] nothing, [just as a talented man hides his talent].

Fig It is not wise to show off (one's assets or talents) in public.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Lǎozǐ Hán Fēi Lièzhuàn.]

Topics BUSINESS CAUTION GOODS Lǎozǐ Hán Fēi Lièzhuàn SELF-RESTRAINT Shǐ Jì TALENT

L80

[L80]

Liǎng gū zhījiān nán wéi fù.

两姑之间难为妇。

兩姑之間難為婦。

Lit [Caught] between [her] two sisters-in-law [i.e., her husband's two unmarried sisters], it's hard to be a [good] wife.

Note [In a traditional Chinese extended family, familial in-fighting made life difficult for daughters-in-law.]

Topics DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW FAMILIES FIGHTING SISTERS-IN-LAW WIVES

L81

[L81]

Liǎng hài quánhéng, dāng qǔ qí qīng.

两害权衡, 当取其轻。

兩害權衡, 當取其輕。

Lit [When] two harms [are being] weighed, [one] should choose the lighter of them.

Fig Of two evils, choose the lesser one.

Topics CHOICES EVIL HARM

L82

[L82]

Liǎng hǔ xiāng dòu, bì yǒu yī shāng.

两虎相斗, 必有一伤。

兩虎相鬥, 必有一傷。

Lit [When] two tigers fight, one must be wounded.

Fig When two (strong) parties fight, one is sure to lose.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 62; also said liǎng hǔ xiāng zhèng, etc.; note: liǎnghǔ-xiāngdòu is often used as a chengyu or as a xiehouyu, both with the meaning of the latter part, which is suppressed; see also èr hǔ xiāng dòu above.]

Topics chengyu FIGHTING HARM liǎnghǔ-xiāngdòu R3K xiehouyu

L83

[L83]

Liáng jī nán zài.

良机难再。

良機難再。

Lit Good opportunities hard[ly come] again.

Fig Opportunity only knocks once.

Topics OPPORTUNITY

L84

[L84]

Liǎng jūn xiāngyù, yǒng zhě shèng.

两军相遇, 勇者胜。

兩軍相遇, 勇者勝。

Lit When two armies meet [i.e., fight], the braver [will] win.

Fig Bravery can be more important than sheer strength or numbers.

Topics COURAGE MILITARY NUMBER QUANTITY STRENGTH

L85

[L85]

Liáng nóng bù wèi shuǐ-hàn bù gēng; liáng gǔ bù wèi shé yuè bù shì.

良农不为水旱不耕, 良贾不为折阅不市。

良農不為水旱不耕, 良賈不為折閱不市。

Lit [Just as a] good farmer won't stop farming because [there's] flood [or] drought, [so a] good merchant won't stop doing business from fear of going broke.

Note [Cf. Xúnzǐ: Xiū Shēn; note: shé yuè, “to lose one's capital.”]

Topics BUSINESS FARMING Xiū Shēn Xúnzǐ

L86

[L86]

Liáng qín xiàng mù ér qī; xiánchén zé zhǔ ér shì.

良禽相木而栖, 贤臣择主而侍。

良禽相木而棲, 賢臣擇主而侍。

Lit [Just as a] wise bird looks over a tree before alighting, [so a] wise minister chooses the master he will serve.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 14; as a chengyu: liáng qín zé mù.]

Topics CAUTION chengyu CHOICES EMPLOYMENT R3K SERVICE WISDOM

L87

[L87]

Liángsǎn suī pò, gǔ gé shàng zài.

凉伞虽破, 骨格尚在。

涼傘雖破, 骨格尚在。

Lit Although the umbrella is broken, the frame still exists.

Fig Some people even under adverse conditions will maintain their integrity.

Topics HARDSHIPS INTEGRITY

L88

[L88]

Liángshàn bèi rén qī; cíbēi shēng huàn hài.

良善被人欺, 慈悲生患害。

Lit Benevolent [people] get bullied by others [and the] tenderhearted invite disaster.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 38; see also rén shàn, dé rén qī below.]

Topics BENEVOLENCE BULLYING CAUTION JPM KINDNESS

L89

[L89]

Liàng xiǎo fēi jūnzǐ.

量小非君子。

Lit [One who] judges [others] small[-mindedly] is no gentleman.

Fig A person with little tolerance is no gentleman.

Note [Note: qìliàng xiǎo, “low tolerance,” see also hèn xiǎo fēi jūnzǐ above.]

Topics GENTLEMEN qìliàng xiǎo TOLERANCE

L90

[L90]

Liǎng xióng bù bìnglì.

两雄不并立。

兩雄不並立。

Lit Two heroes can't co-exist [on one place].

Fig Two strong (willed) people cannot co-exist.

Topics COEXISTENCE HEROES POWER STRENGTH

L91

[L91]

Liáng yán yī jù, sān dōng nuǎn; èyǔ shāngrén, liùyuè hán.*

良言一句三冬暖, 恶语伤人六月寒。

良言一句三冬暖, 惡語傷人六月寒。

Lit A kind word [will] warm [one for] three winter [months], [while] a harsh word can wound [one] coldly [even in the heat of] summer.

Note [Rhyme; note: sān dōng, “three winter months”; see also lì rén zhī yán below.]

Topics HARSHNESS KINDNESS rhyme sān dōng WORDS

L92

[L92]

(Liángyào kǔkǒu lìyú bìng;) zhōngyán nì'ěr lìyú xíng.

(良药苦口利于病,) 忠言逆耳利于行。

(良藥苦口利於病,) 忠言逆耳利於行。

Lit ([Just as] good medicine [which is] bitter in the mouth [is] good for [one's] illness, [so]) sincere advice [which] offends the ear [is] beneficial to [one's] conduct.

Note [Rhyme; cf. R3K, chap. 60; Kǒngzǐ Jiā Yǔ: 6 Běn; the second part may be used alone, and both liángyào-kǔkǒu and zhōngyán nì'ěr may be used as chengyu with the meaning of “the truth hurts”; see also yào kǔ zhìbìng below.]

Topics ADVICE BEHAVIOR chengyu CONDUCT Kǒngzǐ Jiā Yǔ liángyào kǔkǒu MEDICINE R3K rhyme SINCERITY zhōngyán_nì_ěr

L93

[L93]

Liángyī mén qián bìngrén duō.

良医门前病人多。

良醫門前病人多。

Lit There are more patients in front of the door of a good doctor.

Fig People will search out the services of a talented person. “If a man builds a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to his door.”

Topics DOCTORS TALENT

L94

[L94]

Liáng yuán suī hǎo, bù shì jiǔ liàn zhī jiā.

梁园虽好, 不是久恋之家。

梁園雖好, 不是久戀之家。

Lit Although the Liang Garden is fine, it is not a home [one can be] attached to for a long time.

Fig Although this place is very nice, it is not (the) home for me. “There's no place like home.”

Note [Note: Liáng yuán refers to a garden built by the Han dynasty Emperor Liang Xiao Wang (Liu Wu); cf. WM, chap. 6; see also Cháng'ān suī hǎo above.]

Topics Han dynasty HOME Liáng Xiào Wáng Liáng yuán Liu Wu PLACE WM

L95

[L95]

Liàn tǔ nán yí.

恋土难移。

戀土難移。

Lit A place [one is] attached to, [one is] reluctant to leave.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 31.]

Topics FEELINGS HOME LEAVING PLACE WM

L96

[L96]

Liǎn wū yì xǐ; xīn wū nán chú.

脸污易洗, 心污难除。

臉污易洗, 心污難除。

Lit It's easy to wash dirt [from one's] face; [but] difficult to remove dirt [from one's] mind.

Fig It's hard to reform one's evil nature.

Topics CHARACTER EVIL REFORM

L97

[L97]

Líba zhá de jǐn, yěgǒu zuān bù jìn.

篱笆扎得紧, 野狗钻不进。

籬笆扎得緊, 野狗鑽不進。

Note [Rhyme; see lí láo, quǎn bù rù below.]

Topics ENEMIES PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION rhyme STRATEGY

L98

[L98]

Lǐ bù duǎn, zuǐ bù ruǎn.

理不短, 嘴不软。

理不短, 嘴不軟。

Lit [If] reason is not short, [one's] mouth is not soft.

Fig When one has reason on one's side, one usually speaks forcefully.

Note [Rhyme; vs. xīn lǐ yǒu bìng below.]

Topics FRANKNESS REASON rhyme SPEECH

L99

[L99]

Lì dāo shāng tǐ, chuāng yóu hé; è yǔ shāngrén, hèn bù xiāo.

利刀伤体疮犹合, 恶语伤人恨不消。

利刀傷體瘡猶合, 惡語傷人恨不消。

Lit [When] sharp knives cut [one's] person, the wounds may heal, [but when] evil words hurt someone, [his] hatred [will] not disappear [so be careful of what you say about people].

Note [See also biān zhǐ shāng ròu above and lì rén zhī yán below.]

Topics SLANDER WORDS

L100

[L100]

Lì dà wéi wáng.

力大为王。

力大為王。

Lit [As long as one's] power is great, one can be king

Note [regardless of one's ability or lack thereof.]

Topics ABILITY POWER

L101

[L101]

Lǐ duō, rén bù guài.

礼多人不怪。

禮多人不怪。

Lit [For an] excess of courtesy, no one [will] blame [you].

Fig One will never be blamed for being too polite. Civility costs nothing (and may gain you something).

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 31; lǐduō-rénbùguài is now treated as a set phrase.]

Topics BEHAVIOR BLAME CIVILITY COURTESY Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì lǐduō-rénbùguài

L102

[L102]

Lièhuǒ jiàn zhēnjīn.

烈火见真金。

烈火見真金。

Lit A fierce fire shows true gold.

Fig True gold stands the test of fire. A person's true worth is revealed under difficult conditions. Trials test character.

Note [See also shuǐ shēn jiàn cháng rén and zhēn jīn bùpà below.]

Topics CHARACTER DIFFICULTIES TESTING TRUTH

L103

[L103]

Lièrén jìn shān, zhǐjiàn qínshòu; yàonóng jìn shān, zhǐjiàn yàocǎo.

猎人进山只见禽兽, 药农进山只见药草。

獵人進山只見禽獸, 藥農進山只見藥草。

Lit [When] hunters enter the mountains, [they] only see game, [and when] medicinal herb collectors enter the mountains, [they] only see medicinal herbs.

Fig People usually focus their attention on things they have an interest in.

Topics ATTENTION ENVIRONMENT INTERESTS

L104

[L104]

Lièshì mùnián, zhuàngxīn bù yǐ.

烈士暮年, 壮心不已。

烈士暮年, 壯心不已。

Lit [When a] person of high endeavor [is in his] sunset [years], [his] ambition is not finished.

Fig A noble hearted person may retain high aspirations or ambitions even in old age.

Note [This is a line from a poem by Cáo Cāo.]

Topics AGE AMBITION ASPIRATIONS Cáo Cāo OLD_AGE

L105

[L105]

Lì jiàn dé rén jìng; kǒu jiàn dé rén zēng.

力贱得人敬, 口贱得人憎。

力賤得人敬, 口賤得人憎。

Lit Cheap labor gets respect; a “cheap mouth” gets dislike (i.e., [one whose] labor is inexpensive [i.e., not overpriced] gets other['s] respect, while [one who] “bad-mouths” [others] gets people['s] dislike.)

Fig Those who deal with others fairly are respected, while those who engage in vicious slander are disliked.

Note [Note: jiànzuǐ, (lit) “cheap-mouth,” (fig) “to 'bad mouth'; to gossip or slander.”]

Topics GOSSIP jiànzuǐ LABOR RESPECT SLANDER

L106

[L106]

Líjiā sān lǐ yuǎn, bié shì yī xiāng fēng.

离家三里远, 别是一乡风。

離家三里遠, 別是一鄉風。

Lit Three miles away from home is another land [in terms of] customs.

Fig The customs of others always seem different from what one is used to at home.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 15.]

Topics CUSTOMS DIFFERENCES HOME JW TRAVEL

L107

[L107]

Líjiā yī lǐ bùrú wū lǐ.

离家一里不如屋里。

離家一里不如屋裡。

Lit Being a mile from home is never as [easy as being] at home.

Fig “There's no place like home.” “East or west, home is best.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. WM, chap. 61.]

Topics COMPARISON HOME PLACE rhyme TRAVEL WM

L108

[L108]

Lí láo, quǎn bù rù.

篱牢犬不入。

籬牢犬不入。

Lit [When a] fence is strong, no dogs [can] get in.

Fig Strict precautions within can stop one's enemy from intruding.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 24; the modern rhymed version is líba zhá de jǐn, yěgǒu zuān bù jìn.]

Topics ENEMIES PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION rhyme STRATEGY WM

L109

[L109]

Lì néng shèng pín; jǐn néng shèng huò.

力能胜贫; 谨能胜祸。

力能勝貧; 謹能勝禍。

Lit Diligence can overcome poverty [and] prudence can avert misfortune.

Note [Note: jǐnshèn, “prudence.”]

Topics DILIGENCE jǐnshèn MISFORTUNE POVERTY PRUDENCE

L110

[L110]

Lín fán zé fǔ zhì, zhū měi zé bàng liè.

林繁则斧至, 珠美则蚌裂。

林繁則斧至, 珠美則蚌裂。

Lit A flourishing [grove of] trees [invites] axes to come; beautiful pearls [cause] shells [to be] broken open.

Fig High talent or beauty may invite disaster, (so one should avoid ostentatious displays).

Note [Cf. Xúnzí: Quàn Xuē; see also jiē guǒ de shù above and shù dà zhāofēng below.]

Topics BEAUTY CAUTION OSTENTATION TALENT Xúnzǐ

L111

[L111]

Línjū hǎo, sài jīn bǎo.

邻居好赛金宝。

鄰居好賽金寶。

Lit A good neighbor [is as] precious [as] gold [and] treasure.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also jīn xiānglín above.]

Topics NEIGHBORS rhyme Wǔ_Sōng

L112

[L112]

Línjū shīhuǒ, bù jiù, zì wēi.

邻居失火, 不救自危。

鄰居失火, 不救自危。

Lit [If one's] neighbor['s house] catches fire [and one does] not help [to put it out, one also] endangers oneself.

Topics COOPERATION DANGER FIRES INTERDEPENDENCE NEIGHBORS

L113

[L113]

Línjū yǎnjing liǎngmiàn jìng; jiēfang xīntóu yī gǎn chèng.

邻居眼睛两面镜, 街坊心头一秆秤。

鄰居眼睛兩面鏡, 街坊心頭一稈秤。

Lit Neighbors' eyes [are as clear as] two-sided mirrors; [the] hearts [of the people on one's] street [are as accurate as] scales.

Fig One's neighbors see clearly what is right and what is wrong and can make an accurate judgment on the scales of justice.

Note [See also gōngpíng chūyú above and lùshang xíngrén and rén yǎn shì and tiānxià qiányǎnr and zhīdǐ mò guò and zhòngrén (yǎnjing) below.]

Topics JUDGMENT JUSTICE NEIGHBORS

L114

[L114]

(Lín yá lì mǎ, shōu jiāng wǎn;) chuán dào jiāng xīn, bǔ lòu chí.

(临崖立马收缰晚,) 船到江心补漏迟。

(臨崖立馬收韁晚,) 船到江心補漏遲。

Lit ([When the] horse comes to [the edge of] the cliff, [it is] too late to draw rein); [when the] boat reaches mid-stream, [it is] too late to plug the leaks.

Fig Don't wait until problems arise to deal with them; use some foresight.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17; the second part is more commonly used alone; also said mǎ lín xuán yá (q.v.).]

Topics DIFFICULTIES PLANNING PROBLEMS PROCRASTINATION TIMELINESS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

L115

[L115]

Línyuān-xiànyú bùrú guī ér jié wǎng.*

临渊羡鱼不如归而结网。

臨淵羡魚不如歸而結網。

Lit [Standing] by the water and longing for fish [is] not as good as going home and weaving a net.

Fig One should take practical steps to achieve one's goals rather than merely daydreaming.

Note [Cf. Huái Nán Zǐ: Shuō Lín Xùn; Hàn Shū: Lǐ Yuè Zhì; línyuān-xiànyú is used as a chengyu with this meaning.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT chengyu COMPARISON DAYDREAMING EFFORT Hàn Shū Huái Nán Zǐ línyuān-xiànyú Lǐ Yuè Zhì PRACTICALITY Shuō Lín Xùn STEPS

L116

[L116]

Lín zhōng bù mài xīn; hú shàng bù yù yú.

林中不卖薪, 湖上不鬻鱼。

林中不賣薪, 湖上不鬻魚。

Lit Don't peddle firewood in the forest [and] don't sell fish on the lake.

Fig Don't “carry coals to Newcastle.”

Topics SUPERFLUITY

L117

[L117]

Lín zhōng yǒu wān shù; shìshàng wú wánrén.

林中有弯树, 世上无完人。

林中有彎樹, 世上無完人。

Lit [Just as] there are crooked trees in the forest, [so] there are no perfect people in the world.

Fig No one is perfect.

Note [See also rén wú wánrén below.]

Topics PERFECTION

L118

[L118]

Lǐ qīng, qíngyì zhòng.*

礼轻情意重。

禮輕情意重。

Lit The gift is light, [but] the feeling is profound.

Fig It's nothing much, but it's the thought that counts.

Note [As a chengyu: lǐ qīng yì zhòng; see also qiān lǐ sòng émáo below.]

Topics chengyu COURTESY FEELINGS GIFTS THOUGHTS

L119

[L119]

Lìqì rùshǒu, bùkě jiè rén.

利器入手, 不可借人。

Lit [Once a] sharp sword [has] come into [your] hands, [it] may not be lent to others.

Fig Power once gained should not be given to others.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 7.]

Topics Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) INFLUENCE POSITION POWER SELF-INTEREST

L120

[L120]

Lí qún de miányáng, chízǎo yào wèi láng.

离群的绵羊, 迟早要喂狼。

離群的綿羊, 遲早要喂狼。

Lit A sheep separated from the flock will feed a wolf sooner or later.

Fig Anyone who is separated from his or her group will suffer sooner or later.

Topics GROUPS INDIVIDUALS SEPARATION

L121

[L121]

Lì rén zhī yán, nuǎn rú bùbó; shāngrén zhī yán, tòng rú dāo jǐ.

利人之言, 暖如布帛; 伤人之言, 痛如刀戟。

利人之言, 暖如布帛; 傷人之言, 痛如刀戟。

Lit Words beneficial to others [are] as warm as cloth and silk; words harmful to others hurt as hurtful as a swords and halberds.

Note [See also liáng yán yī jù above.]

Topics SLANDER WORDS

L122

[L122]

Lí shān shí lǐ, chái zài wūlǐ; lí shān yī lǐ, chái zài shān lǐ.

离山十里柴在屋里, 离山一里柴在山里。

離山十里柴在屋裡, 離山一里柴在山裡。

Lit Ten miles away from the mountains, [there is] firewood at home; one mile away from the mountains, [there is] firewood in the mountains.

Fig Adverse conditions make people forge ahead, while overly favorable conditions make people lazy.

Note [Based on a popular Ming dynasty folk story.]

Topics CHALLENGES CONDITIONS folk story LAZINESS Ming_dynasty

L123

[L123]

Lì shēng wú bàng bù yīngxióng.

历生无谤不英雄。

歷生無謗不英雄。

Lit [One who in his] entire life has not been [at sometime enviously] slandered is not [to be considered an] able person.

Note [See also shù dà zhāofēng below.]

Topics ENVY SLANDER

L124

[L124]

Liù cì liáng yī, yī cì cái.

六次量衣, 一次裁。

Lit Take measurements six times [before you] cut a dress once.

Fig One must do all one's investigations, analyses, and/or preparations before one makes the decision to act.

Topics ACTIONS DECISIONS PREPARATION

L125

[L125]

Liú de qīngshān zài, bùpà méi chái shāo.*

留得青山在, 不怕没柴烧。

留得青山在, 不怕沒柴燒。

Lit As long as green hills remain, do not fear a shortage of firewood to burn.

Fig “While there's life, there's (still) hope.”

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 22; DRC, chap. 82; see also liúxià húlu zǐ below.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DRC HOPE LIFE

L126

[L126]

Liú de zài; luòde guài.

留得在, 落得怪。

Lit [As a guest, when asked to] stay, [one should] stay; [otherwise] the blame [of offending one's host will] fall on one.

Note [A rhyme said of guests persuaded to stay longer. Cf. JW, chap. 96.]

Topics COURTESY GUESTS HOSTS JW rhyme

L127

[L127]

Liú jūn qiān rì, zhōng xū yī bié.

留君千日, 终须一别。

留君千日, 終須一別。

Lit [Even if a guest is persuaded to] stay a thousand days [by a hospitable host], [there] must finally come a parting.

Note [Said when one wants or has to leave; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 24; see also qiān lǐ dā cháng péng and shèngyàn bì sànand sòng jūn qiān lǐ and tiānxià wú bù sàn below.]

Topics COURTESY DEPARTURES ENDINGS GUESTS HOSTS Jǐngshì Tōngyán PARTING TIME

L128

[L128]

Liúqíng bù jǔshǒu; jǔshǒu bù liúqíng.

留情不举手, 举手不留情。

留情不舉手, 舉手不留情。

Lit [If you] have [any] forgiveness, don't strike [someone, but when you finally do] strike [someone], put all your forgiveness aside.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 21.]

Topics FIGHTING FORCE FORGIVENESS JW

L129

[L129]

Liùqīn hé yī yùn.

六亲合一运。

六親合一運。

Lit All relatives share the same fate.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 18; DRC, chap. 108; note: liù qīn, (lit) “the six relations,” refers to one's father and sons, older and younger brothers, wife, and children.]

Topics DRC FATE RELATIVES Xǐngshì_Héngyán

L130

[L130]

Liùshí nián fēngshuǐ lúnliú zhuàn.*

六十年风水轮流转。

六十年風水輪流轉。

Lit In [a calendrical cycle of] sixty years, the omens come full circle in turn.

Fig Every life will have its ups and downs. “Every dog will have his day.”

Note [See also sānshí nián hé below.]

Topics CALENDAR CYCLES LIFE

L131

[L131]

Liúshuǐ bù fǔ; hù shū bù lóu /dù.

流水不腐, 户枢不蝼/蠹。

流水不腐, 戶樞不螻/蠹。

Lit Running water is never stale, [and] door hinges never get worm-eaten.

Fig Things which are in constant use do not get rusty. If one keeps active, one's mind and body will not become infirm.

Note [Cf. Lǚ Shì Chūnqiū: Jìng Shù; note: liúshuǐ bù fǔ and húshū-bùdù have become set phrases; see also tiě bù mó, shēngxiù below.]

Topics ACTIVITY HEALTH húshū-bùdù INFIRMITY Jìng Shù Lǚ Shì Chūnqiū MINDS USE

L132

[L132]

Liúxià dǒu hé chèng, wèi de shì gōngpíng.

留下斗和秤, 为的是公平。

留下斗和秤, 為的是公平。

Lit [The reason our ancestors] left [us] bushels and steelyard scales was for fairness [in trade].

Note [Note: dǒu, is a Chinese unit of dry measure for grain equal to one deciliter, here refers to a measuring container which holds that amount of grain.]

Topics BUSINESS dǒu FAIRNESS MEASURING

L133

[L133]

Liúxià húlu zǐ, nǎpà méiyǒu piáo.

留下葫芦籽, 哪怕没有瓢。

留下葫蘆籽, 哪怕沒有瓢。

Lit [As long as there are some] gourd seeds left over, do not fear [that you will] be without gourds [to use as ladles for water].

Fig As long as there are still some resources left, there's still a chance. “Where there's life, there's hope.”

Note [See also liú de qīngshān above.]

Topics HOPE LIFE RESOURCES

L134

[L134]

Liúyán zhǐyú zhī zhě.

流言止于知者。

流言止於知者。

Lit Rumors [will] stop [when they come to] the wise.

Fig A wise person does not believe or repeat rumors.

Note [Cf. Xúnzǐ: Dà Lüè.]

Topics BEHAVIOR Dà Lüè RUMORS WISDOM Xúnzǐ

L135

[L135]

Lì wēi xiū fùzhòng; yán qīng mò quàn rén.

力微休负重; 言轻莫劝人。

力微休負重; 言輕莫勸人。

Lit Don't take heavy burdens upon yourself if you are not strong enough [and] don't give advice to others if your words carry little weight.

Note [Cf. the chengyu: rén wēi, yán qīng, “the words of a person of no consequence carry little weight.”]

Topics ADVICE chengyu LIMITATIONS SELF-KNOWLEDGE SELF-RESTRAINT STRENGTH

L136

[L136]

Lǐ xià yú rén, bì yǒu suǒ qiú.

礼下于人, 必有所求。

禮下於人, 必有所求。

Lit [When someone] humbles him or herself before a person, [(s)he] must have some favor to ask [of that person].

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics FAVORS HUMILITY MOTIVES Wǔ_Sōng

L137

[L137]

Lǐyú zhǎo lǐyú; jìyú zhǎo jìyú.

鲤鱼找鲤鱼, 鲫鱼找鲫鱼。

鯉魚找鯉魚, 鯽魚找鯽魚。

Lit Carp seek carp, [and] crucian carp seek crucian carp.

Fig People seek company of their own kind. “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Topics COMPANIONS SIMILARITIES

L138

[L138]

Lǐ zhèng bùpà guān; xīn zhèng bùpà tiān.

理正不怕官, 心正不怕天。

Lit [If one's] reasons are just, [one need] not fear [government] officials; [if one's] heart is [honest and] upright, [one need] not fear Heaven.

Note [See also xīn zhèng bùpà below.]

Topics HEAVEN HONESTY OFFICIALS REASON

L139

[L139]

Lóng bù lí hǎi; hǔ bù lí shān.*

龙不离海, 虎不离山。

龍不離海, 虎不離山。

Lit A dragon won't leave the sea [and] a tiger won't leave the mountain.

Fig The powerful won't give up their power or position.

Note [Vs. fèng bù lí cháo above; see also lóng guī cānghǎi below.]

Topics POSITION POWER SELF-INTEREST

L140

[L140]

Lóng duō bù zhìshuǐ; jī duō bù xiàdàn.

龙多不治水, 鸡多不下蛋。

龍多不治水, 雞多不下蛋。

Lit [When there are] too many dragons, the waters can't be controlled [and when there are] too many hens, [they] don't lay eggs.

Fig “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Note [Note: in traditional mythology dragons were supposed to control rivers and flooding; see also rén duō, shǒu zá below.]

Topics INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT WORKING

L141

[L141]

Lóng guī cānghǎi; hǔ rù shēnshān.

龙归沧海, 虎入深山。

龍歸滄海, 虎入深山。

Lit A dragon returns to the great seas [and] a tiger goes into the deep mountains.

Fig People go to places where there's plenty of scope for their talents.

Note [See also lóng bù lí hǎi above.]

Topics PLACE SELF-INTEREST TALENT

L142

[L142]

Lóng hǔ xiāng zhēng, xiǎo lù zāoyāng.

龙虎相争, 小鹿遭殃。

龍虎相爭, 小鹿遭殃。

Lit When a tiger and a dragon quarrel, the young stag has to suffer.

Fig Innocent people have to suffer when their leaders come into conflict.

Note [Also said lóng jǔ xiāng dòu, yú xiā zāo yāng.]

Topics BYSTANDERS CONFLICT FIGHTING INNOCENCE LEADERS SUFFERING

L143

[L143]

Lóng pà jiē lín; hǔ pà chōujīn.

龙怕揭鳞, 虎怕抽筋。

龍怕揭鱗, 虎怕抽筋。

Lit Dragons are [most] afraid of [their] scales being scraped off [and] tigers are [most] afraid of pulling a tendon.

Fig Everyone has a weakness which (s)he fears will be exposed; everyone has an “Achilles' heel.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 13.]

Topics EXPOSURE FEAR Fēngshén Yǎnyì rhyme WEAKNESS

L144

[L144]

Lóng pèi lóng; fèng pèi fèng; bógū duì bógū; wūyā duì wūyā.

龙配龙, 凤配凤, 鹁鸪对鹁鸪, 乌鸦对乌鸦。

龍配龍, 鳳配鳳, 鵓鴣對鵓鴣, 烏鴉對烏鴉。

Lit A dragon matches a dragon, a phoenix a phoenix, a wood pigeon a wood pigeon, [and] a crow a crow.

Fig Marriage partners should be well-matched in their social and economic statuses.

Topics ECONOMICS MARRIAGE MATCHMAKING SOCIAL CLASS STATUS

L145

[L145]

Lóng shēng lóng; fèng shēng fèng; lǎoshǔ yǎng ér huì dǎ dòng.

龙生龙, 凤生凤, 老鼠养儿会打洞。

龍生龍, 鳳生鳳, 老鼠養兒會打洞。

Lit Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, [and] the son of a mouse can dig holes;

Fig “Like begets like”; “like father, like son.”

Note [This rhyme was often cited during the Cultural Revolution to support the theory of xuètǒnglùn “blood inheritance” of class characteristics; also said fèng shēng fèng, etc., above.]

Topics BLOOD Cultural Revolution INHERITANCE RELATIVES rhyme SIMILARITIES SOCIAL CLASS xuètǒnglùn

L146

[L146]

Lóng yǎn shí zhū; fèng yǎn shí bǎo; niú yǎn shí qīngcǎo.

龙眼识珠, 凤眼识宝, 牛眼识青草。

龍眼識珠, 鳳眼識寶, 牛眼識青草。

Lit A dragon's eyes can recognize pearls, a phoenix's eyes can see treasures, [and] an ox's eyes know what kind of grass is edible.

Fig A person of excellent judgment is able to tell superior goods from bad ones, as opposed to an ordinary person who can only distinguish ordinary things.

Note [Note: shíhuò, “to be able to evaluate merchandise; to have an eye for quality.”]

Topics DISCERNMENT GOODS JUDGMENT QUALITY

L147

[L147]

(Lóng yóu qiǎnshuǐ, zāo xiā xì;) hǔ luò píngyuán, bèi quǎn qī.

(龙游浅水遭虾戏,) 虎落平原被犬欺。

(龍游淺水遭蝦戲,) 虎落平原被犬欺。

Lit (A dragon in the shallows falls victim to shrimps [and]) a tiger [down] on the plain can be set upon by dogs.

Fig The powerful in an unfavorable situation can be insulted by the weak. Out of one's element or position, one can be bullied, just like everyone else.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 28; note: tigers are believed to live mostly in the mountains in China; note: píngyuán may also be píngyáng; see also hǔ luò píng yáng above.]

Topics BULLYING DISADVANTAGE INSULTS POSITION POWER WEAKNESS

L148

[L148]

Lòu chǒu bùrú cángzhuō.

露丑不如藏拙。

露醜不如藏拙。

Lit Better to hide one's clumsiness than to expose [it to the world].

Fig If you're not competent, don't try to show off.

Topics BRAGGING COMPETENCE INCOMPETENCE SELF-RESTRAINT

L149

[L149]

Luànshì chū yīngxióng.*

乱世出英雄。

亂世出英雄。

Lit Troubled times produce heroes.

Note [See also fēngxiǎn lǐ chū above.]

Topics HEROES TIME TROUBLE

L150

[L150]

Lǔ Bān wú mù, nán zuò wū.

鲁班无木, 难做屋。

魯班無木, 難做屋。

Lit [Even] Lu Ban [the master carpenter] without wood would be hard put to build a house.

Fig It is difficult to accomplish anything without adequate materials or conditions. It is difficult or impossible to “make bricks without straw.”

Note [Note: the chengyu: Bān mén nòng fú, (lit) “to flourish an axe in front of the gate of Lu Ban, the master carpenter”; (fig) “to display one's inferior skill before an expert.”]

Topics ADEQUACY Bān mén nòng fú chengyu CONDITIONS SUCCESS

L151

[L151]

Lù bùpíng, yǒu rén cǎi.*

路不平, 有人踩。

Lit [If the] road is uneven, someone [will] trample [it flat].

Fig People are sensitive to injustice.

Note [Note: bùpíng, (lit) “uneven,” also means “unjust”; see also dàolù bùpíng above; see also the colloquial suyu expression: lù jiàn bùpíng, bá dāo xiāng zhù, (lit) [Whenever one] sees injustice on the road, [he will] draw his sword in mutual assistance.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE INJUSTICE suyu

L152

[L152]

Lǘ bù zhī zì chǒu, hóu bù xián liǎn shòu.

驴不知自丑, 猴不嫌脸瘦。

驢不知自醜, 猴不嫌臉瘦。

Lit [A] donkey doesn't know [its] own ugliness, [and a] monkey doesn't worry about [its] thin face.

Fig People usually can't recognize their own shortcomings, and may even regard them as good points.

Note [Rhyme; compare Robert Burns: “Oh, the gift the gods would give us, to see ourselves as others see us”; see also dēngtái zhào rén and húli bù zhī above and niú bù zhī jiǎo wān and rén guàn shè jǐ guò below.]

Topics APPEARANCES Burns, Robert OBJECTIVITY SELF-KNOWLEDGE UGLINESS

L153

[L153]

Lù cháng, bù dān zǒu; huái cái, bù gūxíng.

路长不单走, 怀财不孤行。

路長不單走, 懷財不孤行。

Lit Never go a long distance alone, [and] never travel carrying [a large amount of] money [on your person].

Topics CAUTION MONEY TRAVEL

L154

[L154]

Lù dāng xiǎn chù nán huíbì; shì dàotóu lái, bù zìyóu.

路当险处难回避, 事到头来, 不自由。

路當險處難回避, 事到頭來, 不自由。

Lit When [one] reaches the perilous section of a road, it is difficult to avoid risk; when things come up, one can't help it.

Fig When things happen in life, one just has to deal with them.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 78.]

Topics DANGER DIFFICULTIES Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

L155

[L155]

Lù jí wú jūnzǐ.

路急无君子。

路急無君子。

Lit [In] emergencies [out on the] road, there are no gentlemen.

Fig When the chips are down, it's every man for himself. Desperate people will resort to anything.

Note [See also lù sǐ, bù zé yīn and shì jí wú jūnzǐ below.]

Topics DESPERATION EMERGENCIES SELF-INTEREST SELF-PROTECTION TRAVEL

L156

[L156]

Luóbo shú, tàiyī kū.*

萝卜熟, 太医哭。

蘿卜熟, 太醫哭。

Lit [When] turnips are in season, the doctors cry [i.e., are out of work].

Fig Vegetables such as turnips and carrots are good for one's health. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Note [Rhyme; note: tàiyī originally referred to the imperial physician, but here refers to any doctor.]

Topics DOCTORS HEALTH imperial physician tàiyī VEGETABLES

L157

[L157]

Luòcháo zǒng yǒu zhǎngcháo rì.

落潮总有涨潮日。

落潮總有漲潮日。

Lit [When there is] ebbing, there is always a day of rising.

Fig The pendulum always swings back the other way. Bad times can't last forever.

Note [See also gōng tài mǎn above and rén yǒu qī pín and rì zhōng zé yí below.]

Topics BALANCE PENDULUMS TRANSIENCE

L158

[L158]

Luó-gǔ chángle, wú hǎoxì.

锣鼓长了, 无好戏。

鑼鼓長了, 無好戲。

Lit [If the] gong [and] drum [accompaniment go on] too long, there will be no good performance.

Fig Things can't be done satisfactorily if they are put off too long.

Note [See also yè cháng, mèng duō below.]

Topics PROCRASTINATION SUCCESS TIMELINESS WORKING

L159

[L159]

Luó-gǔ tīng yīn; shuōhuà tīng shēng.

锣鼓听音, 说话听声。

鑼鼓聽音, 說話聽聲。

Lit [When listening to] gongs [and] drums, [one] listens for the music, [so when listening to] speech, [one] listens for the [tone of] voice.

Fig One must listen carefully to the speaker's tone of voice to catch the true message behind the words.

Note [Note: tīngyīn also means to “take a hint”; note the colloquial suyu expression xiánwàizhīyīn, (lit) “the sound beyond the strings”; (fig) “overtones; implication”; see also kàn rén, kàn xīn above and yào zhī xīnfùshì below.]

Topics LISTENING SPEECH tīngyīn TRUTH UNDERSTANDING xiánwàizhīyīn

L160

[L160]

Luó lǐ jiǎn guā, jiǎn de yǎnhuā.

锣里拣瓜, 拣得眼花。

鑼裡揀瓜, 揀得眼花。

Lit Choosing [a] melon [from] a [big] basket[ful] makes one bedazzled.

Fig Having to choose one from among many makes one indecisive or overwhelmed by too many choices.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 18.]

Topics CHOICES DECISIONS INDECISION Wǔ Sōng Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

L161

[L161]

Lùshang shuōhuà, cǎo lǐ yǒu rén.

路上说话, 草里有人。

路上說話, 草裡有人。

Lit What [one] says on the road [may well be overheard by] someone [hidden] in the grass [along the roadside].

Fig What one says in private may be overheard. “The walls have ears.”

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 23; see also gé qiáng yǒu ěr above and méiyǒu bù tòufēng below.]

Topics CAUTION EAVESDROPPING JPM PRIVACY

L162

[L162]

Lùshang xíngrén kǒu sì bēi.

路上行人口似碑。

Lit [What the average] passerby on the street says is like [words graven on] stone tablets.

Fig Ordinary people can make a fair judgment about most people or things.

Note [Cf. Shí Diǎn Tóu, chap. 8; Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 56; see also gōngpíng chūyú and línjū yǎnjing above and rén yǎn shì and tiānxià qiányǎnr and zhīdǐ mò guò and zhòngrén yǎnjing below.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE Fēngshén Yǎnyì JUDGMENT Shí_Diǎn_Tóu

L163

[L163]

Lù shì rén zǒu chūlái.

路是人走出来。

路是人走出來。

Lit Roads were trampled out by people.

Fig One need not “stick to the beaten path.” Create your own way. Be a “trail blazer.”

Topics CREATIVITY INDIVIDUALITY

L164

[L164]

Lùshui-fūqī bù chángjiǔ.*

露水夫妻不长久。

露水夫妻不長久。

Lit Illicit lovers won't last long.

Fig Brief liaisons or summer romances don't last long.

Note [Note: lùshui-fūqī, (lit) “dew drop couple,” refers to an unmarried couple living together.]

Topics ADULTERY LOVERS lùshui fūqī ROMANCE TIME

L165

[L165]

Lùsī bù chī lùsī ròu.

鹭鸶不吃鹭鸶肉。

鷺鷥不吃鷺鷥肉。

Lit An egret doesn't eat the flesh of [other] egrets.

Fig Do not harm your own kind. Like does not harm like.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 24; see also the following entry.]

Topics BEHAVIOR HARM JW SELF-INTEREST SELF-RESTRAINT

L166

[L166]

Lùsī bù dǎ jiǎoxià táng.

鹭鸶不打脚下塘。

鷺鷥不打腳下塘。

Lit [An] egret does not strike the pond beneath [its] feet.

Fig One does not do harm to one's neighbors. “Don't foul your own nest.”

Note [See also měnghǔ bù chī and tùzi bù chī below and the preceding entry.]

Topics BEHAVIOR HARM NEIGHBORS SELF-INTEREST SELF-RESTRAINT

L167

[L167]

Lù sǐ, bù zé yīn.

鹿死不择音。

鹿死不擇音。

Lit A dying deer is not selective [about whether its] cries [sound good or not].

Fig A desperate person will resort to anything.

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Wén Gōng 17 Nián; note: lùsǐ-bùzéyīn is sometimes treated as a set phrase; see also lù jí wú jūnzǐ above.]

Topics ACTION DESPERATION lùsǐ-bùzéyīn Wén Gōng 17 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

L168

[L168]

Lù yào yī bù, yī bù de zǒu; fàn yào yīkǒu, yīkǒu de chī.

路要一步一步地走, 饭要一口一口地吃。

路要一步一步地走, 飯要一口一口地吃。

Lit [On the] road [one] has to walk step by step, [and one's] food has to be eaten one mouthful at a time.

Fig One has to learn or do things step by step.

Topics CAUTION LEARNING SELF-RESTRAINT TRAVEL

L169

[L169]

Lù yáo zhī mǎlì; rì jiǔ jiàn rénxīn.

路遥知马力, 日久见人心。

路遙知馬力, 日久見人心。

Lit [Just as a] long journey [lets one] know [a] horse's strength, [so a] long time [lets one] know a person's mind. [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 20; JW, chap. 26; also said ... shì jiǔ jiàn rénxīn, “... [so a] long task [lets one] know a person's mind.”]

Note [Both halves may be used independently.]

Topics CHARACTER EXPERIENCE Fēngshén Yǎnyì JW MINDS TRUTH UNDERSTANDING

L170

[L170]

Lù yuǎn méi qīng zài.*

路远没轻载。

路遠沒輕載。

Lit [On a] long road there are no light burdens.

Fig Light burdens, when carried for a long time, grow heavy.

Note [See also yuǎnlù méi qīng dàn below.]

Topics BURDENS CARRYING DISTANCE TIME

L171

[L171]

Lù yù bù shì bàn.*

路遇不是伴。

Lit [Strangers] met on the road are not companions.

Note [Vs. tóngxíng wú shū bàn below.]

Topics COMPANIONS STRANGERS TRAVEL

L172

[L172]

Lù zài zuǐ biān.*

路在嘴边。

路在嘴邊。

Lit The road is beside [one's] mouth.

Fig If one is willing to ask for directions, one will never lose one's way.

Note [See also dàlù shēng above and zuǐ dǐxià below.]

Topics ASKING DIRECTIONS TRAVEL

L173

[L173]

Lǔ zì mài qiú ér bù shòu; shì zì yù biàn ér bù xìn.

虏自卖裘而不售, 士自誉辩而不信。

虜自賣裘而不售, 士自譽辯而不信。

Lit [Just as a non-Han Chinese] minority person won't [be able to] sell a fur coat [even if he boasts of its quality], [so] a scholar who praises himself won't be believed.

Fig Self-recommendation will come to nothing.

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Shuō Lín Xià; note: here lǔ is an old term previously used to refer to ethnic minorities from China's border areas.]

Topics BRAGGING ethnic minorities Hán Fēizǐ non-Han SCHOLARS SELF-PROMOTION Shuō_Lín_Xià

L174

[L174]

Lǘzi néng gēngtián, huángniú bù zhíqián.

驴子能耕田, 黄牛不值钱。

驢子能耕田, 黃牛不值錢。

Lit [If] donkeys could plow fields, oxen would be worthless.

Fig If persons of no ability were to assume positions of power, people of real ability would be unemployed.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ABILITY POWER

L175

[L175]

Lǘzi shì gè guài; qí zhe fǎn bǐ qiān zhe kuài.

驴子是个怪, 骑着反比牵着快。

驢子是個怪, 騎著反比牽著快。

Lit The donkey is a strange [beast]; [it walks] faster [when] ridden than [when] led.

Fig Some people are lazy and must be pressured to perform.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LAZINESS PRESSURE rhyme

【L1】M M1

[M1]

Mǎ chí xián biān qīng; xīnjí xián chē màn.

马迟嫌鞭轻, 心急嫌车慢。

馬遲嫌鞭輕, 心急嫌車慢。

Lit [When the] horse [is] slow, [one] complains that the whip is too light; [when one is] impatient, [one] complains that the cart [is too] slow.

Fig When one is impatient, time seems to pass too slowly.

Note [See also děng rén yì lǎo above and xīnjí, mǎ xíng chí below.]

Topics IMPATIENCE TIME

M2

[M2]

Mǎ'ér zhuā zōng, niú qiān bí.

马儿抓鬃, 牛牵鼻。

馬兒抓鬃, 牛牽鼻。

Lit Grasp a horse [by its] mane, [and] lead an ox [by its] nose.

Fig In solving a problem one must address the crucial element.

Note [See also kě shí yī dī above.]

Topics KEY POINTS PROBLEMS

M3

[M3]

Mǎ féng Bólè ér sī; rén yù zhījǐ ér sǐ.

马逢伯乐而嘶, 人遇知己而死。

馬逢伯樂而嘶, 人遇知己而死。

Lit [Just as] horses [always] neigh in recognition of Bo-le [the supreme judge of horses], [so when] one meets [someone who] understands him, [he] would die [for him].

Fig People will gladly serve a superior who treats them well.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 60; Bólè was a legendary judge of horses in the Spring and Autumn Period; see also shì wèi zhījǐ below.]

Topics Bólè EMPLOYMENT R3K SUPERIORS TREATMENT UNDERSTANDING

M4

[M4]

Mǎi bù lái, yǒuqián zài; mài bù chū, yǒu huò zài.

买不来有钱在, 卖不出有货在。

買不來有錢在, 賣不出有貨在。

Lit [If you can]not buy [something, you still] have [your] money remaining; [if you can]not sell [something, you still] have [your] goods remaining.

Fig When one has nothing to lose, one might as well try; no loss is involved either way.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BUSINESS INVESTMENT LOSS MONEY rhyme

M5

[M5]

Mài bǔ, mài guà; zhuǎn huí shuōhuà.

卖卜卖卦, 转回说话。

賣卜賣卦, 轉回說話。

Lit [Those who] tell fortunes talk in circumlocutions.

Fig Fortunetellers speak in riddles.

Note [Rhyme; cf. WM, chap. 61; see also ruò xìn bù below.]

Topics FORTUNETELLING rhyme WM

M6

[M6]

Mài fàn de bùpà dàdùhàn; mài jiǔ de bùpà hǎiliàng.

卖饭的不怕大肚汉, 卖酒的不怕海量。

賣飯的不怕大肚漢, 賣酒的不怕海量。

Lit A rice-seller welcomes men with big bellies, [and] a wine-seller welcomes heavy drinkers.

Note [Note: hǎiliàng (lit) “ocean capacity,” refers to drinkers with a great capacity for liquor.]

Topics BUSINESS EXCESS hǎiliàng LIQUOR

M7

[M7]

Mài guā de shuō guā tián; mài huā de shuō huā xiāng.

卖瓜的说瓜甜, 卖花的说花香。

賣瓜的說瓜甜, 賣花的說花香。

Lit Melon sellers say their melons are sweet, [and] flower sellers say their flowers are fragrant.

Fig Everyone praises his own talents or wares.

Note [See also mài guā, shuō guā below.]

Topics BRAGGING BUSINESS SELF-PROMOTION TALENT

M8

[M8]

Mǎi guā kàn pí; mǎi zhēn kàn kǒng.

买瓜看皮, 买针看孔。

買瓜看皮, 買針看孔。

Lit [When] buying melons, look at [their] skins; [when] buying needles, look at [their eye-]holes.

Fig One must focus on the key points in making observations.

Topics KEY POINTS OBSERVATIONS PROBLEMS

M9

[M9]

Mài guā, shuō guā tián; mài cù, shuō cù suān.

卖瓜说瓜甜, 卖醋说醋酸。

賣瓜說瓜甜, 賣醋說醋酸。

Lit A melon-seller says [his] melons are sweet, [and] a vinegar-seller says [his] vinegar is sour.

Fig Everyone boasts of his own wares.

Note [See also mài guā de shuō above.]

Topics BRAGGING BUSINESS GOODS SELF-PROMOTION

M10

[M10]

Mài jīn xū xiàng shí jīn jiā.

卖金须向识金家。

賣金須向識金家。

Lit [When] selling gold, [you] must [go] to [those who] know [all about] goldware.

Fig Only experts can appreciate or assess the true worth of fine things.

Note [See also huò mài yǔ shí jiā above.]

M11

[M11]

Mǎi-mài bù chéng, qíngyì zài.

买卖不成, 情意在。

買賣不成, 情意在。

Lit [Even if a] business [deal is] not successful, the relationship [between the two people still continues to] exist.

Fig In the interests of a long-term relationship, one should be civil even if the immediate business deal falls through.

Note [Also said jiāoyì bù chéng, rényì zài (q.v.); see also qù shí liú rénqíng below.]

Topics BUSINESS CIVILITY FRIENDSHIP jiāoyì qíngyì RELATIONSHIPS rényì

M12

[M12]

Mǎi-mài, mǎi-mài; héqì shēngcái.*

买卖买卖, 和气生财。

買賣買賣, 和氣生財。

Lit Buying [and] selling, buying [and] selling; [it's] politeness [and] amiability [that] makes money.

Fig In doing business, being able to get along with people is the real key to success and wealth.

Note [Rhyme; note that mǎi-mài (sic) means “business.”]

Topics BUSINESS CIVILITY COURTESY rhyme SUCCESS WEALTH

M13

[M13]

Mǎimairén, yǒu sānfēn nàixìng.

买卖人, 有三分耐性。

買賣人, 有三分耐性。

Lit A businessperson has three parts patience.

Fig Anyone who does business must have patience.

Note [Note: mǎi-mài means “business” and mǎimai, “small business.”]

Topics BUSINESS mǎimai mǎi-mài PATIENCE

M14

[M14]

Mǎi piányi shì shàngdàng de hòumén.

买便宜是上当的后门。

買便宜是上當的後門。

Lit A cheap price is a quick route to being cheated.

Fig Be wary of “good deals.”

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 1; see also guì de bù guì above.]

Topics BUSINESS CAUTION CHEATING DISHONESTY PRICE Wǔ_Sōng

M15

[M15]

Màizuǐ lángzhōng méi hǎo yào.

卖嘴郎中没好药。

賣嘴郎中沒好藥。

Lit A doctor [who] boasts of [(the effectiveness of) his] medicine has no good medicine.

Fig People who brag usually have no real ability.

Note [Also said: shuōzuǐ ... etc. (q.v.); note: lángzhōng is a colloquial term for a physician in traditional herbal medicine; see also gǔ kōng, shēng gāo and hǎo māo bù jiào and kōng guànzi above and shuǐ jìng zé and zhěng píng bù yáo below.]

Topics BRAGGING DOCTORS lángzhōng MEDICINE

M16

[M16]

Mǎ kàn yá bǎn; rén kàn yánxíng.

马看牙板, 人看言行。

馬看牙板, 人看言行。

Lit [Just as] horses [are judged by] looking at [their] teeth, [so] people [are judged by looking at their] words [and] deeds.

Note [Note: yá bǎn is colloquial for yá kǒu, “age of an animal judged by its teeth.”]

Topics ACTION DEEDS JUDGMENTS WORDS yá bǎn yá_kǒu

M17

[M17]

Mǎ kào ān zhuāng; rén kào yīshang.

马靠鞍装, 人靠衣裳。

馬靠鞍裝, 人靠衣裳。

Lit [It's the] saddle [that] makes the horse, [and the] tailor [that] makes the man.

Fig “Fine feathers make fine birds.” “Clothes make the man.”

Note [See also Fó yào jīn zhuāng above.]

Topics CLOTHING TAILORS

M18

[M18]

Mǎ lǎo, wú rén qí; rén lǎo, jiù shòu qī.

马老无人骑, 人老就受欺。

馬老無人騎, 人老就受欺。

Lit [When] horses get old no one rides them [and when] people get old [they] get bullied.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE BULLYING INFIRMITY OLD AGE POWER rhyme

M19

[M19]

(Mǎ lín xuányá shōu jiāng wǎn;) chuán dào jiāngxīn, bǔ lòu chí.

(马临悬崖收缰晚,) 船到江心补漏迟。

(馬臨懸崖收韁晚,) 船到江心補漏遲。

Lit ([When the] horse comes to the edge of the cliff, [it is] too late to draw rein;) [when the] boat reaches midstream, [it is] too late to stop the leaks.

Fig Don't wait until problems arise to deal with them; use some foresight.

Note [Also said lín yá lì mǎ (q.v.); note the chengyu: xuányá-lèmǎ, to “rein in at the last moment”; and the idiom jiāngxīn-bǔlòu, to “try to avoid disaster when it's too late.”]

Topics chengyu DIFFICULTIES jiāngxīn-bǔlòu PLANNING PROBLEMS PROCRASTINATION TIMELINESS xuányá-lèmǎ

M20

[M20]

Mámiàn gūniang ài cā fěn; lài lì gūniang hào dài huā.

麻面姑娘爱擦粉, 癞痢姑娘好戴花。

麻面姑娘愛擦粉, 癩痢姑娘好戴花。

Lit [A] pock-marked girl loves to powder [her] face, [and a] young woman [affected with] favus of the scalp likes to wear flowers.

Fig People with defects try to hide them from others.

Topics APPEARANCES BEAUTY DEFECTS FACE

M21

[M21]

Màn chuán pǎo sǐ mǎ.

慢船跑死马。

慢船跑死馬。

Lit A slow boat can run a horse to death.

Fig Even a slow boat, aided by wind or current behind it, is faster than a fast horse, which will eventually become tired. It is better to get help from others than simply to depend on oneself alone.

Topics HELP SELF-RELIANCE SELF-SUFFICIENCY

M22

[M22]

Mán de guò rén; mán bu guò shén.

瞒得过人, 瞒不过神。

瞞得過人, 瞞不過神。

Lit [One] can hide [the truth from other] people, [but one can]not hide [the truth from the] gods.

Fig One's misdeeds cannot be covered up forever. “Truth will (come) out in the end.”

Note [See also bèitóu lǐ zuòshì and chái duī lǐ cáng above and shuǐ luò shítou and zhǐ bāo bu zhù huǒ below.]

Topics GODS JUSTICE TRUTH

M23

[M23]

Máng bù zé jià.

忙不择价。

忙不擇價。

Lit Busy [people are] not choosy [about] price.

Fig One is not choosy when one is in a hurry or in dire need.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 15.]

Topics CHOICES DESPERATION HASTE Jǐngshì Tōngyán NEED PRICE

M24

[M24]

Máng jiā bù huì; huì jiā bù máng.

忙家不会, 会家不忙。

忙家不會, 會家不忙。

Lit The ones [who are running around] busily [do] not know how, [and] those who know how [do] not [appear to be] busy.

Fig Those who do not know how run around madly [because they don't know what they're doing, while] the experienced do not appear to be busy [because they know what they're doing].

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 21; see the chengyu: shǒu máng jiǎo luàn, “busy in a disorganized way.”]

Topics chengyu EXPERIENCE HASTE INEXPERIENCE

M25

[M25]

Máng lǐ yào zhēnzhuó; dān chí, bù dān cuò.

忙里要斟酌, 担迟, 不担错。

忙裡要斟酌, 擔遲, 不擔錯。

Lit [When] in haste, [one] must think carefully; [it is better to] be late, [and] not to be wrong.

Note [Rhyme; see also dān chí, bù dān cuò above.]

Topics CAUTION HASTE TARDINESS

M26

[M26]

Màn gōng chū qiǎo jiàng.*

慢功出巧将。

慢功出巧將。

Lit Slow work produces skilled craftsmen.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics CRAFTSMEN SKILL SPEED WORK

M27

[M27]

Màn gōng chū xìhuó (/xì huò).*

慢功出细活(/细货)。

慢功出細活(/細貨)。

Lit Slow work produces fine work/goods.

Note [Note: xìhuó, “a job requiring fine workmanship or meticulous care; skilled work.”]

Topics SKILL SPEED WORK xìhuó

M28

[M28]

Máng póniang jià bù dào hǎo hànzi.

忙婆娘嫁不到好汉子。

忙婆娘嫁不到好漢子。

Lit A hasty [i.e., impatient] girl won't get a good man for a husband.

Fig Hastiness or impatience can bring no good results.

Topics HASTE IMPATIENCE MARRIAGE WOMEN

M29

[M29]

Mángrén wú zhì.

忙人无智。

忙人無智。

Lit Busy people have no wisdom.

Fig One can't think clearly when one is in a rush.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also jí xíng wú hǎo bù above.]

Topics HASTE Wǔ_Sōng

M30

[M30]

Mángrén xī rì duǎn.

忙人惜日短。

Lit Busy people begrudge the days [being] short.

Fig Diligent people always feel that time is too short to accomplish all they want to do.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DILIGENCE TIME

M31

[M31]

Máng shí yòngzhe, xiánshí jiǎng.

忙时用着闲时讲。

忙時用著閑時講。

Lit [Policies and measures] to be used in emergency [should be] discussed in times of peace.

Fig One should make one's preparations against the unforeseen well in advance.

Topics EMERGENCIES PREPARATION

M32

[M32]

Máng zhōng (duō) yǒu cuò.

忙中(多)有错。

忙中(多)有錯。

Lit In haste, there are more mistakes.

Fig “Haste makes waste.”

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 12; see also jí xíng wú hǎo bù above.]

Topics ACTION Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HASTE MISTAKES WASTE

M33

[M33]

Màn lǔ yáochuán, zhuō zuì yú.

慢橹摇船, 捉醉鱼。

慢櫓搖船, 捉醉魚。

Lit Row the boat slowly [if you want to] catch beguiled fish.

Fig If you're out to get someone or something, it's best to move in a slow and apparently relaxed manner so as to lull your prey into a false sense of security.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 38.]

Topics CAUTION Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí SELF-RESTRAINT STRATEGY

M34

[M34]

Mán shàng, bù mán xià.

瞒上, 不瞒下。

瞞上, 不瞞下。

Lit [One can] conceal [the true state of affairs from those] above [but] never [from those] below.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 4; see also mán tiān, mán dì below.]

Topics HIERARCHY Rúlín Wàishǐ SECRETS SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS TRUTH

M35

[M35]

Mán tiān, mán dì; mán bu liǎo gébì línjū.

瞒天瞒地, 瞒不了隔壁邻居。

瞞天瞞地, 瞞不了隔壁鄰居。

Lit [One may be able to] hide the truth from heaven [and] earth, [but one] cannot hide the truth from [one's] neighbors.

Note [See also línjū yǎnjing above and shuōhuǎng bù mán below.]

Topics NEIGHBORS SECRETS TRUTH

M36

[M36]

Màntiān yàojià; jiùdì huán qián.*

漫天要价, 就地还钱。

漫天要價, 就地還錢。

Lit [As] high [as the] sky [is the] asking price, [and as] low [as the] earth [is the] money [offered] in return.

Fig Sellers (may) ask a sky-high price, [but] buyers (can) make a down-to-earth offer.

Note [Note: jiùdì means “on the spot”; cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 14, and Lu Xun's Zhōngguó Xiǎoshuō Jí.]

Topics BUSINESS BUYING jiùdì Lu Xun PRICE Rúlín Wàishǐ SELLING Zhōngguó_Xiǎoshuō_Jí

M37

[M37]

Mán zhài bì qióng; mán bìng bì sǐ.

瞒债必穷, 瞒病必死。

瞞債必窮, 瞞病必死。

Lit [One who tries to] hide [his] debts is bound [to suffer from] poverty, [just as one who tries to] hide [his] illness is doomed to die.

Fig It can be dangerous to pretend to be more well off than one really is.

Topics DEBT HEALTH ILLNESS POVERTY PRETENDING

M38

[M38]

Mǎn zhāo sǔn; qiān shòuyì.*

满招损, 谦受益。

滿招損, 謙受益。

Lit [Self] satisfaction summons losses, [while] modesty receives benefits.

Fig One loses by pride and gains by modesty.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 3.]

Topics Jǐngshì Tōngyán MODESTY PRIDE SELF-RESTRAINT

M39

[M39]

Màn zǒu, diē bù dǎo; xiǎoxīn, cuò bùliǎo.

慢走跌不倒, 小心错不了。

慢走跌不倒, 小心錯不了。

Lit Walk slowly [and you] won't fall down; act carefully [and you] won't go wrong.

Fig One can't be too careful.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ACTIONS BEHAVIOR CAUTION rhyme SELF-RESTRAINT SPEED

M40

[M40]

Màn zǒu qiáng rú xiē.

慢走强如歇。

慢走強如歇。

Lit [A] slow walk[er] is faster than [someone who walks fast but always has to stop and] rest.

Fig Persistence is important in learning or doing anything. “Slow and steady wins the race.”

Note [See also bùpà màn above.]

Topics PERSISTENCE WALKING

M41

[M41]

Māo bù jí, bù shàng shù; tù bù jí, bù yǎo rén.

猫不急不上树, 兔不急不咬人。

貓不急不上樹, 兔不急不咬人。

Lit [If] cats are not under duress, they [will] not climb trees, [and if] rabbits are not pressed, [they will] not bite people.

Fig If pressed too hard, people will eventually rise in revolt. “Even a worm will turn.”

Note [See also tùzi jíle below.]

Topics PRESSURE REACTIONS REVOLT

M42

[M42]

Māo'er, gǒu'er, shí wēncún.

猫儿狗儿识温存。

貓兒狗兒識溫存。

Lit (Even) cats and dogs appreciate kindness and consideration.

Fig Everyone appreciates human kindness.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 25.]

Topics CONSIDERATION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn KINDNESS

M43

[M43]

Māo'er kǒu zhōng wā bù chū shí.

猫儿口中挖不出食。

貓兒口中挖不出食。

Lit Food cannot be retrieved from inside a cat's mouth.

Fig Things lost can't be regained.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 5.]

Topics LOSS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

M44

[M44]

Máomaoyǔ dǎ shī yīshang; bēi bēi jiǔ chī bài jiādàng.

毛毛雨打湿衣裳, 杯杯酒吃败家当。

毛毛雨打濕衣裳, 杯杯酒吃敗家當。

Lit [Just as] little drops of rain will [eventually] soak through [one's] clothes, [so] cup [after] cup of liquor will [eventually] eat away [all] one's property.

Topics DISSIPATION LIQUOR WEALTH

M45

[M45]

Mào mù zhīxià wú fēng cǎo; dà kuài zhījiān wú měi miáo.

茂木之下无丰草, 大块之间无美苗。

茂木之下無豐草, 大塊之間無美苗。

Lit Under thick trees there's no luxuriant grass [and] among the vast [expanse of virgin] land there are no fine seedlings.

Fig Without a suitable environment, one cannot develop fully.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CONDITIONS DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT rhyme SUCCESS

M46

[M46]

Māozi lāshǐ, zìjǐ gài.

猫子拉屎, 自己盖。

貓子拉屎, 自己蓋。

Lit A cat covers up its excrement by itself.

Fig One should clean up one's own mess.

Topics RESPONSIBILITY

M47

[M47]

Mǎ pà qí; rén pà bī.

马怕骑, 人怕逼。

馬怕騎, 人怕逼。

Lit [Just as] a horse does not like to be ridden, [so] people don't like to be pressed.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics PRESSURE

M48

[M48]

Máquè fēiguò dōu yǒu gè yǐngzi.

麻雀飞过都有个影子。

麻雀飛過都有個影子。

Lit [Even] a sparrow makes a shadow when it flies by.

Fig Whoever does something bad or commits a crime will inevitably leave some trace behind.

Note [See also měngchóng fēiguò and yǒu chē jiù yǒu zhé below.]

Topics CAUTION CRIME CRIMINALS EVIDENCE TRUTH

M49

[M49]

Máquè suī xiǎo, wǔzàng jùquán.*

麻雀虽小, 五脏俱全。

麻雀雖小, 五臟俱全。

Lit Although [a] sparrow [is] small, [it has] all five of the vital organs.

Fig Although something may be small, it may have all the necessary parts [e.g., in miniature, a small organization or an essay].

Note [Cited in Mao Zedong's speech “Nóng Yè Hézuòhuà de Yìchǎng” in volume five of his Collected Works Máo Zédōng Xuǎnjí.]

Topics Collected Works CONDITIONS ESSAYS Máo Zédōng Xuǎnjí Nóng Yè Hézuò ORGANIZATION

M50

[M50]

(Mǎ shàng bù zhī mǎ xià kǔ); bǎo hàn bù zhī è hàn jī.

(马上不知马下苦); 饱汉不知饿汉饥。

(馬上不知馬下苦); 飽漢不知餓漢飢。

Lit ([One] on horseback doesn't know the suffering of [one who] walks [and]) a guy [who is] full doesn't know the bitterness a hungry guy suffers.

Fig It is difficult to fully appreciate the suffering of others unless one has endured it oneself.

Note [The second part is also used alone (q.v.); see also jiàn rén tiāodàn above and shì fēi jīngguò below.]

Topics EMPATHY EXPERIENCE HUNGER SUFFERING SYMPATHY WALKING

M51

[M51]

Mǎ shàng shuāisǐ yīngxióng hàn; hé zhōng yānsǐ huìshuǐ rén.

马上摔死英雄汉, 河中淹死会水人。

馬上摔死英雄漢, 河中淹死會水人。

Lit The good rider may fall to death from horseback [and] a good swimmer may drown in the river [so don't be over-confident].

Note [See also sānshí nián nòng mǎ qí and shàn yóu zhě nì below.]

Topics CARELESSNESS CAUTION EXPERTISE FAILURE OVER-CONFIDENCE SKILL

M52

[M52]

Mǎ xíng qiān lǐ, wú rén bù néng zì wǎng.

马行千里, 无人不能自往。

馬行千里, 無人不能自往。

Lit [Though] it may run a thousand leagues, a horse won't go forward without someone [leading it].

Fig Talented people can't accomplish anything unless someone with connections recommends them for a position or advancement.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 80.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT INTRODUCTIONS JW POSITION TALENT

M53

[M53]

Mǎyǐ lěi wō, tiān jiāng yǔ.

蚂蚁垒窝, 天将雨。

螞蟻壘窩, 天將雨。

Lit [When] ants build up their nests, it is going to rain.

Note [A common folk belief phrased as a qìxiàng yànyǔ, “weather proverb”; see also wūyā zhī fēng below.]

Topics ANTS folk belief PREDICTIONS qìxiàng yànyǔ RAIN WEATHER weather_proverb

M54

[M54]

Mǎ yǒu sān féi, sān shòu; rén yǒu sān qǐ, sān luò.

马有三肥三瘦, 人有三起三落。

馬有三肥三瘦, 人有三起三落。

Lit [Just as in their lives] horses [experience] three [times getting] thinner [and] three [times] getting fatter, [so] people [in life will also experience] three rises [and] three falls.

Fig Life is full of “ups and downs.” One should be able to experience adversity in one's life with a philosophical attitude.

Topics ADVERSITY DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE LIFE VICISSITUDES

M55

[M55]

Měi bù měi, xiāng zhōng shuǐ; qīn bù qīn, gùxiāng rén.*

美不美乡中水, 亲不亲故乡人。

美不美鄉中水, 親不親故鄉人。

Lit Sweet or not, [it is] water from home; related or not, [(s)he is] a fellow countryman.

Fig One is always attached to one's native place.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 5; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 23; see also zuò yǐn jiāxiāng below.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FEELINGS HOMESICKNESS JW PLACE

M56

[M56]

Méi chīguo zhūròu, hái méi jiànguo zhū pǎo.

没吃过猪肉, 还没见过猪跑。

沒吃過豬肉, 還沒見過豬跑。

Lit [Even if you] have never eaten pork [before], still [have you] not [at least] seen a pig run?

Fig Even if one has had no direct experience in a matter, common everyday knowledge and experience should give one some idea about how things are done.

Topics COMMON SENSE EXPERIENCE

M57

[M57]

Měi fú rén zhǐ; měi zhū rén gū.

美服人指, 美珠人估。

Lit Beautiful clothes invite comment, [and] beautiful pearls invite judgments [of their value].

Fig Anything unusual will be noticed and commented upon, (so do not do anything to draw attention to yourself).

Topics CAUTION CLOTHING JUDGMENTS MODESTY

M58

[M58]

Méi jiǔ, méi jiāng; zuò shénme dàochǎng？

没酒没浆, 做什么道场？

沒酒沒漿, 做什麼道場？

Lit Without wine or liquor, how can one perform Taoist rites?

Fig Without the necessary facilities or conditions one cannot accomplish anything.

Note [Rhyme; cf. WM, chap. 21; see also méi tǔ, dǎ bù below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CONDITIONS LIQUOR NECESSITIES PREREQUISITES rhyme SUCCESS WM

M59

[M59]

Méile Wáng tú, lián máo chī zhū.

没了王屠, 连毛吃猪。

沒了王屠, 連毛吃豬。

Lit Without Wang the butcher, [one would have to] eat pork with hair [on it].

Fig Without the help or participation of a professional, one cannot get the job done well.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 73; see also the popular reversal of this proverb by Mao Zedong below: sǐle Zhāng túfū, bù chī hún máozhū.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT HELP Mao Zedong PROFESSIONALS SUCCESS

M60

[M60]

Méi qiǎo bù chéng huà.

没巧不成话。

沒巧不成話。

Lit Without coincidence(s), there would be no story (to tell).

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 24; a colloquial version of a phrase commonly found in classical novels: wú qiǎo bù chéng shū.]

Topics COINCIDENCE PREREQUISITES STORIES

M61

[M61]

Méiren bù tiāodàn; bǎoren bù huán qián.

媒人不挑担, 保人不还钱。

媒人不挑擔, 保人不還錢。

Lit [A] matchmaker doesn't shoulder responsibility [for what she says, just as a] guarantor does not pay the debts [of those he vouches for].

Topics DEBT GUARANTEES MATCHMAKERS RESPONSIBILITY

M62

[M62]

Méiren kǒu, sì mì bō.

媒人口, 似蜜钵。

媒人口, 似蜜缽。

Lit [A] matchmaker's tongue is as [sweet as a] honey jar.

Fig Marriage matchmakers will say anything in order to arrange a marriage and earn their fee.

Topics MARRIAGE MATCHMAKERS WORDS

M63

[M63]

Méiren kǒu, wúliàng dǒu.

媒人口, 无量斗。

媒人口, 無量斗。

Lit [A] matchmaker's words [can]not be measured [in] bushels.

Fig A matchmaker's words can't be believed.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Shí Diǎn Tóu, chap. 12; note: a dǒu is a unit of dry measure for grain equal to one deciliter.]

Topics BUSINESS dǒu HONESTY LYING MARRIAGE MATCHMAKERS Shí Diǎn Tóu WORDS

M64

[M64]

Méi shuǐ bù shā huǒ.

没水不杀火。

沒水不殺火。

Lit Without water, [one] cannot put out fires.

Fig Nothing can be accomplished without money.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 64.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT FIRES MONEY NECESSITY PREREQUISITES Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

M65

[M65]

Méi tǔ, dǎ bù chéng qiáng.

没土, 打不成墙。

沒土, 打不成牆。

Lit Without earth [one] cannot build a wall.

Fig Nothing can be accomplished without appropriate materials or conditions.

Note [See also méi jiǔ, méi jiāng above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT APPROPRIATENESS CIRCUMSTANCES CONDITIONS NECESSITY PREREQUISITES

M66

[M66]

Méiyǒu bù sàn de yánxí.

没有不散的筵席。

沒有不散的筵席。

Lit There is no feast which does not end.

Fig “All good things must come to an end.”

Note [Also said tiānxià wú bù sàn de yánxí (q.v.); see also qiān lǐ dā cháng péng below.]

Topics ENDINGS TIME

M67

[M67]

Méiyǒu bù tòufēng de qiáng.

没有不透风的墙。

沒有不透風的牆。

Lit There is no wall which does not have a crack.

Fig There are people listening everywhere, (so be careful what you say)! “The walls have ears.”

Note [See also gé qiáng yǒu ěr and lùshang shuōhuà above.]

Topics CAUTION EAVESDROPPING TALK

M68

[M68]

Méiyǒu dǎ hǔ jiàng, guòbude Jǐngyánggǎng.

没有打虎将, 过不得景阳岗。

沒有打虎將, 過不得景陽崗。

Lit Without a leader with the strength and skill to kill a tiger, [one] cannot cross over Jingyang Ridge [where Wu Song killed a tiger in WM].

Fig Only people of ability can solve problems.

Topics ABILITY PROBLEMS SKILL SOLUTIONS STRENGTH WM Wǔ_Sōng

M69

[M69]

Méiyǒu dǎ hǔ yì, bù gǎn shàng shān gǎng; méiyǒu qín lóng shù, bù gǎn xià shēnyuān.

没有打虎艺, 不敢上山岗; 没有擒龙术, 不敢下深渊。

沒有打虎藝, 不敢上山崗; 沒有擒龍術, 不敢下深淵。

Lit Without the [strength and] skill to kill tigers, [one] dare not go up the hill; without the [strength and] skill to catch a dragon, one dare not go down into the deep abyss.

Fig If someone is not competent, (s)he should not take on the job.

Note [Note: tigers are traditionally believed to live in the hills, and dragons in water.]

Topics COMPETENCE dragons INCOMPETENCE LIMITATIONS SELF-KNOWLEDGE SELF-RESTRAINT SKILL STRENGTH TIGERS

M70

[M70]

Méiyǒu gāoshān, bù xiǎn píngdì.*

没有高山, 不显平地。

沒有高山, 不顯平地。

Lit Without mountains [one would] not see the plains.

Fig Differences are only revealed by comparison.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 96.]

Topics COMPARISONS CONTRASTS DIFFERENCES Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

M71

[M71]

Méiyǒu gōngláo, háiyǒu kǔ láo; (méiyǒu kǔ láo, yě yǒu píláo).

没有功劳还有苦劳, (没有苦劳也有疲劳)。

沒有功勞還有苦勞, (沒有苦勞也有疲勞)。

Lit [Although one] did not accomplish anything great, at least [one tried and] made [some] effort; ([and even if one] did not make [great] efforts, at least [one should get credit for trying at all and] tiring [oneself out trying]).

Note [Rhyme; cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 26; the second part is a contemporary addition, usually used to defend oneself when one is criticized.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CREDIT CRITICISM EFFORT Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

M72

[M72]

Méiyǒu guòbuqù de hé.

没有过不去的河。

沒有過不去的河。

Lit There is no river which cannot be crossed.

Fig There's always a way to solve a problem.

Note [See also méiyǒu shàng bù qù de yá below.]

Topics PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

M73

[M73]

Méi(yǒu) jiā zéi, yǐn bù chū wài guǐ lái.

没(有)家贼, 引不出外鬼来。

沒(有)家賊, 引不出外鬼來。

Lit Unless there's a thief inside the family, devils from outside won't be lured in.

Fig Outsiders cannot harm a family unless some family member(s) cooperate.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 72; also said méi jiā qīn, yǐn bù chū wài guǐ lái; see also jiā zéi nán fáng above and yuǎn zéi bì yǒu and zéi wú lì dǐ below.]

Topics BETRAYAL DRC FAMILIES HARM THIEVES

M74

[M74]

Méiyǒu shàng bù qù de yá.

没有上不去的崖。

沒有上不去的崖。

Lit There's no precipice that cannot be scaled.

Fig There's always a way to solve a problem.

Note [See also méiyǒu guòbuqù de hé above.]

Topics PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

M75

[M75]

Méiyǒu wútóng shù, yǐnbude fènghuáng lái.

没有梧桐树, 引不得凤凰来。

沒有梧桐樹, 引不得鳳凰來。

Lit [If] there is no Chinese parasol tree, the phoenix cannot be enticed to come.

Fig No one of ability will come without favorable conditions.

Note [This is a reversal of jiā yǒu wútóng, zhāo fènghuáng (q.v.) above.]

Topics ABILITY CONDITIONS parasol tree phoenix PREREQUISITES

M76

[M76]

Méiyǒu xiū chéng Fó, shòu bùliǎo yī lú xiāng.

没有修成佛, 受不了一炉香。

沒有修成佛, 受不了一爐香。

Lit [If one] has not become a Buddha by self-cultivation, [one is] not entitled to receive burning incense.

Fig A person of no ability is not entitled to receive respect or take on heavy responsibility.

Topics ABILITY LIMITATIONS RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY

M77

[M77]

Měiyù chūzì chǒu shí.

美玉出自丑石。

美玉出自醜石。

Lit Fine jade is produced out of ugly stone.

Fig People of talent are produced through training and education.

Topics EDUCATION TALENT TRAINING

M78

[M78]

Méi zuò kuīxīnshì, bù pà guǐ jiàomén.*

没做亏心事, 不怕鬼叫门。

沒做虧心事, 不怕鬼叫門。

Lit [If one] has not done anything to be ashamed of, [one] need not fear devils calling at the door.

Fig “A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder.”

Note [See also báitiān bù zuò, and bù zuò kuīxīnshì above and rén néng kèjǐ and rìjiān bù zuò below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT CONSCIENCE INNOCENCE RECTITUDE SHAME

M79

[M79]

Měngchóng fēiguò, dōu yǒu yǐng.

蠓虫飞过, 都有影。

蠓蟲飛過, 都有影。

Lit Even [when] midges fly past, [they] all make a shadow.

Fig Whatever has been done, some evidence of it can be found.

Note [See also máquè fēiguò above and yǒu chē jiù yǒu zhé below.]

Topics CAUTION EVIDENCE TRUTH

M80

[M80]

Měnghǔ bù chī huítóu shí.

猛虎不吃回头食。

猛虎不吃回頭食。

Lit [A] fierce tiger never returns to food [it has previously given up].

Fig A person of aspirations will never turn back to take up a position (s)he has previously quit or declined.

Note [See also hǎo mǎ bù chī above.]

Topics AMBITION ASPIRATIONS POSITION PRIDE

M81

[M81]

Měnghǔ bù chī wō páng shí.

猛虎不吃窝旁食。

猛虎不吃窩旁食。

Lit [Even a] fierce tiger [will] not eat the game near [its] lair.

Fig Even a scoundrel will not do evil things in his own neighborhood. Don't foul your own nest.

Note [See also lùsī bù dǎ above and tùzi bù chī below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR EVIL HARM NEIGHBORS SELF-INTEREST SELF-RESTRAINT

M82

[M82]

Měng jiāngjūn wú dāo shābude rén.

猛将军无刀杀不得人。

猛將軍無刀殺不得人。

Lit [Even a] valiant general, without a sword, cannot kill anyone.

Fig Even a competent person can't handle things successfully without certain conditions or tools. “One can't make bricks without straw.”

Note [See also qiǎofù nánwei below.]

Topics COMPETENCE CONDITIONS SUCCESS TOOLS

M83

[M83]

Mèng shì xīntóu xiǎng.

梦是心头想。

夢是心頭想。

Lit Dreams evolve out of one's thoughts.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 14; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 78; see also rì yǒusuǒsī below.]

Topics DREAMS Fēngshén Yǎnyì JPM THOUGHTS

M84

[M84]

Měngshòu bùrú qún hú.

猛兽不如群狐。

猛獸不如群狐。

Lit [One] fierce beast is no match for a pack of foxes.

Fig One individual, however strong, cannot overcome a group of people acting in concert.

Topics COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS STRENGTH UNITY

M85

[M85]

Měng shòu yì fú; rénxīn nán xiáng.

猛兽易服, 人心难降。

猛獸易服, 人心難降。

Lit Fierce beasts [are] easy to tame, [in comparison to] people's minds, [which can] hardly be controlled.

Topics CONTROL MINDS

M86

[M86]

Ménmén tōng, yàngyàng sōng.

门门通, 样样松。

門門通, 樣樣鬆。

Lit [One who claims to have the] knack of doing everything [in fact is] slack [in doing] everything.

Fig To “know everything” is to know nothing.

Note [Rhyme; note: méndao, “knack of doing things.”]

Topics KNOWLEDGE méndao rhyme

M87

[M87]

Mén nèi yǒu jūnzǐ; mén wài jūnzǐ zhì.

门内有君子, 门外君子至。

門內有君子, 門外君子至。

Lit [If] there's a gentleman inside [one's] house, outside [there will] come other gentlemen.

Fig One good man will attract others of his kind.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 1; see also jiā yǒu wútóng above.]

Topics ATTRACTION COMPANIONS GENTLEMEN Jǐngshì Tōngyán SIMILARITIES

M88

[M88]

Mén qián jié qǐ gāo tóu mǎ, bù shì qīn lái yě shì qīn.

门前结起高头马, 不是亲来也是亲。

門前結起高頭馬, 不是親來也是親。

Lit [If there are] tall horses tied in front of one's house, even non-relatives will come [to claim themselves] as relatives [of the master].

Fig When one comes to power, people will flock to seek benefits from him.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 3.]

Topics BENEFITS POWER RELATIVES Wǔ_Sōng

M89

[M89]

Mén qián shuānzhe bǒjiǎo lǘ, jiùshì zhìqīn yě bù qīn.

门前拴着跛脚驴, 就是至亲也不亲。

門前拴著跛腳驢, 就是至親也不親。

Lit [When one has a] lame donkey tied in front of [one's] door, even close relatives become like strangers.

Fig When you are poor, even your close relatives won't visit you. “Nobody knows you when you're down and out.”

Note [See also jǐnshàng-tiānhuā above and pín jū nàoshì and qián jìn, qíngyì jué and yǒuqián shǐde guǐ and yǒuqián yǒu jiǔ below.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER POVERTY RELATIVES

M90

[M90]

Ménshén lǎole bù zhuō guǐ.

门神老了不捉鬼。

門神老了不捉鬼。

Lit Old door gods can't catch ghosts.

Fig When one grows old, one is no longer useful.

Note [See also rén lǎo wúnéng below.]

Topics AGE OLD AGE POWER USE

M91

[M91]

Mēntóu gǒu, dǒu xià kǒu.

闷头狗, 陡下口。

悶頭狗, 陡下口。

Lit A silent dog bites suddenly.

Fig Beware of quiet people who do not indicate what they are thinking.

Note [Rhyme; see also jiāng fēi zhě yì fú above.]

Topics CAUTION rhyme SILENCE

M92

[M92]

Miànruǎn de shòuqióng.

面软的受穷。

面軟的受窮。

Lit [One who has a] “soft face” [will] suffer [from] poverty.

Fig One cannot be overly soft-hearted. One has to be “thick-skinned” in order to survive.

Topics FACE POVERTY SURVIVAL

M93

[M93]

Miàn xiàng bùrú xīn xiàng.

面相不如心相。

Lit [Better to judge people by their] hearts rather than [by their] appearance.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 9; note: kànxiàng, “to practice physiognomy; tell fortunes by looking at the face.”]

Topics APPEARANCES Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō JUDGMENTS kànxiàng

M94

[M94]

Miào dà, shén jiù líng.

庙大, 神就灵。

廟大, 神就靈。

Lit The bigger the temple, the more powerful [its] god.

Fig People in higher positions have more power.

Topics POSITION POWER

M95

[M95]

Miè chán sān zhuàn jǐn; huà shuō sān biàn wěn.

篾缠三转紧, 话说三遍稳。

篾纏三轉緊, 話說三遍穩。

Lit Binding an article three [times] around with bamboo slips [makes it] tight; repeating what [one means] three times [makes it] clear[ly understood].

Topics REPETITION TALK UNDERSTANDING

M96

[M96]

Mìfāng zhì dà bìng.*

秘方治大病。

Lit A secret prescription [may] cure a serious illness.

Fig Sometimes “home remedies” can be more effective than specialized medicines or treatments. Do not overlook simple solutions.

Note [See also cǎoyào yī wèi above and piānfāng zhì dà bìng below.]

Topics MEDICINE PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

M97

[M97]

Mǐ liáng zài shì shàng; hángqíng zài lùshang.

米粮在市上, 行情在路上。

米糧在市上, 行情在路上。

Lit Grain is [sold] on the market, [but its] market price [is available] on the road [from those who have traveled to the market].

Fig One has to make investigations among the people in order to find out the true conditions.

Note [See also hé lǐ méi yú above.]

Topics BUSINESS CONDITIONS MARKETS

M98

[M98]

Mín bù wèi sǐ, nàihé yǐ sǐ jù zhī.

民不畏死, 奈何以死惧之。

民不畏死, 奈何以死懼之。

Lit [As] the common people do not fear death, why threaten them with it?

Fig Once the common people have risen in rebellion there's no way to suppress them.

Note [Cf. Lǎozǐ (Dào Dé Jīng), chap. 74; often quoted by Mao Zedong.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE Dào Dé Jīng DEATH GOVERNMENT Lǎozǐ Mao Zedong REBELLION THREATS

M99

[M99]

Mín bù yǔ guān dòu.

民不与官斗。

民不與官鬥。

Lit Common people [should] not struggle with [government] officials.

Fig Ordinary people have no chance of success in conflicts with official bureaucracy. “You can't fight City Hall.”

Topics BUREAUCRACY COMMON PEOPLE OFFICIALS POWER

M100

[M100]

Míng bù zhèng; yán bù shùn.

名不正, 言不顺。

名不正, 言不順。

Lit [If the] name is not right, the word(s) [can]not be appropriate.

Note [From the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Zǐ Lù; note also the Confucian concept of the “rectification of names” (zhèng míng).]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS Confucian Analects Lúnyǔ NAMES WORDS zhèng míng Zǐ_Lù

M101

[M101]

Mìngdìng yīnggāi bā hé mǐ; zǒubiàn tiānxià bù mǎn shēng.

命定应该八盒米, 走遍天下不满升。

命定應該八盒米, 走遍天下不滿升。

Lit [If one is] fated to have [only] eight ounces of rice, [even if one] travels all over the world [trying], [one] won't get one pound.

Note [Note: gě and shēng are units of dry measure for grain: ten gě equal one shēng, which is equal to one liter; see also the following entry.]

Topics FATE gě grain measure shēng

M102

[M102]

Mìng hǎo, xīn yě hǎo; fùguì zhídào lǎo.

命好心也好, 富贵直到老。

命好心也好, 富貴直到老。

Lit [If one has a] good fate and a kind heart, [one will] enjoy riches and honor throughout one's life.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FATE HONOR KINDNESS rhyme RICHES WEALTH

M103

[M103]

Míngjìng suǒyǐ zhào xíng; gǔ shì suǒyǐ zhī jīn.

明镜所以照形, 古事所以知今。

明鏡所以照形, 古事所以知今。

Lit [Just as a] bright mirror [may be] used to reflect images, [so] ancient events may be used to understand the present.

Topics HISTORY PAST PRESENT UNDERSTANDING

M104

[M104]

Mìng lǐ yǒu shí zhōng xū yǒu; mìng lǐ wú shí mò qiǎngqiú.

命里有时终须有, 命里无时莫强求。

命裡有時終須有, 命裡無時莫強求。

Lit [If it is] decreed by fate, [one] will certainly have [something]; [if one is] fated not to have [it], one need not seek hard [for it].

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 14; see also yī yǐn, yī zhuó below and the preceding entry.]

Topics FATE JPM rhyme

M105

[M105]

Míng qiāng yì duǒ; ànjiàn nán fáng.*

明枪易躲, 暗箭难防。

明槍易躲, 暗箭難防。

Lit [An] open spear [thrust is] easy to dodge [but an] arrow [in the] dark is hard to guard against.

Fig Open attacks are easier dealt with than surprise attacks or hidden innuendo.

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 108; see also bùpà hóngliǎn and bùpà míngchù above and zhǐ rènde zhēngyǎn below.]

Topics ATTACKS Dàng Kòu Zhì DEFENSE INSINUATION SLANDER SURPRISE

M106

[M106]

Míngrén bù shuō àn huà.

明人不说暗话。

明人不說暗話。

Lit An honest person does not resort to insinuation.

Note [See also míngrén bù zuò below.]

Topics CONDUCT GENTLEMEN HONESTY INSINUATION RUMORS SLANDER

M107

[M107]

Míngrén bùyòng xìshuō.*

明人不用细说。

明人不用細說。

Lit A discerning person needs no detailed explanation.

Note [Also said míngrén bù xū xìshuō and míngrén bù dài xìshuō; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 19; see also kuàimǎ bùyòng above and xiǎng gǔ bùyòng and yī yán qǐ zhìzhě below.]

Topics CLEVERNESS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EXPLANATIONS

M108

[M108]

Míngrén bù zuò ànshì.*

明人不做暗事。

Lit [An] honest person does not do underhanded things.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 84; Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 28; see also jūnzǐ bù qī above and míngrén bù shuō below.]

Topics CHEATING CONDUCT GENTLEMEN Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HONESTY

M109

[M109]

Míngrén diǎntóu, jí zhī; chī rén quán dǎ, bù xiǎo.

明人点头即知, 痴人拳打不晓。

明人點頭即知, 痴人拳打不曉。

Lit [A] clever person understands at a nod, [while a] stupid person won't understand [even when] beaten.

Fig “A nod is as good as a wink (to a blind horse).”

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics CLEVERNESS STUPIDITY UNDERSTANDING

M110

[M110]

Míngrén yī diǎn jiù tòu; yúrén bāng dǎ bù huí.

明人一点就透; 愚人梆打不回。

明人一點就透; 愚人梆打不回。

Lit [A] clever person [given] a nod will understand, [while a] stupid person [even when] beaten [with a] stick won't.

Fig “A nod is as good as a wink (to a blind horse).”

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics CLEVERNESS STUPIDITY UNDERSTANDING

M111

[M111]

Míngrén zì duàn; yúrén guān duàn.

明人自断, 愚人官断。

明人自斷, 愚人官斷。

Lit Intelligent people [realize their own mistakes and] correct themselves; foolish people [won't realize their own mistakes and will be] sentenced by judges.

Topics FOOLS INTELLIGENCE MISTAKES

M112

[M112]

Mìng ruò qióng, jué dé huángjīn, huāzuò tóng; mìng ruò fù, shí de bái zhǐ, biànchéng bù.

命若穷, 掘得黄金, 化作铜; 命若富, 拾得白纸, 变成布。

命若窮, 掘得黃金, 化作銅; 命若富, 拾得白紙, 變成布。

Lit [If one is] destined to be poor, [even] the gold [one] digs up becomes copper; [if one is] destined to be rich, the white paper [one] picks up becomes cloth.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì: Zhuǎn Yùn Hàn ...]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DESTINY FATE POVERTY rhyme WEALTH Zhuǎn_Yùn_Hàn

M113

[M113]

Míngshī chū gāotú.

名师出高徒。

名師出高徒。

Lit A famous teacher produces talented students.

Note [Said by others as a compliment to a teacher; see also yánshī chū gāotú below.]

Topics STUDENTS TALENT TEACHERS

M114

[M114]

Míng yǒu wángfǎ; àn yǒu shénlíng.

明有王法, 暗有神灵。

明有王法, 暗有神靈。

Lit [In] public there are earthly laws; [in] private there are gods.

Fig One's good and bad behavior will ultimately be judged by heaven, if not by earthly laws.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 15.]

Topics BEHAVIOR GODS HEAVEN JUDGMENT LAW PRIVATE PUBLIC WM

M115

[M115]

Míng zhī bù shì bàn; shì jí qiě xiāngsuí.

明知不是伴, 事急且相随。

明知不是伴, 事急且相隨。

Lit [Although one] clearly understands [that someone] is not good company, in times of emergency [one] has to follow [such people].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 33.]

Topics COMPANIONS EMERGENCIES EVIL NECESSITY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

M116

[M116]

Mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng.

磨刀不误砍柴工。

磨刀不誤砍柴工。

Lit Sharpening [one's] knife [before one] cuts wood is not a waste of time.

Fig Time spent on the preparation for a task will not delay its progress.

Topics INVESTMENT PREPARATION TIME WORKING

M117

[M117]

Módāo, hèn bùlì; dāo lì, shāng rén zhǐ.

磨刀恨不利, 刀利伤人指。

磨刀恨不利, 刀利傷人指。

Lit [When you] grind [your] knife, [you] complain [the knife is] not sharp enough; [when the] knife [becomes] sharp, [it will] cut your fingers.

Fig There are two sides to everything.

Topics BALANCE OBJECTIVITY

M118

[M118]

Mò dào rén xíng zǎo; gèng yǒu zǎo xíng rén.

莫道人行早, 更有早行人。

Lit Don't say [you are] going early; there are people [who are] starting even earlier.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 30.]

Topics EARLINESS PLANNING Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì STRATEGY

M119

[M119]

Mò fàn rén huì, mò chù rén tòng.

莫犯人讳, 莫触人痛。

莫犯人諱, 莫觸人痛。

Lit Don't violate [other] people's taboos [and] don't touch on [other] people's hurts.

Fig Don't bring up “taboo subjects” or speak of things which might hurt other's feelings. “Don't speak of halters in the house of a hanged man.”

Note [See also ǎizi miànqián and dāngzhe ǎirén above.]

Topics CONSIDERATION COURTESY TABOOS

M120

[M120]

Mò jiào hóuzi qù kān guǒ; mò jiào shuǐtǎ qù shǒu yú.

莫叫猴子去看果, 莫叫水獭去守鱼。

莫叫猴子去看果, 莫叫水獺去守魚。

Lit Don't ask a monkey to watch a fruit [garden, and] don't let an otter protect a fish [pond].

Fig Don't invite trouble by asking untrustworthy people for help. “Don't set a fox to guard a chicken coop.”

Note [See also húli kān jī above.]

Topics HELP TRUST

M121

[M121]

Mò kàn qiángdào chī ròu; yào kàn qiángdào shòuzuì.

莫看强盗吃肉, 要看强盗受罪。

莫看強盜吃肉, 要看強盜受罪。

Lit Don't [just] consider [that] robbers [get to] eat meat [i.e., live “high on the hog”]; [you] must [also] consider [that] they get punished.

Fig When looking at an issue, one has to consider the “down” side as well as the good side.

Topics JUDGMENT OBJECTIVITY PUNISHMENT ROBBERS

M122

[M122]

Mò tì gǔrén dān yōu.

莫替古人耽忧。

莫替古人耽憂。

Lit Don't worry on behalf of the ancients.

Fig Don't worry about things which don't concern you.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 78.]

Topics INTERFERENCE JW SELF-INTEREST SELF-RESTRAINT WORRIES

M123

[M123]

Móushì zài rén; chéngshì zài tiān.*

谋事在人, 成事在天。

謀事在人, 成事在天。

Lit Planning affairs lies with humans; accomplishing things lies with Heaven.

Fig “Man proposes; God disposes.”

Note [Rhyme; compare: “L'homme propose, Dieu dispose.” “La gente pone y Dios dispone.” “Der Mensch denkt's, Gott lenkt's.” cf. R3K, chap. 103; DRC, chap. 6; vs. shì zài rén wéi; see also qiān suàn, wàn suàn and shì dà, shì xiǎo and tiān suàn bù yóu below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DRC FATE HEAVEN PLANNING R3K

M124

[M124]

Mò wèn shōuhuò; dàn wèn gēngyún.

莫问收获, 但问耕耘。

莫問收穫, 但問耕耘。

Lit Do not ask [about the] harvest; rather ask [about the] plowing.

Fig One should be more concerned about taking action than (worrying) about the results of taking action.

Topics ACTION RESULTS

M125

[M125]

Mò xiǎng qīngshān niǎo; yǎng hǎo lóng zhōng jī.

莫想青山鸟, 养好笼中鸡。

莫想青山鳥, 養好籠中雞。

Lit Don't think about [trying to catch] birds in the green hills; [better] to raise chickens in the cage.

Fig Don't indulge in fantasy; be practical instead.

Topics FANTASY PRACTICALITY

M126

[M126]

Mò xìn zhí zhōng zhí; xū fáng rén bùrén.

莫信直中直, 须防人不仁。

莫信直中直, 須防人不仁。

Lit Don't believe [people are] absolutely frank and straightforward; [one] must [always] guard against [other] people's ill-intentions.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 21.]

Topics CAUTION EVIL Fēngshén Yǎnyì INTENTIONS

M127

[M127]

Mù bù lí gēn; shuǐ bù tuō yuán.

木不离根; 水不脱源。

木不離根; 水不脫源。

Lit Trees can't leave their roots; waters can't be separated from their sources.

Fig Nothing should be done without (adhering to) basic principles.

Note [See also mù wú běn bì kū below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR PRINCIPLES ROOTS SOURCES

M128

[M128]

Mù bù zuān, bù tòu; rén bù jī, bù fā.

木不钻不透, 人不激不发。

木不鑽不透, 人不激不發。

Lit [Just as] wood cannot be penetrated [all the way] through without drilling, [so] people won't act without being aroused.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 5.]

Topics ACTION AROUSAL Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō LEADERSHIP

M129

[M129]

Mǔdan suī hǎo, quán píng lǜ yè fúchí.*

牡丹虽好, 全凭绿叶扶持。

牡丹雖好, 全憑綠葉扶持。

Lit Although the peony is beautiful, [it] completely depends on the support [of its] green leaves.

Fig Everyone needs help.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 76; DRC, chap. 110; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 32; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 19; also said héhuā suī hǎo, yě yào ... (q.v.); see also dà shítou bù lí above and yī gè líba below.]

Topics DRC Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HELP JPM SUPPORT Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

M130

[M130]

Mǔ gǒu bù chū pìgu, gōng gǒu nán shàng.

母狗不出屁股, 公狗难上。

母狗不出屁股, 公狗難上。

Lit [If] female dogs [did] not present [their] posteriors, [it would be] difficult for male dogs to mount [them].

Fig Men can't misbehave with women unless the women are willing.

Topics ADULTERY LUST MEN MISBEHAVIOR SEX WOMEN

M131

[M131]

Mùjiang dài jiā; zì zuò zì shòu.

木匠戴夹, 自作自受。

木匠戴夾, 自作自受。

Lit [When a] carpenter [ends up] wearing a cangue [i.e., a wooden yoke], [it's a case of] getting what [he] himself made.

Fig One will suffer the consequences of one's own actions. “As a man sows, so shall he reap.” “As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.” “Hoist with one' s own petard.”

Note [This is also used as a xiehouyu, with the second part delayed or suppressed; zìzuò-zìshòu is also a set phrase with the same meaning.]

Topics ACTIONS CAUSE CONSEQUENCES xiehouyu zìzuò-zìshòu

M132

[M132]

Mùjiang pà qījiang; qījiang pà guāngliàng.*

木匠怕漆匠, 漆匠怕光亮。

Lit [Just as the] carpenter fears the lacquerer [who can find defects in the work while lacquering it, so the] lacquerer fears bright light, [under which the defects of his own work will be exposed].

Fig There is always someone bigger or better (to be afraid of).

Note [Rhyme; see also yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics DEFECTS LIMITATIONS OVERCOMING rhyme

M133

[M133]

Mù'ǒu bù huì zìjǐ tiào; mùhòu dìng yǒu qiānxiàn rén.

木偶不会自己跳, 幕后定有牵线人。

木偶不會自己跳, 幕後定有牽線人。

Lit Puppets can't dance by themselves; there must be someone behind the curtain pulling the strings.

Fig There is always someone behind the scenes “pulling the strings.”

Topics MANIPULATION POWER

M134

[M134]

Mù wú běn bì kū; shuǐ wú yuán bì jié.

木无本必枯; 水无源必竭。

木無本必枯; 水無源必竭。

Lit Trees without roots will wither [and] waters without sources will run dry.

Fig Things go bad when they lose (contact with) their roots or basic principles.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 38; see also mù bù lí gēn above.]

Topics CHANGE Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) PRINCIPLES ROOTS SOURCES TROUBLE

M135

[M135]

Mù xiǔ chóng shēng; qiáng xià yǐ rù.

木朽虫生, 墙罅蚁入。

木朽蟲生, 牆罅蟻入。

Lit Rotten wood produces worms [and] cracked walls let in ants.

Fig Disasters come from defects within.

Topics CAUSE CAUTION DIFFICULTIES DISASTER TROUBLE WEAKNESS

M136

[M136]

Mù yǐ chéng zhōu.

木已成舟。

Lit The wood is already made into a boat.

Fig What is done cannot be undone. “The die is cast.”

Note [See also shēng mǐ chéngle below.]

M137

[M137]

Mù yǒu běn; shuǐ yǒu yuán.

木有本, 水有源。

Lit Water has its sources; trees have their roots.

Fig All things have their causes or foundations.

Note [See also shì yǒu yīn and wú fēng bù qǐ and yǒu fēng fāng qǐ below.]

Topics CAUSE FOUNDATIONS ROOTS

【L1】N N1

[N1]

Nǎ chù huángtǔ bù mái rén？

哪处黄土不埋人？

哪處黃土不埋人？

Lit [In] what place [will] earth not bury a person?

Fig One may find a place to be buried wherever one dies.

Note [Said to encourage people to leave home to seek a living elsewhere; see also shù nuó, sǐ below.]

Topics DEATH EMIGRATION MOVING PLACE WORK

N2

[N2]

Ná de zhù de shì shǒu; yǎn bu zhù de shì kǒu.

拿得住的是手, 掩不住的是口。

Lit [One] can control [other people's] hands, [but one] can't shut [other people's] mouths.

Fig One cannot stop others from talking. People will talk. Secrets will come out sooner or later.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CONTROL OTHERS rhyme SECRETS TALK TIME TRUTH

N3

[N3]

Ná fǔ de dé cháihe; zhāng wǎng de dé yú-xiā.

拿斧的得柴禾, 张网的得鱼虾。

拿斧的得柴禾, 張網的得魚蝦。

Lit [One] who wields an axe gets firewood, [and one] who casts a net gets fish [and] shrimp.

Fig You will get benefits according to the kind of effort you invest. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”

Note [See also zhòng guā, dé guā below.]

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT WORKING

N4

[N4]

Nǎgè hàozi bù tōu yóu？

哪个耗子不偷油？

哪個耗子不偷油？

Lit What rat doesn't steal oil?

Fig It's difficult to alter one's basic character. “A leopard can't change his spots.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 91; see also gǒu chī shǐ and gǒu zǒu qiān lǐ and jiāngshān yì gǎi above and shé zuān de kūdòng and yī rén, yī xiàng below and the following entry.]

Topics CHANGE CHARACTER DRC EVIL HUMAN_NATURE

N5

[N5]

Nǎge māor bù chī xīng？*

哪个猫儿不吃腥？

哪個貓兒不吃腥？

Lit What cat doesn't eat fish?

Fig It's difficult to alter one's basic character. “A leopard can't change his spots.”

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 21; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN NATURE WM

N6

[N6]

Nǎ gēn zhǐtou yě shì zìjǐ de ròu.

哪根指头也是自己的肉。

哪根指頭也是自己的肉。

Lit Every finger is of one's own flesh.

Fig Children born of the same parents should all be treated equally.

Note [See also shí gè zhǐtou and shǒubèi yě shì ròu below.]

Topics CHILDREN EQUALITY FAMILIES PARENTS

N7

[N7]

Nǎge yú bù shí shuǐ？

哪个鱼不识水？

哪個魚不識水？

Lit What fish doesn't know how to swim?

Fig An expert knows his trade.

Note [Note: shí shuǐ xìng, “to know how to swim.”]

Topics EXPERTISE SKILL TRADES

N8

[N8]

Nán dà dāng hūn; nǚ dà dāng jià.*

男大当婚, 女大当嫁。

男大當婚, 女大當嫁。

Lit [When a] male grows to adulthood [he] ought to take a wife, [and when a] female grows up [she] ought to get married.

Fig Men and women all should marry; it's only natural.

Note [Cf. Shuǐhǔ Hòu Zhuàn, chap. 39; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; R3K, chap. 54.]

Topics MARRIAGE MEN R3K Shuǐhǔ Hòu Zhuàn WIVES WOMEN Wǔ_Sōng

N9

[N9]

Nándé zhě, xiōngdì; yì dé zhě, tiándì.

难得者兄弟, 易得者田地。

難得者兄弟, 易得者田地。

Lit [It's even] harder [to have friendship as close as] brothers than it is to get [good] farmland.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 10.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP Gǔ-Jīn_Xiǎoshuō

N10

[N10]

Nán'ér fēi wúlèi; bù yīn biélí liú.

男儿非无泪, 不因别离流。

男兒非無淚, 不因別離流。

Lit [It's not that true] men have no tears, [but only that they do] not shed [them] over parting.

Note [Said when parting; see also nán'ér yǒu lèi below.]

Topics CRYING DEPARTURES MEN PARTING TEARS

N11

[N11]

Nán'ér xī xià yǒu huángjīn.

男儿膝下有黄金。

男兒膝下有黃金。

Lit There's [something as precious as] gold beneath a true man's knees.

Fig A true man should not easily go down on both knees to surrender or beg for mercy.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 21.]

Topics BEGGING Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì MEN MERCY PRIDE SURRENDER

N12

[N12]

Nán'ér yǒu lèi, bù qīng tán; (zhǐ yīn wèi dào shāngxīn shí).

男儿有泪不轻弹, (只因未到伤心时)。

男兒有淚不輕彈, (只因未到傷心時)。

Lit A man has tears [but does] not lightly shed [them]; ([it's] only because [he has] not yet encountered an instance of deep sorrow).

Fig Men only weep when deeply hurt.

Note [Originally zhàngfu yǒu lèi ... ; the second part may be omitted.]

Topics CRYING MEN SORROW SUFFERING TEARS

N13

[N13]

Náng lǐ chéng zhuī, zì chū jiān.

囊里盛锥, 自出尖。

囊裡盛錐, 自出尖。

Lit [An] awl in [a] bag [will] naturally stick out.

Fig Talent will naturally distinguish itself.

Topics TALENT

N14

[N14]

Nán jiāng yī rén shǒu, yǎn dé tiānxià mù.

难将一人手, 掩得天下目。

難將一人手, 掩得天下目。

Lit It's impossible for one person's hand to cover everyone's eyes.

Fig It's impossible to deceive everyone.

Note [See the colloquial suyu expression: yī shǒu zhē tiān, “to (try to) hoodwink everyone”; see also yī shǒu bù néng and zhī shǒu nán zhē below.]

Topics chengyu DECEPTION LIMITATIONS suyu

N15

[N15]

Nán pà rù cuò háng; nǚ pà jià cuò láng.

男怕入错行, 女怕嫁错郎。

男怕入錯行, 女怕嫁錯郎。

Lit Men [should] worry about entering the wrong trade, [and] women [should] worry about marrying the wrong husband.

Fig A man should be careful in choosing his trade, and a woman should be careful about choosing her husband.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics HUSBANDS PROFESSIONS rhyme TRADES WOMEN

N16

[N16]

Nán rén bù mèng tuó; běi rén bù mèng xiàng.

南人不梦驼, 北人不梦象。

南人不夢駝, 北人不夢象。

Lit Southerners don't dream of camels [and] northerners don't dream of elephants.

Fig One's dreams always have some relationship to reality or locality.

Topics DREAMS PLACE PSYCHOLOGY

N17

[N17]

Nánrén wú gāng bùrú cū kāng.

男人无刚不如粗糠。

男人無剛不如粗糠。

Lit A man without “steel” [i.e., staunchness] is as worthless as crude chaff.

Note [Rhyme; see gāngqiáng, “staunch, firm.”]

Topics COURAGE gōngqiáng rhyme STRENGTH

N18

[N18]

Nánshì bì zuò yú yì; dàshì bì zuò yú xì.

难事必作于易, 大事必作于细。

難事必作於易, 大事必作於細。

Lit Difficult tasks must be done [starting] from the easy [part, and] big tasks must be done [starting] from the small [parts].

Fig In undertaking large or difficult tasks, it is often better to start with the easy parts first.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BEGINNING DIFFICULTY rhyme

N19

[N19]

Nán yào qiào, yīshēn zào; (nǚ yào qiào, yīshēn xiào).

男要俏一身皂, (女要俏一身孝)。

Lit [If a] man [wants to] look handsome, [he should dress] completely [in] black; (if a woman wants to look pretty, she should dress completely in white).

Note [Rhyme; often used in classical novels.]

Topics BEAUTY CLOTHING COLORS MEN rhyme WOMEN

N20

[N20]

Nán yào qín, nǚ yào qín; sān shí cháfàn bù qiúrén.

男要勤, 女要勤, 三食茶饭不求人。

男要勤, 女要勤, 三食茶飯不求人。

Lit If the man is hard-working [and] the woman is [too], [they will] never [need to] ask others for [their] three [daily] meals.

Fig If both husband and wife are hard-working, they need never ask for help to get by.

Topics COUPLES HELP INDEPENDENCE MEN THRIFT WOMEN WORKING

N21

[N21]

Nán zhě bù huì; huì zhě bù nán.

难者不会, 会者不难。

難者不會, 會者不難。

Lit [For] those who cannot, it's difficult, [and for] those who can, it's easy.

Note [Colloquially nán de bù huì; huì de bù nán.]

Topics ABILITY DIFFICULTY LIMITATIONS

N22

[N22]

Nánzǐ chī, yīshí mí; nǚzǐ chī, méi yào yī.

男子痴一时迷, 女子痴没药医。

男子痴一時迷, 女子痴沒藥醫。

Lit [If a] man falls in love, [his] infatuation will pass sooner or later, [but for a] woman there's no cure [for her passion].

Note [Rhyme; note: chīmí, “infatuated.”]

Topics chīmí INFATUATION LOVE MEN PASSION WOMEN

N23

[N23]

Nánzǐ sānshí yīzhīhuā; nǚzǐ sānshí lǎorenjia.

男子三十一枝花, 女子三十老人家。

Lit A man of thirty [is like] a flower, [while] a woman of thirty [is considered] old.

Note [Rhyme; note: yīzhīhuā, (lit) “a flower,” colloquially means “a fine thing.”]

Topics AGE MEN rhyme TIME WOMEN yīzhīhuā

N24

[N24]

Nǎo yī nǎo, lǎo yī lǎo; xiào yī xiào, shí niánshào.*

恼一恼老一老, 笑一笑十年少。

惱一惱老一老, 笑一笑十年少。

Lit The more one worries, the older one gets; if one laughs, one feels ten years younger.

Fig Worry or irritation makes one old and laughter makes one young.

Note [Rhyme; see also xiào yī xiào below.]

Topics AGE FEELINGS LAUGHTER rhyme SMILES WORRIES YOUTH

N25

[N25]

Nǎr diēdǎo, nǎr pá qǐ.

哪儿跌倒, 哪儿爬起。

哪兒跌倒, 哪兒爬起。

Lit Wherever [you] fall down, that's the place where [you should] get back up.

Fig Wherever you've made mistakes, that's just the place to remedy them; don't just run away!

Note [See also cǎo lǐ shī zhēn above.]

Topics CORRECTION MISTAKES

N26

[N26]

Ná yú mò fàng xiā.

拿鱼莫放虾。

拿魚莫放蝦。

Lit [When] catching fish, don't let the shrimp get away.

Fig Don't neglect minor gains or profit.

Topics GAINS NEGLIGENCE PROFIT

N27

[N27]

Néng bá chū nóng lái, cái shì hǎo gāoyao.

能拔出脓来, 才是好膏药。

能拔出膿來, 才是好膏藥。

Lit Only if it can draw out pus is it a good medicinal plaster.

Fig One can judge a truly good method only by its results. “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

Topics JUDGMENT METHODS RESULTS

N28

[N28]

Néng chǎn zhě bì néng jiāo.

能谄者必能骄。

能諂者必能驕。

Lit Those who are capable of flattering [their supervisors] must [also] be arrogant [toward their subordinates].

Topics ARROGANCE FLATTERY HIERARCHY

N29

[N29]

Néng chī fēiqín yīkǒu, bù shí zǒushòu bàn jīn.

能吃飞禽一口, 不食走兽半斤。

能吃飛禽一口, 不食走獸半斤。

Lit [It is better to be] able to eat one mouthful of fowl than to eat half a catty of beast [meat].

Fig Birds are much more tasty than other meats.

Note [Note the chengyu: fēiqǐn-zǒushòu, “birds and beasts”; also said nìng chī fēiqín sì liǎng, bù chī zǒushòu bājīn (q.v.).]

Topics BIRDS chengyu EATING fēiqǐn-zǒushòu FOOD FOWL MEAT zǒushòu

N30

[N30]

Néng láo bù néng jiǎn, dàotóu méi jīzǎn; néng jiǎn bù néng láo, dàotóu děngyú líng.

能劳不能俭, 到头没积攒; 能俭不能劳, 到头等于零。

能勞不能儉, 到頭沒積攢; 能儉不能勞, 到頭等於零。

Lit [If one] can be diligent [but] not economical, in the end [one] won't collect any savings; [if one] can be economical, [but] not diligent, in the end [it will all] come to nothing.

Topics DILIGENCE ECONOMY FRUGALITY THRIFT

N31

[N31]

Néngrén shì bèn rén de núlì.

能人是笨人的奴隶。

能人是笨人的奴隸。

Lit Able people are the slaves of fools [because they can do things that others cannot or will not].

Note [See also néng zhě duō láo below.]

N32

[N32]

Néngrén zhīwài yǒu néngrén.

能人之外有能人。

Lit Behind an able person, there is an abler person.

Fig There's always someone better. No one is superior to all others.

Note [Also said néngrén bēihòu yǒu néngrén; see also the following entry and qiáng zhōng háiyǒu and shān wài yǒu shān and shé tūn shǔ below.]

Topics ABILITY COMPETITION LIMITATIONS STRENGTH

N33

[N33]

Néngrén zìyǒu néngrén fú.

能人自有能人伏。

Lit [For every] able person there is always an[other] able [person able] to conquer [him/her].

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 74; see also the preceding entry and qiáng zhōng háiyǒu and rén wài yǒu rén and shān wài yǒu shān and shé tūn shǔ and yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics ABILITY Fēngshén Yǎnyì LIMITATIONS STRENGTH

N34

[N34]

Néng shū bù zé bǐ.*

能书不择笔。

能書不擇筆。

Lit An able calligrapher is not [particular in] choosing [his] writing brush.

Fig A true expert can do a good job under less than ideal conditions.

Topics CALLIGRAPHY CONDITIONS EXPERTS

N35

[N35]

Néng zhě duō láo.

能者多劳。

能者多勞。

Lit Those [who are] able (should) do more [(extra)] work.

Note [Said, e.g., when asking someone to do something (extra); this is often mistakenly taken to be a chengyu; see also gān jǐng bì xiān jié and kuàimǎ pǎo duàn tuǐ and néngrén shì bèn rén above and qiǎo zhě duō láo below.]

Topics ABILITY chengyu IMPOSING néngzhě-duōláo WORK

N36

[N36]

Niáng hǎo, nān hǎo; yāng hǎo, dào hǎo.*

娘好囝好, 秧好稻好。

Lit Good mothers (or parents) [raise] good children, [just as] healthy seedlings [grow into] good grain.

Note [Rhyme; note nān is Wu dialect for “boy”; Wú Xià Yàn Lián, vol. 3.]

Topics CHILD REARING CHILDREN GOODNESS MOTHERS PARENTS rhyme Wu dialect Wú_Xià_Yàn_Lián

N37

[N37]

Niánjì bù ráorén.

年纪不饶人。

年紀不饒人。

Lit Age pardons no one.

Note [Note: ráo shè, “to forgive.”]

Topics AGE HEALTH ráoshè

N38

[N38]

(Niánnián fáng jiǎn;) yè yè fáng zéi.

(年年防俭,) 夜夜防贼。

(年年防儉,) 夜夜防賊。

Lit (Be prepared for crop failure every year [and]) guard against burglars every night.

Note [Advice to household heads; cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 90; also said niánnián fáng qiàn, etc.; note that jiǎn nián is colloquial for qiànnián, “a year of poor harvests.”]

Topics ADVICE jiǎn nián PLANNING PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION qiànnián Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

N39

[N39]

Niántóu yī jiāo, zāihuò quán xiāo.

年头一跤, 灾祸全消。

年頭一跤, 災禍全消。

Lit A fall [at the] beginning of the year [will] dispel all the disasters [for the remainder of the year].

Note [A rhyme said as a charm to dispel any impression of starting off the year “on the wrong foot” whenever any misfortune occurs at the beginning of the year.]

Topics BEGINNING MISFORTUNE rhyme SUPERSTITION

N40

[N40]

Niǎo guì yǒu yì; rén guì, yǒu zhì.

鸟贵有翼, 人贵, 有智。

鳥貴有翼, 人貴, 有智。

Lit [Just as the] value of birds [is that they] have wings, [so the] value of humans [is that they have] wisdom.

Topics BIRDS HUMAN BEINGS WISDOM

N41

[N41]

Niǎo lái tóu lín; rén lái tóu zhǔ.

鸟来投林, 人来投主。

鳥來投林, 人來投主。

Lit [Just as] birds come into the woods, [so] people come to [seek help and protection from powerful] patrons.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 25.]

Topics HELP PATRONS PROTECTION Xǐngshì_Héngyán

N42

[N42]

Niǎo měi zài yǔmáo; rén měi zài qínláo.

鸟美在羽毛, 人美在勤劳。

鳥美在羽毛, 人美在勤勞。

Lit [Just as] the beauty of birds lies in [their] plumage, [so] the beauty of human beings lies in [their] diligence.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BIRDS DILIGENCE HUMAN BEINGS rhyme

N43

[N43]

Niǎo shòu, máo cháng; rén pín, zhì duǎn.

鸟瘦毛长, 人贫智短。

鳥瘦毛長, 人貧智短。

Lit [Just as when] birds [get] thin, [their] feathers [seem] longer [by comparison], [so when] people [are] poor, [they are] short of ideas [as to how to get along].

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31; see also rén pín, zhì duǎn below.]

Topics Jǐngshì Tōngyán POVERTY

N44

[N44]

(Niǎo yào fēi,) tiān yào xiàyǔ, niáng yào jiàrén.*

(鸟要飞,) 天要下雨, 娘要嫁人。

(鳥要飛,) 天要下雨, 娘要嫁人。

Lit (Birds will fly,) the heavens will rain, and [widowed] mothers will [re-]marry; [there's nothing to be done about it].

Fig Some things are inevitable.

Note [Cf. Wú Xià Yàn Lián, vol. 2; this is a Ningbo yanyu supposedly quoted by Mao Zedong concerning the flight of Lin Biao, his then heir apparent, to Mongolia in 1971 while trying to escape to the Soviet Union after his plot to usurp power was discovered.]

Topics FATE INEVITABILITY Lin Biao Mao Zedong Ningbo REMARRIAGE WIDOWS Wú_Xià_Yàn_Lián

N45

[N45]

Nìfēng diǎnhuǒ, zì shāo shēn.

逆风点火, 自烧身。

逆風點火, 自燒身。

Lit [If one] lights a fire against the wind, [one will] burn oneself.

Fig If one goes against accepted practices, one may get hurt. “Play with fire and you may get burned.”

Topics CONFORMITY CUSTOMS RISK TRADITION

N46

[N46]

Nǐ jìng wǒ yī chǐ; wǒ jìng nǐ yī zhàng.

你敬我一尺, 我敬你一丈。

Lit You respect me one foot [and] I'll respect you ten feet.

Fig (1) Respect should be mutual. (2) Retaliate against your opponent using tactics ten times stronger than his.

Topics OPPOSITION RECIPROCITY RESPECT STRATEGY STRENGTH TACTICS

N47

[N47]

Nìng chāi qiān zuò miào; bù chāi yī duì hūn.

宁拆千座庙, 不拆一对婚。

寧拆千座廟, 不拆一對婚。

Lit Rather destroy a thousand temples than to harm one couple's marriage.

Note [See also hūnyīn quàn lǒng above.]

Topics MARRIAGE

N48

[N48]

Nìng chī fēiqín sì liǎng, bù chī zǒushòu bàn jīn.

宁吃飞禽四两, 不吃走兽半斤。

寧吃飛禽四兩, 不吃走獸半斤。

Lit [It is] better to eat four ounces of fowl than to eat half a catty of beast [meat].

Fig Birds are much more tasty than other meats.

Note [Note the chengyu: fēiqǐn-zǒushòu, “birds and beasts”; this is a modern version of néng chī fēiqín yīkǒu, bù shí zǒushòu bàn jīn (q.v.); one jīn or “catty” (now equal to one-half kilogram) contains eight liǎng.]

Topics BIRDS EATING fēiqǐn-zǒushòu FOOD FOWL MEAT zǒushòu

N49

[N49]

Nìng chī guòtóu fàn; mò shuō guòtóu huà.

宁吃过头饭, 莫说过头话。

寧吃過頭飯, 莫說過頭話。

Lit It is better to overeat than to overstate.

Topics EATING SELF-RESTRAINT TALK

N50

[N50]

Nìng chī xiān táo yìkǒu; bù chī làn xìng yī kuāng.

宁吃仙桃一口, 不吃烂杏一筐。

寧吃仙桃一口, 不吃爛杏一筐。

Lit It is better to have [only] one mouthful of the celestial peach than to eat a basket of rotten apricots.

Fig It is better to have fewer and better than to have more but worse; quality is more important than quantity.

Topics COMPARISON QUALITY QUANTITY

N51

[N51]

Nìng cóng yī ér shēnzào; wú fàn shè ér liǎng shī.

宁从一而深造, 毋泛涉而两失。

寧從一而深造, 毋泛涉而兩失。

Lit Better to follow one [thing] and master [it] deeply than to be lightly involved [in two things] and master neither.

Topics MASTERY STUDYING

N52

[N52]

Nìng gěi jī rén yīkǒu; bù gěi fùrén yī dǒu.

宁给饥人一口, 不给富人一斗。

寧給飢人一口, 不給富人一斗。

Lit It is better to give one mouthful of food to a hungry person than to give a bushel of grain to a rich man.

Fig It is better to give help to those in need.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 100.]

Topics CHARITY COMPARISON FOOD HELPING NEED rhyme Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

N53

[N53]

Nìng gēn yàofàn de niáng; bù gēn zuòguān de diē.

宁跟要饭的娘, 不跟做官的爹。

寧跟要飯的娘, 不跟做官的爹。

Lit [A child would] rather [stay] with a mother [who is a] beggar than with a father [who is a rich] official.

Fig Mothers treat their children better than fathers do.

Topics CHILDREN MOTHERS

N54

[N54]

Nìng guǎn qiān jūn; mò guǎn yī fū.

宁管千军, 莫管一夫。

寧管千軍, 莫管一夫。

Lit It is better to command [an army of] a thousand soldiers than to direct one [common] man [who is untrained or undisciplined].

Topics COMMON PEOPLE DISCIPLINE MILITARY SKILL

N55

[N55]

Nìng hē kāi-méi zhōu; bù chī zhòu-méi fàn.

宁喝开眉粥, 不吃皱眉饭。

寧喝開眉粥, 不吃皺眉飯。

Lit Better to drink “unfurrowed-brow” porridge than to eat “knitted-brow” rice.

Fig It is better to be poor and happy than to be rich and have worries.

Topics POVERTY WEALTH WORRIES

N56

[N56]

Nìng jiāo shuāngjiǎo tiào; bù jiāo mīmī xiào.

宁交双脚跳, 不交咪咪笑。

寧交雙腳跳, 不交咪咪笑。

Lit [It is] better to make friends with [honest people who] stamp both feet [i.e., forthright, outspoken people] than to make friends with [tricky] people [who] smile with narrow[ed eyes].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FRANKNESS FRIENDSHIP rhyme

N57

[N57]

Nìng jiào zuòguò; mò yào cuòguò.

宁叫做过, 莫要错过。

寧叫做過, 莫要錯過。

Lit It is better to have attempted to do it than to have missed [the opportunity].

Note [Also said nìngkě zuòguò, ... etc.]

Topics COMPARISON LOSS OPPORTUNITY TRYING

N58

[N58]

Nìng jìn yī cùn sǐ; wú/wù tuì yī chǐ shēng.

宁进一寸死, 毋/勿退一尺生。

寧進一寸死, 毋/勿退一尺生。

Lit Better to advance an inch and die than to retreat a foot alive.

Fig Never give up; never retreat.

Note [See also nìngkě zhànzhe sǐ below.]

Topics COMPARISON DEATH LIFE PROGRESS RETREAT STRATEGY SURRENDER

N59

[N59]

Nìng jiù bǎi zhī yáng; bù jiù yī tiáo láng.

宁救百只羊, 不救一条狼。

寧救百隻羊, 不救一條狼。

Lit It is better to save a hundred sheep than to save one wolf [i.e., a bad person].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COMPARISON EVIL GOODNESS rhyme

N60

[N60]

Nìngkě càiyuán huāng; bùkě líba dǎo.

宁可菜园荒, 不可篱笆倒。

寧可菜園荒, 不可籬笆倒。

Lit Better to let the vegetable garden [lie] barren than to let the fence fall down.

Fig The most important thing is to protect one's property.

Topics CAUTION PROPERTY

N61

[N61]

Nìngkě pín hòu fù; bùkě fù hòu pín.*

宁可贫后富, 不可富后贫。

寧可貧後富, 不可富後貧。

Lit It is better to be rich after [having been] poor than to be poor after [having been] rich.

Note [See also nìngkě wúle yǒu and yóu jiǎn rù shē below.]

Topics CHANGES COMPARISON POVERTY WEALTH

N62

[N62]

Nìngkě shéběn; xiūyào jī sǔn.

宁可折本, 休要饥损。

寧可折本, 休要飢損。

Lit It is better to lose money [in business transactions] than to suffer harm [from hunger].

Fig One's health is more important than one's business.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 62.]

Topics BUSINESS HEALTH HUNGER JPM MONEY

N63

[N63]

Nìngkě shuō de bù tòu; bù kě guòfèn kuākǒu.

宁可说得不透, 不可过分夸口。

寧可說得不透, 不可過分誇口。

Lit [It is] better not to express oneself fully than to boast.

Fig Better to understate than to overstate.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BRAGGING EXAGGERATION rhyme

N64

[N64]

Nìngkě wúle yǒu; bùkě yǒule wú.

宁可无了有, 不可有了无。

寧可無了有, 不可有了無。

Lit It is better to go from poverty to riches than from riches to poverty.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 22; see also nìngkě pín hòu fù above and yóu jiǎn rù shē below.]

Topics CHANGE Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì COMPARISON POVERTY WEALTH

N65

[N65]

Nìngkě xìn qí yǒu; bùkě xìn qí wú.

宁可信其有, 不可信其无。

寧可信其有, 不可信其無。

Lit It is better to believe it is [true] than to believe it is not.

Fig Just to be on the safe side, you'd be better off to believe it.

Note [E.g., a fortuneteller's prediction of bad luck; cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 82; WM, chap. 60; Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 20.]

Topics BELIEF CAUTION Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì COMPARISON Dàng Kòu Zhì FORTUNETELLING LUCK PREDICTIONS WM

N66

[N66]

Nìngkě yī bù shì; bùkě liǎng wúqíng.

宁可一不是, 不可两无情。

寧可一不是, 不可兩無情。

Lit Better that [only] one [party] be wrong than that both [parties] lose [their] affection [for each other].

Fig Just because one person is unfriendly, it's not necessary to reciprocate.

Note [Said by the second party.]

Topics AFFECTION COMPARISON FEELINGS RECIPROCATION

N67

[N67]

Nìngkě yǔ rén bǐ zhòngtián; bùkě yǔ rén sài guònián.

宁可与人比种田, 不可与人赛过年。

寧可與人比種田, 不可與人賽過年。

Lit [It is] better to compete with others in farming than to compete with others in celebrating the New Year.

Fig Diligence is more important than ostentatious display.

Topics DILIGENCE FARMING OSTENTATION

N68

[N68]

Nìngkě yùsuì, bùkě wǎquán.

宁可玉碎, 不可瓦全。

寧可玉碎, 不可瓦全。

Lit Rather be a shattered jade [vessel] than an unbroken [piece of] pottery.

Fig It is better to die in glory than to live in dishonor.

Note [Also said as nìng wéi yùsuì, bù zuò wǎquán (q.v.); cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 62; Běi Qí Shū; note: yùsuì, (lit) “shattered jade,” is a literary phrase meaning “death before dishonor.”]

Topics Běi Qí Shū COMPARISON DISHONOR GLORY HONOR yùsuì Zàishēng_Yuán

N69

[N69]

Nìngkě zhànzhe sǐ; juébù guìzhe shēng.

宁可站着死; 绝不跪着生。

寧可站著死; 絕不跪著生。

Lit [It is] better to die standing, absolutely [better] than living [while] kneeling.

Fig Better to die resisting than to live in submission.

Note [As a chengyu: nìngsǐ-bùqū, “rather die than submit”; see also nìng jìn yī cùn sǐ above.]

Topics chengyu DEATH HONOR nìngsǐ-bùqū RESISTANCE SUBMISSION

N70

[N70]

Nìng là yīqún; bù là yī rén.

宁落一群, 不落一人。

寧落一群, 不落一人。

Lit [It is] better to neglect a group [of people] than to reject a single person.

Fig One person left out will complain bitterly, while a group left out will not feel individually discriminated against.

Topics COMPLAINTS DISCRIMINATION GROUPS INDIVIDUALS

N71

[N71]

Nìng rén fù wǒ; wú wǒ fù rén.

宁人负我, 毋我负人。

寧人負我, 毋我負人。

Lit Rather let others be ungrateful to me, [but] not I to others.

Note [An ancient rule for behavior toward others; contradicted in R3K, chap. 4, by Cáo Cāo, who was therefore branded as a jiān chén (“bad minister”).]

Topics BEHAVIOR Cáo Cāo COMPARISON CONDUCT GRATITUDE jiān chén R3K SELF-PROTECTION STRATEGY

N72

[N72]

Nìng shēn fú rén shǒu; mò kāi xiàn rén kǒu.

宁伸扶人手, 莫开陷人口。

寧伸扶人手, 莫開陷人口。

Lit [It is] better to extend [your] hand to support others than to open [your] mouth to slander others.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics HELPING rhyme SLANDER SUPPORT

N73

[N73]

Nìng shě qiānjīn xiàn zhēn Fó; bù bá yī máo chā zhū shēn.

宁舍千金献真佛, 不拔一毛插猪身。

寧捨千金獻真佛, 不拔一毛插豬身。

Lit It is better to contribute a thousand [ounces of] gold to a real Buddha than to stick a “feather” onto a pig's body.

Fig It is better to spend more on something worthwhile than to waste [even] a dime on something which is not worth it.

Note [Note: máo means both “feather” and “ten cents.”]

Topics Buddha COMPARISON INVESTMENT MONEY qiānjīn (gold) QUALITY VALUE

N74

[N74]

Nìng shě shí mǔ dì; bù chī yǎbakuī.

宁舍十亩地, 不吃哑巴亏。

寧捨十畝地, 不吃啞巴虧。

Lit It is better to give up ten mǔ of land than to swallow a bitter pill in silence.

Fig It is better to suffer losses that are known to everybody than to suffer losses that are kept to oneself only.

Note [Note: one mu equals 0.0667 hectares; yǎbakuī, (lit) “mute suffering,” means “bottled-up grievances.”]

Topics COMPARISON LOSSES mǔ SELF SUFFERING

N75

[N75]

Nìng tiāo qiān jīn dàn; bù bào ròu gēda.

宁挑千斤担, 不抱肉疙瘩。

寧挑千斤擔, 不抱肉疙瘩。

Lit It is easier to carry a thousand catties [of stuff] than to hold a “precious lump of flesh” in one's arms.

Fig Holding a (squirming) baby is more difficult than carrying a load of heavy things.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 7; note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics BABIES catty COMPARISON DIFFICULTY qiānjīn (wt.) Wǔ_Sōng

N76

[N76]

Nìng wéi jī kǒu/tóu; wú wéi niú hòu/wěi.

宁为鸡口/头, 毋为牛后/尾。

寧為雞口/頭, 毋為牛後/尾。

Lit Better be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox.

Fig It is better to be the head of a small group than to hold a less powerful position in a large one; “better to be a big frog in a little pond, than a small frog in a big one”; “better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.”

Note [The original rhymed version is from Zhàn Guò Cè; the second pair of alternatives is the modern colloquial version.]

Topics COMPARISON HIERARCHY LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS rhyme

N77

[N77]

Nìng wéi tàipíng quǎn; mò zuò luànlí rén.

宁为太平犬, 莫做乱离人。

寧為太平犬, 莫做亂離人。

Lit Better to be a dog in [times of] peace than to be a human being wandering in [times of] chaos.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 3; note: luànlí, “to be separated or rendered homeless by war.”]

Topics CHAOS COMPARISON LUCK PEACE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

N78

[N78]

Nìng wèi yǔ ér chóumóu.

宁未雨而绸缪。

寧未雨而綢繆。

Lit Better to [start] weaving [one's silk rain cloak] before it rains.

Fig It is better to make one's preparations early; provide for a rainy day.

Note [This is an expansion of the chengyu: wèi yǔ chóumóu.]

Topics chengyu COMPARISON PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION TIMING

N79

[N79]

Nìng wéi yùsuì; bù wéi wǎquán.

宁为玉碎;不为瓦全。

寧為玉碎;不為瓦全。

Lit Rather be a shattered jade [vessel] than to be a complete [piece of] pottery.

Fig It is better to die in glory than to live in dishonor.

Note [Note: yùsuì, (lit) “shattered jade,” is a literary phrase meaning “death before dishonor”; see also nìngkě yùsuì above.]

Topics COMPARISON HONOR rhyme

N80

[N80]

Nìng xǔ rén; mò xǔ shén.

宁许人, 莫许神。

寧許人, 莫許神。

Lit It is better to make a promise to a person than to make a vow to a god.

Fig It is dangerous to break vows made to the gods.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 1; note: xǔyuàn, “to make a vow (to a god).”]

Topics COMPARISON DANGER GODS Hé Diǎn PROMISES VOWS xǔyuàn

N81

[N81]

Nìng yǎng wán zǐ; mò yǎng dāizi.

宁养顽子, 莫养呆子。

寧養頑子, 莫養呆子。

Lit It is better to raise a naughty boy than an idiot.

Note [Said to comfort the parents of naughty children.]

Topics CHILDREN COMPARISON NAUGHTINESS OBEDIENCE PARENTS

N82

[N82]

Nìng yào xiān nán hòu yì; wú shǐ xiān yì hòu nán.

宁要先难后易, 毋使先易后难。

寧要先難後易, 毋使先易後難。

Lit It is better to do something difficult first and then to do something easy than to do something easy first and then to do something difficult.

Topics COMPARISON DIFFICULTY WORKING

N83

[N83]

Nìngyuàn dùndùn quē; bù yuàn yī dùn wú.

宁愿顿顿缺, 不愿一顿无。

寧願頓頓缺, 不願一頓無。

Lit [It is] better to not have enough [for] every meal than to miss one meal [entirely].

Topics EATING FOOD MEALS

N84

[N84]

Nìng yǔ qiān rén hǎo; mò yǔ yī rén chóu.

宁与千人好, 莫与一人愁。

寧與千人好, 莫與一人愁。

Lit [It is] good to be on good terms with a thousand people; don't be on bad terms with one.

Topics COMPARISON CONDUCT ENEMIES FRIENDSHIP STRATEGY

N85

[N85]

Nìng zài zhí zhōng qǔ; bù xiàng qū zhōng qiú.

宁在直中取, 不向曲中求。

寧在直中取, 不向曲中求。

Lit It is better to get something by straightforward means than to seek it by crooked means.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 23.]

Topics BEHAVIOR COMPARISON CONDUCT DISHONESTY Fēngshén Yǎnyì HONESTY

N86

[N86]

Nìng zhuàng jīn zhōng yīxià; bù dǎ pò gǔ sānqiān.

宁撞金钟一下, 不打破鼓三千。

寧撞金鐘一下, 不打破鼓三千。

Lit It is better to strike a golden bell [only] once than to beat a broken drum three thousand times.

Fig It is better to ask for help just once from someone with courage and insight than to ask a thousand times of someone without those qualities.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 72.]

Topics COMPARISON COURAGE DRC HELP INSIGHT

N87

[N87]

Nìng zǒu shí bù yuǎn; bù zǒu yī bù xiǎn.

宁走十步远, 不走一步险。

寧走十步遠, 不走一步險。

Lit It is better to walk ten [extra] steps around than to take one step into danger.

Fig “Better (to be) safe than sorry.”

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 110.]

Topics CAUTION COMPARISON DANGER Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì STEPS

N88

[N88]

Níqiu xiān bù qǐ dà làng; tiàozao dǐng bù qǐ bèi wō.

泥鳅掀不起大浪, 跳蚤顶不起被窝。

泥鰍掀不起大浪, 跳蚤頂不起被窩。

Lit A loach [fish] cannot stir up great waves [and] a flea cannot hold up a bed quilt.

Fig A weak and powerless person cannot accomplish anything great.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT LIMITATIONS WEAKNESS

N89

[N89]

Nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu, bù jìn zé tuì.

逆水行舟, 不进则退。

逆水行舟, 不進則退。

Lit [When] sailing against the current, [one] must forge ahead or be driven back.

Fig One must constantly forge ahead (in study, life, etc.), or one will fall behind.

Note [Often quoted by Mao Zedong; note: nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu is a chengyu meaning “to go against the current”; see also xué rú nìshuǐ below.]

Topics chengyu EFFORT Mao Zedong nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu PERSISTENCE SUCCESS

N90

[N90]

Nǐ shuōbude wǒ tóu tū; wǒ xiàobude nǐ yǎn xiā.

你说不得我头秃, 我笑不得你眼瞎。

你說不得我頭禿, 我笑不得你眼瞎。

Lit You should not talk about my bald head, [and] I should not laugh at your blind eyes.

Fig Everyone has his or her own shortcomings. Don't talk about other people's defects.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 91.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CRITICISM DEFECTS RESTRAINT TALK Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

N91

[N91]

Nítāi biàn bù chéng huófó.

泥胎变不成活佛。

泥胎變不成活佛。

Lit [An unpainted] clay figure cannot be changed into a living Buddha.

Fig A person of bad character or poor ability cannot be changed into a person of good character or ability. “You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.”

Note [Note: nítāi, (lit) “clay embryo,” refers to an unpainted or ungilded clay figurine.]

Topics ABILITY CHANGE CHARACTER LIMITATIONS nítāi

N92

[N92]

Niú bù hē shuǐ, nán àn jiǎo.

牛不喝水, 难按角。

牛不喝水, 難按角。

Lit [If an] ox doesn't want to drink water, [it's] difficult to press down its horns.

Fig You can't force others to do what they don't want to do; “you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.”

Note [Note also the colloquial suyu expression: niú bù hē shuǐ, qiáng àn tóu, “trying to press an ox's head down when it doesn't want to drink” in DRC, chap. 46, and àn niú tóu above.]

Topics DRC FORCE OTHERS suyu

N93

[N93]

Niú bù zhī jiǎo wān; mǎ bù zhī liǎn cháng.

牛不知角弯, 马不知脸长。

牛不知角彎, 馬不知臉長。

Lit An ox doesn't know [it has] crooked horns; nor does a horse know [it has a] long face.

Fig One doesn't know one's own shortcomings.

Note [See also dēngtái zhào rén and húli bù zhī above and rén guàn shè jǐ guò below.]

Topics SELF-KNOWLEDGE SHORTCOMINGS

N94

[N94]

Niú bù zhī lì dà; rén bù zhī jǐ guò.

牛不知力大, 人不知己过。

牛不知力大, 人不知己過。

Lit [Just as an] ox doesn't know [its own] strength, [so] people don't know [their] own mistakes.

Topics MISTAKES SELF-KNOWLEDGE

N95

[N95]

Niú chī qīngcǎo, jī chī gǔ; gèrén zìyǒu gèrén fú.*

牛吃青草鸡吃谷, 各人自有各人福。

牛吃青草雞吃穀, 各人自有各人福。

Lit Oxen eat grass [and] chickens eat grain; each one has its own blessings.

Fig Individuals have their own lot or luck in life.

Note [Rhyme; also said niú chī dàocǎo, yā chī gǔ etc.; see also yā chī tiánluó below.]

Topics FATE INDIVIDUALS LUCK rhyme

N96

[N96]

Niú dà, yā bù sǐ shīzi.

牛大压不死虱子。

牛大壓不死虱子。

Lit [An] ox [is] big, [but it] can't crush [a] louse.

Fig Big or small, each has its own strengths and limitations.

Topics LIMITATIONS STRENGTHS

N97

[N97]

Niúpí bù shì chuī de; Tài Shān bù shì lěi de.*

牛皮不是吹的, 泰山不是垒的。

牛皮不是吹的, 泰山不是壘的。

Lit Cowhides are not [removed by] blowing, [just as] Mount Tai was not formed by piling up [earth].

Fig It's no use bragging.

Note [Rhyme; note: chuīniú(pí), (lit) “to blow (off) a cow('s skin)” means “to boast; to brag”; Mt. Tai in Shandong province, one of the five sacred mountains of Buddhism, is traditionally taken as an image of greatness.]

Topics BRAGGING chuīniúpí CONDUCT Mount Tai rhyme Shandong_Province

N98

[N98]

Niú yǒu qiānjīn zhī lì; rén yǒu dào niú zhī fāng.

牛有千斤之力, 人有倒牛之方。

Lit No matter how strong bulls are, humans have ways of overturning them.

Fig However strong one's opponent is, one can find a way to conquer him. Wisdom can overcome brute force.

Note [Cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 31; note: literally, qiānjīn means “one thousand catties,” but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics qiānjīn (wt.) STRONGER WISDOM Xīyáng_Jì

N99

[N99]

Nǐ yǒu nǐ de guān mén jì; wǒ yǒu wǒ de tiào qiáng fǎ.

你有你的关门计, 我有我的跳墙法。

你有你的關門計, 我有我的跳牆法。

Lit You have the close-the-door tactics, [and] I have the jump-over-the-wall method.

Fig One adopts an appropriate policy in response to an opponent's tactics.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS STRATEGY TACTICS

N100

[N100]

Nìzǐ, wán qī, wú yào kě zhì.

逆子顽妻, 无药可治。

逆子頑妻, 無藥可治。

Lit [For] an unfilial son [or] a stubborn wife, there is no medicine [which] can cure [them].

Fig One can do nothing with an unfilial son or a stubborn wife.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 27.]

Topics FILIALITY SONS STUBBORNNESS WIVES Xǐngshì_Héngyán

N101

[N101]

Nǐ zǒu nǐ de yángguāndào; wǒ zǒu wǒ de dúmùqiáo.*

你走你的阳关道, 我走我的独木桥。

你走你的陽關道, 我走我的獨木橋。

Lit You [may] walk the main road [and] I'll take the single plank bridge.

Fig You go your way and I'll go mine. (fig) You look after your business and I'll look after mine.

Note [Rhyme; note: yángguān dào, “broad road; thoroughfare”; dúmùqiáo, (lit) “single-plank bridge,” (fig) “difficult path.”]

Topics CONDUCT INDEPENDENCE INTERFERENCE rhyme

N102

[N102]

Nóng shuāng piān dǎ wú gēn cǎo; huò lái zhǐ bèn fú qīng rén.

浓霜偏打无根草, 祸来只奔福轻人。

濃霜偏打無根草, 禍來只奔福輕人。

Lit [Just as] severe frost only harms rootless grass, [so] disasters only hasten to [fall on] people of little luck.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chaps. 11 and 22; see also yánshuāng piān dǎ below.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DISASTERS FATE FROST LUCK

N103

[N103]

Nǚ dà, bùzhōng liú; liúle, jié yuānchóu.

女大不中留, 留了结冤仇。

女大不中留, 留了結冤仇。

Lit A grown-up girl should not be kept [at home (i.e., unmarried) by her parents]; [if she] is, [she will] harbor hatred for them.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 38; note: bù zhōng is northern dialect for “not all right.”]

Topics DIALECT GIRLS Jǐngshì Tōngyán MARRIAGE northern dialect PARENTS

N104

[N104]

Nǚ dà shíbā biàn; (línshí shàng jiào, biàn sān biàn).*

女大十八变, (临时上轿, 变三变)。

女大十八變, (臨時上轎, 變三變)。

Lit A girl changes eighteen times [in physical appearance before] reaching womanhood; (near the time she gets married, she'll change three times more).

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 78; also said máotou gūniang ... etc.]

Topics CHANGES DRC GIRLS máotou gūniang MARRIAGE PHYSIQUE TIME

N105

[N105]

Nǚ dà zì qiǎo; gǒu dà zì yǎo.

女大自巧, 狗大自咬。

Lit When girls grow up, they will naturally become skillful or clever, [just as] when dogs grow big, they will naturally [learn to] bite [so, unlike with boys, there is no need to teach them at home].

Note [Note: unmarried girls in traditional China were often not taught any skills at home, leaving the task to their future mothers-in-law.]

Topics EDUCATION GIRLS MOTHERS-IN-LAW SKILL TEACHING

N106

[N106]

Númǎ liànzhàn dòu.

驽马恋栈豆。

駑馬戀棧豆。

Lit A slow-running horse is reluctant to leave [its] stable fodder.

Fig An incapable person with limited vision only sees small immediate benefits.

Note [Note: númǎ, (lit) “inferior horse,” is also used to refer to dull, incompetent people.]

Topics ABILITY LIMITATIONS NARROW-MINDEDNESS

N107

[N107]

Númǎ qiān lǐ, gōng zài bù shě.

驽马千里,功在不舍。

駑馬千里,功在不捨。

Lit [If] an inferior horse [travels one] thousand miles, [its] achievement is [only due to] perseverance.

Fig Often accomplishment is not the result of brilliance, but only of hard work.

Note [Often said modestly of oneself; note: technically one lǐ equals one-half of a kilometer; see also the preceding entry and bèn niǎo xiān fēi above.]

Topics ABILITY INTELLIGENCE LIMITATIONS MODESTY PERSEVERANCE

N108

[N108]

Nùqì shāng gān.

怒气伤肝。

怒氣傷肝。

Lit Anger harms [one's] liver.

Fig Anger is harmful to one's health.

Note [Cf. Hòu Hàn Yǎnyì, chap. 85.]

Topics ANGER HEALTH Hòu_Hàn_Yǎnyì

N109

[N109]

Nǚrén shì zhěntou biān de fēng; bù tīng yě děi tīng.

女人是枕头边的风, 不听也得听。

女人是枕頭邊的風, 不聽也得聽。

Lit Women are [like] the wind blowing by the pillow: like it or not, [one] has to listen [to them].

Fig Men are influenced by their wives at night.

Note [Cf. the colloquial suyu expression: chuī zhěn biān fēng, “to be influenced by one's wife at night”; see also zhěn biān gàozhuàng below.]

Topics chuī zhěn biān fēng colloquial expression INFLUENCE MARRIAGE suyu WIVES WOMEN

N110

[N110]

Nǚshēng wàixiàng.

女生外向。

Lit Women are born with an outward orientation.

Fig (1) Girls from birth are destined to be married off to other families. (2) Women will inevitably side with their husbands, rather than with their natal families.

Topics GIRLS MARRIAGE WOMEN

N111

[N111]

Nǚ wèi yuè jǐ zhě róng.

女为悦己者容。

女為悅己者容。

Lit A woman will beautify herself for one who pleases her.

Note [See also shì wèi zhījǐ zhě below.]

Topics BEAUTY LOVE WOMEN

N112

[N112]

Nǚxu yǒu bànzǐ zhī láo.

女婿有半子之劳。

女婿有半子之勞。

Lit A son-in-law has [i.e., should perform] half the duties of a son.

Note [In traditional patrilineal China, sons were expected to support parents and perform rites. If a family had no son, real or adopted, a son-in-law was “married in” for these purposes.]

Topics SONS SONS-IN-LAW

N113

[N113]

Nǚzǐ wú cái biànshì dé.

女子无才便是德。

女子無才便是德。

Lit An unschooled girl is a virtuous one.

Note [A common belief in traditional China; cf. DRC, chap. 4.]

Topics DRC EDUCATION GIRLS VIRTUE

【L1】O O1

[O1]

Ǒurán fàncuò jiàozuò guò; cúnxīn fàncuò jiàozuò è.

偶然犯错叫做过, 存心犯错叫做恶。

偶然犯錯叫做過, 存心犯錯叫做惡。

Lit An occasional mistake is called an error; a deliberate mistake is called an evil.

Note [See also shì bù guò sān below.]

Topics EVIL MISTAKES

【L1】P P1

[P1]

Pá de gāo, diē de zhòng.

爬得高, 跌得重。

Lit The higher [one] climbs, the heavier [one] falls.

Fig The higher the official position one holds, the greater disaster one invites. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 13; Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 3.]

Topics DANGER DISASTER DRC HIERARCHY Lǎo Cán Yóujì OFFICIALS POSITION RISK

P2

[P2]

Pà de lǎohǔ, wèibude zhū.

怕得老虎, 喂不得猪。

怕得老虎, 喂不得豬。

Lit [If one is too] afraid of tigers, one won't raise pigs.

Fig If one is too full of fears, one won't be able to accomplish anything at all.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT FEAR

P3

[P3]

Pà jiàn de shì guài; nán duǒ de shì zhài.

怕见的是怪, 难躲的是债。

怕見的是怪, 難躲的是債。

Lit [Just as one wants to] avoid seeing demons, [so it's] hard to hide from creditors.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 15.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì CREDITORS DEBT rhyme

P4

[P4]

Pà láng, pà hǔ; bié zài shān shàng zhù.

怕狼怕虎, 别在山上住。

怕狼怕虎, 別在山上住。

Lit [If you are] afraid of tigers and wolves, don't live in the mountains.

Fig Don't take the risk unless you are willing to face the danger.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CAUTION DANGER rhyme RISK

P5

[P5]

Pàngzi bù shì yīkǒu chī de.*

胖子不是一口吃的。

Lit Fatties don't get [fat by] eating [only] one mouth[ful].

Fig One doesn't get to be a certain way overnight, but as the result of long-term behavior.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 84; see also yīkǒu chī bù chéng below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CHANGES DRC RESULTS TIME

P6

[P6]

Pǎole héshang, pǎo bùliǎo miào.*

跑了和尚, 跑不了庙。

跑了和尚, 跑不了廟。

Lit [The] monks [may] run away, [but the] monastery cannot.

Fig One can never (completely) escape (the consequences of one's actions).

Topics ACTIONS CONSEQUENCES

P7

[P7]

Pèile qiān gè bùrú xiān gè.

配了千个不如先个。

配了千個不如先個。

Lit [Although] mated to a thousand [husbands], none [is] as good as the first one.

Fig The first husband is always the best, however many times a woman may get married.

Topics HUSBANDS MARRIAGE REMARRIAGE WIDOWS WIVES WOMEN

P8

[P8]

Péngyou qiān gè shǎo; chóurén yī gè duō.

朋友千个少, 仇人一个多。

朋友千個少, 仇人一個多。

Lit A thousand friends [are] too few, [and] one enemy [is] too many.

Topics ENEMIES FRIENDS

P9

[P9]

Piānfāng zhì dà bìng.

偏方治大病。

Lit Folk prescriptions [(or home remedies) can] cure serious illnesses.

Note [See also cǎoyào yī wèi and mìfāng zhì above and xiǎo yào zhì below.]

Topics MEDICINE

P10

[P10]

Piányi bù guò dàng jiā.

便宜不过当家。

便宜不過當家。

Lit Discounts [should] not [go] outside one's family.

Fig Benefits should be kept within the family. “Charity begins at home.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 65; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 35; see also féi shuǐ bù guò above.]

Topics BENEFITS DRC FAMILIES JPM SELF-INTEREST

P11

[P11]

Piányi wú hǎo huò; (hǎo huò bù piányi).

便宜无好货, (好货不便宜)。

便宜無好貨, (好貨不便宜)。

Lit No cheap goods are good, ([and] good goods aren't cheap).

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 49; see also guì de bù guì above.]

Topics BUSINESS GOODS Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì QUALITY VALUE

P12

[P12]

Pīchái bù zhào wén, lèisǐ pīchái rén.

劈柴不照纹, 累死劈柴人。

劈柴不照紋, 累死劈柴人。

Lit Splitting logs not along the grain will tire the wood cutter to death.

Fig One should grasp the essentials in solving problems and not “go against the grain.”

Topics PROBLEMS SELECTIONS

P13

[P13]

Pīchái, kàn chái shì; rù mén, kàn rén yì.

劈柴看柴势, 入门看人意。

劈柴看柴勢, 入門看人意。

Lit [Just as when] cutting wood, [one should] pay attention to [its] grain, [so upon first] entering [someone's] door, [one should] consider [one's] host's wishes.

Fig One should always take the situation and people's feelings into account.

Note [Note: rùmén is also a verb-object compound word meaning “to begin to learn the fundamentals,” so this could also be interpreted as “when one is just starting out at something”; see also chūmén guān tiānsè above.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES COURTESY FEELINGS GUESTS HOSTS

P14

[P14]

Pǐ jí tài lái.

否极泰来。

否極泰來。

Lit [From] extreme misery good fortune springs.

Note [Note: pǐ, here “misfortune,” and tài, here “good fortune,” are terms from the Yìjīng (Book of Changes); note: this is also used as a chengyu; see also lè jí shēng bēi above.]

Topics Book of Changes chengyu FORTUNE LUCK MISERY MISFORTUNE pǐ pǐjí-tàilái tài Yìjīng

P15

[P15]

Pí lǐ shēng de, pí lǐ rè; pí lǐ bù shēng, lěng sì tiě.

皮里生的皮里热, 皮里不生冷似铁。

皮裡生的皮裡熱, 皮裡不生冷似鐵。

Lit To one's own flesh and blood [children], one's heart is warm, [but] to [stepchildren] not one's flesh and blood, one's heart is cold as iron.

Note [See also gé chóng dùpí and hòumǔ de quántou above.]

Topics BLOOD CHILDREN FAMILIES FEELINGS RELATIVES STEPCHILDREN

P16

[P16]

Pín bù xué jiǎn; fù bù xué shē.

贫不学俭, 富不学奢。

貧不學儉, 富不學奢。

Lit The poor don't [have to] learn [to be] economical, [while the] rich don't [have to] learn [to be] extravagant; [they both just do it naturally].

Topics EXTRAVAGANCE FRUGALITY POVERTY RICH WEALTH

P17

[P17]

Pín bù yōuchóu; fù bù jiāo.

贫不忧愁, 富不骄。

貧不憂愁, 富不驕。

Lit Do not be worried in poverty nor arrogant in wealth.

Topics ARROGANCE POVERTY WEALTH WORRIES

P18

[P18]

Pín bù yǔ fù dí; jiàn bù yǔ guì zhēng.

贫不与富敌, 贱不与贵争。

貧不與富敵, 賤不與貴爭。

Lit The poor [should] not oppose the rich; the lowly [should] not contend with nobles.

Fig The poor and the common people don't stand a chance [in traditional China].

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 7.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE POVERTY SOCIAL CLASS traditional China WEALTH

P19

[P19]

Píng'ān jiùshì fú.*

平安就是福。

Lit Peace [and] security are blessings.

Topics PEACE SECURITY

P20

[P20]

Píngshēng bù zuò zhòu méi shì; shìshàng yīng wú qièchǐ rén.

平生不做皱眉事, 世上应无切齿人。

平生不做皺眉事, 世上應無切齒人。

Lit [If you] do nothing in [your] whole life [which causes others to] knit their brows, [then] there [should] be no one on earth [who] greatly hates [you].

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 8; note: qièchǐ, (lit) “to gnash one's teeth.”]

Topics ANGER BEHAVIOR HATE Jǐngshì Tōngyán SELF-RESTRAINT

P21

[P21]

Píngshí bù shāoxiāng; línshí bào Fó jiǎo.

平时不烧香, 临时抱佛脚。

平時不燒香, 臨時抱佛腳。

Lit [It is unwise to] never burn joss sticks in ordinary times, [but only] embrace the foot of the Buddha in times of need.

Fig Make preparations well in advance and don't put things off until it's too late.

Note [Originally xiánshí bù shāoxiāng; jí lái bào Fó jiǎo; see WM, chap. 17; note: línshí bào Fó jiǎo is a colloquial suyu expression meaning “to seek help at the last minute.”]

Topics colloquial expression Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn PLANNING PREPARATION PROCRASTINATION suyu TIMING WM

P22

[P22]

Píngshí duō dǎ jǐng, tiānhàn bù qiú shén.

平时多打井, 天旱不求神。

平時多打井, 天旱不求神。

Lit [In] ordinary times, dig more wells [and in] times of drought [you will] not need to ask gods [for water].

Fig It is wise to make preparations against possible times of hardship well in advance. “Save for a rainy day.”

Note [See also héshuǐ bù zhǎng above.]

Topics DROUGHT HARDSHIPS PREPARATION

P23

[P23]

Pín jiā, bǎi shì bǎi nán zuò; fù jiā, chāi de guǐ tuīmò.

贫家百事百难做, 富家差得鬼推磨。

貧家百事百難做, 富家差得鬼推磨。

Lit [For a] poor family everything is difficult, [but a] rich family can make a ghost turn a mill stone.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 4; see also yǒule qián and yǒuqián néng shǐ guǐ below.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō POVERTY WEALTH

P24

[P24]

Pínjiàn, cháng sī fùguì; fùguì, yòu lǚ wēijī.

贫贱常思富贵, 富贵又屡危机。

貧賤常思富貴, 富貴又屢危機。

Lit [When] poor, [one] longs [to be] rich, [but when one becomes] rich, then [one will] encounter misfortune.

Fig Too much fortune will bring one misfortune. One should be content with what one has.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics CONTENTMENT Jǐngshì Tōngyán MISFORTUNE POVERTY WEALTH

P25

[P25]

Pínjiàn fūqī bǎi shì āi.

贫贱夫妻百事哀。

貧賤夫妻百事哀。

Lit A poor couple in poverty [has to endure] all sorts of hardship.

Topics COUPLES DIFFICULTIES ENDURANCE HARDSHIPS POVERTY

P26

[P26]

Pínjiàn, qīnqi lí; fùguì, tārén hé.

贫贱亲戚离, 富贵他人合。

貧賤親戚離, 富貴他人合。

Lit [When one is] poor, relatives [will] distance [themselves, but when one is] rich, strangers [will] come.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 22; see also hǎo shí shì tārén above and pín jū nàoshì below.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō POVERTY RELATIVES WEALTH

P27

[P27]

Pínjiàn zhī zhī/jiāo bù kě wàng; zāokāngzhīqī bù xià táng.

贫贱之知/交不可忘, 糟糠之妻不下堂。

貧賤之知/交不可忘, 糟糠之妻不下堂。

Lit Friends [that were] known [when one was] in poverty, should not be forgotten, [and one's] wife [who shared] hardships [with you] should not be abandoned.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō (Yù Shì Míng Yán), chap. 27; note: zāokāngzhīqī, “a wife who has shared husband's hardships,” has become a set noun phrase; see also guì yì jiāo above.]

Topics FRIENDS Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō OBLIGATION POVERTY WIVES Yù Shì Míng Yán zāokāngzhīqī

P28

[P28]

Pín jū nàoshì wú rén wèn; fù zài shēnshān yǒu yuǎnqīn.

贫居闹市无人问, 富在深山有远亲。

貧居鬧市無人問, 富在深山有遠親。

Lit [If a] poor [person] lives [in the] busy city center, no one [will] visit [him], [but if you're] rich [and live] deep [in the] mountains, [you'll] have relatives [coming from] afar [to visit you and ask you for favors].

Note [See also fùguì tārén and pínjiàn, qīnqi lí above and qián jù rúxiōng and shí lái, shéi bù lái below.]

Topics FAVORS FRIENDSHIP POVERTY RELATIVES SELF-INTEREST WEALTH

P29

[P29]

Pín wú běn; fù wú gēn.

贫无本, 富无根。

貧無本, 富無根。

Lit Poverty has no stem [and] wealth has no root.

Fig No one is born poor or rich.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BIRTH CAUSE POVERTY rhyme WEALTH

P30

[P30]

Pīnzhe yīshēn guǎ, gǎn bǎ huángdì lā xiàmǎ.

拼着一身剐, 敢把皇帝拉下马。

拼著一身剮, 敢把皇帝拉下馬。

Lit [One who is] willing to risk death by a thousand cuts [will] dare to unhorse the emperor.

Fig A determined person is capable of doing anything.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 68; now more commonly said as shěde yīshēn guǎ, etc. (q.v.), as used by Mao Zedong during the Cultural Revolution to encourage the Red Guards to attack his rivals and other high level party officials; see also shěde yīshēn guǎ and sīle lóngpáo below.]

Topics ABILITY ATTACKS COURAGE Cultural Revolution DETERMINATION DRC Liu Shaoqi Mao Zedong POLITICS Red Guards SUCCESS

P31

[P31]

Pì xiāng chū hǎo jiǔ.

僻乡出好酒。

僻鄉出好酒。

Lit [The] remote countryside [can] produce good wine.

Fig Talented people can be produced in remote places.

Note [See also hánmén chū cáizǐ above and shēnshān chū jùn niǎo below.]

Topics COUNTRYSIDE DISTANCE PLACE TALENT

P32

[P32]

Pí zhī bù cún, máo jiāng yān fù.

皮之不存, 毛将焉附。

皮之不存, 毛將焉附。

Lit With the skin gone, what can the hair adhere to?

Fig A thing cannot exist without its basis.

Note [Originally from the Zuǒ Zhuàn: Xǐ Gōng 14 Nián; quoted by Mao Zedong to mean that the intellectuals, having no independent class status of their own, must attach themselves to the proletariat once the bourgeois class was destroyed.]

Topics CAUSE FOUNDATIONS INTELLECTUALS Mao Zedong POLITICS SOCIAL CLASS Xǐ Gōng 14 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

P33

[P33]

Pòcái shì dǎng zāi.

破财是挡灾。

破財是擋災。

Lit Losing money will ward off [other] disasters [that might happen to one].

Note [A superstitious belief; said as (self) consolation; also said pòcái xiāo zāi; see also cái qù, shēn ānlè and huānxǐ pòcái above.]

Topics CONSOLATION DISASTER LOSS MONEY pòcái xiāo zāi SUPERSTITION

P34

[P34]

Pò cháo zhīxià, ān yǒu wán luǎn.

破巢之下, 安有完卵。

Lit Beneath a broken nest, how [can] there be any whole [i.e., unbroken] eggs?

Fig If the base is destroyed, things which depend on it cannot survive. If the group is harmed, the individual can hardly survive.

Note [See also fù cháo zhīxià above.]

Topics CAUSE DEPENDENCE FOUNDATIONS GROUPS HARM INDIVIDUALS SURVIVAL

P35

[P35]

Pò chē hào lǎn zài.

破车好揽载。

破車好攬載。

Lit [One who drives a] broken cart [always] hopes to take on [more] loads.

Fig There are always people who want to do things beyond their ability.

Topics ABILITY ASPIRATIONS LIMITATIONS

P36

[P36]

Pò chuán piān yù dǎtóufēng.

破船偏遇打头风。

破船偏遇打頭風。

Lit A leaky boat meets with a head wind.

Fig “Misfortunes never come singly.” “It never rains but it pours.”

Note [See also làn chuán piān yù above and wū lòu gèng zāo below.]

Topics DISASTER LUCK MISFORTUNE

P37

[P37]

Pòchú wànshì wú guò jiǔ.

破除万事无过酒。

破除萬事無過酒。

Lit To drive away all [worrisome] matters, there is nothing [which] can surpass wine.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 60; vs. jiǔ bù jiě above.]

Topics JW LIQUOR WORRIES

P38

[P38]

Pò gǔ, wàn rén chuí.

破鼓万人捶。

破鼓萬人捶。

Lit [A] broken drum [will be] beat[en by] thousands upon thousands of people.

Fig When one is in difficult circumstances, one will be bullied by everyone.

Note [Quoted in Lǎo Shè Wénjí: Zhào Zǐ Yuè.]

Topics BULLYING DIFFICULTY Lǎo Shè Wénjí Zhào_Zǐ_Yuè

P39

[P39]

Pò jiǎn chū jùn é.

破茧出俊蛾。

破繭出俊蛾。

Lit From a damaged cocoon flies out a beautiful moth.

Fig A homely woman may give birth to a handsome child.

Note [See also lǎo bàng chū míngzhū above.]

Topics BEAUTY CHILDREN MOTHERS

P40

[P40]

Pò jiā xiànlìng; mièmén cìshǐ.

破家县令, 灭门刺史。

破家縣令, 滅門刺史。

Lit A county magistrate [may] ruin a family, [but] a provincial governor [may] execute [an entire] clan.

Fig The higher the official, the more powerful or vicious they are.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 29; Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 1.]

Topics DANGER HIERARCHY OFFICIALS POWER Rúlín Wàishǐ Xǐngshì_Héngyán

P41

[P41]

Pò jiā zhí wànguàn.

破家值万贯。

破家值萬貫。

Lit [Even a] tumbledown home is worth ten thousand strings of cash.

Fig “Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.”

Note [Note: guàn refers to a “string” of one thousand copper coins or “cash” strung through the square holes in the middle, used in traditional China.]

Topics CASH guàn HOME

P42

[P42]

Pò mào zhīxià, duō hǎorén.

破帽之下, 多好人。

Lit Under shabby hats [are found] many good people.

Fig Don't judge people by their appearances only.

Topics APPEARANCES GOODNESS JUDGMENTS

P43

[P43]

Pò qiáng luàn rén tuī; pò gǔ luàn rén léi.

破墙乱人推, 破鼓乱人擂。

破牆亂人推, 破鼓亂人擂。

Lit A broken wall is pushed by every passerby, [and] a broken drum is beaten by everyone who cares to.

Fig A person who is down and out gets kicked by everyone.

Note [Rhyme; see also qiáng dǎo zhòngrén tuī below.]

Topics BULLYING DECLINE POSITION WEAKNESS

P44

[P44]

Pò rén mǎimai yī fàn, rú shā fùmǔ qī-zǐ.

破人买卖衣饭, 如杀父母妻子。

破人買賣衣飯, 如殺父母妻子。

Lit To destroy [someone's] business [and means of making a] living is like killing [his] parents [and] wife [and] children.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 21; note: mǎi-mài means “business” and (zuò) mǎimai means “(to do) small business.”]

Topics BUSINESS LIVELIHOOD mǎimai mǎi-mài WM WORKING zuò_mǎimai

【L1】Q Q1

[Q1]

Qiān bān yì xué; qiān qiào nán tōng.

千般易学; 千窍难通。

千般易學; 千竅難通。

Lit It's easy to study a thousand trades, [but] hard to be good at them all.

Note [Vs. qiān zhāo yào huì below.]

Topics EXPERTISE PROFESSIONS SKILL STUDYING TRADES

Q2

[Q2]

Qián bù suàn; hòu yào luàn.

前不算, 后要乱。

前不算, 後要亂。

Lit Without advance planning, later [things] will be in chaos.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics PLANNING rhyme

Q3

[Q3]

Qiáncái bù lòu (yǎn).

钱财不露(眼)。

錢財不露(眼)。

Lit Never show off [your] wealth ([to the] eyes [of others]).

Fig Don't show off your money.

Note [Also said as qiáncái bù lòu bái; see also cái bù lòubái and jīn-yín bù lòubái above and zhēn yínzi below.]

Topics MONEY OSTENTATION WEALTH

Q4

[Q4]

Qiáncái rú fèntǔ; rényì zhí qiānjīn.

钱财如粪土, 仁义值千金。

錢財如糞土, 仁義值千金。

Lit Wealth is as [worthless as] dung [and] dirt, [while] benevolence [toward others] is worth a thousand [ounces of] gold.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics BENEVOLENCE qiānjīn (gold) WEALTH Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Q5

[Q5]

Qiáncái shì tǎng lái zhī wù.

钱财是倘来之物。

錢財是倘來之物。

Lit Money is something that comes by chance.

Topics CHANCE LUCK MONEY

Q6

[Q6]

Qián chē (zhī) fù, hòu chē (zhī) jiàn/jiè.

前车(之)覆, 后车(之)鉴/诫。

前車(之)覆, 後車(之)鑒/誡。

Lit The overturned cart ahead [is a] warning [to the] cart behind.

Fig One should learn from the mistakes of others.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 80; as a chengyu: qiánchēzhījiàn, “lessons drawn from other's mistakes,” in Xúnzǐ: Chéng Xiàng; see also qiánrén shījiǎo and qiánrén zhì and qián shì bù wàng and qián yǒu chē below; note: jiànjiè, “warning, object lesson.”]

Topics Chéng Xiàng chengyu EXPERIENCE Fēngshén Yǎnyì LEARNING LESSONS MISTAKES qiánchēzhījiàn Xúnzǐ

Q7

[Q7]

Qiān chǐ de shuǐ, kàn de qīng; cùn hòu de xīn, kànbutòu.

千尺的水看得清, 寸厚的心看不透。

Lit Water [a] thousand feet [deep] can be seen through, [but a] heart [only an] inch thick can't be seen through.

Fig It's difficult to know other people's minds.

Topics INSCRUTABILITY MINDS WATER

Q8

[Q8]

Qiān chuān wàn chuān; mǎpì bù chuān.*

千穿万穿; 马屁不穿。

千穿萬穿; 馬屁不穿。

Lit Many things [can be seen] through, [but] flattery won't be.

Fig All kinds of pretense can be seen through, but not flattery. Flattery will get you everywhere.

Note [Note: pái mǎpì, “to flatter.”]

Topics FLATTERY pái_mǎpì

Q9

[Q9]

Qiān chuí chéng lìqì; bǎi liàn biàn chún gāng.

千捶成利器, 百炼变纯钢。

千捶成利器, 百煉變純鋼。

Lit A sharp weapon must be struck a hundred blows [and] pure steel must be tempered a hundred times.

Fig An able person has to steel and temper himself over and over again.

Note [Note the chengyu: bǎiliàn-chénggāng; “be tempered into steel.”]

Topics ABILITY bǎiliàn-chénggāng chengyu DISCIPLINE TRAINING

Q10

[Q10]

Qiān chuí dǎ luó; yīchuí-dìngyīn.

千锤打锣, 一锤定音。

千錘打鑼, 一錘定音。

Lit A thousand [people may] beat gongs, [but] the tune is set by one [person only].

Fig Many may take part in the discussion, but the decision will be made by one person only.

Note [Note: yīchuí-dìngyīn, is a set phrase meaning “to have the final word.”]

Topics AUTHORITY chengyu COMPARISON DECISIONS LEADERSHIP yīchuí-dìngyīn

Q11

[Q11]

Qiān duǒ táohuā, yī shù shēng.

千朵桃花, 一树生。

千朵桃花, 一樹生。

Lit A thousand peach flowers bloom on one tree.

Fig Children of the same mother should be kind to each other.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 78.]

Topics CHILDREN JPM KINDNESS MOTHERS RELATIVES

Q12

[Q12]

Qiān fāng yì dé; yī xiào nán qiú.

千方易得, 一效难求。

千方易得, 一效難求。

Lit [A] thousand prescriptions are easy [to] get, [but] one effective [one] is difficult to find.

Fig Different problems require different solutions. One cannot simply apply ready-made formulas to every problem.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS PRESCRIPTIONS PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

Q13

[Q13]

Qiān fū suǒ zhǐ, wú jí ér sǐ.*

千夫所指, 无疾而死。

千夫所指, 無疾而死。

Lit [If one is] pointed at [by a] thousand people, [although one is] not sick, [one will] die.

Fig It is hard to withstand public opinion.

Note [Note: qiānfū-suǒzhǐ is a chengyu meaning “(to be) universally condemned”; see also rén bù jīng bǎi yǔ below.]

Topics chengyu PUBLIC OPINION qiānfū-suǒzhǐ

Q14

[Q14]

Qiān gāo chēngchuán; yī gāo kào'àn.

千篙撑船; 一篙靠岸。

千篙撐船; 一篙靠岸。

Lit [It may take a] thousand pushes [to] pole [a] boat [forward], [but it still needs] one [final] push to get [it] to shore.

Fig The last effort in the final stages of a project is most important.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EFFORT rhyme SUCCESS

Q15

[Q15]

Qiáng bīn bù yā zhǔ.

强宾不压主。

強賓不壓主。

Lit [A] strong guest does not outshine [his] host.

Fig A gentleman does not ride roughshod over others on their own home territory.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 13; WM, chap. 20.]

Topics CONDUCT COURTESY GENTLEMEN GUESTS HOSTS PLACE R3K WM

Q16

[Q16]

Qiāng dǎ chūtóuniǎo.

枪打出头鸟。

槍打出頭鳥。

Lit The leading bird is the first to be shot.

Fig Those who stand out are usually the first to be attacked.

Note [Note: chūtóuniǎo has become a colloquial expression meaning “outstanding person”; see also chūtóu chuánzi and chū lín sǔnzi above.]

Topics CAUTION chūtóuniǎo colloquial expression CONFORMITY DIFFERENCES LEADERS NONCONFORMITY SELF-RESTRAINT

Q17

[Q17]

Qiángdào yánjiē zǒu, wú zāng bù dìngzuì.

强盗沿街走, 无赃不定罪。

強盜沿街走, 無贓不定罪。

Lit [Even if a] bandit walks along the street, without goods [he stole], [you can]not declare [him] guilty.

Fig Without concrete proof, people cannot be convicted.

Note [See also dà dào yánjiē above.]

Topics EVIDENCE PROOF THIEVES THIEVES

Q18

[Q18]

Qiáng dǎo zhòngrén tuī.

墙倒众人推。

牆倒眾人推。

Lit [When a] wall [is] collapsing, everybody [comes to give it a] push.

Fig Everyone wants to kick someone who is down.

Note [Said of those losing or out of power; cf. DRC, chap. 69; see also pò qiáng luàn rén tuī above.]

Topics BULLYING DECLINE DRC POSITION POWER WEAKNESS

Q19

[Q19]

Qiáng jiàng shǒuxià wú ruò bīng.

强将手下无弱兵。

強將手下無弱兵。

Lit Under an able general there are no cowardly troops.

Fig An able leader inspires or only employs able followers.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 9; Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 82.]

Topics ABILITY Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí GENERALS INSPIRATION LEADERSHIP MILITARY Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì SUBORDINATES

Q20

[Q20]

Qiángjì bùrú shàn wù.

强记不如善悟。

強記不如善悟。

Lit A good memory [or “rote memorization”] is not as [good as] a good [ability to] understand.

Note [Note: lǐngwù, “comprehend,” and wùxing, “power of comprehension; insight.”]

Topics COMPREHENSION lǐngwù MEMORIZATION UNDERSTANDING wùxing

Q21

[Q21]

Qiáng lǐ kāihuā; qiáng wài xiāng.*

墙里开花, 墙外香

牆裡開花, 牆外香

Lit Flowers bloom inside the walls [but their] fragrance [spreads] outside the walls.

Fig People who are not appreciated in their own place are known and respected in other places. “A prophet is not without honor save in his own country.”

Note [Vs. yuǎn lái de héshang huì niànjīng below.]

Topics APPRECIATION HONOR RESPECT

Q22

[Q22]

Qiáng lóng bù yā dìtóushé.*

强龙不压地头蛇。

強龍不壓地頭蛇。

Lit [A] mighty dragon [can]not crush [a] local snake.

Fig A local despot is difficult to subdue.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 45; see also è lóng nán dòu above.]

Topics JW LOCAL OFFICIALS PLACE POWER

Q23

[Q23]

Qiáng niǔ de guā bù tián.*

强扭的瓜不甜。

強扭的瓜不甜。

Lit [An unripe] melon forcibly picked [off the vine] is not sweet.

Fig If one forces something, no good result will come of it. Wait until the time is right.

Note [See also qiǎngpò bù chéng below.]

Topics FORCE PATIENCE RESULTS TIMING

Q24

[Q24]

Qiǎngpò bù chéng mǎi-mài; qiǎngqiú bù chéng fūqī.*

强迫不成买卖, 强求不成夫妻。

強迫不成買賣, 強求不成夫妻。

Lit No forced business [dealings] can be successful, [just as] no forced marriages will succeed [either].

Note [See also kǔnbǎng bù chéng above.]

Topics BUSINESS FORCE MARRIAGE SUCCESS

Q25

[Q25]

Qiáng pò, máquè duō; rén qióng, zāinàn duō.

墙破麻雀多, 人穷灾难多。

牆破麻雀多, 人窮災難多。

Lit [Just as] in a broken wall there are more sparrows, [so when] people are poor, [they suffer] more misfortunes.

Topics MISFORTUNE POVERTY

Q26

[Q26]

Qiángtóu lúwěi; tóu zhòng, jiǎo qīng, gēn dǐ qiǎn.

墙头芦苇; 头重, 脚轻, 根底浅。

牆頭蘆葦; 頭重, 腳輕, 根底淺。

Lit [When] bullrush reeds grow atop a wall, [they have] heavy tops, light bases, [and their] roots are shallow.

Fig Some people have impressive sounding titles, but in fact they are not qualified for their positions.

Topics QUALIFICATIONS TITLES

Q27

[Q27]

Qiángtóu yī kē cǎo; fēng chuī liǎngbiāndǎo.

墙头一棵草, 风吹两边倒。

牆頭一棵草, 風吹兩邊倒。

Lit A tuft of grass atop a wall, [when the] wind blows, sways in both directions.

Fig One who has no principles just follows the prevailing (political) winds.

Note [Rhyme; note: qiángtou cǎo refers to an indecisive “fence-sitter”; liǎngbiāndǎo is now a colloquial expression meaning “to waver between sides.”]

Topics colloquial expression DECISIONS POLITICS PRINCIPLES rhyme VACILATION

Q28

[Q28]

Qiáng yǒu fèng; bì yǒu ěr.

墙有缝, 壁有耳。

牆有縫, 壁有耳。

Lit Walls have cracks [and] walls have ears.

Fig Secret things will eventually leak out.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 26; see also gé qiáng yǒu ěr above.]

Topics CAUTION EAVESDROPPING JPM SECRETS

Q29

[Q29]

Qiáng zhōng háiyǒu qiáng zhōng shǒu; néngrén bèihòu yǒu néngrén.*

强中还有强中手, 能人背后有能人。

強中還有強中手, 能人背後有能人。

Lit Among the strong, there are even stronger ones, [and] behind able people there are [even] abler people.

Fig No matter how good one is, there is always someone better.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 14; Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 46. Note: the two halves are often used independently. The first part is also said as qiáng zhōng zì yǒu qiáng zhōng shǒu; see also néngrén zhīwài above and rén wài yǒu rén and shān wài yǒu shān and shé tūn shǔ and yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics ABILITY COMPETITION Fēngshén Yǎnyì JW LIMITATIONS STRENGTH Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

Q30

[Q30]

Qiānjīn bù sǐ; bǎi jīn bù xíng.

千金不死, 百金不刑。

Lit [Pay a] thousand [ounces of] gold, [and you will] not die; [pay a] hundred [ounces of] gold, [and you will] not [be] punish[ed].

Note [Refers to the corruptibility of judges in traditional China.]

Topics BRIBERY CORRUPTION GOLD JUDGES LAW MONEY qiānjīn (gold) traditional_China

Q31

[Q31]

Qiānjīn de gǔniú, yě yào dītóu hē shuǐ.

千斤的牯牛,也要低头喝水。

千斤的牯牛,也要低頭喝水。

Lit Even a bull of a thousand catties has to lower its head to drink water.

Fig However able a person may be, one sometimes has to “lower oneself” to ask others for help.

Note [Note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics catty HELP qiānjīn_wt._

Q32

[Q32]

Qiānjīn mǎi chǎn; bābǎi mǎi lín.*

千金买产, 八百买邻。

千金買產, 八百買鄰。

Lit [If you spend one] thousand catties [of gold to] buy [real] estate, eight hundred [of them should be spent on] obtaining good neighbors.

Fig Good neighbors are most important.

Note [Note: fángdi chǎn, “real estate”; technically one jīn or “catty” equals one-half kilogram, but here qiānjīn means “a lot of money”; see also bǎiwàn mǎi zhái and fángzi hǎo zhù above and qiān qián mǎi lín and xuǎnzé fángwū below.]

Topics catty fángdi chǎn jīn NEIGHBORS qiānjīn_gold_

Q33

[Q33]

Qiānjīn nán mǎi huítóu kàn.

千金难买回头看。

千金難買回頭看。

Lit A thousand [ounces of] gold cannot purchase [the benefits of] hindsight.

Fig Experience is most valuable.

Note [Note: see the preceding entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE HINDSIGHT qiānjīn_gold_

Q34

[Q34]

Qiānjīn nán mǎi lǎolái shòu.

千金难买老来瘦。

千金難買老來瘦。

Lit A thousand [ounces of] gold cannot buy slenderness in old age.

Fig Slenderness in old age is a blessing.

Topics AGE HEALTH OLD AGE qiānjīn_gold_

Q35

[Q35]

Qiānjīn nán mǎi liǎng tóngxīn.

千金难买两同心。

千金難買兩同心。

Lit A thousand [ounces of] gold can hardly purchase two people of the same mind.

Fig A kindred spirit is hard to find.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 9; see also qiān qián nán mǎi yī gè yuàn below.]

Topics COOPERATION MINDS qiānjīn (gold) SIMILARITIES Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Q36

[Q36]

Qiānjīn nán mǎi wáng rén bǐ.

千金难买亡人笔。

千金難買亡人筆。

Lit A thousand [ounces of] gold can hardly purchase the calligraphy of one's dear departed [which is most precious].

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 10.]

Topics CALLIGRAPHY Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō MEMORIES qiānjīn (gold) VALUE

Q37

[Q37]

Qiānjīn nán mǎi yīkǒuqì.

千金难买一口气。

千金難買一口氣。

Lit A thousand [ounces of] gold cannot buy one breath of life.

Fig Life is the most precious thing.

Topics LIFE MONEY qiānjīn (gold) VALUE

Q38

[Q38]

Qiānjīn nán mǎi yī xiào.*

千金难买一笑。

千金難買一笑。

Lit A thousand [ounces of] gold can hardly purchase a smile.

Fig A fair lady's smile is most precious. Beautiful women are hard to please.

Note [Originally referring to the concubine of the last emperor of the Shang dynasty Zhou Wang; cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 2; DRC, chap. 31; also said yī xiào zhí qiān jīn.]

Topics BEAUTY Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) DRC qiānjīn (gold) Shang dynasty SMILES VALUE WOMEN Zhou_Wang

Q39

[Q39]

Qián jìn, qíngyì jué.*

钱尽, 情义绝。

錢盡, 情義絕。

Lit [When] money is used up, friendship ends.

Note [See also qián jù rúxiōng below.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDSHIP MONEY

Q40

[Q40]

Qiānjīn zhī qiú, fēi yī hú zhī yè.

千金之裘, 非一狐之腋。

Lit A [fox fur] robe worth a thousand [ounces of] gold is not [made from the fur of just] one fox's armpit.

Fig The success of a great cause depends on the cooperation of many people.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Liú Jìng Shū Sǔn Tōng Lièzhuàn; see also qiān yáng zhī pí below.]

Topics CLOTHING CONDITIONS COOPERATION FURS qiānjīn (gold) Shǐ Jì SUCCESS

Q41

[Q41]

Qiān jūn yì dé; yī jiàng nán qiú.*

千军易得, 一将难求。

千軍易得, 一將難求。

Lit It is easy to get a thousand soldiers, but hard to find one good general.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 46; R3K, chap. 70.]

Topics COMPARISON Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) GENERALS LEADERSHIP MILITARY SKILL SOLDIERS STRATEGY TACTICS

Q42

[Q42]

Qián jù rúxiōng; qián sàn rú bēn.

钱聚如兄, 钱散如奔。

錢聚如兄, 錢散如奔。

Lit [When one has] money, [people] flock [to one] like brothers; [when one's] money is gone, [people] flee [from one].

Fig When you are rich, people flock to you and respect you; when you are poor, people flee when you come. “Nobody knows you when you're down and out.”

Note [Note: rúxiōng, “elder sworn brother”; see also mén qián shuānzhe and pín jū nàoshì and qián jìn, qíngyì jué above and yǒuqián shǐde guǐ and yǒuqián yǒu jiǔ below.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER FAVORS FRIENDSHIP POVERTY RELATIVES rúqiōng SELF-INTEREST WEALTH

Q43

[Q43]

Qián kě tōng shén.*

钱可通神。

錢可通神。

Lit Money can get through to the gods.

Fig With money one can accomplish anything. “Money makes the mare go.”

Note [Also said qián néng tōng shén in Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 1; see also cái dòng rénxīn above and qián tōng shén lù and yǒuqián néng shǐ guǐ below.]

Topics BRIBERY INFLUENCE MONEY Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Q44

[Q44]

Qiān lǐ dā cháng péng, méiyǒu bú sàn de yánxí.

千里搭长棚, 没有不散的筵席。

千里搭長棚, 沒有不散的筵席。

Lit [Even if you] put up [temporary] pavilions [to entertain guests stretching] for a thousand miles, [nevertheless] no feast will last forever.

Fig “All good things must come to an end.”

Note [See also liú jūn qiān rì above and shèngyàn bì sàn and sòng jūn qiān lǐ and tiānxià wú bù sàn below.]

Topics COURTESY DEPARTURES ENDINGS GUESTS HOSTS PARTING TIME

Q45

[Q45]

Qiānlǐmǎ yě yǒu yī juě.

千里马也有一蹶。

千里馬也有一蹶。

Lit Even a horse [which can run a] thousand leagues [per day] may stumble once.

Fig However able one may be, one may sometimes make mistakes; “even Homer sometimes nods.”

Note [Note: qiānlǐmǎ is equivalent to “winged steed”; one lǐ technically equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics ABILITY lǐ LIMITATIONS MISTAKES qiānlǐmǎ

Q46

[Q46]

Qiān lǐ sòng émáo; lǐ qīng, rén yì (/qíngyì) zhòng.*

千里送鹅毛, 礼轻仁意(/情意)重。

千里送鵝毛, 禮輕仁意(/情意)重。

Lit [When] a goose feather is sent a thousand miles, the gift is light, but the sentiment is heavy.

Fig A gift itself may be small, but the goodwill (or sentiment) it represents is heavy.

Note [Often said by the giver of a gift; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 38; Jìnghuā Yuàn. chap. 50; also said as a chengyu: qiān lǐ é máo, (lǐ qīng, yì zhòng).]

Topics chengyu Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FEELINGS GIFTS GOOD WILL SENTIMENT

Q47

[Q47]

Qián liú sān bù, hǎo zǒu; hòu liú sān bù, hǎo xíng.

前留三步好走, 后留三步好行。

前留三步好走, 後留三步好行。

Lit Leave three steps [space] both in front and behind, [and you'll] walk more freely.

Fig It is best to leave some leeway in everything one does.

Topics CAUTION FLEXIBILITY FREEDOM SPACE STEPS

Q48

[Q48]

Qiān lǐ yīnyuán, yī xiàn qiān.*

千里姻缘一线牵。

千里姻緣一線牽。

Lit [Two beings] destined to marry each other, [though] a thousand miles apart, are joined by a single string.

Fig A thousand miles can't keep apart a couple that are fated to wed: their lives and destinies are tied by a long and invisible thread.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 57; JW, chap. 54; see also shì yīnyuán and yīnyuán, yīnyuán below.]

Topics COUPLES DISTANCE DRC FATE JW MARRIAGE MATCHMAKERS yīnyuán

Q49

[Q49]

Qiān lǐ zhī dī; kuì yú yǐxué.*

千里之堤, 溃于蚁穴。

千里之堤, 潰於蟻穴。

Lit A thousand-league long dike [can] collapse because of an ant hole.

Fig Slight negligence may lead to great disaster; “a small leak can sink a great ship.”

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Yù Lǎo; note: traditionally one lǐ equals approximately one-half of a kilometer.]

Topics DISASTER Hán Fēizǐ NEGLIGENCE PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION

Q50

[Q50]

Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià.

千里之行, 始于足下。

千里之行, 始於足下。

Lit [A] thousand league's journey begins from under [one's] foot.

Fig The most difficult part of any task is getting started. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Note [Cf. Lǎozǐ, Dào Dé Jīng, chap. 64, in which this line follows the line jiǔ céng zhī tái qǐ yú lěi tǔ (q.v.); one lǐ equals approximately one-half kilometer.]

Topics BEGINNING Dào Dé Jīng DIFFICULTIES Lǎozǐ lǐ TRAVEL WORKING

Q51

[Q51]

Qiān mài, wàn mài; shéběn bù mài.

千卖万卖, 折本不卖。

千賣萬賣, 折本不賣。

Lit [One can] sell [something under virtually] any circumstances, except selling at a loss.

Topics BUSINESS LOSS

Q52

[Q52]

Qiān nián de yězhū, lǎohǔ de shí.

千年的野猪, 老虎的食。

千年的野豬, 老虎的食。

Lit A thousand-year-old boar [is] a tiger's meal.

Fig Sooner or later, the weaker fall prey to the more powerful.

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 104.]

Topics BULLYING Dàng Kòu Zhì POWER STRENGTH TIME WEAKNESS

Q53

[Q53]

Qiān nián tiándì, bābǎi zhǔ.

千年田地, 八百主。

Lit [There have been] eight hundred owners of the land in a thousand years.

Fig The owners (or farmers) of the land keep changing.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 71; see also tián shì zhǔrén below.]

Topics CHANGE JPM LAND OWNERS PROPERTY

Q54

[Q54]

Qiān nián wényuē huì shuō huà.

千年文约会说话。

千年文約會說話。

Lit A thousand-year-old contract will speak [the truth].

Fig Contracts are valid proof, however long ago they were signed; written documents are good proof.

Note [Note: wénzì de píngyù, “written proof,” and qìyuē, “contract.”]

Topics CONTRACTS DOCUMENTS EVIDENCE píngyù PROOF qìyuē TIME WRITING

Q55

[Q55]

Qiānniú, yào qiān bí (/niúbízi).

牵牛, 要牵鼻(/牛鼻子)。

牽牛, 要牽鼻(/牛鼻子)。

Lit To lead an ox, [you] have to lead [it by the] nose.

Fig In order to solve a problem, one must seize it at a vital point.

Note [See also chī lì yào bōpí above.]

Topics PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS STRATEGY SUCCESS

Q56

[Q56]

Qiān qián mǎi lín; bābǎi mǎi shè.

千钱买邻, 八百买舍。

千錢買鄰, 八百買舍。

Lit One thousand cash buys a [good] neighbor, [while it only takes] eight hundred to buy a house.

Fig When buying a house, choosing one's neighbors is more important than choosing the house itself.

Note [Note: qián refers to copper coins or “cash” used in traditional China; see also bǎiwàn mǎi zhái and qiānjīn mǎi chǎn above and xuǎnzé fángwū below.]

Topics CASH CHOICES COMPARISON HOUSES MONEY NEIGHBORS

Q57

[Q57]

Qiān qián nán mǎi yī gè yuàn.

千钱难买一个愿。

千錢難買一個願。

Lit A thousand cash cannot purchase the same mind.

Fig A kindred spirit is hard to find.

Note [See also qiānjīn nán mǎi liǎng above and the previous entry.]

Topics CASH MINDS SIMILARITIES

Q58

[Q58]

Qiān qián shē bùrú bābǎi xiàn.

千钱赊不如八百现。

千錢賒不如八百現。

Lit Better eight hundred in hand than a thousand on credit.

Fig “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; see also duō dé bùrú above.]

Topics CASH CHOICES COMPARISON CREDIT POSSESSION Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Q59

[Q59]

Qián qiàn wèi qīng; miǎn kāi zūn kǒu.

前欠未清, 免开尊口。

前欠未清, 免開尊口。

Lit [While] former debts still [are] not cleared, [one should] not open [one's] “venerable mouth” [to ask for another loan].

Note [Said sarcastically; note: miǎnkāizūnkǒu has become an idiom meaning something like “no comments, please.”]

Topics DEBT LOANS miǎnkāizūnkǒu REPAYMENT SARCASM

Q60

[Q60]

Qián qīn; rén bù qīn.

钱亲, 人不亲。

錢親, 人不親。

Lit Money is dear; people are not.

Fig Money is dearer than relatives.

Topics MONEY RELATIVES

Q61

[Q61]

Qiān qiú bùrú yī xià.

千求不如一吓。

千求不如一嚇。

Lit A thousand pleas are not as [effective as] one threat.

Topics BEGGING COMPARISON NUMBER QUANTITY THREATS

Q62

[Q62]

Qiān rén nuònuò bùrú yī shì è'è.

千人诺诺不如一士谔谔。

千人諾諾不如一士諤諤。

Lit Better to have one scholar argue [with you] than a thousand people agree [with you].

Note [Advice to a wise ruler; cf. Shǐ Jì: Shāng Jūn Lièzhuàn.]

Topics ADVICE DISAGREEMENT LEADERS SCHOLARS Shāng Jūn Lièzhuàn Shǐ_Jì

Q63

[Q63]

Qiān rén qiān píqì; wàn rén wàn múyàng.

千人千脾气, 万人万模样。

千人千脾氣, 萬人萬模樣。

Lit [In] one thousand people, each one [has a different] temperament; [and in] ten thousand people, each one [has a different] appearance.

Topics APPEARANCES INDIVIDUALS PEOPLE TEMPERAMENT

Q64

[Q64]

Qiánrén sǎ tǔ, míle hòurén yǎn.

前人洒土, 迷了后人眼。

前人灑土, 迷了後人眼。

Lit The dirt scattered by [one's] forebears blurs the sight of [the] descendants.

Fig Later generations must bear the consequences of the wrongs done by their ancestors.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 72; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 12.]

Topics ANCESTORS CONSEQUENCES DRC Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GENERATIONS MISTAKES

Q65

[Q65]

Qiánrén shījiǎo; hòurén bǎ huá.

前人失脚, 后人把滑。

前人失腳, 後人把滑。

Lit [If the] one in front loses [his] footing, the one behind [will] mind his step.

Fig It is wise to draw a lesson from others' mistakes.

Note [Cf. Gǔ Yáoyàn, chap. 49; see also qián chē zhī fù above and qiánrén zhì below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE Gǔ Yáoyàn LEARNING LESSONS MISTAKES

Q66

[Q66]

Qiān rén suǒ zhǐ, wú bìng ér sǐ.

千人所指, 无病而死。

千人所指, 無病而死。

Lit When everybody points their fingers at a [bad] person, [he or she], although not sick, will die.

Fig If one commits bad acts or goes against social conventions one will not have a happy life.

Topics ACTIONS BEHAVIOR CONFORMITY CONVENTIONS DIFFERENCES

Q67

[Q67]

Qiánrén tiántǔ; hòurén shōu.

前人田土, 后人收。

前人田土, 後人收。

Lit [The] ancestors farm lands; [their] descendants harvest.

Fig Wealth acquired by ancestors is enjoyed by their descendants.

Note [See also qiánrén zāishù below.]

Topics ANCESTORS FARMING GENERATIONS INHERITANCE LAND WEALTH

Q68

[Q68]

Qiánrén zāishù; hòurén chéngliáng.*

前人栽树, 后人乘凉。

前人栽樹, 後人乘涼。

Lit The forebears plant the trees, [and] their descendants enjoy the shade.

Fig One generation plants the trees under which another takes its ease. Later generations (will) reap the benefits of their forebears' efforts.

Note [Now also said qiánrén zhòng shù, etc.; see also qiánrén tiántǔ above.]

Topics ANCESTORS FARMING GENERATIONS INHERITANCE INVESTMENT LAND WEALTH

Q69

[Q69]

Qiánrén zhì; hòurén jiè.

前人踬, 后人戒。

前人躓, 後人戒。

Lit [If the] one in front stumbles, the one behind takes heed.

Fig It is wise to learn a lesson from others' mistakes.

Note [Cf. Gǔ Yáoyàn, chap. 35; see also qián chē zhī fù and qiánrén shījiǎo above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE Gǔ Yáoyàn LEARNING LESSONS MISTAKES

Q70

[Q70]

Qiān rì kǎnchái, yī rì shāo.

千日砍柴, 一日烧。

千日砍柴, 一日燒。

Lit Collect firewood for a thousand days, [but] burn it in one day.

Fig Long preparations are necessary against one day's use.

Note [Also said qiān tiān kǎnchái ..., or qiān rì dǎchái ... etc.; see also yǎngbīng qiān rì below.]

Topics PLANNING PREPARATION

Q71

[Q71]

Qián sānshí nián shuì bù xǐng; hòu sānshí nián shuì bù zháo.

前三十年睡不醒, 后三十年睡不着。

前三十年睡不醒, 後三十年睡不著。

Lit [If during one's] first thirty years [one] sleeps too much, [then during one's] last thirty years [one will] not be able to sleep.

Fig If one wastes the first thirty years of one's life, it will be too late to accomplish anything in the second thirty years. One should be diligent during one's youth.

Note [See also hēi fà bù zhī above and shàozhuàng bù nǔlì below.]

Topics DILIGENCE SLEEP YOUTH

Q72

[Q72]

Qián shēng qián; lì gǔn lì.

钱生钱, 利滚利。

錢生錢, 利滾利。

Lit Money begets money; interest compounds interest.

Topics INVESTMENT MONEY

Q73

[Q73]

Qián shì bù wàng; hòushì zhī shī.*

前事不忘, 后事之师。

前事不忘, 後事之師。

Lit [If] previous experiences are not forgotten, [they can be] teachers for later matters.

Fig Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

Note [Cf. Zhànguó Cè: Zhào Cè Yī; Shǐ Jì: Qìn Shǐ Huáng Běn Jì; see also qián yǒu chē below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE FUTURE LEARNING LESSONS Qìn Shǐ Huáng Běn Jì Shǐ Jì TEACHING Zhànguó Cè Zhào_Cè_Yī

Q74

[Q74]

Qián shì rén zhī dǎn; cái shì fù zhī miáo.

钱是人之胆, 财是富之苗。

錢是人之膽, 財是富之苗。

Lit Money is a person's courage; assets are the source of riches.

Fig A person with money is bold; a person of means will get richer.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 96.]

Topics ASSETS COURAGE MONEY PROPERTY Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì WEALTH

Q75

[Q75]

Qiǎn shuǐ yānsǐ rén; píng lù diē sǐ mǎ.

浅水淹死人, 平路跌死马。

淺水淹死人, 平路跌死馬。

Lit Shallow water drowns people, [and] flat roads [can] trip [up and] kill horses.

Fig One should always be careful, so as not to suffer the unexpected.

Note [See also quàn jūn mò dǎ and zǒu píng lù below.]

Topics CAUTION

Q76

[Q76]

Qiān suàn, wàn suàn bùrú lǎotiān yī suàn.

千算万算不如老天一算。

千算萬算不如老天一算。

Lit Thousands upon thousands [of human] plans are not equal to one of Heaven's plans.

Fig Whatever human minds intend, it's Heaven that decides the end; “man proposes, heaven disposes.”

Note [Rhyme; also said qiān suàn, wàn suàn, bùjí tiān suàn; see also móushì zài rén above and shì dà, shì xiǎo and tiān suàn bù yóu below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT FATE HEAVEN PLANNING

Q77

[Q77]

Qián tōng shén lù.

钱通神路。

錢通神路。

Lit Money opens the way to heaven.

Fig Money will move the gods. “Money makes the mare go.”

Note [See also qián kě tōng shén above and tiānxià wú nánshì below.]

Topics BRIBERY INFLUENCE MONEY

Q78

[Q78]

Qiān xū bù dǐ yī shí.

千虚不抵一实。

千虛不抵一實。

Lit A thousand empty [promises] are not worth one true [deed].

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 3.]

Topics ACTIONS COMPARISON Jǐngshì Tōngyán PROMISES

Q79

[Q79]

Qiān yáng zhī pí, bùrú yī hú zhī yè.

千羊之皮不如一狐之腋。

Lit A thousand pieces of sheep's skin are not worth one [special piece of] fox's fur.

Fig A thousand ordinary people are not worth one able person.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Zhào Shì Jiā; note: yè refers to the fur taken from the armpits of foxes, highly prized and used to make hú pí dàyī, coats made from strips of this fur; see also qiānjīn zhī qiú above.]

Topics ABILITY CLOTHING COMPARISON FURS Shǐ Jì SKILL VALUE

Q80

[Q80]

Qiān yán hǎo gè rén; yī yán nǎo gè rén.

千言好个人, 一言恼个人。

千言好個人, 一言惱個人。

Lit [It takes a] thousand words [to] make a friend, [but only] one word [to] offend someone.

Note [Rhyme; see nǎonu, “to be angry, offended.”]

Topics nǎonu OFFENDING

Q81

[Q81]

Qián (yào) yòng zài dāokǒu shàng.

钱(要)用在刀口上。

錢(要)用在刀口上。

Lit Money [should be] used on the edge of the knife.

Fig One should spend one's money where it counts; don't be stingy on important matters.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 25; see also yǒu gāng shǐ zài below.]

Topics Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì INVESTMENT MONEY STRATEGY

Q82

[Q82]

Qiān yī fà ér dòng quánshēn.*

牵一发而动全身。

牽一髮而動全身。

Lit Pull one hair and the whole body moves.

Fig Touching one small part will affect the whole. One slight move can affect the whole situation.

Note [Originally a line by the Qing dynasty poet Gong Zizhen; qiānyīfà ér dòngquánshēn has become a fixed phrase.]

Topics DEPENDENCE Gong Zizhen INTERDEPENDENCE Qing dynasty RELATIONSHIPS

Q83

[Q83]

Qián yǒu chē; hòu yǒu zhé.*

前有车, 后有辙。

前有車, 後有轍。

Lit [If in] front there is a cart, behind [it] there [must] be tracks.

Fig One can learn from the previous example of others.

Note [See also qián chē zhī fù above and qián shì bù wàng below.]

Topics EXPERIENCE LEARNING LESSONS

Q84

[Q84]

Qiān zhàng máshéng zǒng yàoyǒu yī gè jié.

千丈麻绳总要有一个结。

千丈麻繩總要有一個結。

Lit However long it may be, a rope needs a knot.

Fig (pun) Everything eventually has an ending, no matter how long it lasts.

Note [Cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 58; jié means both “knot” and “ending.”]

Topics ENDINGS pun TIME Zàishēng_Yuán

Q85

[Q85]

Qiān zhāo yào huì; yī zhāo yào hǎo.

千招要会, 一招要好。

千招要會, 一招要好。

Lit [One] should be a jack-of-all-trades as well as a master of one.

Note [Vs. qiān bān yì xué above.]

Topics EXPERTISE SKILL VERSATILITY WORKING

Q86

[Q86]

Qiān zhōng yǒu tóu; wàn zhōng yǒu wěi.

千中有头, 万中有尾。

千中有頭, 萬中有尾。

Lit In a thousand [things] there is a beginning; in ten thousand [things] there is an end.

Fig (1) Everything has a beginning and an ending. (2) In every group there must be a leader (and followers).

Topics BEGINNING ENDINGS FOLLOWERS GROUPS LEADERS ORGANIZATION

Q87

[Q87]

Qiān zhǔzhāng, wàn zhǔzhāng; huángjīn nán mǎi zì zhǔzhāng.

千主张, 万主张; 黄金难买自主张。

千主張, 萬主張; 黃金難買自主張。

Lit [There may be] thousands upon thousands of opinions, [but forming one's] own opinions [upon which to make a decision is as] difficult [as getting] gold.

Fig Forming one's own opinions is difficult but necessary.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DECISIONS INDIVIDUALS OPINIONS rhyme

Q88

[Q88]

“Qiàn” zì yā rén tóu.

“欠” 字压人头。

“欠” 字壓人頭。

Lit The word “owe” weighs on a person's head.

Fig If one is in debt, one can't hold one's head up.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; note: the Chinese character 欠 qiàn “owe” has the character 人 rén “person” as its lower component.]

Topics Chinese characters DEBT Wǔ_Sōng

Q89

[Q89]

Qiāo bīng, shuǐ yě dòng; dǎshuǐ, yú tóutòng.

敲冰水也动, 打水鱼头痛。

敲冰水也動, 打水魚頭痛。

Lit [When one] breaks the ice, the water [beneath will] also move; [when one] draws water, the fish [will get] headaches.

Fig There are interconnections between things which mutually influence one another.

Note [Rhyme; note: dǎshuǐ, (lit) “to hit water,” means “to draw water.”]

Topics dǎshuǐ INFLUENCES INTERCONNECTIONS INTERDEPENDENCE rhyme WATER

Q90

[Q90]

Qiǎo cáifeng shǒuxià wú suì bù.

巧裁缝手下无碎布。

巧裁縫手下無碎布。

Lit Under the hands of a skilled tailor, there are no leftover [pieces of] cloth.

Fig A true expert can make full use of everything without wasting anything.

Topics EXPERTS FRUGALITY TAILORS

Q91

[Q91]

Qiǎofù nánwei wú mǐ zhī chuī.*

巧妇难为无米之炊。

巧婦難為無米之炊。

Lit [Even] the clever[est] housewife is hard pressed to cook a meal without rice.

Fig You can't make something out of nothing; “one can't make bricks without straw.”

Note [Said of the clever wife Wang Xihong in DRC, chap. 24; cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō; chap. 8; note: wúmǐzhīchuī has become a set expression equivalent to “make bricks without straw.” See also měng jiāngjūn wú above.]

Topics CLEVERNESS DRC Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō LIMITATIONS Wang Xihong WORKING wúmǐzhīchuī

Q92

[Q92]

Qiǎogàn néng bǔ xióngshī; mángàn nán zhuō xīshuài.

巧干能捕雄狮, 蛮干难捉蟋蟀。

巧幹能捕雄獅, 蠻幹難捉蟋蟀。

Lit [If one] works skillfully, [one] can catch [a] lion, [but if one] acts rashly, it is difficult to catch [even a] cricket.

Topics RASHNESS SELF-RESTRAINT SKILL

Q93

[Q93]

Qiáo guī qiáo; lù guī lù.*

桥归桥, 路归路。

橋歸橋, 路歸路。

Lit A bridge is a bridge [and] a road is a road.

Fig Different matters should be dealt with according to their categories. Don't “confuse apples with oranges.”

Topics CATEGORIES DIFFERENCES DISTINGUISHING

Q94

[Q94]

Qiāoluó dǎ zhōng; gè guǎn yī gōng.

敲锣打钟, 各管一工。

敲鑼打鐘, 各管一工。

Lit [One] beats the gong [and the other] tolls the bell; individuals have their own duties.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DUTY INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY rhyme

Q95

[Q95]

Qiāoluó, mài táng; gè gàn yī háng.

敲锣卖糖, 各干一行。

敲鑼賣糖, 各幹一行。

Lit [You] beat [your] gong [and I will] sell [my] candies.

Fig People should stick to their own duties and responsibilities and not stick their noses into others' affairs. “You do your job and I'll do mine.”

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DUTY INDIVIDUALS INTERFERENCE RESPONSIBILITY rhyme

Q96

[Q96]

Qiàomén mǎn dì pǎo; kàn nǐ zhǎo bù zhǎo.

窍门满地跑, 看你找不找。

竅門滿地跑, 看你找不找。

Lit The key [to any problem maybe] found anywhere; it's up to you to find it.

Fig There's always a way to solve a problem, it all depends on whether one has the knack of finding it or not.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics PROBLEMS rhyme SOLUTIONS

Q97

[Q97]

Qiǎo qī cháng bàn zhuō fū mián.*

巧妻常伴拙夫眠。

Lit A clever wife often [gets] paired up sleeping [with a] clumsy husband.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 24.]

Topics HUSBANDS WIVES WM

Q98

[Q98]

Qiǎoshǒu nán shǐ liǎng gēn zhēn.

巧手难使两根针。

巧手難使兩根針。

Lit [Even a] skilled tailor can't use two needles [at one time].

Fig There are limits to everyone's abilities, no matter how clever he or she may be.

Topics LIMITATIONS TAILORS

Q99

[Q99]

Qiào suǒ dào mǎ shǔ cáizhì; diàotóu bùgù shì cōngming.

撬锁盗马属才智, 掉头不顾是聪明。

撬鎖盜馬屬才智, 掉頭不顧是聰明。

Lit Prying open locks [and] stealing horses [may be] reckoned as smart, [but to] turn [one's] head [away and] ignore [such things] is [truly] intelligent.

Topics INTELLIGENCE RESTRAINT STEALING

Q100

[Q100]

Qiǎoyán bùrú zhídào.

巧言不如直道。

Lit Beating around the bush is not as good as straight talk.

Note [Cf. Sān Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 26; note: qiǎoyán, “cunning (or deceitful) talk.”]

Topics AVOIDANCE FRANKNESS HONESTY Sān Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí TALK

Q101

[Q101]

Qiǎo zhà bùrú zhuō chéng.

巧诈不如拙诚。

巧詐不如拙誠。

Lit It is better to be simplistically honest than cleverly deceitful.

Fig One shouldn't try to “play games” with people.

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Shuō Lín Shàng.]

Topics CLEVERNESS CONDUCT DECEIT Hán Fēizǐ HONESTY Shuō_Lín_Shàng

Q102

[Q102]

Qiǎo zhě duō láo, zhuō zhě xián.

巧者多劳, 拙者闲。

巧者多勞, 拙者閑。

Lit The able always do more [while] the incompetent stay idle.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 46; see also néng zhě duō láo above.]

Topics ABILITY COMPETENCE IDLENESS INCOMPETENCE JW

Q103

[Q103]

Qiǎo zhōng shuōhuà; qiǎo zhōng yǒu rén.

巧中说话, 巧中有人。

巧中說話, 巧中有人。

Lit [It often happens that] just when you're speaking [derogatorily about someone] by coincidence that person appears [and hears what you are saying].

Fig “Speak of the devil (and he appears).”

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also shuōdào Cáo Cāo below.]

Topics CAUTION COINCIDENCE DEVIL EAVESDROPPING SLANDER Wǔ_Sōng

Q104

[Q104]

Qí bù kàn sān bù, bù niē zǐr.

棋不看三步, 不捏子儿。

棋不看三步, 不捏子兒。

Lit [In a] chess [game] [if you can]not see [ahead] three moves, don't touch the chess pieces.

Fig Before one takes any action, one should think through the consequences thoroughly.

Note [Note: qízǐ, “chess pieces”; see also the following entry.]

Topics ACTION Chinese chess CONSEQUENCES FORETHOUGHT PLANNING qízi

Q105

[Q105]

Qí cuò yī zhāo; mǎnpán jiē shū.*

棋错一招, 满盘皆输。

棋錯一招, 滿盤皆輸。

Lit [In a] chess [game] one wrong move [and the] whole game [will be] lost.

Fig One wrong step can cause complete failure or serious loss.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 2; see also yī zhāo bùshèn below.]

Topics CAUTION CHESS DANGER Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō LOSS SELF-RESTRAINT

Q106

[Q106]

Qī dà liǎng, huángjīn rìrì zhǎng; qī dà sān, huángjīn jī rú shān.

妻大两, 黄金日日长, 妻大三, 黄金积如山。

妻大兩, 黃金日日長, 妻大三, 黃金積如山。

Lit [If the] wife is two years older [than her husband], gold accumulates with each passing day; [if the] wife is three years older, gold piles up as high as a hill.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 7; this pair of rhymed couplets expresses a traditional belief that older women are more prudent.]

Topics AGE couplet HUSBANDS JPM MONEY PRUDENCE rhyme THRIFT WEALTH WIVES

Q107

[Q107]

Qiézi bù kāi xū huā; yànyǔ dōu shì shíhuà.

茄子不开虚花, 谚语都是实话。

茄子不開虛花, 諺語都是實話。

Lit [Just as] eggplants do not have non-bearing blossoms, [so] all proverbs are true [to life].

Fig Every proverb is rooted in experience and has practical application.

Note [See also huācǎo shēng above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE PROVERBS

Q108

[Q108]

Qī fēn luó-gǔ, sānfēn chàng.

七分锣鼓, 三分唱。

七分鑼鼓, 三分唱。

Lit [A good Chinese opera performance is] seventy percent [accompanying] gongs [and] drums [and] thirty percent singing.

Fig One cannot accomplish anything without the support of others.

Note [Compare sānfēn luó-gǔ below; see also héhuā suī hǎo above and yī gè líba below.]

Topics HELP SUPPORT

Q109

[Q109]

Qí gāo yī zhāo, fù shǒu fù jiǎo.

棋高一着, 缚手缚脚。

棋高一著, 縛手縛腳。

Lit A better chess player [can] bind [his opponent] hand and foot.

Fig Someone superior in skill can stymie his or her opponent.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 2; note: gāo yī zhāo, (lit) “better (by) one move.”]

Topics CHESS Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí SKILL STRATEGY

Q110

[Q110]

Qí hǔ zhě, shìbude xià.*

骑虎者, 势不得下。

騎虎者, 勢不得下。

Lit [One who] rides a tiger is hard put to dismount.

Fig Once one is in a difficult situation, it is difficult to extricate oneself.

Note [More commonly as a chengyu: qí hǔ nán xià.]

Topics chengyu DIFFICULTIES SOLUTIONS

Q111

[Q111]

Qì kě gǔ ér bùkě xiè.

气可鼓而不可泄。

氣可鼓而不可泄。

Lit Morale should be boosted, not dampened.

Note [Mao Zedong said this to guide communist propaganda work.]

Topics LEADERSHIP Mao Zedong MORALE

Q112

[Q112]

Qī kǒuzi dāngjiā; bā kǒuzi zhǔshì.

七口子当家, 八口子主事。

七口子當家, 八口子主事。

Lit Seven people [act as] family heads [and] eight people [act as] leaders (in an organization).

Fig “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Note [See also rén duō, shǒu zá below.]

Topics INTERFERENCE LEADERS ORGANIZATION POWER

Q113

[Q113]

Qí lǘ bù zhī gǎnjiǎo de kǔ.

骑驴不知赶脚的苦。

騎驢不知趕腳的苦。

Lit [One who] rides a donkey [does] not know the hardship of the donkey driver [who] follows along on foot.

Fig One in a favorable situation has no idea of the hardships of one who is not.

Note [See also bǎo hàn bù zhī above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS KNOWLEDGE

Q114

[Q114]

Qīn bāng qīn; lín bāng lín; (héshang wéihù chūjiā rén).

亲帮亲, 邻帮邻, (和尚维护出家人)。

親幫親, 鄰幫鄰, (和尚維護出家人)。

Lit Relatives help relatives, neighbors help neighbors, ([and] monks protect monks).

Fig People help their own kind.

Note [Note: chūjiā, (lit) “leave home,” means to become a Buddhist monk or nun; the second part is usually omitted.]

Topics Buddhism chūjiā HELP NEIGHBORS RECIPROCITY RELATIVES SIMILARITIES

Q115

[Q115]

Qīn bù guò fùmǔ; jìn bù guò fūqī.*

亲不过父母, 近不过夫妻。

親不過父母, 近不過夫妻。

Lit No one is as dear as [one's] parents, nor as close as husband [and] wife.

Topics FEELINGS HUSBANDS PARENTS RELATIONSHIPS WIVES

Q116

[Q116]

Qīn bù jiàn shū; hòu bù jiàn xiān.

亲不间疏, 后不僭先。

親不間疏, 後不僭先。

Lit Close relatives and friends [can]not be separated [by] distant ones, [and] new [friends can]not replace old [ones].

Fig Close relatives and friends come before distant ones, and old friendships before new ones. One must always observe traditional social protocol in dealing with people and things.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 20; more commonly shū bù jiàn qīn, etc. (q.v.); note: jiàn is a verb, “to create a gap”; see jiàngé, “separate”; see also qīn zhě gē zhī below.]

Topics DRC FRIENDS PRECEDENCE PROTOCOL RELATIVES TRADITION

Q117

[Q117]

Qīn bù qīn, shì xiāngdǎng.

亲不亲, 是乡党。

親不親, 是鄉黨。

Lit [Whether they are] relatives or not, people from the same province [are dear to each other].

Note [See also qīn xiàng qīn and rén bù qīn below.]

Topics FEELINGS PLACE

Q118

[Q118]

Qīn bù zé gǔròu; hèn bù jì jiù chóu.

亲不择骨肉, 恨不记旧仇。

親不擇骨肉, 恨不記舊仇。

Lit [In] loving, [do] not distinguish between [your] dear ones; [in] hating [do] not remember old enmities.

Fig All [one's] relatives are dear [and] all personal enemies are forgivable.

Note [Vs. jūnzǐ bù niàn.]

Topics ENEMIES HATE LOVE RELATIVES

Q119

[Q119]

Qīngchūn bù zài.*

青春不再。

Lit [One's] youth never returns.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Q120

[Q120]

Qīngchūn yì guò; báifà nán ráo.*

青春易过, 白发难饶。

青春易過, 白髮難饒。

Lit [The] springtime [of one's life] passes quickly [and] gray hair is hard to avoid.

Fig Youth passes quickly and old age comes all to soon.

Note [See also rénshēng jǐ jiàn below and the preceding entry.]

Topics AGE CHANGE OLD AGE TIME YOUTH

Q121

[Q121]

Qīng chūyú lán ér shèngyú lán.*

青出于蓝而胜于蓝。

青出於藍而勝於藍。

Lit Indigo comes from blue, but it surpasses blue.

Fig The student (often) excels his teacher. The younger generation surpasses the older generation.

Note [Cf. Xúnzǐ: Quàn Xué Piàn; note: qīngchūyúlán has become a set phrase idiom with the metaphorical meaning of “the pupil surpasses the teacher.”]

Topics GENERATIONS IMPROVEMENT qīngchūyúlán Quàn Xué Piàn STUDENTS TEACHERS Xúnzǐ

Q122

[Q122]

Qíng dài yǔsǎn; bǎo dài gānliáng.

晴带雨伞, 饱带干粮。

晴帶雨傘, 飽帶乾糧。

Lit [When setting out on a trip, even when the weather is] fine, carry an umbrella [with you, and even when you are] not hungry, carry dried food [with you].

Fig Always be prepared for the unpredictable.

Topics PREPARATION TRAVEL

Q123

[Q123]

Qíng dài yǔsǎn, bǎo dài jī liáng.

晴带雨伞, 饱带饥粮。

晴帶雨傘, 飽帶飢糧。

Lit Take an umbrella when [the weather is] fine and extra rations when you are full.

Fig Where there is precaution, there is no danger; preparedness prevents peril.

Note [See also qíng gān kāi shuǐdào below.]

Topics DANGER PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION

Q124

[Q124]

Qīngdí bì bài.

轻敌必败。

輕敵必敗。

Lit [One who] underestimates the enemy is doomed to failure.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6.]

Topics ENEMIES FAILURE STRATEGY SUCCESS Wǔ_Sōng

Q125

[Q125]

Qìngfǔ bù sǐ, Lǔ nàn wèi yǐ.

庆父不死, 鲁难未已。

慶父不死, 魯難未已。

Lit Until Qingfu is done away with, the crisis in the state of Lu will not be over.

Fig There will always be trouble until the one who stirs it up is removed.

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Míng Gōng Yuán Nián; note: Qìngfǔ refers to an usurper in the state of Lu in the Spring and Autumn period.]

Topics Lu, state of Míng Gōng Yuán Nián Qìngfǔ REBELLION TROUBLE Zuǒ_Zhuàn

Q126

[Q126]

Qíng gān bùkěn zǒu, zhǐ dài yǔ lín tóu.

晴干不肯走, 只待雨淋头。

晴乾不肯走, 只待雨淋頭。

Lit [It is unwise] not to leave [when it is] clear and dry, [but to] wait [and get] drenched in the rain.

Fig If one does not act appropriately at the right time, one will encounter difficulties later.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 33; Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 1; see also tiān qíng bùkěn below.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS CIRCUMSTANCES DIFFICULTIES Fēngshén Yǎnyì FUTURE Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō PLANNING TIMING TROUBLE

Q127

[Q127]

Qíng gān kāi shuǐdào, xū fáng bàoyǔ shí.

晴干开水道, 须防暴雨时。

晴幹開水道, 須防暴雨時。

Lit [When it's] clear [and] dry digging drainage ditches is necessary [in order to] guard against times of downpour.

Fig One should make preparations early against disasters later on.

Note [See also qíng dài yǔsǎn above and tiān qíng bù kāi gōu below.]

Topics DISASTERS FUTURE INVESTMENT PLANNING PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION

Q128

[Q128]

Qīngguān nán chū huá lì shǒu.

清官难出猾吏手。

清官難出猾吏手。

Lit Honest officials can't avoid [being deceived and fooled by their] sly subordinates' (hands).

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 5; see also shàngmíng bù zhī below.]

Topics DECEIT Hé Diǎn HONESTY OFFICIALS SUBORDINATES

Q129

[Q129]

Qīngguān nán duàn jiāwù shì.*

清官难断家务事。

清官難斷家務事。

Lit [Even an] honest official is hard put to adjudicate domestic cases.

Fig Family disputes are the hardest to resolve.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 80; see also hútuzhàng hǎo suàn above and wàirén nán guǎn below.]

Topics DISPUTES DRC FAMILIES JUDGMENTS MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS

Q130

[Q130]

Qǐng guǐ róngyì; sòng guǐ nán.

请鬼容易, 送鬼难。

請鬼容易, 送鬼難。

Lit To invoke devils is easy, [but to] get rid of them is difficult.

Fig It is easier to invite trouble than it is to get rid of it.

Note [Also said qǐng shén róngyi; sòng shén nán, “To invoke spirits is easy,” etc.]

Topics CAUTION SPIRITS TROUBLE

Q131

[Q131]

Qǐng jiàng bùrú jījiàng.

请将不如激将。

請將不如激將。

Lit Inviting a warrior is not as [effective as] provoking him.

Fig To a warrior a provocation is more effective than an invitation. If you really want to arouse people, get them angry.

Note [Said by Piggy in JW, chap. 31; note the expression jījiàngfǎ, “goading someone into action by ridicule, sarcasm, etc.”; see also quàn jiàng bùrú below.]

Topics ANGER AROUSAL CHALLENGES jījiàng jījiàngfǎ JW Pigsy STRATEGY

Q132

[Q132]

Qǐngjiào biérén bù shíběn; shétou dǎ gè gǔn.

请教别人不蚀本, 舌头打个滚。

請教別人不蝕本, 舌頭打個滾。

Lit To consult others costs [one] nothing [but the effort of] rolling [one's] tongue.

Note [Technically a rhyme; see also jiào rén bù shíběn above.]

Topics CONSULTING OTHERS QUESTIONS rhyme TALK

Q133

[Q133]

Qìngjia péngyou yuǎn lái xiāng.

亲家朋友远来香。

親家朋友遠來香。

Lit Friends [and] relatives [kept] at a distance smell better.

Fig Relationships go smoother if one preserves some distance from one's relatives and friends.

Note [See also qīnqi yuǎnlí xiāng and xiāngjiàn yì dé below.]

Topics DISTANCE FRIENDS RELATIONSHIPS RELATIVES

Q134

[Q134]

Qīng jiǔ hóng rén miàn; cáibó dòng rénxīn.

清酒红人面, 财帛动人心。

清酒紅人面, 財帛動人心。

Lit [Just as] clear liquor [can] redden people's faces, [so] wealth [can] influence people's minds.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 12; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 28.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí LIQUOR TEMPTATION WEALTH Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Q135

[Q135]

Qǐngkè chī jiǔ, liáng jiādàng.

请客吃酒, 量家当。

請客吃酒, 量家當。

Lit [When] entertaining guests with food and drink, [do so] according [to your] economic conditions.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 18.]

Topics BUDGETING CIRCUMSTANCES GUESTS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Q136

[Q136]

Qīngmíng bù chāi xù, dào lǎo bùchéngqì.

清明不拆絮, 到老不成器。

Lit [Anyone who has] not taken off [his] cotton [padded winter] clothing [(for regular spring cleaning), and not gone out to begin working in the fields by the time of] Qing Ming [Festival, usually the fourth or fifth lunar month in spring], is [obviously spoiled or lazy and will] accomplish nothing great in later life.

Note [Note: bùchéngqì is an idiom for “good-for-nothing; worthless.”]

Topics bùchéngqì IDLENESS LAZINESS Qing Ming SUCCESS WORKING

Q137

[Q137]

Qíng mò duō wàng; kǒu mò duō yán.

情莫多妄; 口莫多言。

Lit [One's] affections should not be overly indulged in; [just as one's] mouth [should] not be overly talkative.

Fig One should be reserved in both behavior and speech.

Topics AFFECTION BEHAVIOR CONDUCT SELF-RESTRAINT SPEECH

Q138

[Q138]

Qīng ná níqiu, zhòng zhuō yú.

轻拿泥鳅, 重捉鱼。

輕拿泥鰍, 重捉魚。

Lit [In catching a] loach, hold [it] lightly; [in catching a] fish, hold [it] tightly.

Fig Different problems should be dealt with in different ways.

Note [Note: a loach is an eel-like fish.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS STRATEGY

Q139

[Q139]

Qīng rén hái zì qīng.

轻人还自轻。

輕人還自輕。

Lit To show no respect for others is to show no respect for oneself.

Note [See also yǔ rén fāngbiàn below.]

Topics CONDUCT RESPECT

Q140

[Q140]

Qíng shēn, gōngjìng shǎo; zhījǐ tánxiào duō.

情深恭敬少, 知己谈笑多。

情深恭敬少, 知己談笑多。

Lit [When] friendship [is] deep, formalities are few; [for] close confidants, chats [and] laughter are many.

Fig Intimate friends don't stand on ceremony.

Topics CONFIDANTS FORMALITY FRIENDSHIP INFORMALITY

Q141

[Q141]

Qǐng yī, xū qǐng liáng; chuán yào, xū chuán fāng.

请医须请良, 传药须传方。

請醫須請良, 傳藥須傳方。

Lit [When you] need a doctor, get a good one, [when you] need medicine, get the prescription [for it as well so you'll be able to get more of it later].

Fig Don't just do or study things by rote, but learn the principles or reasons behind them.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 49.]

Topics DOCTORS JPM LEARNING MEDICINE MEMORIZATION PRINCIPLES rhyme ROTE_LEARNING

Q142

[Q142]

Qíng yuè shū, lǐ yuè duō.

情越疏, 礼越多。

情越疏, 禮越多。

Lit The more distant the relationship [between two people], the more formality [is required].

Topics CONDUCT COURTESY FORMALITY RELATIONSHIPS

Q143

[Q143]

Qín Huì háiyǒu sān gè xiānghǎode.

秦桧还有三个相好的。

秦檜還有三個相好的。

Lit Even Qin Kui, [the traitor minister of the Song dynasty] had three good [friends].

Fig Even evil people have friends.

Note [Note: the name of Qín Kuì (1090-1155), the execrated capitulationist of the Song dynasty, has become, like that of Quisling, synonymous with treachery.]

Topics EVIL FRIENDS FRIENDSHIP Qin Kui Quisling Song dynasty TREACHERY TREASON

Q144

[Q144]

Qín hǔ yì; zòng hǔ nán.

擒虎易, 纵虎难。

擒虎易, 縱虎難。

Lit Capturing [a] tiger is easy, [but] releasing one [may cause] difficulties (because it will take revenge).

Fig Before one releases an enemy, one had better consider the consequences.

Note [Also said zhuō hǔ róngyì; fàng hǔ nán and fú hǔ zé yì; zòng hǔ zé nán; see also fànghǔ-guīshān above.]

Topics CAUTION CONSEQUENCES DANGER ENEMIES FUTURE STRATEGY THOROUGHNESS

Q145

[Q145]

Qín mā dài chū lǎn érzi.

勤妈带出懒儿子。

勤媽帶出懶兒子。

Lit A diligent mother brings up a lazy son.

Fig Often because the mother is hardworking, her children are lazy and spoiled.

Topics CHILDREN DILIGENCE LAZINESS MOTHERS

Q146

[Q146]

Qīnqīn-gùgù yuǎn lái xiāng.

亲亲故故远来香。

親親故故遠來香。

Lit Relatives and old friends from afar [are always] most welcome.

Note [Note: gùjiù, “old friends and acquaintances.”]

Topics FRIENDS gùjiù RELATIVES TRAVEL VISITORS WELCOME

Q147

[Q147]

Qīnqi yuǎnlí xiāng; línjū gāo dǎ qiáng.

亲戚远离香, 邻居高打墙。

親戚遠離香, 鄰居高打牆。

Lit [Just as] relatives separated by long distances [have] better [relationships, so] neighbors (should) build high walls [between themselves].

Note [Vs. yuǎnqīn bùrú below; see also qìngjia péngyou above.]

Topics DISTANCE NEIGHBORS RELATIONSHIPS RELATIVES

Q148

[Q148]

Qín shì yáoqiánshù; jiǎn shì jùbǎopén.

勤是摇钱树, 俭是聚宝盆。

勤是搖錢樹, 儉是聚寶盆。

Lit Diligence is [what] shakes the money tree; frugality is the treasure bowl.

Fig Hard work will bring one money, and thrift will accumulate property.

Note [See qínjiǎn, “hardworking and thrifty”; yáoqiánshù, “ready source of money”; jùbǎopén, “cornucopia.”]

Topics DILIGENCE FRUGALITY jùbǎopén qínjiǎn SUCCESS yáoqiánshù

Q149

[Q149]

Qīn suī qīn, cáibó fēn.

亲虽亲, 财帛分。

親雖親, 財帛分。

Lit Although relatives [may be] relatives, [nevertheless their] finances [should be] separate.

Fig Between relatives accounts should be clearly settled.

Note [See also qīnxiōngdì below.]

Topics ACCOUNTS FINANCES MONEY RELATIVES

Q150

[Q150]

Qīn wàng qīn hǎo; lín wàng lín hǎo.

亲望亲好, 邻望邻好。

親望親好, 鄰望鄰好。

Lit Relatives wish each other well [and] neighbors do too.

Note [See also qīn wèi qīn hǎo below.]

Topics FEELINGS NEIGHBORS RELATIVES

Q151

[Q151]

Qīn wèi qīn hǎo; lín wèi lín ān.

亲为亲好, 邻为邻安。

親為親好, 鄰為鄰安。

Lit Relatives wish each other well, [and] neighbors wish each other peace.

Note [See also qīn wàng qīn hǎo above.]

Topics FEELINGS NEIGHBORS RELATIVES

Q152

[Q152]

Qīn xiàng qīn; gù xiàng gù.

亲向亲, 故向故。

親向親, 故向故。

Lit Relatives are partial to relatives, [and] old friends are partial to each other.

Note [Note: gùyǒu, “old friends”; see also qīn bù qīn above.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP gùyǒu PARTIALITY RELATIVES

Q153

[Q153]

Qīnxiōngdì míng suànzhàng.*

亲兄弟明算帐。

親兄弟明算帳。

Lit [Even] blood brothers keep careful accounts.

Fig Clear reckoning makes long friends.

Note [See also hǎo péngyou qín and gōngpíng suànzhàng and qīn suī qīn above and xiōngdì suī hé below.]

Topics ACCOUNTING FRIENDSHIP LOANS MONEY REPAYMENT

Q154

[Q154]

Qín yǒugōng; xī wúyì.

勤有功, 嬉无益。

勤有功, 嬉無益。

Lit Diligence leads to success; idle play brings no benefits.

Topics DILIGENCE IDLENESS SUCCESS

Q155

[Q155]

Qīn yǒu yuǎnjìn; lín yǒu lǐ-wài.

亲有远近, 邻有里外。

親有遠近, 鄰有裡外。

Lit [Just as] there are close relatives [as well as] distant [ones, so] there are close neighbors [as well as] distant [ones].

Topics DISTANCE NEIGHBORS RELATIVES

Q156

[Q156]

Qīn zé bù xiè; xiè zé bù qīn.

亲则不谢, 谢则不亲。

親則不謝, 謝則不親。

Lit [If people have] close relations, then no thanks [are necessary]; [if] thanks [are expressed] then [the relationship is] not close.

Fig If you are close relatives, there is no need for formality between you; otherwise the relationship is distant.

Note [Note: Chinese traditionally do not express thanks to immediate family members in their daily life.]

Topics COURTESY FORMALITY RELATIONSHIPS

Q157

[Q157]

Qín zéi xiān qín wáng.*

擒贼先擒王。

擒賊先擒王。

Lit [To] catch bandits, first catch [their] king.

Fig To disable a group, first eliminate their (ring) leaders.

Note [See also dǎ shé xiān dǎ tóu above and qún yàn wú shǒu below.]

Topics ATTACKS BANDITS GROUPS LEADERS STRATEGY

Q158

[Q158]

Qīn zhě gē zhī bù duàn; shū zhě xù zhī bù jiān.

亲者割之不断, 疏者续之不坚。

親者割之不斷, 疏者續之不堅。

Lit It is impossible to break [the relationship between] close friends and relatives, [and] mere acquaintances' connections cannot be strong.

Note [Cf. Míng Shǐ: Gāo Wēi Zhuàn; see also shū bù jiàn qīn below.]

Topics CONNECTIONS FRIENDSHIP Gāo Wēi Zhuàn Míng Shǐ RELATIONSHIPS

Q159

[Q159]

Qióng bù yǔ fù dòu; fù bù yǔ guān dòu.*

穷不与富斗, 富不与官斗。

窮不與富鬥, 富不與官鬥。

Lit The poor [should] not struggle with the rich, [and] the rich [should] not struggle with [government] officials [because they'll both lose].

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 5; see also mín bù yù guān dòu above.]

Topics CONFLICT OFFICIALS Suí Táng Yǎnyì WEALTH

Q160

[Q160]

Qióng cūn yǒu fù hù; fù cūn yǒu qióngrén.

穷村有富户, 富村有穷人。

窮村有富戶, 富村有窮人。

Lit In a poor village there are rich families, and in a rich village there are poor families.

Fig There are (relative differences between) rich(er) and poor(er) people everywhere.

Topics COMPARISON DIFFERENCES POVERTY WEALTH

Q161

[Q161]

Qióng fù bù rèn qīn.

穷富不认亲。

窮富不認親。

Lit Rich [and] poor won't acknowledge [each other as] relatives.

Fig Some rich won't acknowledge their poor relatives, and some poor [who have moral integrity] won't make claims on their rich relatives.

Topics INTEGRITY POVERTY RELATIVES RICH WEALTH

Q162

[Q162]

Qióng jiā, fù lù.

穷家富路。

窮家富路。

Lit [Be] poor [at] home [and] rich [on the] road.

Fig When at home, be economical; when on the road, bring extra money with you.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 23; see also jiā pín, bù shì pín above.]

Topics ECONOMY PREPARATION THRIFT TRAVEL

Q163

[Q163]

Qióng jiā nán shě; gùtǔ nán lí.

穷家难舍, 故土难离。

窮家難捨, 故土難離。

Lit [Even] a shabby home is hard to leave [behind]; [one's] native soil is hard to leave.

Fig No one likes to leave his home and native place, however poor they may be.

Note [Also said qióng jiā nán shě, rè tú nán lí.]

Topics HOME NATIVE PLACE PARTING PLACE POVERTY SEPARATION

Q164

[Q164]

Qióng lái bùyào pèi gāo qīn.

穷来不要配高亲。

窮來不要配高親。

Lit [Those who have] come from poor [families should] not be matched [in marriage] with rich families.

Note [Note: pèi qīn is a colloquial expression for “joining in marriage.”]

Topics colloquial expression FAMILIES MARRIAGE MATCHMAKERS pèi qīn POVERTY WEALTH

Q165

[Q165]

Qióng pà qīn; fù pà zéi.

穷怕亲, 富怕贼。

窮怕親, 富怕賊。

Lit The poor fear [meeting their] friends and relatives [and losing face, as much as] the rich fear thieves.

Topics FACE POVERTY RELATIVES THIEVES WEALTH

Q166

[Q166]

Qióngrén jiē qián wú rén wèn; fùrén qiā lǐ jié bīn péng.

穷人街前无人问, 富人千里结宾朋。

窮人街前無人問, 富人千里結賓朋。

Lit [A] poor person [even if he lives on a] main street won't be visited; [while a] rich person [even if he lives a] thousand miles [away in a remote place] will meet guests [and] friends.

Note [See also pínjiàn, qīnqi lí and pín jū nàoshì above.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP POVERTY RELATIVES WEALTH

Q167

[Q167]

Qióngrén wú zāi jí shì fú.

穷人无灾即是福。

窮人無災即是福。

Lit [For] poor people just having no disasters [befalling them] is a blessing.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics BLESSINGS DISASTER POVERTY Wǔ_Sōng

Q168

[Q168]

Qióngrén yǒu gè qióng Púsà.

穷人有个穷菩萨。

窮人有個窮菩薩。

Lit Poor people have a poor Buddha.

Fig The poor have their own blessings.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6.]

Topics BLESSINGS POVERTY Wǔ_Sōng

Q169

[Q169]

Qióng suànmìng; fù shāoxiāng.*

穷算命, 富烧香。

窮算命, 富燒香。

Lit The poor have their fortunes told [so as to know the future, and] the rich burn incense [to the Buddha].

Fig While the poor hope for fortune, the rich protect theirs.

Topics FORTUNE FUTURE HOPE POVERTY SELF-PROTECTION WEALTH

Q170

[Q170]

Qióng suī qióng, háiyǒu sān dàn tóng.

穷虽穷, 还有三担铜。

窮雖窮, 還有三擔銅。

Lit Poor as one [who was once wealthy] has become, [(s)he] still has three dan of copper left.

Fig A rich family, even when going bankrupt, will still have some property left.

Note [Rhyme; one dàn is a unit of weight equal to fifty kilograms; see also dà chuán lànle and fùle pín above and shòu sǐ de luòtuo and tóng pén lànle below.]

Topics dǎn DECLINE PROPERTY RICH WEALTH

Q171

[Q171]

Qióng yǒu qióng chóu; fù yǒu fù chóu.

穷有穷愁, 富有富愁。

窮有窮愁, 富有富愁。

Lit The poor have the poor's worries [and] the rich have the worries of the rich.

Topics POVERTY WEALTH WORRIES

Q172

[Q172]

Qióng zé biàn, biàn zé tōng.

穷则变, 变则通。

窮則變, 變則通。

Lit [When one has] run out [of everything], then change [becomes necessary]; [once] changed, then a solution [will emerge].

Note [Cf. the chengyu: qióng zé sì biàn, “When one is impoverished, one thinks of change”; a line from the Book of Changes (Yìjīng/Zhōu Yì).]

Topics Book of Changes CHANGES chengyu EMERGENCIES POVERTY SOLUTIONS Yìjīng Zhōu_Yì

Q173

[Q173]

Qì qiáng qiān zhāo; chāi wū yī rì.

砌墙千朝, 拆屋一日。

砌牆千朝, 拆屋一日。

Lit [To] build walls takes a thousand days, [but to] topple down a house takes [only] one day.

Fig Constructive work is difficult, while destruction is easy.

Topics BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CRITICISM DESTRUCTION

Q174

[Q174]

Qì qiáng, xiān dǎ jī; chī dàn, xiān yǎngjī.

砌墙先打基, 吃蛋先养鸡。

砌牆先打基, 吃蛋先養雞。

Lit [To] build [a] wall, first lay the foundation; [to] eat eggs, first raise the chickens.

Fig In any task, one must lay the foundations first.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BEGINNING FOUNDATIONS rhyme

Q175

[Q175]

Qī shān, mò qī shuǐ; qī shuǐ, biàn shuǐ guǐ.

欺山莫欺水, 欺水变水鬼。

欺山莫欺水, 欺水變水鬼。

Lit [Better to] fool around with mountains than to fool around with water; [if one] fools around with water, [one may] become a “drowned ghost.”

Fig Although in nature water (courses) may not appear as imposing as mountains are, in fact if (hydraulics are) not handled correctly, water can be extremely dangerous to people.

Note [Here qī, (lit) “to cheat” or “to bully,” means “to fool around with.”]

Topics HYDRAULICS WATER

Q176

[Q176]

(Qīshí'èr háng,) hángháng chū zhuàngyuan.

(七十二行,) 行行出状元。

(七十二行,) 行行出狀元。

Lit ([There are] seventy-two professions, [and]) every profession produces its own leading authority.

Fig Every field has its “stars” or experts. If one works hard and perfects one's skill, one may become an expert in one's field, whatever it may be.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 11; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 3; note: zhuàngyuan was a title for the highest-ranked successful candidate in the highest-level examination under the old imperial system; the first part may be omitted; also said sānbǎi liùshí háng, etc. (q.v.)]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EXPERTISE PROFESSIONS SKILL WORKING Wǔ_Sōng

Q177

[Q177]

Qīshí'èr háng, zhuāngjia wéi qiáng.

七十二行, 庄稼为强。

七十二行, 莊稼為強。

Lit [Of all the] seventy-two trades, farming is the most important.

Topics AGRICULTURE FARMING OCCUPATIONS TRADES

Q178

[Q178]

Qí shū, háiyǒu qízǐ zài.

棋输, 还有棋子在。

棋輸, 還有棋子在。

Lit [Although one may] lose [at] chess, [the chessboard and] chessmen still exist.

Fig Though one may fail, the basic conditions to continue or start over still exist.

Note [See also liú de qīngshān zài above.]

Topics Chinese chess CONDITIONS FAILURE

Q179

[Q179]

Qǐtóu róngyì; jié shāo nán.*

起头容易, 结梢难。

起頭容易, 結梢難。

Lit Starting is easy, [but] concluding is difficult.

Fig It is easier to start something than to conclude it satisfactorily.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 96.]

Topics BEGINNING CONCLUDING ENDINGS JW STARTING

Q180

[Q180]

Qiú, biàn qiú Zhāng Liáng; bài, biàn bài Hán Xìn.

求便求张良, 拜便拜韩信。

求便求張良, 拜便拜韓信。

Lit [If you're going to] ask for help, then ask [it of a wise man like] Zhang Liang or [an able general like] Han Xin.

Fig If one is going to seek help, seek it from the right person, (i.e., a person of great ability or one who can really help you).

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 7; Han Xin was a famous general of the early Han dynasty who served first under Xiang Yu and later under Liu Bang; Zhang Liang was Liu Bang's most important strategist; see also qiúrén xū qiú and zǒu sān jiā below.]

Topics ABILITY Han dynasty Han Xin HELP JPM Liu Bang STRENGTH WISDOM Xiang_Yu

Q181

[Q181]

Qiúrén bùrú qiú jǐ.*

求人不如求己。

Lit [It is] better to seek help from oneself than from outsiders.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 72; Mao Dun's Chūn Cán Jí (Spring Silkworms); qiúrén bùrú qiújǐ has become a set colloquial expression.]

Topics Chūn Cán Jí DRC HELP INDEPENDENCE Mao Dun rhyme SELF-RELIANCE

Q182

[Q182]

Qiú rén mèng shè; kě rén mèng jiāng.

囚人梦赦, 渴人梦浆。

囚人夢赦, 渴人夢漿。

Lit A prisoner dreams of amnesty [and] a thirsty person dreams of [drinking] liquids.

Fig One dreams of what one desires.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 16.]

Topics AMNESTY DESIRE DREAMS THIRST

Q183

[Q183]

Qiúrén xū qiú dàzhàngfu; jì rén xū jì jíshí wú.

求人须求大丈夫; 济人须济及时无。

求人須求大丈夫; 濟人須濟及時無。

Lit [If you have to] ask someone for help, [it is] best to ask a real man, [who can help you, and if you are going to] help someone [at all, it is] best to help [them in their true] time of need.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 56 and 60; note: dàzhàngfu, “a real man; a man of fortitude and courage”; see the chengyu: jìrénzhījí, “to relieve someone in need”; see also qiú, biàn qiú Zhāng Liáng below.]

Topics chengyu EMERGENCIES HELP jìrénzhījí JPM NEED STRENGTH

Q184

[Q184]

Qiúzhī-bùdé, bù qiú zì lái.

求之不得, 不求自来。

求之不得, 不求自來。

Lit [It often happens that if you] seek something, [you will] not get [it, but if you do] not seek [it, it] will just come [to you].

Note [Both halves are used independently as chengyu; see also kě yù ér bù kě qiú above and tàpò tiě xié below.]

Topics bùqiú-zìlái chengyu COINCIDENCE FATE NEED qiúzhī-bùdé

Q185

[Q185]

Qī xián, fū huò shǎo.

妻贤, 夫祸少。

妻賢, 夫禍少。

Lit [If the] wife is virtuous, the husband [will meet with] fewer disasters.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 68.]

Topics VIRTUE WIVES

Q186

[Q186]

Qì xiǎo, yì yíng.

器小易盈。

Lit A small container is easy to fill.

Fig A small-minded person is always self-satisfied.

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 12.]

Topics Jìnghuā Yuán NARROW-MINDEDNESS

Q187

[Q187]

Qǐ xīn bùrú mǎi jiù.

起新不如买旧。

起新不如買舊。

Lit Better to buy old than to build new [e.g., houses].

Topics BUILDINGS HOUSES

Q188

[Q188]

Qíxīn de mǎyǐ néng chī hǔ.

齐心的蚂蚁能吃虎。

齊心的螞蟻能吃虎。

Lit Ants in unison can eat a tiger.

Fig “In unity there's strength.”

Note [See also qún yǐ néng xiáng dúshé below.]

Topics COOPERATION STRENGTH UNITY

Q189

[Q189]

Quán bù lí shǒu; qǔ bù lí kǒu.*

拳不离手, 曲不离口。

拳不離手, 曲不離口。

Lit [To practice] martial arts [one can]not do without [one's] hands; [to practice] songs [one can]not do without one's mouth.

Fig If you want to perfect your skill, you must practice everyday. “Practice makes perfect.”

Note [See also bùpà liàn bù chéng above and sān rì bù tán below.]

Topics MARTIAL ARTS PRACTICE SKILL TRAINING

Q190

[Q190]

Quǎn fèi bù ài rén xíng lù.

犬吠不碍人行路。

犬吠不礙人行路。

Lit [A] barking dog doesn't prevent people [from] walking on the road.

Fig Evil people's clamoring won't prevent people from getting on with their work, so it should be ignored.

Topics CURSING EVIL

Q191

[Q191]

Quàn jiàng bùrú jījiàng.

劝将不如激将。

勸將不如激將。

Lit Better to challenge a general [into battle] than to [try to] persuade [him into battle].

Fig If you really want to arouse people, get them angry.

Note [See also qǐng jiàng bùrú jījiàng above.]

Topics AROUSAL jījiàng MILITARY STRATEGY

Q192

[Q192]

Quàn jūn mò dǎ sān chūn niǎo, zǐ zài kē zhōng pàn mǔ guī.

劝君莫打三春鸟, 子在窠中盼母归。

勸君莫打三春鳥, 子在窠中盼母歸。

Lit [It is] advisable [for] gentlemen [i.e., one] not to shoot birds in spring, [as their] offspring are in the nest expecting [their] mother's return.

Fig People should protect parents who are raising young children.

Note [Note: sān chūn refers either to the first three lunar months, usually February--April, or to the third lunar month, jì chūn, alone; the modern word for “nest” cháo is sometimes substituted for kē.]

Topics ADVICE CHILDREN PARENTS PROTECTION

Q193

[Q193]

Quàn jūn píngdì shàng, hái sì guò pō shí.

劝君平地上, 还似过坡时。

勸君平地上, 還似過坡時。

Lit [It is] advisable [for] gentlemen [i.e., one] [when walking] on flat land [to be as careful as] when traversing a slope.

Fig Even when things are going smoothly one (still) can't be too careful; one should never slacken one's vigilance.

Note [See also qiǎn shuǐ yānsǐ above and zǒu píng lù, fáng shuāijiāo below.]

Topics ADVICE CAUTION VIGILANCE

Q194

[Q194]

Quǎnmǎ yóu zhī liàn zhǔ.

犬马尤知恋主。

犬馬尤知戀主。

Lit [Even a] dog [or a] horse feels an attachment to its master.

Fig Servants are emotionally attached to their masters.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 35.]

Topics FEELINGS LEADERS MASTERS SERVANTS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Q195

[Q195]

Quàn rén chūshì piān zhī yì; zì dào líntóu shǐ jué nán.

劝人出世偏知易; 自到临头始觉难。

勸人出世偏知易; 自到臨頭始覺難。

Lit To exhort others to “hold aloof from the world” [people] always think is easy, [but when they] actually come to doing it themselves, [they] begin to realize it's not so easy.

Note [Note: chūshì is a Buddhist expression meaning to “renounce the world.”]

Topics ABSTINENCE ADVICE Buddhism chū shì SELF-CONTROL

Q196

[Q196]

Quàn rén róngyì; zhù rén nán.

劝人容易, 助人难。

勸人容易, 助人難。

Lit Giving advice to people is easy, [but actually] helping them is difficult.

Fig “Talk is cheap.” “Actions speak louder than words.”

Topics ACTIONS COMPARISON SPEECH WORDS

Q197

[Q197]

Quàn rén xū xià wúqíng kǒu.

劝人须下无情口。

勸人須下無情口。

Lit [In] advising (or criticizing) people, [one] must speak without favor [i.e., straightforwardly, so that it will really help].

Note [Note: xià kǒu means “to speak.”]

Topics ADVICE CRITICISM FRANKNESS STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS

Q198

[Q198]

Quǎn shǒuyè; jī sī chén.

犬守夜, 鸡司晨。

犬守夜, 雞司晨。

Lit A dog watches at night [and] a cock crows at dawn.

Fig Each one has his own duty to perform.

Note [Cf. Qin Jiwen's Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 11.]

Topics DUTY Qin Jiwen RESPONSIBILITY WORKING Zàishēng_Yuán

Q199

[Q199]

Quánshuǐ zuì qīng; yànyǔ zuì jīng.

泉水最清, 谚语最精。

泉水最清, 諺語最精。

Lit [Just as] spring water [is] most clear, [so] proverbs [are] the most concise.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics PROVERBS rhyme

Q200

[Q200]

Quántou cháo wài dǎ; gēbo wǎng lǐ wān.*

拳头朝外打, 胳膊往里弯。

拳頭朝外打, 胳膊往裡彎。

Lit Fists [naturally] strike outward [and] arms [naturally] bend inward.

Fig One should fight against outsiders and protect one's own people.

Note [See also gēbo zǒngshì above.]

Topics INSIDERS LOYALTY OUTSIDERS SELF-PROTECTION

Q201

[Q201]

Quántou dà shì gēge; gètóu zhuàng shì qiáng liáng.

拳头大是哥哥, 个头壮是强梁。

拳頭大是哥哥, 個頭壯是強梁。

Lit Those with big fists are elder brothers [and those with] stout bodies are powerful.

Fig “Might makes right.”

Topics MIGHT POWER STRENGTH

Q202

[Q202]

Quántou shàng wú yǎn.

拳头上无眼。

拳頭上無眼。

Lit On fists there are no eyes.

Fig In fights someone may be seriously hurt (by accident).

Topics FIGHTING HARM

Q203

[Q203]

Qǔ dào de qī, mǎi dào de mǎ; rèn rén qí lái, rèn rén dǎ.

娶到的妻, 买到的马; 任人骑来, 任人打。

娶到的妻, 買到的馬; 任人騎來, 任人打。

Lit A wife [one has] married [is like a] horse [one has] bought: one may ride [them] or beat [them as one pleases].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MARRIAGE rhyme WIVES

Q204

[Q204]

Qǔdé jīng lái Táng Sēng shòu; rěxia huò lái Xíngzhě dān.

取得经来唐僧受, 惹下祸来行者担。

取得經來唐僧受, 惹下禍來行者擔。

Lit [The credit for] bringing back the [Buddhist] scriptures [on the Pilgrimage to the West is] given to [the Monk] Tang Seng, [while the responsibility for any] disasters encountered [on that trip is] shouldered by [his] disciple Xingzhe [i.e., Sun Wukong, the Monkey King].

Fig Successes are always credited to superiors, while failures are blamed on his or her subordinates.

Note [Allusions to the principal characters in JW; see also sān rén tóngxíng below.]

Topics BLAME Buddhist scriptures FAILURE HIERARCHY INFERIORS JW Monkey King Pilgrimage to the West SUCCESS Sun Wukong SUPERIORS Tang_Seng

Q205

[Q205]

Què bǔ tángláng, rén bǔ què; àn sòng Wú Cháng, sǐ bù zhī.

雀捕螳螂, 人捕雀; 暗送无常, 死不知。

雀捕螳螂, 人捕雀; 暗送無常, 死不知。

Lit The oriole catches the mantis, who [in turn] is caught by a human; [neither] knows [of their] approaching death.

Fig Don't covet gains ahead without being aware of the dangers behind. People who plot evil deeds may suffer the same fate.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 5; note: Wú Cháng is the Chinese equivalent of the Grim Reaper of Death, sent by the King of the Underworld. This is a variation of the more common tángláng bǔ chán below.]

Topics CAUTION DANGER DEATH Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EVIL JUSTICE Wú_Cháng

Q206

[Q206]

Qué láng nán dòu.

瘸狼难斗。

瘸狼難鬥。

Lit [A] lame wolf is [even] more difficult to deal with [than an ordinary one].

Fig The worse people are, the harder they are to deal with.

Topics DIFFICULTIES EVIL

Q207

[Q207]

Què zhī fēng; yǐ zhī shuǐ.

鹊知风, 蚁知水。

鵲知風, 蟻知水。

Lit The magpie [is the first to] feel the wind [and the] ant [to] know [the coming] rain.

Fig If one lives in a particular environment for long, one can usually predict what will happen next.

Note [Note: xǐquè, “magpie”; see also mǎyǐ lěi wō above and wūyā zhī fēng below.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCE PREDICTIONS WEATHER xǐquè

Q208

[Q208]

Qǔ fǎ hū shàng, jing dé hū zhōng; (qǔ fǎ hū zhōng, jin dé hū qí xià).*

取法乎上, 竟得乎中; (取法乎中, 仅得乎其下)。

取法乎上, 竟得乎中; (取法乎中, 僅得乎其下)。

Lit [If one] takes as a model the best, [one can] make only a mediocre [copy]; ([if one] takes as [one's] model mediocrity, [one will] get something inferior [to that]).

Fig Aim high or you'll fall below average.

Note [Also said gǔ fǎ hū shàng, dé hū qí zhōng; qǔ fǎ hū; and fǎ hū qí shàng, jìn dé qí zhōng; fǎ hū qí zhōng, zé dé qí xià (q.v.).]

Topics AMBITION COPYING EXAMPLE GOALS MODELS QUALITY

Q209

[Q209]

Qū mù wù zhí shéng; zhòng fá wù míng zhèng.

曲木恶直绳, 重罚恶明正。

曲木惡直繩, 重罰惡明正。

Lit [Just as] a crooked board hates [a carpenter's] straight [plumb] line, [so one who] deserves severe punishment hates clear proof

Note [of his or her guilt.]

Topics CRIMINALS EVIDENCE GUILT PUNISHMENT

Q210

[Q210]

Qún yàn wú shǒu nán chéng xíng.

群雁无首难成行。

群雁無首難成行。

Lit Wild geese without [their] leader [find it] difficult to fly in formation.

Fig If a group loses its leader, they will be in disarray.

Note [See also qín zéi xiān qín wáng above and shé wú tóu and yàn fēi qiān lǐ below.]

Topics GROUPS LEADERS LOSS

Q211

[Q211]

Qún yǐ néng xiáng dúshé.

群蚁能降毒蛇。

群蟻能降毒蛇。

Lit A horde of ants can conquer a poisonous snake.

Fig “In unity lies strength.”

Note [See also qíxīn de mǎyǐ above.]

Q212

[Q212]

Qù shí liú rénqíng; zhuǎn lái hǎo xiāngjiàn.

去时留人情, 转来好相见。

去時留人情, 轉來好相見。

Lit [If you] part on friendly terms, you can come back to see one another again.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 14; see also mǎi-mài bù chéng above and shānshuǐ shàng yǒu below.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP MEETING PARTING RELATIONSHIPS Suí_Táng_Yǎnyì

【L1】R R1

[R1]

Ràng lǐ yī cùn; dé lǐ yī chǐ.

让礼一寸, 得礼一尺。

讓禮一寸, 得禮一尺。

Lit Yield an inch [and] gain a foot.

Fig If one makes a small concession, one may make a greater gain later on.

Note [Note: lǐràng, “to give precedence to someone out of courtesy or thoughtfulness.”]

Topics CONCESSIONS COURTESY INVESTMENT lǐràng

R2

[R2]

Rànglù bù shì chī hàn.

让路不是痴汉。

讓路不是痴漢。

Lit [One who] yields to others is not [a] fool.

Note [See also chī hàn bùkěn above and ráorén bù shì below and the following three entries.]

Topics CONCESSIONS YIELDING

R3

[R3]

Ràng rén bù wéi dī.

让人不为低。

讓人不為低。

Lit [One who] yields to others is not considered inferior [to others].

Note [See also the preceding and following entry.]

Topics CONCESSIONS YIELDING

R4

[R4]

Ràng rén sānfēn bù wéi shū.

让人三分不为输。

讓人三分不為輸。

Lit [One who] concedes thirty percent is not considered [to have] lost.

Note [See also the preceding and the following entries.]

Topics CONCESSIONS YIELDING

R5

[R5]

Ràng rén yī zhāo, tiān kuān dì kuò.

让人一着, 天宽地阔。

讓人一著, 天寬地闊。

Lit One who [deliberately] retreats one move [in chess has] broad scope [for advance or retreat later].

Fig Those who give precedence out of courtesy or who make concessions are allowing themselves broader scope for advance or retreat.

Note [Note: zhāoshù refers to a move in Chinese chess; see also ráorén bù shì below and the preceding four entries.]

Topics Chinese chess CONCESSIONS RETREAT tiānkuān-dìkuò zhāoshù

R6

[R6]

Ràng yī, ràng èr; bù néng ràng sān, ràng sì.

让一让二, 不能让三让四。

讓一讓二, 不能讓三讓四。

Lit One may make a concession once or twice, [but] not three or four times.

Fig There is a limit to one's accommodation.

Note [See also shì bù guò sān below.]

Topics ACCOMMODATION CONCESSIONS LIMITS

R7

[R7]

Ráorén bù shì chī; chī hàn bù ráorén.

饶人不是痴, 痴汉不饶人。

饒人不是痴, 痴漢不饒人。

Lit [To] forgive others is not stupid; [it's a] stupid person [who] does not forgive others.

Note [See also rànglù bù shì above.]

Topics FORGIVENESS

R8

[R8]

Ráorén bù shì chī; guòhòu dé piányi.

饶人不是痴, 过后得便宜。

饒人不是痴, 過後得便宜。

Lit To forgive others is not foolish; later [one will] benefit.

Note [See also chī hàn bùkěn and hán róng zhōng yǒuyì and rànglù bù shì above.]

Topics BENEFITS FORGIVENESS FUTURE INVESTMENT

R9

[R9]

Ráorén shì fú; qīrén shì huò.

饶人是福, 欺人是祸。

饒人是福, 欺人是禍。

Lit To forgive others is a blessing; to bully others is a misfortune.

Topics BULLYING FORGIVENESS

R10

[R10]

Rè jí shēng fēng; lè jí shēng bēi.

热极生风,乐极生悲。

熱極生風,樂極生悲。

Lit [Just as] extreme warmth brings about winds, [so] extreme pleasure brings about sorrow.

Topics EXTREMES PLEASURE SORROW

R11

[R11]

Rén ài fù de; gǒu yǎo qióng de.*

人爱富的; 狗咬穷的。

人愛富的; 狗咬窮的。

Lit Everyone respects the rich, [while] dogs bite the poor.

Topics POVERTY RESPECT WEALTH

R12

[R12]

Rén bǎ liǎn bù yào, bǎi shì dōu kě wéi.

人把脸不要, 百事都可为。

人把臉不要, 百事都可為。

Lit A person [who has] lost all sense of shame may do anything [bad].

Topics SHAME

R13

[R13]

Rén bàn xiánliáng, zhì zhuǎn gāo.

人伴贤良, 智转高。

人伴賢良, 智轉高。

Lit Whoever keeps company with a virtuous person [will himself] become virtuous.

Topics COMPANIONS VIRTUE

R14

[R14]

Rén bèn, yuàn dāo dùn.*

人笨, 怨刀钝。

人笨, 怨刀鈍。

Lit A person [who is] clumsy complains about [his] knife [being] blunt.

Fig Incompetent people often try to shift the blame for their failures to other causes. “A poor workman blames his tools.”

Topics BLAME COMPETENCE FAILURE INCOMPETENCE TOOLS

R15

[R15]

Rén bǐ rén děi sǐ; huò bǐ huò děi rēng.

人比人得死, 货比货得扔。

人比人得死, 貨比貨得扔。

Lit [When] people are compared to [other] people [they] will die; [just as when] goods are compared to [other] goods [they] will be thrown out.

Fig It's comparison that makes people miserable, just as comparison makes some goods appear to be of poorer quality than others.

Note [See also rén bǐ rén, qì sǐ rén below.]

Topics COMPARISONS GOODS

R16

[R16]

Rén bǐ rén, qì sǐ rén.*

人比人, 气死人。

人比人, 氣死人。

Lit It is comparison that makes men miserable; one should not compare oneself with others.

Note [Cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 68; see also huò bǐ huò above and the previous entry.]

Topics COMPARISONS OTHERS Zàishēng_Yuán

R17

[R17]

Rén bì zì wǔ, ér hòu rén wǔ.

人必自侮, 而后人侮。

人必自侮, 而後人侮。

Lit If you are dishonored, it must be because you dishonored yourself first.

Note [Cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Lí Lóu, Shàng.]

Topics DISHONOR HONOR Lí Lóu, Shàng Mencius

R18

[R18]

Rén bù chū míng, shēn bù guì; huǒ bù shāo shān, dì bù féi.

人不出名身不贵, 火不烧山地不肥。

人不出名身不貴, 火不燒山地不肥。

Lit A person who is not well-known won't be valued highly [by others], [just as on] hills [which have] not been burned over, the soil is not [as] fertile.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FAME REPUTATION rhyme

R19

[R19]

Rén bù cí lù; hǔ bù cí shān.

人不辞路, 虎不辞山。

人不辭路, 虎不辭山。

Lit Human beings cannot be separated from roads, [just as] tigers cannot be separated from mountains.

Fig Everyone has to leave home and travel sometimes.

Topics SEPARATION TRAVEL

R20

[R20]

Rén bù jīng bǎi yǔ; chái bù jīng bǎi fǔ.

人不经百语, 柴不经百斧。

人不經百語, 柴不經百斧。

Lit [Even a good] person cannot [withstand] a hundred [people] speaking [ill of him or her, just as] firewood cannot [withstand] a hundred [strokes of an] axe.

Note [Rhyme; note: jīng bù qǐ “cannot withstand”; see also qiān fū suǒ zhǐ above.]

Topics jīng bù qǐ PUBLIC_OPINION

R21

[R21]

Rén bù kě mào xiàng; hǎishuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng.*

人不可貌相, 海水不可斗量。

Lit People cannot be judged [by their] looks, [just as the] sea cannot be measured in bushels.

Fig Do not judge people by their appearances.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 3; note: one dǒu equals one deciliter; see also hǎishuǐ bùkě above and rénxīn nán cè below.]

Topics APPEARANCES deciliter dǒu JUDGMENTS rhyme Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R22

[R22]

Rén bù kě wàngběn.

人不可忘本。

Lit One should not forget one's roots.

Fig (1) One should not forget one's (class) origins. (2) One should not forget one's past (sufferings). (3) One should not forget one's benefactor(s).

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 21.]

Topics BENEFACTORS Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì CONDUCT MEMORY SOCIAL CLASS SUFFERING

R23

[R23]

Rén bùlùn dàxiǎo; mǎ bùlùn gāodī.

人不论大小, 马不论高低。

人不論大小, 馬不論高低。

Lit [One should] no more judge people by their age than [one would] judge horses by their height.

Topics AGE JUDGMENTS

R24

[R24]

Rén bù qīn, tǔ hái qīn.

人不亲, 土还亲。

人不親, 土還親。

Lit People from the same place feel close even if they aren't related to each other.

Note [See also qīn bù qīn and qīn xiàng qīn above.]

Topics FEELINGS PLACE

R25

[R25]

Rén bù qiú rén, yībān dà; shuǐ bù xià tān, yī zhǎng píng.

人不求人一般大, 水不下滩一掌平。

人不求人一般大, 水不下灘一掌平。

Lit [If] one doesn't ask others [for anything, one stands] equal [to everybody else, just as if] water doesn't encounter shoals, [it remains all] at the same level.

Fig It is best not to be indebted or beholden to others.

Topics DEBT INDEPENDENCE

R26

[R26]

Rén bù shuō, bù tōng; mù bù zuān, bù tòu.

人不说, 不通; 木不钻, 不透。

人不說, 不通; 木不鑽, 不透。

Lit [If you] don't try to speak [i.e., reason with] others, [they] won't understand [you, just as] without drilling, [you can]not get through a wood[en board].

Note [See also gǔ bù dǎ above.]

Topics REASON SPEECH

R27

[R27]

Rén bù wèi jǐ, tiānzhū-dìmiè.*

人不为己, 天诛地灭。

人不為己, 天誅地滅。

Lit [If] people do not look out for themselves first, Heaven and Earth will destroy [them].

Fig People must look out for their own interests first.

Note [The second half is a chengyu. This traditional saying was revised into a rhymed communist slogan rén bù wèi jǐ, dǐng tiān lì dì, “If one is selfless, one fears nothing,” created by substituting the chengyu: dǐngtiān-lìdì, “fearing neither heaven nor earth,” for the second part.]

Topics chengyu Communist party Communist slogan dǐngtiān-lìdì rhyme SELF SELF-INTEREST SELFISHNESS SELFLESSNESS tiānzhū-dìmiè

R28

[R28]

Rén bùyí hǎo; gǒu bùyí bǎo.

人不宜好, 狗不宜饱。

人不宜好, 狗不宜飽。

Lit [It is] not advisable [for] people [to be too] well-off, [just as it is] not advisable [for] dogs [to be too] well-fed.

Fig People become avaricious if they are too well-off, just as watchdogs become lazy if they are too well-fed.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AVARICE GREED IDLENESS LAZINESS rhyme WATCHDOG WEALTH

R29

[R29]

Rén chuàn ménzi rě shìfēi; gǒu chuàn ménzi ái bàng chuí.

人串门子惹是非, 狗串门子挨棒锤。

人串門子惹是非, 狗串門子挨棒錘。

Lit [If] one goes from door to door [gossiping], [one will just] stir up trouble, [just as when a] dog goes from door to door, it gets beaten with (laundry) clubs.

Note [Rhyme; note: chuàn ménzi, “to visit people's homes casually.”]

Topics GOSSIP rhyme TROUBLE VISITING

R30

[R30]

Rén dǎoméi, hē kǒu liángshuǐ yě yào sāi yá.

人倒霉, 喝口凉水也要塞牙。

人倒霉, 喝口涼水也要塞牙。

Lit [When] bad luck [comes to] people, [even] a mouthful of cool water will get stuck between [their] teeth.

Fig “Misfortunes never come singly.” “It never rains but it pours.”

Note [See also yùn qù, huángjīn below.]

Topics LUCK MISFORTUNE

R31

[R31]

Rén dào nánchù cái jiàn xīn.*

人到难处才见心。

人到難處才見心。

Lit [It is] only when a person gets into difficulty that one can [truly] see his heart.

Fig It is only when we see how someone behaves in a difficult situation that we can see his or her true character.

Note [See also jífēng zhī jìncǎo above and shì biàn zhī rénxīn and zhǐ zhī wǒ wàimiàn below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CHARACTER CIRCUMSTANCES DIFFICULTIES HEARTS TESTING

R32

[R32]

Rén dào nánchù jiù rú hǔ luò shēn kēng.

人到难处就如虎落深坑。

人到難處就如虎落深坑。

Lit A person in a tight difficult situation is just like a tiger fallen into a deep pit [i.e., (s)he can do nothing].

Topics DIFFICULTIES POWERLESSNESS TROUBLE

R33

[R33]

Rén dào shì jí chù, jiù yǒu chūqí chù.

人到事急处, 就有出奇处。

人到事急處, 就有出奇處。

Lit [When a] person gets into a desperate situation, that's [when (s)he will] show remarkable resourcefulness.

Note [Note the chengyu: jízhōng-shēngzhì, “showing resourcefulness in an emergency”; see also rén jí, zhì shēng below.]

Topics chengyu DESPERATION jízhōng-shēngzhì renji-zhisheng RESOURCEFULNESS

R34

[R34]

Rén dào shì zhōng mí, jiù pà bù tīng quàn.

人到事中迷, 就怕不听劝。

人到事中迷, 就怕不聽勸。

Lit [When] a person becomes deeply involved in something, [the thing to] fear is [that he will lose his objectivity and] not listen to reason.

Topics INVOLVEMENT OBJECTIVITY REASON SUBJECTIVITY

R35

[R35]

Rén dào sìshíwǔ, zhèngrú chū shān hǔ.

人到四十五,正如出山虎。

Lit [When] one reaches [the age of] forty-five, [he is] just as [energetic as a] tiger coming out of the mountains.

Note [A rhyme, said of men.]

Topics ABILITY AGE MEN MIDDLE AGE rhyme STRENGTH

R36

[R36]

Rén dào wúqíng, qièmò xiāngjiāo.

人到无情, 切莫相交。

人到無情, 切莫相交。

Lit [If some]one no [longer] shows [any] friendship [for you], be sure not to continue the relationship.

Topics FRIENDSHIP RECIPROCITY

R37

[R37]

Rén dào wú qiú, pǐn zì gāo.

人到无求, 品自高。

人到無求, 品自高。

Lit [If one] arrives [at a point where s/he] has nothing to ask for [from others, one's moral] character [will] naturally be higher.

Note [Note: pǐndé, “moral character.”]

Topics CHARACTER DETACHMENT MORALITY MORALITY pǐndé

R38

[R38]

Rén dào wǔshí, zhī tiānmìng.

人到五十, 知天命。

Lit [By the time] one is fifty, [one] knows [one's] fate in life.

Note [A paraphrase of part of a famous quotation from the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Wéi Zhèng; see also rén nián wǔshí below.]

Topics AGE Analects Confucius FATE Lúnyǔ MIDDLE AGE Wéi_Zhèng

R39

[R39]

Rén dào zhōngnián, wànshì xiū.

人到中年, 万事休。

人到中年, 萬事休。

Lit [When] people get to middle age, everything comes to a halt.

Fig After middle age, nothing great can be accomplished.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 33; see also yuè guò shíwǔ below.]

Topics AGE AGING Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō LIMITATIONS MIDDLE_AGE

R40

[R40]

Rén dà, xīn dà.

人大, 心大。

Lit [As] people grow up, [their] will [also] grows.

Note [Usually refers to children having grown up and wanting to make their own decisions; cf. DRC, chap. 28.]

Topics DECISIONS PEOPLE WILL

R41

[R41]

Rén de míng; shù de yǐng.

人的名, 树的影。

人的名, 樹的影。

Lit [Just as] a tree [casts] its shadow, a person [carries] a reputation.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 86; also said rén yǒu míng, shù yǒu yǐng; see also hǔ sǐ liú pí above and rén guò liúmíng below.]

Topics JPM REPUTATION rhyme

R42

[R42]

Rěn dé yīshí fèn, zhōngshēn wú nǎomèn.

忍得一时忿, 终身无恼闷。

忍得一時忿, 終身無惱悶。

Lit [One who can] bear one's indignation for short periods of time [will] have no anxiety for one's whole life.

Note [Rhyme; cf. DRC, chap. 9; see rěn rǔ zhì sān gōng below.]

Topics DRC FORBEARANCE INDIGNATION rhyme WORRIES

R43

[R43]

Réndīng shàng bǎi, wǔyì jiē quán.

人丁上百, 武艺皆全。

人丁上百, 武藝皆全。

Lit [In] a population reaching a hundred, all sorts of skills and talents [can be found].

Note [Note: réndīng, “a population,” usually refers to adult males.]

Topics réndīng SKILLS TALENT

R44

[R44]

Rén dìng shèng tiān.*

人定胜天。

人定勝天。

Lit People can conquer nature; humans are the masters of their own fate.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Wú Zǐxū Lièzhuàn; often used by Mao Zedong.]

Topics FATE Mao Zedong NATURE PEOPLE POWER SELF-DETERMINATION Shǐ Jì Wú_Zǐxū_Lièzhuàn

R45

[R45]

Rén duō, bù pà hǔ; gǒu duō, bù pà láng.

人多不怕虎, 狗多不怕狼。

Lit Many people [together] won't fear [a] tiger, [and] many dogs [together] won't fear [a] wolf.

Fig There is strength in numbers.

Topics COOPERATION NUMBER STRENGTH UNITY

R46

[R46]

Rén duō, chéng wáng.

人多, 成王。

Lit Many people [under you] make [you] a king.

Fig The more people one controls, the greater is one's power.

Note [Cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 77; Ding Ling's modern novel Tàiyáng Zhào Zài Sānggān Hé Shàng, chap. 39.]

Topics Ding Ling LEADERS NUMBER POWER Tàiyáng Zhào Zài Xīyáng_Jì

R47

[R47]

Rén duō chī láng; láng duō chī rén.

人多吃狼, 狼多吃人。

Lit Many people [together can] eat a wolf, [just as] many wolves [together can] eat a man.

Fig In unity there is strength.

Topics COOPERATION STRENGTH UNITY

R48

[R48]

Rén duō, chū Hán Xìn.*

人多出韩信。

人多出韓信。

Lit The more people [there are, the more likely it is that an able person such as] Han Xin will appear.

Note [Han Xin was a famous general under Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty.]

Topics Han dynasty Han Xin LEADERS Liu Bang NUMBER PEOPLE

R49

[R49]

Rén duō, hǎo zhòngtián; rén shǎo, hǎo guònián.

人多好种田, 人少好过年。

人多好種田, 人少好過年。

Lit Many people are better for planting fields, [but] fewer people [to feed] are better at [Chinese] New Year's.

Fig Many hands make the farming work lighter, but fewer mouths to feed make life easier.

Note [Rhyme; note: guò niánguān, “to settle all one's outstanding debts by the end of the year.”]

Topics AGRICULTURE FARMING OVERPOPULATION WORK

R50

[R50]

Rén duō, hǎo zuògōng; yǐ duō, kùnsǐ chóng.

人多好做工, 蚁多困死虫。

人多好做工, 蟻多困死蟲。

Lit Many people are better for work, [just as] many ants are better to wear down [an] insect.

Fig “Many hands make light work”; “there is strength in numbers.”

Note [Rhyme; see also the following entry.]

Topics COOPERATION STRENGTH UNITY WORK

R51

[R51]

Rén duō, hǎo zuòhuó; (rén shǎo, hǎo chīfàn).

人多好做活, (人少,好吃饭)。

人多好做活, (人少,好吃飯)。

Lit “Many hands make light work,” ([but if there are] fewer people [it's] easier [to get enough] to eat).

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 21; the first part is also said rén duō hǎo bànshì: cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 84; the second part is added as a humorous contrast; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics COOPERATION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn WORKING Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

R52

[R52]

Rén duō, lìliàng dà; chái duō, huǒyàn gāo.

人多力量大, 柴多火焰高。

Lit There is strength in numbers, [just as] more wood makes a bigger fire.

Note [See also zhòngrén shíchái below.]

Topics COOPERATION FIRES NUMBER STRENGTH

R53

[R53]

Rén duō luàn lóng duō hàn, (mǔjī duōle bù xiàdàn, xífù duōle pópo zuòfàn).

人多乱, 龙多旱, (母鸡多了, 不下蛋, 媳妇多了, 婆婆做饭)。

人多亂, 龍多旱, (母雞多了, 不下蛋, 媳婦多了, 婆婆做飯)。

Lit [If there are] more people, [there will be more] confusion; [if there are] more dragons, [there will be] drought; ([if there are] more hens, no one lays eggs; [if there are] more daughters-in-law, the mothers-in-law [will have to] do the cooking).

Fig “Everybody's business is nobody's business.” “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Note [Rhyme; note: in traditional China the first part was commonly used alone; note: dragons were believed to control water courses. See also rén duō, shǒu zá below.]

Topics INTERFERENCE ORGANIZATION WORKING

R54

[R54]

Rén duō, méi hǎo tāng; zhū duō, méi hǎo kāng.

人多没好汤, 猪多没好糠。

人多沒好湯, 豬多沒好糠。

Lit [If there are] too many people, there won't be good soup [to eat and if there are] too many pigs, there won't be enough chaff [to eat].

Fig Benefits divided among too many people become insignificant.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics OVERPOPULATION rhyme

R55

[R55]

Rén duō, shì zhòng.*

人多势重。

人多勢重。

Lit The more people there are, the greater the strength one can muster.

Topics COOPERATION NUMBER STRENGTH

R56

[R56]

Rén duō, shǒu zá.*

人多手杂。

人多手雜。

Lit [When there are too] many people [involved in a matter], [their] hands [get] entangled.

Fig “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Note [See also lóng duō and qī kǒuzi and rén duō luàn above and shāogōng duōle and zuò shě dào biān below.]

Topics INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION WORKING

R57

[R57]

Rén duō, xīn bù qí; éluǎnshí jǐ, diào pí.

人多心不齐, 鹅卵石挤掉皮。

人多心不齊, 鵝卵石擠掉皮。

Lit [When there are] too many people, [there can be] no unanimity of minds, [just as when] cobblestones are crowded together, [their] surfaces are worn away.

Fig It's inevitable that there is friction in a group and concerted effort becomes impossible.

Note [Vs. rénxīn qí below.]

Topics CONFLICT COOPERATION FRICTION NUMBER PEOPLE

R58

[R58]

Rén duō yī jì yǒuyì; wù yù yī bèi yǒuyòng.

人多一技有益, 物裕一倍有用。

Lit Learning another skill will always benefit one, [just as] having a spare of something [always] comes in handy.

Note [See also yì bù yā shēn below.]

Topics SKILL

R59

[R59]

Rén duō, zuǐ zá.*

人多嘴杂。

人多嘴雜。

Lit [When there are] many people [gossiping], [their] mouths [get] tangled.

Fig Just let people say and think whatever they want; don't pay attention to gossip.

Note [This is often mistaken as a chengyu.]

Topics chengyu GOSSIP rénduō-zuǐzá

R60

[R60]

Rén è, lǐ bù è.

人恶礼不恶。

人惡禮不惡。

Lit [Although other] people may be rude, courtesy [dictates that one] not be rude [in return].

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 80.]

Topics CONDUCT COURTESY JPM RUDENESS

R61

[R61]

Rén ér wú héng, bù kěyǐ zuò wūyī.

人而无恒, 不可以作巫医。

人而無恆, 不可以作巫醫。

Lit [If] one has no persistence of purpose, [he] may not [even qualify to] be a witch doctor.

Fig If one has no perseverance, one can accomplish nothing.

Note [Originally a quotation from the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Zǐ Lù, Dì 13.]

Topics Confucius Lúnyǔ PERSEVERANCE PERSISTENCE Zǐ_Lù

R62

[R62]

Rén fēi cǎomù, qǐnéng wúqíng？*

人非草木, 岂能无情？

人非草木, 豈能無情？

Lit Humans are not grass [or] trees, [so] how can they avoid emotion?

Note [Originally from an essay “Qiū Shēng Fù” by Ouyang Xiu in the Northern Song dynasty; cf. WM, chap. 13.]

Topics EMOTIONS FEELINGS Northern Song dynasty Ouyang Xiu Qiū Shēng Fù Song dynasty WM

R63

[R63]

Rén fēi shèngxián; shú néng wú guò？*

人非圣贤, 孰能无过？

人非聖賢, 孰能無過？

Lit People are not saints, [so] how can they be faultless? “To err is human.”

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 109; see also shì ruò qiúquán below.]

Topics FAULTS HUMAN NATURE MISTAKES PERFECTION Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

R64

[R64]

Rén gēn shì zǒu; gǒu gēn pì zǒu.

人跟势走, 狗跟屁走。

人跟勢走, 狗跟屁走。

Lit People follow along with [those who have] power, [just as] dogs follow [the smell of] flatulence.

Fig Some people want to associate themselves with powerful people.

Note [See also gǒu bù chī shǐ above and rén jìng fù de below.]

Topics POWER SNOBBERY

R65

[R65]

Rén gè yǒu xīn.

人各有心。

Lit People each have [their own] hearts.

Fig (1) Everyone has his or her own intentions. (2) All people have consciences.

Note [Cf. Sān Guó Zhì: Wèi Shū: Sān Shào Dì Jì.]

Topics CONSCIENCE DIFFERENCES HEARTS INTENTIONS MINDS Sān Guó Zhì Sān Shào Dì Jì Wèi_Shū

R66

[R66]

Rén gè yǒu zhì, (bùkě xiāngqiǎng).

人各有志, (不可相强)。

人各有志, (不可相強)。

Lit Different people have different aspirations, ([and] cannot be forced to do things [that they don't want to do]).

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 40; the first part is commonly used alone as a set phrase; see the preceding entry.]

Topics ASPIRATIONS DIFFERENCES Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FORCE réngèyǒuzhì

R67

[R67]

Rén guàn shè jǐ guò; jìng bù yǎn rén cī.

人惯赦己过, 镜不掩人疵。

人慣赦己過, 鏡不掩人疵。

Lit People tend to forgive [their] own mistakes [but the] mirror [will] not hide their defects.

Fig People's shortcomings are more apparent to others than to themselves.

Note [See also lǘ bù zhī above.]

Topics MISTAKES SELF-PERCEPTION SHORTCOMINGS

R68

[R68]

Rén guì jiàn jī.

人贵见机。

人貴見機。

Lit People value seeing opportunities.

Fig To see an opportunity is precious. When opportunity knocks, seize it!

Topics OPPORTUNITY TIMING

R69

[R69]

Rén guò liúmíng; yàn guò liú shēng.

人过留名, 雁过留声。

人過留名, 雁過留聲。

Lit A person leaves a reputation behind, [just as] a wild goose leaves its sound [lingering after it's gone].

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 32; see also hǔ sǐ liú pí and rén de míng above.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn REPUTATION

R70

[R70]

Rén guò sānshí bù xuéyì.

人过三十不学艺。

人過三十不學藝。

Lit [A] person over thirty cannot learn [new] skills.

Fig “You can't teach an old dog new tricks.”

Topics AGE LEARNING MIDDLE AGE SKILLS

R71

[R71]

Rén gù yǒu yī sǐ, huò zhòngyú Tài Shān, huò qīng yú hóngmáo.

人固有一死, 或重于泰山, 或轻于鸿毛。

人固有一死, 或重於泰山, 或輕於鴻毛。

Lit [Although] death certainly befalls [all] people [alike], [it may be] weightier than Mount Tai [or] lighter than goose feather.

Fig Some people's deaths are more consequential than others.

Note [Originally from Sima Qian's Bào Rén Ān Shū (or Bào Rén Shàoqin Shū) in the Han dynasty; quoted by Mao Zedong in his essays “Jìniàn Zhāng Sīdé” and “In Memory of Dr. Norman Bethune,” two of the “Three Constantly Read Essays” during the Cultural Revolution; Mount Tai, a large mountain in Shandong province and one of the five sacred mountains, is commonly used as a symbol of great weight or import. Zhòngyútàishān, (lit) “(to be) weightier than Mount Tai”; (fig) “(to be) of greatest significance,” and qīngyú-hóngmáo, (lit) “(to be) lighter than goose feather”; (fig) “without the least significance,” are chengyu.]

Topics Bào Rén Ān Shū Bào Rén Shàoqin Bethune, Norman chengyu COMPARISON Cultural Revolution DEATH In Memory of Dr. Norman Bethune Jìniàn Zhāng Sīdé Mao Zedong Mount Tai qīngyú-hóngmáo Sima Qian Three Constantly Read Essays zhòngyútàishān

R72

[R72]

Rén hǎo, shuǐ yě tián.

人好, 水也甜。

Lit [When] people['s company is] good, even water tastes sweeter.

Fig Even the water tastes sweeter to the guests if the host shows sincere hospitality.

Note [Usually said by guests.]

Topics GUESTS HOSPITALITY HOSTS WATER

R73

[R73]

Rén hǒng dìpí, dì hǒng dùpí.*

人哄地皮, 地哄肚皮。

Lit [If] people cheat the land, the land [will] cheat [people's] bellies.

Fig If people don't work hard on the land, the land won't produce enough to feed the people.

Topics FARMING FOOD HARVEST LAND WORK

R74

[R74]

Rén jiàn lì ér bù jiàn hài; yú jiàn shí ér bù jiàn gōu.

人见利而不见害, 鱼见食而不见钩。

人見利而不見害, 魚見食而不見鉤。

Lit People see advantages rather than seeing disadvantages, [just as] fish see the bait rather than the hook.

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 92.]

Topics ADVANTAGE DIFFERENCES Jìnghuā Yuán PERSPECTIVE

R75

[R75]

Rén jiàn mùqián; tiān jiàn jiǔyuǎn.

人见目前, 天见久远。

人見目前, 天見久遠。

Lit Human beings [can only] see the present, [while] Heaven sees far and wide.

Fig Human beings are usually shortsighted.

Note [See Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 31.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HEAVEN HUMAN BEINGS SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

R76

[R76]

Rénjiān sīyǔ, tiān wén ruò léi; àn shì kuīxīn, shén mù rú diàn.

人间私语, 天闻若雷; 暗室亏心, 神目如电。

人間私語, 天聞若雷; 暗室虧心, 神目如電。

Lit Secret whisperings are heard in heaven like thunder; evil [done in] dark places is seen by the gods like lightning.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 4.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EVIL EXPOSURE GODS SECRETS TRUTH

R77

[R77]

Rén jí, bàn bu liǎo hǎoshì; māo jí, dài bu zhù hàozi.

人急办不了好事, 猫急逮不住耗子。

人急辦不了好事, 貓急逮不住耗子。

Lit People can't do anything well in haste, [just as] an impatient cat can't catch mice.

Topics HASTE IMPATIENCE

R78

[R78]

Rén jí, jì shēng.

人急计生。

人急計生。

Lit In a moment of desperation one can always hit upon a good idea.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 33; note the chengyu: jízhòng-shēngzhì; see also rén dào shì jí chù above.]

Topics chengyu DESPERATION INVENTION jízhōng-shēngzhì Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R79

[R79]

Rén jí, lì dà.

人急力大。

Lit [When one] is desperate, [one's] strength grows.

Topics DESPERATION STRENGTH

R80

[R80]

Rén jìng fù de; gǒu yǎo pò de.

人敬富的, 狗咬破的。

Lit People respect the wealthy, [while] dogs bite the ragged.

Fig People are snobbish.

Note [See also rén gēn shì zǒu above.]

Topics POVERTY SNOBBERY WEALTH

R81

[R81]

Rén jí zàofǎn; gǒu jí tiào qiáng.

人急造反, 狗急跳墙。

人急造反, 狗急跳牆。

Lit Desperation will drive people to rebel [just as] it will drive a dog to jump over a wall.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 27; note: gǒu jí tiào qiáng, “a cornered beast acts desperately,” is a colloquial expression used to describe people driven to desperate actions.]

Topics colloquial expression DESPERATION DRC gǒují-tiàoqiáng REBELLION

R82

[R82]

Rén jí, zhì shēng.

人急智生。

Lit [When a] person [is in an] emergency, wisdom is born.

Fig Necessity produces invention. “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 6; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 8; as a chengyu: jí zhōng shēng zhì; see also rén dào shì above.]

Topics chengyu DIFFICULTIES EMERGENCIES Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn INVENTION NECESSITY

R83

[R83]

Rén kàn zhìqi; shù kàn cái.

人看志气, 树看材。

人看志氣, 樹看材。

Lit [In judging a] person, [one] looks at [his or her] aspirations, [just as in judging trees, one] looks at [the quality of its] timber.

Topics ASPIRATIONS JUDGMENT

R84

[R84]

Rén kào yī zhuāng; Fó kào jīn zhuāng.

人靠衣装, 佛靠金装。

人靠衣裝, 佛靠金裝。

Lit People need clothes to wear, [just as] Buddhas need gold to look good.

Fig A person's good appearance depends very much on what he or she wears. Appearances are important.

Note [Also said rén yào, etc.; see also Fó yào jīn zhuāng and mǎ kào ān zhuāng above.]

Topics APPEARANCES Buddha CLOTHING

R85

[R85]

Rén kǒu kuài guò fēng.

人口快过风。

人口快過風。

Lit Human mouths are faster than the wind.

Fig Rumors can spread faster than the wind.

Topics RUMORS

R86

[R86]

Rén kǔ, bù zhīzú; dé Lǒng, fù wàng Shǔ.

人苦不知足, 得陇复望蜀。

人苦不知足, 得隴復望蜀。

Lit [It's a] shame [that] people are never satisfied; [having] acquired [the kingdom of] Lǒng, [they] look toward (acquiring) [the kingdom of] Shǔ.

Fig The more people get, the more they want.

Note [Lǒng and Shǔ are two traditional names for parts of ancient China, now located in modern Gansu and Sichuan provinces, respectively; from a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, entitled “Gǔ Fēng,” verse 23; as a chengyu: délǒng-wàngshǔ, “having insatiable desires”; see also rénshēng bù zhīzú below.]

Topics chengyu délǒng-wàngshǔ DESIRE Gansu province GREED Gǔ Fēng HUMAN NATURE Li Bo Lǒng kingdom Shǔ kingdom Sichuan_province

R87

[R87]

Rén kǔ, bù zìzhī.

人苦, 不自知。

Lit People suffer [from] not knowing [their] own [limitations].

Topics LIMITATIONS SELF-KNOWLEDGE SUFFERING

R88

[R88]

Rén kùn mài wū; zhū kùn zhǎng ròu.

人困卖屋, 猪困长肉。

人睏賣屋, 豬睏長肉。

Lit [When] people [are] lazy, [they must] sell [their] houses, [but when] pigs [are] lazy, [they] become fat.

Note [Note: kùn is dialect for “lazy”; see also xìnle dù below.]

Topics DIALECT IDLENESS LAZINESS

R89

[R89]

Rén lǎo, jiān; mǎ lǎo, huá.

人老奸, 马老滑。

人老奸, 馬老滑。

Lit People [when] old, [become] wily, [just as] horses [with] age [become] cunning.

Note [Note: jiānhuá, “crafty”; compare the following entry.]

Topics AGE CUNNING HORSES jiānhuá OLD_AGE

R90

[R90]

Rén lǎo, jīng; jiāng lǎo, là.

人老精, 姜老辣。

Lit An older person is shrewder, [just as] old ginger is more pungent.

Note [Note: the adjective lǎolà, “(1) experienced; (2) determined; drastic; ruthless”; see also shēngjiāng shì lǎo de là below; compare the preceding entry.]

Topics AGE EXPERIENCE SHREWDNESS

R91

[R91]

Rén lǎo wúnéng; shén lǎo wú líng.

人老无能, 神老无灵。

人老無能, 神老無靈。

Lit [When] people [grow] old, [they become] incapable, [just as when] gods [grow] old they are no longer efficacious.

Note [Note: língyàn, “efficacious”; see also ménshén lǎole above and the following entry.]

Topics ABILITY AGE AGING EFFICACY GODS língyàn OLD_AGE

R92

[R92]

Rén lǎo, zhū huáng, bù zhíqián.*

人老珠黄, 不值钱。

人老珠黃, 不值錢。

Lit [When] people [get] old, [like old,] yellowed pearls, [they] lose their value.

Note [Note: rénlǎo-zhūhuáng, is used as a set expression meaning “youth's splendor has faded”; see also shù lǎo, shēng chóng below and the preceding and following entries.]

Topics AGING rénlǎo-zhūhuáng VALUE

R93

[R93]

Rén lǎo, zhū huáng, méi yào yī.

人老珠黄, 没药医。

人老珠黃, 沒藥醫。

Lit People [grow] old, [just as] pearls [grow] yellow [with age]; there is no medicine which can cure [it].

Fig Old age is inevitable.

Note [See the preceding entry.]

Topics AGE AGING OLD AGE rénlǎo-zhūhuáng

R94

[R94]

Rèn lǐ, bù rèn rén; bùpà bù liǎoshì.

认理不认人, 不怕不了事。

認理不認人, 不怕不了事。

Lit [If one acts or makes decisions] based on reason, [and] not based on person[al relationships], [then there is] no need to worry that things cannot be resolved.

Topics ACTIONS DECISIONS PARTIALITY REASON RELATIONSHIPS SOLUTIONS

R95

[R95]

Rén liú, sānfēn jiǎ; yǔ liú, shífēn zhēn.

人留三分假, 雨留十分真。

Lit [If] someone [politely] detains [a guest, it's] thirty percent false, [but if] rain detains [a guest from departing, it's] one hundred percent true.

Note [See also hǎo yǔ, tiān liúkè above.]

Topics COURTESY GUESTS HOSTS RAIN

R96

[R96]

Rén líxiāng jiàn.

人离乡贱。

人離鄉賤。

Lit [When] one leaves [one's] native place, [one feels] worthless.

Fig One feels worthless in a strange land.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 36.]

Topics FEELINGS HOME JW PLACE

R97

[R97]

Rén máng; shén bùmáng.

人忙, 神不忙。

Lit Humans get agitated, [but] gods do not.

Fig Those who seek help (in life) get agitated, but those who are asked for help do not (so there's no point in getting upset about life's vicissitudes).

Topics GODS HELP VICISSITUDES WORRIES

R98

[R98]

Rén miàn xiāngsì; rénxīn bùtóng.

人面相似, 人心不同。

Lit People's appearances are similar [but] their hearts are different.

Fig “Appearances can be deceiving.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 10.]

Topics APPEARANCES Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R99

[R99]

Rén miàn zhǐchǐ, xīn gé qiān lǐ.

人面咫尺, 心隔千里。

Lit [Although] people may stand face to face, [their] minds [may be a] thousand miles apart.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 81; note also the chengyu: zhǐchǐ-tiānyá, “only a short distance away, yet poles apart.”]

Topics chengyu DIFFERENCES DISTANCE JPM MINDS zhǐchǐ-tiānyá

R100

[R100]

Rénmìng dà rú tiān.

人命大如天。

Lit Human life is as important as heaven.

Note [Said, e.g., of murder; cf. WM, chap. 22; see also the following entry.]

Topics LIFE MURDER VALUE WM

R101

[R101]

Rénmìng guān tiān.

人命关天。

人命關天。

Lit [A case involving] human life concerns heaven.

Fig To kill a person is a crime as high as heaven.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 15; note: rénmìng-guāntiān is also used as a chengyu meaning “a matter of life and death.”]

Topics chengyu Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì HEAVEN LIFE MURDER rénmìng-guāntiān VALUE

R102

[R102]

Rén mò zhī qí zǐ zhī è, mò zhī qí miáo zhī shuò.

人莫知其子之恶, 莫知其苗之硕。

人莫知其子之惡, 莫知其苗之碩。

Lit People don't know the evil of their children, nor see the growing of the seedlings they plant.

Fig One naturally can't see the shortcomings of one's favorites.

Note [Cf. Confucius' Lǐjì: Dà Xué (The Book of Rites: Great Learning).]

Topics Book of Rites CHILDREN Confucius EVIL Great Learning Lǐjì PARENTS PERSPECTIVE SHORTCOMINGS

R103

[R103]

Rén néng bǎi rěn zì wú yōu.

人能百忍自无忧。

人能百忍自無憂。

Lit Those [who] can endure everything naturally [will] have no worries.

Fig Endurance drives worries away.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 34.]

Topics ENDURANCE WORRIES Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R104

[R104]

Rén néng kèjǐ, shēn wú huàn; shì bù qī xīn, shuì zì ān.

人能克己, 身无患; 事不欺心, 睡自安。

人能克己, 身無患; 事不欺心, 睡自安。

Lit If one can control oneself, one will never invite trouble; if one never does anything deceitful, one will sleep soundly.

Note [Rhyme; note the chengyu: kèjǐ-fúlǐ, “to restrain oneself and restore the ancient rites”; see also méi zuò kuīxīnshì above.]

Topics chengyu CONDUCT CONSCIENCE DECEIT kèjǐ-fúlǐ rhyme SELF-CONTROL SELF-RESTRAINT WORRIES

R105

[R105]

Rén nián wǔshí bù wéi yāo.

人年五十不为夭。

人年五十不為夭。

Lit One [who is] fifty years old cannot [be said to] die young.

Note [Saying dating from before 1949; see also rén dào wǔshí above.]

Topics AGE DEATH MIDDLE_AGE

R106

[R106]

Rén pà chūmíng; zhū pà zhuàng.*

人怕出名, 猪怕壮。

人怕出名, 豬怕壯。

Lit Fame portends trouble for humans [just as] fattening does for pigs.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 83; often used by Mao Zedong.]

Topics DRC FAME FAT Mao Zedong PIGS

R107

[R107]

Rén pà diūliǎn; shù pà bōpí.*

人怕丢脸, 树怕剥皮。

人怕丟臉, 樹怕剝皮。

Lit Losing face is as important to people as losing bark is to a tree.

Note [See also rénrén yǒu miàn below.]

Topics FACE SELF-ESTEEM SELF-IMAGE

R108

[R108]

Rén pà è; dì pà huāng.

人怕饿, 地怕荒。

人怕餓, 地怕荒。

Lit Hunger is [as] fearsome to people [as] lying barren is to the land.

Topics HUNGER POVERTY

R109

[R109]

Rén pà lǎolái pín.

人怕老来贫。

人怕老來貧。

Lit [What] people fear [most is] poverty in old age.

Note [See also tián pà qiūrì hàn below.]

Topics AGE FEAR OLD AGE POVERTY

R110

[R110]

Rén pà lǎolái qióng; hé pà Hánlù fēng.

人怕老来穷, 禾怕寒露风。

人怕老來窮, 禾怕寒露風。

Lit [What] people fear most [is being] poor in old age, [just as] rice [about to sprout] can't stand the [cold] wind late in autumn.

Note [Rhyme; note: Hànlù, “Cold Dew” refers to the seventeenth solar term.]

Topics AGE Cold Dew Hànlù OLD AGE rhyme Solar_Term

R111

[R111]

Rén pà lǎo xīn; shù pà lǎo gēn.

人怕老心, 树怕老根。

人怕老心, 樹怕老根。

Lit The worst thing for people is to feel [themselves] old, [just as] the worst thing for trees is withering roots.

Topics AGE OLD AGE TREES

R112

[R112]

Rén pà luò dàng; tiě pà luò lú.

人怕落荡, 铁怕落炉。

人怕落蕩, 鐵怕落爐。

Lit People are [as] afraid of falling into a marsh [as] iron is of falling into a stove.

Fig Falling into traps set by others is as dangerous to people as iron falling into a furnace and melting.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 61.]

Topics DANGER FEAR OTHERS TRAPS WM

R113

[R113]

Rén pà niánlǎo; hé pà gān.

人怕年老, 河怕干。

人怕年老, 河怕乾。

Lit People are afraid of old age [just as] rivers fear dry[ing up].

Topics AGE OLD_AGE

R114

[R114]

Rén pà qíxīn; hǔ pà chéngqún.

人怕齐心, 虎怕成群。

人怕齊心, 虎怕成群。

Lit People united in a common cause [are just as dangerous as tigers] united in a pack.

Topics COOPERATION DANGER UNITY

R115

[R115]

Rén pà sānfēn guǐ; guǐ pà qīfēn rén.

人怕三分鬼, 鬼怕七分人。

Lit People fear ghosts thirty percent, [while] ghosts fear people seventy percent.

Fig Evildoers are more afraid of the just than the other way around (because they know that justice will always triumph in the end).

Note [Also said rén yǒu sānfēn pà guǐ, guǐ yǒu qīfēn pà rén; see also rén yǒu sānfēn pà hǔ below.]

Topics EVIL GHOSTS JUSTICE

R116

[R116]

Rén pà shàngchuáng; zì pà shàng qiáng.

人怕上床, 字怕上墙。

人怕上床, 字怕上牆。

Lit [Just as] people are afraid to be on [their death] beds, [so people] fear having [their Chinese] characters [displayed] on the wall [where the faults of their calligraphy can plainly be seen].

Note [Usually said modestly of one's own calligraphy.]

Topics CALLIGRAPHY Chinese characters MODESTY WRITING

R117

[R117]

Rén pà shāngxīn; shù pà bōpí.

人怕伤心, 树怕剥皮。

人怕傷心, 樹怕剝皮。

Lit Having their feelings hurt is as important to people as losing bark is to trees.

Topics FEELINGS

R118

[R118]

Rén pěng xì, xì pěng rén.

人捧戏, 戏捧人。

人捧戲, 戲捧人。

Lit [If] audiences praise the play, the play [will] make the actors famous.

Fig (1) If an actor gives a good performance in a play, that play will make him or her famous. (2) Whether something is successful or not ultimately depends on its reception with critics, powerful people and/or the masses.

Note [See also shí nián pùzi below.]

Topics DRAMA SUCCESS

R119

[R119]

Rén píng bù yǔ; shuǐ píng bù liú.

人平不语, 水平不流。

人平不語, 水平不流。

Lit People [who have been treated on the level] do not speak, [just as] water [which is held] level does not flow.

Fig People who have been treated fairly don't complain.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17; two halves also occur in the reverse order: see shuǐ píng bù liú below.]

Topics JUSTICE rhyme Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R120

[R120]

Rén píng zhìqì; hǔ píng wēi.

人凭志气, 虎凭威。

人憑志氣, 虎憑威。

Lit People['s success] depends on [their] determination [just as a] tiger['s ability to frighten] depends on [its] imposing appearance.

Topics APPEARANCES DETERMINATION SUCCESS

R121

[R121]

Rén pín, zhì duǎn; mǎ shòu, máo cháng.

人贫志短, 马瘦毛长。

人貧志短, 馬瘦毛長。

Lit [When] people are poor, [their] ambitions are reduced, [just as when] horses get thin, [their] hair [appears to be] longer.

Fig Poverty stifles ambition.

Note [See also niǎo shòu, máo cháng above.]

Topics AMBITION POVERTY

R122

[R122]

Rén qiǎo bùrú jiāshi qiǎo; jiāshi zài qiǎo shì rén zào.

人巧不如家什巧, 家什再巧是人造。

Lit People's ingenuity [may] not [be as good] as ingenious tools, [but no matter] how ingenious the tools [are, they are] made by people.

Fig Human beings are ultimately the decisive factor in success.

Topics INGENUITY SUCCESS

R123

[R123]

Rén qī bù shì rǔ; rén pà bù shì fú.

人欺不是辱, 人怕不是福。

Lit To be bullied is not an insult; to be feared is not a blessing.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Lin Baitong's Gǔ Yàn Jiān, a Qing dynasty proverb collection.]

Topics BULLYING FEAR Gǔ Yàn Jiān Lin Baitong Qing dynasty rhyme

R124

[R124]

Rénqíng bù shì zhài; hébì dǐng guō mài.

人情不是债, 何必顶锅卖。

人情不是債, 何必頂鍋賣。

Lit Human relationships are not [like a money] debt; it is not necessary to mount [your] cooking pot on [your] head and sell [it to repay them].

Fig If you can repay a favor, do so; otherwise forget it.

Note [This rhyme is a humorous denial of the following entry.]

Topics FAVORS RELATIONSHIPS REPAYMENT rhyme

R125

[R125]

Rénqíng dà sì shèngzhǐ.

人情大似圣旨。

人情大似聖旨。

Lit People will do more out of personal favoritism than [they would on the] emperor's edict.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 53.]

Topics FAVORITISM JW RELATIONSHIPS

R126

[R126]

Rénqíng dàyú fǎdù.*

人情大于法度。

人情大於法度。

Lit People will do more based on personal favoritism than according to the law.

Fig Personal relationships are more important than the law in deciding a case.

Topics FAVORITISM FEELINGS LAW RELATIONSHIPS

R127

[R127]

Rénqíng guī rénqíng; gōngdào guī gōngdào.

人情归人情, 公道归公道。

人情歸人情, 公道歸公道。

Lit Private relationships are one thing [and] public justice is [quite] another [so the former should not interfere in the latter].

Note [See also gōng shì gōng above.]

Topics INTERFERENCE JUSTICE LAW PRIVATE PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS

R128

[R128]

Rénqíng jí rú zhài, tóu dǐng guō'ér mài.

人情急如债, 头顶锅儿卖。

人情急如債, 頭頂鍋兒賣。

Fig [Repaying a] favor is as urgent as [repaying a] debt; [if necessary one will have to] put [one's] cooking pot [on one's] head [and] sell [it in order to repay it].

Topics FAVORS REPAYMENT

R129

[R129]

Rénqíng, rénqíng; zài rén qíngyuàn.

人情人情, 在人情愿。

人情人情, 在人情願。

Lit True affection lies in a person's willingness.

Fig Only gifts and favors given willingly are a sign of true affection.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 38.]

Topics AFFECTION FAVORS FEELINGS GIFTS WM

R130

[R130]

Rénqíng Sānxiá shuǐ; shìshì yīpánqí.

人情三峡水, 世事一盘棋。

人情三峽水, 世事一盤棋。

Lit Human affections [are like] water rushing through the Three [Yangtse] Gorges; the ways of the world [are like] a game of chess.

Fig Human affections are transient and human affairs are a constant contest.

Note [The Three Gorges of the Yangtse River in Sichuan province are famous for their beauty and turbulence; see also rénshēng yīpánqí below.]

Topics AFFECTION CHESS CONFLICT FEELINGS Sichuan province Three Gorges TRANSIENCE Yangtse_River

R131

[R131]

Rénqíng sì zhǐ zhāngzhāng báo; shìshì rú qí jújú xīn.

人情似纸张张薄, 世事如棋局局新。

人情似紙張張薄, 世事如棋局局新。

Lit [Each instance of] human affection is as thin as a [separate] sheet of paper; life's situations are each as different as each [new] game of chess.

Note [See also guān qíng rú zhǐ báo above and rénshēng yīpánqí below.]

Topics AFFECTION CHESS CIRCUMSTANCES LIFE

R132

[R132]

Rén qīn, gǔròu xiāng.

人亲, 骨肉香。

人親, 骨肉香。

Lit [When] people are related, [their] flesh [and] blood [ties are] strong.

Fig “Blood is thicker than water.”

Note [See also xuè bǐ shuǐ nóng below.]

Topics BLOOD RELATIONSHIPS RELATIVES

R133

[R133]

Rénqíng yī bǎ jū; nǐ bù lái, wǒ bù qù.

人情一把锯; 你不来, 我不去。

人情一把鋸; 你不來, 我不去。

Lit Human relationships [are like the movement of a] saw; if there's no “to,” there's no “fro.”

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FAVORS RELATIONSHIPS rhyme

R134

[R134]

Rén qióng, dāngjiē màiyì; hǔ shòu, lánlù shāngrén.

人穷当街卖艺, 虎瘦拦路伤人。

人窮當街賣藝, 虎瘦攔路傷人。

Lit [When (s)he is] poor, a person [will] make a living as a street-performer [just as when it is] hungry, a tiger [will] attack people on the road.

Fig When poor, one must resort to any means to make a living.

Topics LIVELIHOOD NECESSITY POVERTY WORKING

R135

[R135]

Rén qióng duàn liùqīn.

人穷断六亲。

人窮斷六親。

Lit [When] one is poor, [even one's close] relatives break [off relations].

Note [Note: liùqīn, the “six relations,” refers to father, mother, elder brothers, younger brothers, wife and children; see also the colloquial expression: liùqīn bù rén, “not recognizing one's relations”; see also huāngnián wú liùqīn above.]

Topics colloquial expression liùqīn POVERTY RELATIVES six_relations

R136

[R136]

Rén qióng, péngyou shǎo; yī pò, shīzi duō.

人穷朋友少, 衣破虱子多。

人窮朋友少, 衣破虱子多。

Lit [When] one is poor, [one] has fewer friends, [just as when one's] clothes [get] ragged, [there are] more lice.

Topics FRIENDSHIP POVERTY

R137

[R137]

Rén qióng, qióng zài zhài; tiān lěng, lěng zài fēng.*

人穷穷在债, 天冷冷在风。

人窮窮在債, 天冷冷在風。

Lit People are poor because of debts, [just as] the weather feels cold because of the wind.

Fig Indebtedness leads to poverty (so avoid it).

Topics CAUTION COLD DEBT POVERTY WEATHER

R138

[R138]

Rén qióng, quǎn yě qī.

人穷,犬也欺。

人窮,犬也欺。

Lit [When] people are poor, even dogs will bully [them].

Note [See also rén ruǎn bèi gǒu qī below.]

Topics BULLYING POVERTY

R139

[R139]

Rén qù, bùzhōng liú.

人去不中留。

Lit [If] someone [wants to] leave, it's not OK [to try to persuade him to] stay [i.e., because his heart is not here].

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 46; see also xīn qù, yì nán liú below.]

Topics bùzhōng DEPARTURES DRC PERSUASION

R140

[R140]

Rénrén tóu shàng dǐng kuài tiān.

人人头上顶块天。

人人頭上頂塊天。

Lit There is a patch of heaven over everyone's head.

Fig Every individual has an equal potential to bring his or her potential into full play.

Note [See also gè rén tóushang above.]

Topics INDIVIDUALS POTENTIAL

R141

[R141]

Rénrén yǒu miàn, shùshù yǒu pí.

人人有面, 树树有皮。

人人有面, 樹樹有皮。

Lit Every person has a face [just as] every tree has bark.

Fig “Face” [i.e., self-esteem] is as important to a human being as bark is to a tree.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 76; see also rén pà diūliǎn above.]

Topics FACE PRIDE SELF-ESTEEM

R142

[R142]

Rén ruǎn bèi gǒu qī; niǎo ruǎn bèi māo qī.

人软被狗欺, 鸟软被猫欺。

人軟被狗欺, 鳥軟被貓欺。

Lit A person [of] weak [character] will be bullied by dogs [just as a] weak bird will be bullied by cats.

Note [See also rén qióng, quǎn yě qī above.]

Topics BULLYING CHARACTER

R143

[R143]

Rén ruòbù kuākǒu, xiūchǐ bù líntóu.

人若不夸口, 羞耻不临头。

人若不誇口, 羞恥不臨頭。

Lit If one doesn't boast, shame won't come upon [one's] head.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BRAGGING rhyme SHAME

R144

[R144]

Rěn rǔ zhì sān gōng.

忍辱至三公。

Lit [One who can] swallow insults [will] rise to high official position.

Note [Note: sān gōng refers to the three highest officials in the Western Han dynasty, chéngxiàng, “prime minister,” tàiwèi, “supreme commander,” and yùshǐ dàfu, “imperial secretary”; see also rěn dé yīshí fèn below.]

Topics chéngxiàng Han dynasty INSULTS OFFICIALS POSITION SELF-CONTROL tàiwèi yùshǐ_dàfū

R145

[R145]

Rén shàn, dé rén qī; mǎ shàn, dé rén qí.

人善得人欺, 马善得人骑。

人善得人欺, 馬善得人騎。

Lit An honest person [will always] be imposed upon [just as] an obedient horse [will always] be ridden.

Note [Also said rén shàn, yǒu rén ... etc.; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 76; see also liángshàn bèi rén qī above.]

Topics FAVORS HONESTY IMPOSITION JPM

R146

[R146]

Rén shàng yībǎi, xíngxíng-sèsè.

人上一百, 形形色色。

Lit In [a group of] one hundred people, [there are] every [imaginable] sort.

Fig “It takes all sorts (of people) to make a world.”

Note [Note: xíngxíng-sèsè is a chengyu meaning “of every shade and description.”]

Topics chengyu DIFFERENCES PEOPLE VARIETY xíngxíng-sèsè

R147

[R147]

Rén shǎo, chùsheng duō.

人少, 畜生多。

Lit There are fewer human beings than animals.

Fig There are more bad people (in the world) than good ones.

Topics COMPARISON GOODNESS PEOPLE

R148

[R148]

Rénshēng bǎisuì, zǒng yǒu yī sǐ.

人生百岁, 总有一死。

人生百歲, 總有一死。

Lit [Although] one may live to one hundred, there is always one death.

Fig Everyone has to die sooner or later.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 27.]

Topics AGE DEATH OLD AGE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R149

[R149]

Rénshēng bù dé xíng xiōngyì, suī huó bǎisuì yóu wéi yāo.

人生不得行胸臆, 虽活百岁犹为夭。

人生不得行胸臆, 雖活百歲猶為夭。

Lit [If in] one's life [one] cannot realize [one's] ambitions, although [one may] live [to be a] hundred years old, [it's] like dying young.

Fig One who cannot realize his aspirations dies young, though he may live to be a hundred years old.

Topics AGE AMBITION ASPIRATIONS DEATH FRUSTRATION

R150

[R150]

Rénshēng bù zhīzú, dé Lǒng yòu wàng Shǔ.

人生不知足, 得陇又望蜀。

人生不知足, 得隴又望蜀。

Lit Humans [are] born never [to] know satisfaction; [as soon as one] occupies Long, [one] also looks toward Shu [as well].

Fig Humans are greedy; they will never be satisfied with what they have.

Note [Note: dé Lǒng wàng Shǔ, a chengyu meaning “to have insatiable desires,” refers to a famous episode in R3K, in which Zhuge Liang helped Liu Bei to occupy the small country of Long (near present day Gansu province), as part of his larger scheme to invade Shu, in modern day Sichuan province; see also rénxīn bùzú and rénxīn gāo guò tiān below.]

Topics AVARICE chengyu DESIRE Gansu province GREED Liu Bei Lóng kingdom R3K SATISFACTION Shǔ kingdom Sichuan province Zhuge_Liang

R151

[R151]

Rénshēng dàn jiǎng qián sānshí.

人生但讲前三十。

人生但講前三十。

Lit [In evaluating] someone's life, only discuss the first thirty [years].

Fig You can judge a person's accomplishments in life by his first thirty years.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT AGE JUDGMENT

R152

[R152]

Rénshēng jǐ jiàn yuè dāngtóu？

人生几见月当头？

人生幾見月當頭？

Lit [In] one's life how many [times can one] see the moon overhead?

Fig How many times can a person look up at the moon in his life? How many good times can one have in one's life? How brief life is!

Note [See also qīngchūn yì guò above.]

Topics AGE LIFE LIMITATIONS TIME

R153

[R153]

Rén shēnglù bù shú, suíchù jiào “Āshū.”

人生路不熟, 随处叫“阿叔”。

人生路不熟, 隨處叫“阿叔”。

Lit [When] one [is on an] unfamiliar road [and] lost, wherever [one goes, one should] address everyone [one meets as] “uncle.”

Fig Be polite and modest whenever you come into a new place or situation.

Note [Rhyme; note: shūshu, (lit) “father's younger brother,” is a child's polite form of address toward a male of a generation older than oneself; Ā is a familiar, rustic prefix; see also jiàn rén bù shīlǐ above.]

Topics COURTESY GREETINGS shūshu

R154

[R154]

Rénshēng qīshí gǔlái xī.*

人生七十古来稀。

人生七十古來稀。

Lit Since ancient times, people have rarely lived to the age of seventy.

Note [A line from a poem, “Qǔ Jiāng,” by the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu.]

Topics AGE Du Fu Qǔ Jiāng Tang_poetry

R155

[R155]

Rénshēng rú báijū-guòxì.

人生如白驹过隙。

人生如白駒過隙。

Lit Human life is [as short as the time it takes for a] small white horse to pass through a crevice.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 107; note: báijū-guòxì is used as a chengyu with the sense of “How time flies!”; originally from Zhuāngzǐ: Zhī Běi Yóu, in which bái jū is a metaphor for the sun.]

Topics báijū-guòxì chengyu LIFE R3K TIME Zhī Běi Yóu Zhuāngzǐ

R156

[R156]

Rénshēng sàng jiā wáng shēn, yányǔ zhàn le bāfēn.

人生丧家亡身, 言语占了八分。

人生喪家亡身, 言語占了八分。

Lit In life the ruin of families [and] the death of individuals [results] eighty percent [i.e., primarily] from imprudent talk.

Note [See also bìng cóng kǒu rù above.]

Topics CAUTION FAMILIES PRUDENCE RUIN TALK

R157

[R157]

Rénshēng yīpánqí.

人生一盘棋。

人生一盤棋。

Lit Human life is [constantly changing like] a chess game.

Fig Life has vicissitudes.

Note [See also rén yǒu qī pín and shìshì yǒuchéng and suī yǒu xiōngsuì below.]

Topics CHANGE LIFE VICISSITUDES

R158

[R158]

Rénshēng yīshì; cǎo shēng yī qiū.

人生一世, 草生一秋。

Lit People [only] live one lifetime, [just as] grass [only] grows for one autumn.

Fig People only live their allotted time, just as grass dies in autumn.

Note [Cf. Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 10.]

Topics AGE DEATH LIFE Píng Yāo Zhuàn TIME

R159

[R159]

Rén shì dì xíng xiān; (yī tiān bùjiàn, zǒu yīqiān).

人是地行仙, (一天不见, 走一千)。

人是地行仙, (一天不見, 走一千)。

Lit People are [like] gods wandering on earth, ([if you do] not see [them, they may have] traveled a thousand [miles away]).

Fig (1) People are wanderers; (here today, (but) gone tomorrow). (2) Human beings are powerful.

Note [Rhyme; cf. DRC, chap. 87; the second half may be omitted.]

Topics CHANGE DRC HUMAN BEINGS PEOPLE POWER TRANSIENCE TRAVEL

R160

[R160]

Rěn shì dí zāixīng.

忍事敌灾星。

忍事敵災星。

Lit [One who can] endure things [will be able to] resist the disaster star.

Fig One who can control himself and suppress his indignation will avoid disasters.

Note [Note: zāixīng refers to an omen of disaster in Chinese astrology; compare “ill-starred”; see also rěn yī shǐ below.]

Topics astrology DISASTER ENDURANCE INDIGNATION SELF-CONTROL zāixīng

R161

[R161]

Rénshì kěyǐ bǔ tiāngōng.

人事可以补天工。

人事可以補天工。

Lit Human actions can supplement nature's work.

Fig Humans can create what nature can't.

Note [Note the chengyu: qiǎoduó-tiāngōng, “superb craftsmanship, excelling nature”; see also tiāngōng, rén kě dài below.]

Topics ACTION chengyu CRAFTSMANSHIP HUMAN BEINGS qiǎoduó-tiāngōng WORK

R162

[R162]

Rénshì nán féng kāikǒu xiào.

人世难逢开口笑。

人世難逢開口笑。

Lit In life it is rare to encounter [happy things that make one] laugh heartily.

Note [A line from a Tang dynasty poem by Du Mu entitled “Jiǔ Rì Qí Shān Dēng Gāo,” later quoted by Mao Zedong in a poem entitled “Hè Xīnláng: Dú Shǐ.”]

Topics Du Mu Dú Shǐ Hè Xīnláng LAUGHTER Mao Zedong POETRY Tang_dynasty

R163

[R163]

Rén shì tiě; fàn shì gāng;* (yī dùn bù chī, è de huāng).

人是铁, 饭是钢; (一顿不吃, 饿得慌)。

人是鐵, 飯是鋼; (一頓不吃, 餓得慌)。

Lit People are [like] iron; food is [like] steel; (if one misses a meal, one will become weak from hunger).

Fig Humans are like (naturally occurring) iron; food makes them like steel; (even a strong and healthy person will become weak from lack of food).

Note [Rhyme; the first half is a very popular saying; the second half may be omitted; cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 31.]

Topics FOOD HEALTH HUNGER rhyme STRENGTH WEAKNESS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

R164

[R164]

Rén shì yīfu, mǎ shì ān.

人是衣服, 马是鞍。

人是衣服, 馬是鞍。

Lit Clothing is to people [what] a saddle is to a horse.

Fig “Clothes make the man.”

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 90; see also mǎ kào ān zhuāng and rén kào yī zhuāng above.]

Topics APPEARANCES CLOTHING Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

R165

[R165]

Rén shú, hǎo bànshì.

人熟, 好办事。

人熟, 好辦事。

Lit [When] people are close, matters are easily handled.

Fig It is easier to take care of matters when one is on good terms with the other party.

Note [See also rén shú shì yī bǎo below.]

Topics RELATIONSHIPS

R166

[R166]

Rén shú, lǐ bù shú.

人熟, 礼不熟。

人熟, 禮不熟。

Lit People may be familiar, [but] courtesy [should] not be familiar.

Fig Even when one is on good terms with someone, courtesies should still be observed and gifts should still be presented.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics BRIBERY COURTESY FORMALITY GIFTS RELATIONSHIPS Wǔ_Sōng

R167

[R167]

Rén shú shì yī bǎo.

人熟是一宝。

人熟是一寶。

Lit Familiarity between people is a treasure.

Fig Friends and acquaintances are most valuable when you want to have business done.

Note [See also rén shú, hǎo bànshì above.]

Topics FAMILIARITY FRIENDS RELATIONSHIPS

R168

[R168]

Rén sǐ rú dēng miè.

人死如灯灭。

人死如燈滅。

Lit People die just as [oil] lamps go out.

Fig Life is like a candle flame; all is vanity.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 9; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 62.]

Topics DEATH Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn JPM LIFE TIME VANITY Wǔ_Sōng

R169

[R169]

Rén sǐ zhàng làn.

人死帐烂。

人死帳爛。

Lit [When a] person dies [his] account is canceled.

Fig Death cancels all debts.

Topics ACCOUNTING DEATH DEBT

R170

[R170]

Rén sú bù kě yī.

人俗不可医。

人俗不可醫。

Lit [A] person['s] vulgar [taste] cannot be cured.

Note [Note: yōngsú, “vulgar; philistine.”]

Topics TASTES VULGARITY yōngsú

R171

[R171]

Rén suí wángfǎ, cǎo suí fēng.

人随王法, 草随风。

人隨王法, 草隨風。

Lit People must abide by the law (of the land), [just as] grass bows before the wind.

Note [See also wángzǐ fànfǎ below.]

Topics LAW

R172

[R172]

Rén tái, rén gāo.

人抬, 人高。

Lit [By flattering one another], people raise each other higher.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6.]

Topics FLATTERY Wǔ_Sōng

R173

[R173]

Rén tóng cǐ xīn, xīn tóng cǐ lǐ .

人同此心, 心同此理。

Lit People all share this mind, [and their] minds all share this principle.

Fig A sense of justice is common to all people.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 9.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn JUSTICE MINDS PEOPLE

R174

[R174]

Rěn tòng yì; rěn yǎng nán.

忍痛易, 忍痒难。

忍痛易, 忍癢難。

Lit It is easier to endure pain [than to] endure an itch.

Fig People are easily tempted.

Note [From an essay by the Song dynasty poet Su Dongbo.]

Topics Song dynasty Su Dongbo TEMPTATION

R175

[R175]

Rén tuōrén, jiē shàngtiān.

人托人, 接上天。

Lit [If] people [keep on] asking for help [on behalf of] others, [eventually one can] connect up to Heaven.

Fig In order to achieve one's goal, one has to work slowly through layers of connections.

Note [Note: běnshi tōng tiān, “the ability to contact the top people”; guānxī wáng, “network of connections.”]

Topics běnshi CONNECTIONS guānxī wáng HELP HIERARCHY

R176

[R176]

Rén wài yǒu rén; tiān wài yǒu tiān.

人外有人, 天外有天。

Lit There are always more talented people who can be found, [just as] there are even higher heavens beyond the sky, [so don't be conceited].

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 81; note: tiānwài-yǒutiān is used as a set phrase meaning “knowledge/capability is limitless”; see also qiáng zhōng háiyǒu above and shān wài yǒu shān below.]

Topics COMPARISON CONCEIT TALENT tiānwài-yǒutiān Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

R177

[R177]

Rén wǎng gāochù zǒu; shuǐ wǎng dīchù liú.

人往高处走, 水往低处流。

人往高處走, 水往低處流。

Lit People [naturally] tend to rise [in social position, just as] water [naturally] tends to flow down[hill].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics HIERARCHY POSITION rhyme SOCIAL_CLASS

R178

[R178]

Rén wàng rén hǎo; Yánwang wàng guǐ hǎo.

人望人好, 阎王望鬼好。

人望人好, 閻王望鬼好。

Lit Humans wish their own kind well [just as] Yan Wang [the King of Hell] wishes his devils well.

Fig Each group cares about its own kind.

Topics KINDNESS King of Hell RECIPROCITY Yánwang

R179

[R179]

Rén wàng xìngfú; shù wàng chūn.

人望幸福, 树望春。

人望幸福, 樹望春。

Lit Humans hope for happiness [just as] trees look forward to spring.

Topics FUTURE HAPPINESS HOPE

R180

[R180]

Rén wèi cái sǐ; niǎo wèi shí wáng.*

人为财死, 鸟为食亡。

人為財死, 鳥為食亡。

Lit Human beings die in the pursuit of wealth [just as] birds die in the pursuit of food.

Fig The wages of avarice is death.

Note [See also gǔlái fāng ěr above.]

Topics AVARICE DEATH GREED WEALTH

R181

[R181]

Rén wéi qiú jiù; wù wéi qiú xīn.

人惟求旧, 物惟求新。

人惟求舊, 物惟求新。

Lit [In] people, only seek old [friends]; [in] things [only] seek new [ones].

Fig Old friends are better, just as new things are better.

Note [Cf. Shāng Shū: Pán Gēng; see also yīfu shì xīn de hǎo below.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP Pán Gēng Shāng_Shū

R182

[R182]

Rén wèi shāngxīn bùdé sǐ; huā cán yè luò shì gēn kū.

人未伤心不得死, 花残叶落是根枯。

人未傷心不得死, 花殘葉落是根枯。

Lit People don't die unless their hearts are broken; [just as] flowers and leaves don't fall unless the roots are withered.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 66.]

Topics DEATH HEARTS JW SORROW SUFFERING

R183

[R183]

Rén wú bǎinián zhuō.

人无百年拙。

人無百年拙。

Lit People can't be foolish [for one] hundred years [i.e., all their lives].

Fig People become wiser as they get older.

Note [Note: bǎinián, (lit) “a hundred years” also means “a lifetime.”]

Topics AGE WISDOM

R184

[R184]

Rén wú gāngqiáng, ānshēn bù láo.

人无刚强, 安身不牢。

人無剛強, 安身不牢。

Lit A person cannot secure a position in society if (s)he is not strong enough.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 1 and WM, chap. 24; see also rénxīn wú gāng below.]

Topics COURAGE POSITION STRENGTH WILL

R185

[R185]

Rén wú hài hǔ xīn; hǔ yǒu shāngrén yì.

人无害虎心, 虎有伤人意。

人無害虎心, 虎有傷人意。

Lit People have no desire to harm tigers, [but] tigers want to hurt people.

Fig We have no intention to harm others, but others may try to hurt us [so be careful].

Topics CAUTION DANGER HARM INTENTIONS

R186

[R186]

Rén wú hèngcái, bù fù; mǎ wú yè liào, bù féi.

人无横财不富, 马无夜料不肥。

人無橫財不富, 馬無夜料不肥。

Lit A person cannot get rich without a windfall or ill-gotten gains [just as] a horse won't grow strong without eating fodder at night.

Note [Also said ... mǎ wú yě cǎo ... “without [eating] wild grasses”; vs. wài cái bù fú rén and xiǎng shí hèngcái below.]

Topics CORRUPTION HONESTY WEALTH

R187

[R187]

Rén wú hòu yǎn.

人无后眼。

人無後眼。

Lit People do not have eyes in the back of their heads [so they cannot avoid treachery, deceit, etc.].

Fig Be careful.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 25; see also shǒuzhǎngr zěnyàng below.]

Topics CAUTION DECEIT JPM TREACHERY

R188

[R188]

Rén wú liánchǐ; wángfǎ nán zhì.

人无廉耻, 王法难治。

人無廉恥, 王法難治。

Lit [If a] person has no sense of shame, [even] the law will hardly control him.

Topics LAW SHAME

R189

[R189]

Rén wú lì jǐ, shéi kěn zǎoqǐ.

人无利己, 谁肯早起。

人無利己, 誰肯早起。

Lit No one gets up early [to work] if it is not in his or her own interest.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 21; see also bù tú lì above.]

Topics Jǐngshì Tōngyán SELF-INTEREST TIMING WORKING

R190

[R190]

Rén wú qiān rì hǎo; huā wú bǎi rì hóng.

人无千日好, 花无百日红。

人無千日好, 花無百日紅。

Lit People cannot always be fortunate, or get along smoothly, [just as] flowers do not bloom forever.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 1; the second part is also used alone; see also huā wú qiān rì above.]

Topics COOPERATION DIFFERENCES FORTUNE LUCK PEOPLE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R191

[R191]

Rén wú qiān rì jì, lǎo zhì yīchǎngkōng.

人无千日计, 老至一场空。

人無千日計, 老至一場空。

Lit If one does not have a long-term plan, [when one becomes] old, [one will have] nothing at all.

Topics AGE OLD AGE PLANNING

R192

[R192]

Rén wú tóu bù zǒu; niǎo wú tóu bù fēi.

人无头不走, 鸟无头不飞。

人無頭不走, 鳥無頭不飛。

Lit People without heads [can]not walk, [just as] birds without heads [can]not fly.

Fig People cannot do things without a leader.

Note [See also bīng wú jiàng above and shé wú tóu below.]

Topics LEADERS

R193

[R193]

Rén wú wánrén; jīn wú zúchì. *

人无完人, 金无足赤。

人無完人, 金無足赤。

Lit People cannot be perfect [just as] gold cannot be pure.

Note [Also said rén wú wánrén; jīn wú zújīn; often used by Mao Zedong; the two halves are more usually said in the reverse order (q.v.); see also shì ruò qiúquán below.]

Topics LIMITATIONS Mao Zedong PERFECTION

R194

[R194]

Rén wú xiàoliǎn xiū kāi diàn.

人无笑脸休开店。

人無笑臉休開店。

Lit A person [who can]not smile had better not open up a store.

Fig (The appearance of) friendliness is necessary to being a successful businessperson.

Topics APPEARANCES BUSINESS SUCCESS

R195

[R195]

Rén xiāng, qiān lǐ xiāng.

人香, 千里香。

Lit [If a] person [smells] fragrant, [the fragrance will] waft a thousand miles.

Fig A good reputation will spread far and wide.

Note [Cf. the Yuan dynasty stage version of JW, vol. 6, act 23, by Yang Jinxian; note: one lǐ equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics FAME REPUTATION Yang_Jinxian

R196

[R196]

Rén xián shēngbìng; shí xián shēng tái.

人闲生病, 石闲生苔。

人閑生病, 石閑生苔。

Lit [When] people are idle, [they] become sick, [just as when] stones are [left] idle, moss grows [on them].

Topics IDLENESS

R197

[R197]

Rén xià rén, xià sǐ rén.

人吓人, 吓死人。

人嚇人, 嚇死人。

Lit [Only] people can frighten other people to death, [not ghosts].

Topics FEAR GHOSTS

R198

[R198]

Rénxīn bù sì shuǐ cháng liú.

人心不似水长流。

人心不似水長流。

Lit People's minds are not like rivers [which] flow constantly.

Fig People are inconstant and change their minds.

Note [Cf. Dòu É Yuān, Act 1, by the Yuan dynasty classical playwright Guan Hanqing.]

Topics CHANGE Dòu É Yuān Guan Hanqing MINDS

R199

[R199]

Rénxīn bù tóng, gè rú qí miàn.

人心不同, 各如其面。

Lit People's hearts differ [just as] their faces do.

Fig People have different minds [just as] they have different looks.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 7; see also rénxīn rú miàn below.]

Topics APPEARANCES DIFFERENCES Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn MINDS PEOPLE

R200

[R200]

Rénxīn bùzú, shé tūn xiàng.*

人心不足, 蛇吞象。

Lit People are [sometimes] as greedy as a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 25; a line of poetry by the Ming dynasty poet Luó Hóngxiān, alluding to an image in the ancient text Shān Hǎi Jīng; see also rén kǔ, bù zhīzú and rénshēng bù zhīzú above and rénxīn gāo guò tiān and zhè shān wàngjiàn below.]

Topics AVARICE GREED Jǐngshì Tōngyán Luó Hóngxiān Shān_Hǎi_Jīng

R201

[R201]

Rénxīn dōu shì cháo shàng zhǎng.

人心都是朝上长。

人心都是朝上長。

Lit All human hearts grow upwards.

Fig Everyone has high aspirations.

Topics ASPIRATIONS HEARTS

R202

[R202]

Rénxīn (dōu) shì ròu zhǎng de.

人心(都)是肉长的。

人心(都)是肉長的。

Lit People's hearts are made of flesh.

Fig All human beings have tender feelings.

Topics FEELINGS HEARTS MINDS

R203

[R203]

Rénxīn dōu zài rénxīn shàng.

人心都在人心上。

Lit Sincerity is always [recalled or recognized] in the hearts of others.

Fig Sincerity will be returned with sincerity.

Note [Cf. Lao She's play: Lóng Xū Gōu (Dragon Beard Ditch), Act 3; see also rénxīn huàn rénxīn below.]

Topics Dragon Beard Ditch Lao She Lóng Xū Gōu SINCERITY

R204

[R204]

Rénxīn gāo guò tiān; zuòle huángdì, xiǎng chéng xiān.

人心高过天; 做了皇帝, 想成仙。

人心高過天; 做了皇帝, 想成仙。

Lit The human heart is higher than Heaven; [when one has] become [an] emperor, [one] wants to become a god.

Fig Humans are never content.

Note [See also rénshēng bù zhīzú and rénxīn bùzú above.]

Topics DESIRE

R205

[R205]

Rénxīn gé dùpí.*

人心隔肚皮。

Lit People's hearts are separated [(i.e., hidden) behind their] belly skins.

Fig It's hard to see into another person's heart.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 40; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 43.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HEARTS MINDS UNDERSTANDING Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R206

[R206]

Rén xíng yǒu jiǎoyìn; niǎo guò yǒu luò máo.

人行有脚印, 鸟过有落毛。

人行有腳印, 鳥過有落毛。

Lit [When] a person walks by, he leaves his footmarks behind, [just as] when a bird passes by, it leaves feathers on the ground.

Fig One cannot completely cover one's tracks; truth will out in the end.

Topics EXPOSURE SECRETS TRUTH

R207

[R207]

Rénxīn huàn rénxīn.

人心换人心。

人心換人心。

Lit Human hearts repay human hearts [in kind].

Fig If you are kind and honest, others will be kind and honest to you.

Note [Cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 69; see also rénxīn dōu zài above.]

Topics HEARTS HONESTY KINDNESS RECIPROCITY Zàishēng_Yuán

R208

[R208]

Rénxīn nán cè; hǎishuǐ nán liáng.*

人心难测, 海水难量。

人心難測, 海水難量。

Lit People's minds are hard to fathom, [just as] ocean water cannot be measured.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 20; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 22; see also rén bù kě mào xiàng above.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí MINDS UNDERSTANDING Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R209

[R209]

Rénxīn qí, Tài Shān yí.*

人心齐, 泰山移。

人心齊, 泰山移。

Lit When people are of one mind, Mount Tai can be moved.

Fig When people are of one mind, they can move mountains. “In unity there is strength.”

Note [Rhyme; Mount Tai, a large mountain in Shandong province and one of the five sacred mountains, is commonly used as a symbol of great weight or import.]

Topics Buddhism COOPERATION MOTIVATION Mount Tai STRENGTH UNITY

R210

[R210]

Rénxīn rú miàn.

人心如面。

Lit People['s] hearts are like [their] faces.

Fig People have different minds just as they have different appearances.

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Xiāng Gōng 31 Nián; see also rénxīn bù tóng above.]

Topics APPEARANCES Xiāng Gōng 31 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

R211

[R211]

Rénxīn sì tiě, guān fǎ rú lú.

人心似铁, 官法如炉。

人心似鐵, 官法如爐。

Lit [Even] if a person's will is [as hard] as iron, the law is [as fierce] as a furnace.

Fig Just as iron will melt in a furnace, so no person can resist the law.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 14.]

Topics Jǐngshì Tōngyán LAW WILL

R212

[R212]

Rénxīn wèi mǐn, gōng lùn nán táo.

人心未泯, 公论难逃。

人心未泯, 公論難逃。

Lit [As long as] the people's sense of justice has not disappeared, public judgment [will be] difficult to avoid.

Topics JUDGMENT JUSTICE

R213

[R213]

Rénxīn wú gāng, yīshì qióng.

人心无刚, 一世穷。

人心無剛, 一世窮。

Lit If one is not strong-willed, one will remain poor all one's life.

Note [See also rén wú gāngqiáng above.]

Topics MOTIVATION POVERTY WILL

R214

[R214]

Rén yǎn nán hǒng.*

人眼难哄。

人眼難哄。

Lit People's eyes are hard to cheat.

Fig Public opinion is hard to deceive.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics JUDGMENT PUBLIC_OPINION

R215

[R215]

Rén yǎn shì bǎ chèng.

人眼是把秤。

Lit People's eyes are like a scale.

Fig Public opinion can judge good from bad just as a scale can accurately assess weight.

Note [See also gōngpíng chūyú and línjū yǎnjing above and tiānxià qiányǎnr and zhīdǐ mò guò and zhòngrén yǎnjing below and the preceding entry.]

Topics EVIL GOODNESS JUDGMENT PUBLIC_OPINION

R216

[R216]

Rén yán wèibì zhēn; tīng yán tīng sānfēn.

人言未必真, 听言听三分。

人言未必真, 聽言聽三分。

Lit People do not always speak the truth, [so] believe [only] thirty percent of what you hear.

Note [Rhyme; see also féng rén qiěshuō above.]

Topics BELIEF rhyme SPEECH TALK TRUTH

R217

[R217]

Rén yào cháng jiāo; zhàng yào duǎn suàn.

人要长交, 帐要短算。

人要長交, 帳要短算。

Lit Friends [should be] kept [for a] long [time]; accounts [should be] settled [in a] short [time].

Topics ACCOUNTS BUSINESS DEBT FRIENDSHIP

R218

[R218]

Rén yào zhōngxīn; huǒ yào kōngxīn.

人要忠心, 火要空心。

Lit [In] people, [one] needs loyal hearts, [just as in] fires, [one] needs ventilation.

Fig If one has loyal people, they will serve the country well, just as fires which have ventilation will burn well.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 8.]

Topics HEARTS LOYALTY SERVICE Wǔ_Sōng

R219

[R219]

Rén yī, jǐ bǎi.

人一己百。

Lit [If] others [succeed by exerting] one [ounce of effort], I [will exert] one hundred [times as much effort].

Note [Confucius' Lǐjì : Zhōng Yǒng (The Golden Mean).]

Topics Book of Rites Confucius EFFORT Golden Mean, The Lǐjì SUCCESS Zhōng_Yǒng

R220

[R220]

Rěn yīshí, yānxiāo-yúnsàn; rěn piànkè, hǎikuò-tiānkōng.

忍一时, 烟消云散; 忍片刻, 海阔天空。

忍一時, 煙消雲散; 忍片刻, 海闊天空。

Lit [If one can] endure [things for] a short time, [one's problems will] “vanish like mist and smoke”; [if one can] endure [things for] a short while, [one's life will be] “as boundless as the sea and sky.”

Fig If one can be patient in life and endure life's difficulties and indignities, one can have far greater chances of success in life.

Note [Note: yānxiāo-yúnsàn and yānxiāo-yúnsàn are commonly used fixed literary chengyu expressions; see also rěn shì dí zāixīng above.]

Topics chengyu ENDURANCE PATIENCE yānxiāo-yúnsàn yānxiāo-yúnsàn

R221

[R221]

Rén yòng qián shì; jīn yòng huǒ shì.

人用钱试, 金用火试。

人用錢試, 金用火試。

Lit People are tested by money, [just as] gold is tested by fire.

Note [See also zhēn jīn bùpà huǒ below.]

Topics INTEGRITY MONEY

R222

[R222]

Rén yǒu gé xiǔ zhī zhì.

人有隔宿之智。

Lit People have wisdom [which comes] overnight.

Fig Sometimes it's necessary to “sleep on it” overnight. Things which aren't clear may become clearer after long and careful consideration.

Topics PATIENCE TIME WISDOM

R223

[R223]

Rén yǒu liángxīn, gǒu bù chī shǐ.

人有良心, 狗不吃屎。

Lit [When] people have good consciences, [then] dogs [will] no [longer] eat excrement.

Fig People are usually not good-hearted.

Note [See also gǒu bù chī shǐ and gǒu gǎi bùliǎo above.]

Topics CONSCIENCE GOODNESS HEARTS PEOPLE

R224

[R224]

Rén yǒu liǎng zhī jiǎo; yínzi yǒu bā zhī jiǎo.

人有两只脚, 银子有八只脚。

人有兩隻腳, 銀子有八隻腳。

Lit People have two feet, [but] silver has eight (i.e., is faster).

Fig People cannot chase after luck; it happens or it doesn't.

Topics FATE LUCK

R225

[R225]

Rén yǒu qiánhòu yǎn; fùguì yīqiān nián.

人有前后眼, 富贵一千年。

人有前後眼, 富貴一千年。

Lit If a person has eyes both in front and in back of his head, he will remain wealthy for a thousand years.

Fig If one behaves cautiously at all times, he will enjoy a life of great wealth and high position.

Note [Rhyme; see also rén wú hòu yǎn below.]

Topics CAUTION POSITION rhyme WEALTH

R226

[R226]

Rén yǒu qī pín, bā fù.

人有七贫八富。

人有七貧八富。

Lit One may be poor at one time and rich at another.

Fig Life is full of ups and downs.

Note [See also rénshēng yīpánqí above and shìshì yǒuchéng below.]

Topics CHANGE POVERTY VICISSITUDES WEALTH

R227

[R227]

Rén yǒu rén yán; shòu yǒu shòu yǔ.

人有人言, 兽有兽语。

人有人言, 獸有獸語。

Lit Human beings have their languages [and] wild animals have theirs.

Fig Good people and bad people have different ways of talking.

Note [Note: gěshòu, (lit) “wild animals,” here refers to bad people; see also rén shǎo, chùsheng duō above.]

Topics DIFFERENCES EVIL GOODNESS TALK

R228

[R228]

Rén yǒu sānfēn pà hǔ; hǔ yǒu qīfēn pà rén.

人有三分怕虎, 虎有七分怕人。

Lit Tigers are more afraid of people than people are afraid of tigers.

Fig Bad people are more afraid of good people than good people are afraid of bad ones.

Note [See also rén pà sānfēn guǐ above.]

Topics DEVILS EVIL FEAR GHOSTS GOODNESS TIGERS

R229

[R229]

Rén yǒu shànyì, tiān bì cóng zhī.

人有善意, 天必从之。

人有善意, 天必從之。

Lit [If] one has good intentions, Heaven will [help to] realize them.

Note [Also said ... bì yòu zhī, “... Heaven will protect him.”]

Topics GOODNESS HEAVEN HOPES INTENTIONS

R230

[R230]

Rén yǒu shīshǒu; mǎ yǒu lòu tí.*

人有失手, 马有漏蹄。

人有失手, 馬有漏蹄。

Lit Every person makes mistakes [sometimes, just as] every horse stumbles.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 28.]

Topics MISTAKES Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

R231

[R231]

Rén yǒu tóng mào rén; wù yǒu tóngxíng wù.

人有同貌人, 物有同形物。

Lit There are people with the same appearance, [just as] there are things of the same shape.

Topics APPEARANCES SIMILARITIES

R232

[R232]

Rén yuàn, yǔ shēng gāo.

人怨, 语声高。

人怨, 語聲高。

Lit [When one] complains, [one's] voice is louder.

Fig When people have complaints about unjust treatment, they naturally raise their voices.

Note [Vs. yǒu lǐ bù zài below.]

Topics COMPLAINTS INJUSTICE JUSTICE LOUDNESS VOICE

R233

[R233]

Rén zài, rénqíng zài; (rén wáng, liǎng wú jiāo).

人在人情在, (人亡两无交)。

人在人情在, (人亡兩無交)。

Lit Affection [among friends and relations] continues as long as the person is alive, ([but] the parties lose touch when their common contact dies).

Note [Said of family or social relations.]

Topics AFFECTION CHANGE DEATH LIFE RELATIONSHIPS

R234

[R234]

Rén zài shí zhōng, chuán yù shùnfēng.

人在时中, 船遇顺风。

人在時中, 船遇順風。

Lit [When] things are going well for someone, [it's like sail] boat[ing] with a favorable wind.

Topics CONDITIONS

R235

[R235]

Rén zài wūyán xià, bùdé bù dītóu.

人在屋檐下, 不得不低头。

人在屋檐下, 不得不低頭。

Lit [When a] person is under low eaves; [one has] no choice but to lower [one's] head.

Fig When one depends on others (for food, pay, support, etc.), one must do whatever they say.

Note [Also said (jī) zài ... (q.v.); see also chángzi zhù zài above.]

Topics DEPENDENCE

R236

[R236]

Rén zào yǒu huò; tiān zào yǒu yǔ.

人躁有祸, 天燥有雨。

人躁有禍, 天燥有雨。

Lit [When a] person is hot-tempered there [will] be trouble, [just as when] the sky is hot and dry, there [will] be rain.

Note [Note: this is a pun on zào, “hot-tempered” and zào, “hot and dry (weather).”]

Topics ANGER TEMPER zào

R237

[R237]

Rén zhě jiàn rén; zhìzhě jiàn zhì.

仁者见仁, 智者见智。

仁者見仁, 智者見智。

Lit The benevolent see benevolence [and] the wise see wisdom.

Fig Different people have different views. “Let's agree to disagree.”

Note [Cf. Yìjīng: Xì Cí.]

Topics BENEVOLENCE DIFFERENCES GOODNESS PERSPECTIVE WISDOM Xì Cí Yìjīng

R238

[R238]

Rén zhēngqì; huǒ zhēng yàn.

人争气, 火争焰。

人爭氣, 火爭焰。

Lit People strive to rise to a challenge, [just as] fire aspires to [create a] flame.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics AROUSAL ASPIRATIONS CHALLENGES

R239

[R239]

Rén zhēng yīkǒuqì; Fó shòu yī lú xiāng.

人争一口气, 佛受一炉香。

人爭一口氣, 佛受一爐香。

Lit People [will] rise to challenges, [just as] Buddhas [will] have incense [burned to them].

Fig People will naturally stand up to challenges or bullying in life.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 76; note: zhēng (yī) kǒu qì, “rise to a challenge; win credit for oneself; protect one's dignity”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics AROUSAL BULLYING CHALLENGES FACE JPM SELF-PROTECTION

R240

[R240]

Rén zhí, bù fù; gǎng zhí, bù shēn.

人直不富, 港直不深。

Lit A person [who is] straight [i.e., honest] won't get rich, [just as] a harbor [that is] straight [i.e., not curved] won't be deep [i.e., won't make a good harbor].

Topics FRANKNESS HONESTY WEALTH

R241

[R241]

Rén zhī bùxìng mòguòyú zìzú.

人之不幸莫过于自足。

人之不幸莫過於自足。

Lit No one is more unfortunate than those who are self-conceited.

Topics CONCEIT SELF-CONCEIT

R242

[R242]

Rén zhī xiāngqù rú jiǔ niúmáo.

人之相去如九牛毛。

Lit The differences between people [are] as [numerous as] the [total] number of hairs on nine oxen.

Note [Note the chengyu: xiāngqù-shènyuǎn, “a world of difference.”]

Topics chengyu DIFFERENCES PEOPLE xiāngqù-shènyuǎn

R243

[R243]

Rén zhí, yǒu rén hé; lù zhí, yǒu rén xíng.

人直, 有人合; 路直, 有人行。

Lit [When] people are “straight” [i.e., upright and honest], other people [want to be] near them, [just as when] roads are straight, there are people walking [on them].

Note [See also shù zhí, yòngchù duō below.]

Topics HONESTY RECTITUDE

R244

[R244]

“Rěn” zì, jiā zhōng bǎo.

“忍” 字, 家中宝。

“忍” 字, 家中寶。

Lit The word “forbearance” [is a] family's treasure.

Fig The family whose members can get along with each other and make concessions will live in harmony and prosper.

Topics CONCESSIONS FAMILIES FORBEARANCE YIELDING

R245

[R245]

“Rěn” zì tóu shàng, yī bǎ dāo.

“忍” 字头上, 一把刀。

“忍” 字頭上, 一把刀。

Lit [The Chinese character] rěn 忍 [“forbearance,” is written with a character for] “knife” 刀 [positioned] above [the character for “heart” 心].

Fig If one is not patient, the sword will drop into one's heart; impatience invites disaster.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 5; this may be said to be an example of Chinese character word-play or orthographic pun, as in a zìmí, “character riddle”; also said “rěn” zì xīn shàng yī bǎ dāo.]

Topics Chinese characters DANGER DISASTER FORBEARANCE PATIENCE zìmí

R246

[R246]

Rén zǒushí qì, mǎ zǒu biāo; (héshang dān zǒu dúmùqiáo).

人走时气, 马走膘; (和尚单走独木桥)。

人走時氣, 馬走膘; (和尚單走獨木橋)。

Lit [Some] people get lucky, [just as some] horses get fat; ([while many Buddhist] monks cross single plank bridges alone [i.e., tread their lonely, famililess way]).

Fig Some people get lucky and are successful, (while others do not;) that's just how life is.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 30; note: zǒushí means zǒuyùn, “to get lucky”; dúmùqiáo, (lit) “single-plank bridge,” (fig) “difficult path”; the optional second part is simply added as a rhyme.]

Topics FORTUNE LUCK Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

R247

[R247]

Rèxīnrén zhāolǎn shìfēi duō.

热心人招揽是非多。

熱心人招攬是非多。

Lit An enthusiastic person invites trouble.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics KINDNESS TROUBLE

R248

[R248]

Rèxīn xián guǎn zhāo fēi; lěngyǎn wú xiē fánnǎo.

热心闲管招非, 冷眼无些烦恼。

熱心閑管招非, 冷眼無些煩惱。

Lit The enthusiastic invite trouble, [while] bystanders have no anxiety.

Fig Those who get involved with others' problems (may) bring trouble upon themselves, while those who remain aloof do not run that risk.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics ALOOFNESS INVOLVEMENT KINDNESS RISK TROUBLE WORRIES

R249

[R249]

Rè zào nǎpà shī chái shāo.

热灶哪怕湿柴烧。

熱灶哪怕濕柴燒。

Lit [If the] stove is hot, even wet firewood will burn.

Fig An able person won't be afraid to take up a challenging task.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 6.]

Topics ABILITY CHALLENGES Hé Diǎn SKILL WORK

R250

[R250]

Rì cháng, shì duō; yè cháng, mèng duō.

日长事多, 夜长梦多。

日長事多, 夜長夢多。

Lit The longer the day, the more things [come up], [just as] the longer the night, the more dreams [one has].

Fig The longer you wait to do something, the more likely it is that something else will come up, so better not put things off.

Note [The second part (q.v.) is often used alone as a chengyu with the meaning “long delays cause many hitches.”]

Topics chengyu PROCRASTINATION yècháng-mèngduō

R251

[R251]

Rì chū wàn yán, bì yǒu yī shāng.

日出万言, 必有一伤。

日出萬言, 必有一傷。

Lit [If] ten thousand words are spoken in a day, there must be someone [who is] harmed.

Fig “Silence is golden.”

Topics HARM SILENCE SPEECH TALK WORDS

R252

[R252]

Rìjiān bù zuò kuīxīnshì; bànyè qiāomén bù chījīng.

日间不作亏心事, 半夜敲门不吃惊。

日間不作虧心事, 半夜敲門不吃驚。

Lit [If one] doesn't do anything with a bad conscience in the daytime, [one] need not be afraid when [one hears] knocking at the door in the middle of the night.

Fig “A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder.”

Note [See also báitiān bù zuò and bù zuò kuīxīnshì and méi zuò kuīxīnshì above.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT CONSCIENCE INNOCENCE RECTITUDE SHAME

R253

[R253]

Rì jì bùzú; suì jì yǒuyú.

日计不足; 岁计有余。

日計不足; 歲計有餘。

Lit [Although in a] daily calculation [what one saves may] not be much, [over the] years [it will add up to] having surplus.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Gēng Sāng Chǔ; see also jī shǎo chéng duō above.]

Topics BUDGETING ECONOMY Gēng Sāng Chǔ Zhuāngzǐ

R254

[R254]

Rì jiǔ jiàn rénxīn.

日久见人心。

日久見人心。

Note [See lù yáo zhī mǎlì above.]

R255

[R255]

Rì lǐ jiǎng dào yèli, Púsà hái zài miào lǐ.

日里讲到夜里, 菩萨还在庙里。

日裡講到夜裡, 菩薩還在廟裡。

Lit [Monks] preach from day to night, [but the image of the] Buddha still remains in the temple.

Fig Empty talk comes to nothing; one must do something!

Topics ACTION TALK

R256

[R256]

Rì lǐ mò shuō rén; yèli mò shuō guǐ.

日里莫说人, 夜里莫说鬼。

日裡莫說人, 夜裡莫說鬼。

Lit In the daytime, don't talk about [other] people [or they will come]; at night, don't talk about ghosts [or they will appear].

Fig [A superstitious warning similar to:] “Speak of the devil (and he will appear).”

Note [See also shuōdào Cáo Cāo below.]

Topics DEVILS SUPERSTITION WARNING

R257

[R257]

Rìrì xíng, bùpà wàn lǐ lù; shíshí zuò, bùpà shì bù chéng.

日日行, 不怕万里路; 时时做, 不怕事不成。

日日行, 不怕萬里路; 時時做, 不怕事不成。

Lit However long the distance is, you will cover it if you walk every day; however much the work is, you will finish it if you work all the time.

Topics DISTANCE PERSEVERANCE SUCCESS TIME WALKING WORKING

R258

[R258]

Rì yǒusuǒsī; yè yǒu suǒ mèng.*

日有所思, 夜有所梦。

日有所思, 夜有所夢。

Lit [What you] think about in the daytime, [you will] dream about at night.

Note [See also mèng shì xīntóu above.]

Topics DREAMS THOUGHTS

R259

[R259]

Rì yǒu yīn-qíng; yuè yǒu yíng-kuī.*

日有阴晴, 月有盈亏。

日有陰晴, 月有盈虧。

Lit The sun shines and disappears; the moon waxes and wanes.

Fig One may be well-off at one time and poor at another.

Note [See also luòcháo zǒng yǒu and rén yǒu qī pín above and rì zhōng zé yí below.]

Topics BALANCE EXTREMES MOON POVERTY SUN WEALTH

R260

[R260]

Rì yuǎn rì shū; rì qīn rì jìn.

日远日疏, 日亲日近。

日遠日疏, 日親日近。

Lit The longer [one is] separated [from someone], the more estranged [one will be]; the longer [people are] together, the closer [they will] grow.

Fig Remoteness begets neglect, while nearness brings about intimacy.

Note [Originally from WM, chap. 2; sometimes said rì shū, rì yuǎn, etc.]

Topics DISTANCE ESTRANGEMENT FEELINGS INTIMACY PROXIMITY RELATIONSHIPS SEPARATION TIME

R261

[R261]

Rìyuè suī míng, bù zhào fù pén zhīnèi.

日月虽明, 不照覆盆之内。

日月雖明, 不照覆盆之內。

Lit However bright the sun or the moon may be, [their light] cannot reach [a spot] inside an inverted basin.

Fig It is common that there are unrighted wrongs or unredressed injustices in the world.

Note [Cf. Hòu Xīyóu Jì, chap. 21.]

Topics Hòu Xīyóu Jì INJUSTICE JUSTICE MOON SUN

R262

[R262]

Rì zhōng zé yí; yuè mǎn zé kuī.

日中则移, 月满则亏。

日中則移, 月滿則虧。

Lit The sun rises to its zenith and then moves on; the moon waxes to its fullest and then wanes.

Fig Things will naturally go back in the opposite direction when they have reached an extreme. “The pendulum will swing back again.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 13; see also luòcháo zǒng yǒu and rén yǒu qī pín and rì yǒu yīn-qíng above.]

Topics BALANCE DRC EXTREMES MOON SUN

R263

[R263]

Ròu chī qiān rén kǒu; zuì luò yī rén shēn.

肉吃千人口, 罪落一人身。

Lit The meat [may be] eaten by a thousand people, [but the] punishment falls on one person [only, so no one individual will dare to take the risk].

Topics CAUTION INDIVIDUALS PUNISHMENT RESPONSIBILITY

R264

[R264]

Róuruǎn shì lì shēn zhī běn; gāngqiáng shì rěhuò zhī tāi.

柔软是立身之本, 刚强是惹祸之胎。

柔軟是立身之本, 剛強是惹禍之胎。

Lit [To be] flexible is essential for getting along in the world; to be unyielding is the embryo of disaster.

Note [Cf. Shuǐhǔ Quán Zhuàn, chap. 24.]

Topics CONCESSIONS FLEXIBILITY Shuǐhǔ Quán Zhuàn STUBBORNNESS YIELDING

R265

[R265]

Ruǎndāozi shārén bù jiàn xuè.

软刀子杀人不见血。

軟刀子殺人不見血。

Lit Killing with a “soft sword” sees no blood [shed].

Fig It's difficult to detect the source of false charges cleverly fabricated.

Note [Note: ruǎndāozi, (lit) “soft knife,” means “harming by imperceptible means”; see also shé shàng yǒu below.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS CHARGES FALSITY ruǎndāozi SELF-DEFENSE

R266

[R266]

Rú bù zhīzú, zé shī suǒ yù.

如不知足, 则失所欲。

如不知足, 則失所欲。

Lit If [you're] not content [with what you've got], [you'll] lose what you desire.

Note [Cf. Sān Guó Zhì: Wèi Shū; note the chengyu: zhīzú (zhě) chánglè, “(one) who knows how to be satisfied will always be happy”; see also zhīzú, shēn cháng lè below.]

Topics chengyu CONTENTMENT DESIRE HAPPINESS Sān Guó Zhì SATISFACTION SELF-RESTRAINT Wèi Shū zhīzú-chánglè

R267

[R267]

Rù háng sān rì wú liè.

入行三日无劣。

入行三日無劣。

Lit [Even if one has] engaged in a trade [for only] three days, [one] won't [be too] bad [at it].

Fig One can learn something (just) by associating with specialists.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 33; see also gēnzhe wǎjiang above and sān tiān zhù zài below.]

Topics ASSOCIATION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EXPERTS LEARNING SKILL WORKING

R268

[R268]

Rùjìng wèn jìn; rù guó wèn sú.*

入境问禁, 入国问俗。

入境問禁, 入國問俗。

Lit [Upon] crossing a border, ask [what is] forbidden; [on] entering a country, ask [about the local] customs.

Fig On arriving in a new place, inquire about the local taboos and customs; “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Note [Originally from the Confucian Lǐjì: Qū Lǐ Shàng; now sometimes abbreviated as rùjìng suí sú; see also dào shénme shān and jìnle miào mén above.]

Topics ACCOMMODATION Book of Rites CONFORMITY CUSTOMS Lǐjì LOCALITIES PLACE Qū Lǐ Shàng TABOOS

R269

[R269]

Rùmén xiū wèn róngkū shì; guānzhe róngyán biàn dézhī.

入门休问荣枯事, 观着容颜便得知。

入門休問榮枯事, 觀著容顏便得知。

Lit [When you] come in, don't ask [someone] how he's getting on; [just] look at [his] facial expression [and you'll] know [whether he's happy or sad].

Note [See also chūmén guān tiānsè and pīchái, kàn chái above and shàng shān kàn shānshì below.]

Topics APPEARANCES EXPRESSION FACE FEELINGS HAPPINESS SADNESS

R270

[R270]

Ruòbù yǔ rén xíng fāngbiàn, niàn jìn Mítuó zǒngshì kōng.

若不与人行方便, 念尽弥陀总是空。

若不與人行方便, 念盡彌陀總是空。

Lit Unless [one] helps [other] people [in life], chanting all the Buddhist [scriptures] is totally useless.

Note [Note: Mítuó is short for Āmítuófó, the name of Amida Buddha, often chanted aloud by Buddhists; see also diǎn tǎ qī céng above.]

Topics Amida Buddha Āmítuófó Buddhism HELP Mítuó

R271

[R271]

Ruò jiāng róngyì dé, biàn zuò děngxián kàn.

若将容易得, 便作等闲看。

若將容易得, 便作等閑看。

Lit If [one] thinks [that something was] obtained [too] easily, then [one will] regard it lightly.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 22.]

Topics EASE EFFORT JW VALUE

R272

[R272]

(Ruò xìn bǔ, màile wū;) mài guà kǒu, méi liàng dǒu.

(若信卜卖了屋,) 卖卦口没量斗。

(若信卜賣了屋,) 賣卦口沒量斗。

Lit (If [you] believe in divination, [you will end up] selling [your] house [to pay diviners];) fortunetellers' mouths [are like] bottomless bushel-baskets [i.e., fraudulent and useless].

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 13; note: a dǒu is a measure for grain equal to one deciliter; see also mài bǔ, mài guà above and yīnyáng bù kěxìn below.]

Topics DIVINATION FORTUNETELLING FRAUD Jǐngshì Tōngyán rhyme SUPERSTITION

R273

[R273]

Ruò yào duàn jiǔ fǎ, xǐng yǎnkàn zuì rén.

若要断酒法, 醒眼看醉人。

若要斷酒法, 醒眼看醉人。

Lit If [you] want to [find a] way to quit drinking [just] look at a drunkard [when you're] sober.

Note [Also said ruò yào bù hē jiǔ, etc.; see also tiānzǐ shàngqiě below.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR

R274

[R274]

Ruò yào fā, qióngrén tóu shàng guā.

若要发, 穷人头上刮。

若要髮, 窮人頭上刮。

Lit If [one] wants to get [rich], [one needs to] shave poor people's heads.

Fig One cannot get rich without exploiting the poor.

Note [Rhyme; note: fācái, “to get rich”; guā, (lit) “to shave,” is colloquial for “exploit whatever one can from others”; see also shābude pín jiā below.]

Topics EXPLOITATION fācái POVERTY rhyme WEALTH

R275

[R275]

Ruò yào fù, shǒu dìng Xíngzài mài jiǔ cù; ruò yào guān, shārén fànghuǒ shòu zhāo'ān.

若要富, 守定行在卖酒醋; 若要官, 杀人放火受招安。

若要富, 守定行在賣酒醋; 若要官, 殺人放火受招安。

Lit If [you] want [to get] wealthy, stay in [the city of] Xingzai [and] sell wine [and] vinegar; if [you] want [to become an] official, [be a bandit] killing and burning, [and then] get amnesty and enlistment.

Note [This rhymed couplet is a cynical comment about traditional China made by Zhang Zhifu in his Kě Shū in the Song dynasty; Xíngzài refers to the “imperial residence” or “temporary capital” of the Southern Song emperor in Ling'an (now Hangzhou), the “Kinsai” described by Marco Polo in his book, during the Mongol occupation of northern China (A.D. 1127-1279).]

Topics AMNESTY BANDITS couplet couplet Hangzhou Kě Shū Kinsai Ling-an Marco Polo Mongol occupation OFFICIALS rhyme rhyme ROBBERS Song dynasty SUCCESS WEALTH Xíngzài Zhang_Zhifu

R276

[R276]

Ruò yàohǎo, dà zuò xiǎo.

若要好, 大做小。

Lit If [one] wants [to do] well, [the] big [must] make [itself] small.

Fig If you want to get along smoothly, you will have to humble yourself when necessary.

Note [Rhyme; cf. JW, chap. 87.]

Topics BEHAVIOR HUMILITY JW rhyme SELF-RESTRAINT SUCCESS

R277

[R277]

Ruò yàohǎo, wèn sān lǎo.

若要好, 问三老。

若要好, 問三老。

Lit If [you] want [to get things done] well, ask the old [for advice].

Note [Rhyme; technically sān lǎo refers to xià shòu, ages 60-79, zhuāng shòu, ages 80-99; and shàng shòu, above 100 years old.]

Topics ADVICE AGE EXPERIENCE OLD AGE rhyme sān lǎo shàng shòu SUCCESS xià shòu zhuāng_shòu

R278

[R278]

Ruò yào jīng, rén qián tīng.

若要精, 人前听。

若要精, 人前聽。

Lit If [you] want [to be] wise, listen [more] to [other] people.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LISTENING rhyme WISDOM

R279

[R279]

Ruò yào rén bù zhī, chúfēi jǐ mò wéi.*

若要人不知, 除非己莫为。

若要人不知, 除非己莫為。

Lit If [you] don't want others to know [about something], the only way is [for you your]self not to do [it].

Fig The only sure way to remain blameless is not to do anything for which you could be blamed.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 12; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; a paraphrase from the Hàn Shū Mù Chéng Zhuàn; see also tiānxià de huàishì and yào rén zhī and zhǐpà bù zuò and zuò zhě bù bì below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT Hàn Shū JPM Mù Chéng Zhuàn SELF-RESTRAINT Wǔ_Sōng

R280

[R280]

Ruò yào yǒu qiánchéng, mò zuò méi qiánchéng.

若要有前程, 莫做没前程。

若要有前程, 莫做沒前程。

Lit If [you] want to have a [bright] future, never do [anything that will] hinder [your] future.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 8.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT FUTURE JW SELF-RESTRAINT

R281

[R281]

Ruò yī Fófǎ, lěngshuǐ mò xiā.

若依佛法, 冷水莫呷。

Lit If [one strictly] observes [all of the (dietary)] regulations of Buddhism, [even] cold water [may] not be held in [one's] mouth.

Fig (1) Living a good life is more important than blindly following dogma. (2) One need not take (dietary) restrictions too seriously.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 26.]

Topics Buddhism DIET LIVING RULES SELF-INDULGENCE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

R282

[R282]

Rú rén yǐnshuǐ, lěngnuǎn-zìzhī.

如人饮水, 冷暖自知。

如人飲水, 冷暖自知。

Lit As [when] someone drinks water, [one] knows oneself [whether it's] cold or warm.

Fig One cannot know the essence of something until one has experienced it oneself.

Note [Note: lěngnuǎn-zìzhī, is a chengyu meaning “to know something without being told.”]

Topics chengyu EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE lěngnuǎn-zìzhī

R283

[R283]

Rù shān bù pà shāngrén hǔ; jiù pà rénqíng liǎngmiàn dāo.

入山不怕伤人虎, 就怕人情两面刀。

入山不怕傷人虎, 就怕人情兩面刀。

Lit Do not fear tigers in the mountains, [rather] fear people who are two-faced in their dealings with others.

Note [See also bùpà hóngliǎn above.]

Topics CAUTION DECEIT FEAR OTHERS

R284

[R284]

Rù shuǐ jiàn cháng rén.

入水见长人。

入水見長人。

Lit [When they] enter the water [then we'll] see [who are the] tall people.

Fig At the critical moment one can see who the talented or capable people are.

Note [See also tiān tā, zìyǒu below.]

Topics JUDGMENT TALENT

R285

[R285]

Rù tián guān jià; cóng xiǎo kàn dà.

入田观稼, 从小看大。

入田觀稼, 從小看大。

Lit Go to the fields and inspect the crops [if you want to know how the harvest will be]; observe the child if you want to know [how he or she will be as an] adult. “The child is the father to the man.”

Note [Rhyme; note the colloquial expression sān suì zhī lǎo, “By age three, one can know the adult.”]

Topics ADULTS CHILDREN colloquial expression FUTURE GROWING UP PREDICTIONS rhyme sān_suì_zhì_lǎo

【L1】S S1

[S1]

Sāhuǎng de rén zǒng hào fāshì.

撒谎的人总好发誓。

撒謊的人總好發誓。

Lit People who lie always make vows easily.

Topics LIES PROMISES

S2

[S2]

Sài wēng shī mǎ, ān zhī fēi fú.

塞翁失马, 安知非福。

塞翁失馬, 安知非福。

Lit [When] the old man on the frontier lost his horse, who could have known it was a blessing [in disguise]!

Fig A loss may turn out to be a gain.

Note [Based on a popular fable in Huái Nán Zǐ: Rén Jiān Xùn.]

Topics BLESSINGS FABLE FORTUNE Huái Nán Zǐ LOSS Rén_Jiān_Xùn

S3

[S3]

Sānbǎi liùshí háng, hángháng chī fàn, zhuó yīshang.

三百六十行, 行行吃饭, 着衣裳。

三百六十行, 行行吃飯, 著衣裳。

Lit [In all the] three hundred and sixty [i.e., various] professions, the reason people engage in them [is] to earn food and clothing.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 6; note: chuānzhuó, “dress; apparel”; sānbǎiliùshíháng is a colloquial expression meaning “all trades and professions.”]

Topics chuānzhuó CLOTHING colloquial expression FOOD Hé Diǎn PROFESSIONS rhyme sānbǎiliùshíháng WORKING

S4

[S4]

(Sānbǎi liùshí háng,) hángháng chū zhuàngyuán.

(三百六十行,) 行行出状元。

(三百六十行,) 行行出狀元。

Lit ([In all of the] three hundred and sixty professions,) each trade produces [its own] “Number one Scholar.”

Fig (1) Every profession produces its own leading authority. Every trade has its master(s). (2) If one works hard and perfects one's skill, one may become an expert in one's field, whatever it may be.

Note [Used as advice to encourage individuals to persevere in their profession; note: zhuàngyuan literally refers to a title conferred on the one who came in first in the highest level of the imperial examinations; also said qīshí'èr háng, etc. (q.v.); see the preceding entry.]

Topics ADVICE ENCOURAGEMENT EXPERTISE PERSEVERANCE PROFESSIONS sānbǎiliùshíháng SKILL WORKING zhuàngyuan

S5

[S5]

Sān bēi hé wànshì; yī zuì jiě qiān chóu.

三杯和万事, 一醉解千愁。

三杯和萬事, 一醉解千愁。

Lit Three cups [of wine may] pacify many matters; once drunk, all worries are forgotten.

Note [See also jiǔ xiāo bǎi chóu above.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR WORRIES

S6

[S6]

Sān bù niù liù.

三不拗六。

Lit Three are no match for six.

Fig The majority have the final say.

Note [See also sān quán diébude and shuāng quán nán dí and sì bù niù liù below.]

Topics CONFLICT MAJORITY NUMBER wéi_ào

S7

[S7]

Sān cháng bǔ yī duǎn; sān qín jiā yī lǎn.

三长补一短, 三勤夹一懒。

三長補一短, 三勤夾一懶。

Lit [Just as] three good points make up for one shortcoming [in a person, so] three diligent [people will] influence a lazy [one].

Topics DILIGENCE EXAMPLE IDLENESS INFLUENCE

S8

[S8]

Sān cì bānjiā děngyú yī cì shīhuǒ.

三次搬家等于一次失火。

三次搬家等於一次失火。

Lit Moving [one's] home three times is as bad as a fire [i.e., in terms of disruption, losing things, etc.].

Note [A popular saying.]

Topics DISRUPTION HOME LOSS MOVING

S9

[S9]

Sān cùn shé hàizhe qī chǐ shēn.

三寸舌害着七尺身。

三寸舌害著七尺身。

Lit A tongue of three inches [can] harm a seven foot [tall] body.

Fig Trouble comes out of people's mouths.

Note [Note: one Chinese “foot” or chǐ equals one-third of a meter; see also bìng cóng kǒu rù above.]

Topics CAUTION SELF-RESTRAINT TALK TROUBLE

S10

[S10]

Sānfēn jiàngrén, qīfēn zhǔrén.

三分匠人, 七分主人。

Lit A craftsman [is] thirty percent [free], [and] seventy percent [beholden to his] employer.

Fig One has to do what one's employer(s) tell(s) one.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 2.]

Topics CRAFTSMEN DUTY EMPLOYERS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn OBEDIENCE

S11

[S11]

Sānfēn luó-gǔ; qīfēn chàng.

三分锣鼓, 七分唱。

三分鑼鼓, 七分唱。

Lit [The success of an opera performance depends only] thirty percent [on the accompanying] gongs and drums [and] seventy percent [on the] singing [of the actors and actresses].

Fig In any endeavor, success depends primarily on those who play the major role(s).

Note [Compare qī fēn luó-gǔ above.]

Topics Chinese opera SUCCESS

S12

[S12]

Sānfēn réncái; qīfēn dǎbàn.*

三分人才, 七分打扮。

Lit [Women are] three-tenths natural [appearance and] seven-tenths makeup.

Note [Note: here réncái is a colloquial expression meaning “beautiful appearance.”]

Topics APPEARANCES colloquial expression COSMETICS réncái WOMEN

S13

[S13]

Sānfēn rénshì; qīfēn tiān.

三分人事, 七分天。

Lit [In farming, the harvest depends only] thirty percent on human effort, [and] seventy percent [on] the weather.

Topics AGRICULTURE EFFORT FARMING WEATHER

S14

[S14]

Sānfēn tiāncái; qīfēn xué.

三分天才, 七分学。

三分天才, 七分學。

Lit [Success depends] thirty percent [on one's] talent [and] seventy percent [on one's hard work and] study.

Topics DILIGENCE STUDYING SUCCESS TALENT

S15

[S15]

Sān gè bù kāikǒu, shénxiān nán xiàshǒu.

三个不开口, 神仙难下手。

三個不開口, 神仙難下手。

Lit [If you] keep [your] mouth shut [even] the gods can do nothing with you.

Note [See also bù gān jǐ shì above and yī wèn sān bù zhī below.]

Topics PRUDENCE RETICENCE

S16

[S16]

Sān gè chòu píjiàng, dǐng gè Zhūgě Liàng.*

三个臭皮匠, 顶个诸葛亮。

三個臭皮匠, 頂個諸葛亮。

Lit Three smelly cobblers [with their wits combined] equal Zhuge Liang, [the master mind].

Fig Three fools are the equal of one wise man; “Two heads are better than one.”

Note [Zhuge Liang was the archetypal master strategist in R3K. This yanyu was paraphrased as sān ge chòupíjiang, héchéng yī gè Zhūgě Liàng by Mao Zedong in his essay: “Dǎng Nèi Tuánjiēde Biànzheng Fàngfǎ”; also said sān gè chòu píjiang sài guò Zhūgě Liàng.]

Topics chòu píjiàng COOPERATION Dǎng Nèi Tuánjiē INTELLIGENCE Mao Zedong R3K

S17

[S17]

Sān gè wǔgēng dǐ yī gōng.

三个五更抵一工。

三個五更抵一工。

Lit Three early risings equal one [day's] work.

Note [Note: in traditional China the day was divided into twelve two-hour periods or gēng; wǔgēng refers to the time period between 3:24 and 5:24 A.M., the fifth night watch; see also zǎoqǐ sān zhāo below.]

Topics DILIGENCE gēng WORK wǔgēng

S18

[S18]

Sāng tián biàn cānghǎi; cānghǎi biàn sāng tián.

桑田变沧海, 沧海变桑田。

桑田變滄海, 滄海變桑田。

Lit Mulberry fields change into seas [and] the seas turn into mulberry fields.

Fig Time brings great changes to the world. Life is full of vicissitudes.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 18; as a chengyu: cānghǎi-sāngtián; see also rénshēng yīpánqí and rén yǒu qī pín above and shìshì yǒuchéng and suī yǒu xiōngsuì below.]

Topics cānghǎi-sāngtián chengyu Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō LIFE VICISSITUDES

S19

[S19]

Sān jiān wǎ bàndǎo rén.

三尖瓦绊倒人。

三尖瓦絆倒人。

Lit A piece of pointed [i.e., broken] tile [can] trip a person up.

Fig A petty person can make a greater one suffer.

Topics PETTINESS TROUBLE

S20

[S20]

Sān jù hǎohuà bùrú yī mǎ bàng.

三句好话不如一马棒。

三句好話不如一馬棒。

Lit Three pieces of good advice are not so good as one good blow with the stick.

Fig Hard tactics are (sometimes) more effective than soft ones.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics ADVICE BEATING EFFICACY FORCE STRATEGY TACTICS

S21

[S21]

Sān jù hǎohuà bùrú yī quántou.

三句好话不如一拳头。

三句好話不如一拳頭。

Lit Three pieces of good advice are not as good as one blow with [your] fist.

Fig Hard tactics are (sometimes) more effective than soft ones.

Note [See also the previous entry.]

Topics ADVICE BEATING EFFICACY FORCE STRATEGY TACTICS

S22

[S22]

Sān jù huà néng bǎ rén shuōxiào qǐlai; yī jù huà jiù jiāng rén shuō tiào qǐlai.*

三句话能把人说笑起来, 一句话就将人说跳起来。

三句話能把人說笑起來, 一句話就將人說跳起來。

Lit Three words may set one laughing, [while sometimes only] one word may set one jumping [in anger, so be careful!].

Note [See also huì shuō de rě above.]

Topics ANGER CAUTION LAUGHTER SELF-RESTRAINT TALK WORDS

S23

[S23]

Sān nián bù fēi, fēi jiāng chōng tiān; sān nián bù míng, míng jiāng jīngrén.

三年不飞, 飞将冲天; 三年不鸣, 鸣将惊人。

三年不飛, 飛將沖天; 三年不鳴, 鳴將驚人。

Lit [If] birds have not flown for three years, [they] will soar into the clouds; [if they] have not sung for three years, their songs will take everyone by surprise.

Note [This rhyme is usually said of an author, artist, or scholar who comes out with a work after a long silence.]

Topics ARTISTS AUTHORS rhyme SCHOLARS SILENCE SURPRISE TIME

S24

[S24]

Sān nián bù shàngmén, dāng qīn yě bù qīn.

三年不上门, 当亲也不亲。

三年不上門, 當親也不親。

Lit [If you] don't visit [your] relatives for three years, they will forget about you.

Fig “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 40.]

Topics FORGETTING JW RELATIVES

S25

[S25]

Sān nián qīng zhīfǔ, shíwàn xuěhuā yín.

三年清知府, 十万雪花银。

三年清知府, 十萬雪花銀。

Lit [Even after being an] “honest and clean” official for three years, [one still garners one] hundred thousand ounces of snow-white silver.

Fig Even self-professed honest and clean officials fleece(d) the people [in traditional Chinese society].

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 8.]

Topics EXPLOITATION HONESTY OFFICIALS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

S26

[S26]

Sān nián shí mǎ xìng; wǔ nián dǒng rénxīn.

三年识马性, 五年懂人心。

三年識馬性, 五年懂人心。

Lit It takes three years to get to know a horse's nature, [but] five years to get to know a person's heart/mind.

Note [Rhyme; see also rén dào nánchù above.]

Topics HEARTS MINDS rhyme TIME UNDERSTANDING

S27

[S27]

Sān nǚ, yī é chéng shì.

三女一鹅成市。

三女一鵝成市。

Lit Three women [and] one goose make a [noise like an entire] market.

Fig Women are noisy.

Topics SEXISM WOMEN

S28

[S28]

Sānqiān yǔ wǒ hǎo; bābǎi yǔ tā jiāo.

三千与我好, 八百与他交。

三千與我好, 八百與他交。

Lit Three thousand are on good terms with me [and] eight hundred are his friends.

Fig I have my friends and he has his; each person has his or her own friends.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FRIENDS rhyme

S29

[S29]

Sān quán diébude sì shǒu.

三拳迭不得四手。

Lit Three fists are no match for four hands.

Fig A minority cannot overcome a majority.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 13; see also sān bù niù liù above and sì bù niù liù and shuāng quán nán dí below.]

Topics JPM MAJORITY NUMBER STRENGTH

S30

[S30]

Sān rén chéng hǔ.

三人成虎。

Lit [If] three people [say there is a] tiger, [it will] become [accepted as truth].

Fig Rumors repeated will be believed.

Note [Cf. Zhànguó Cè: Qín Cè 3; see also chányán sān zhì above.]

Topics GOSSIP Qín Cè 3 RUMORS Zhànguó_Cè

S31

[S31]

Sān rén, liù yàng huà.

三人, 六样话。

三人, 六樣話。

Lit Three people [will have] six different opinions.

Fig Everyone has his own opinion.

Note [Cf. Mao Dun's novel Zǐyè (Midnight), chap. 16; see also sān rén shuōzhe and shí jiā guō zào below.]

Topics DIFFERENCES Mao Dun MINDS OPINIONS Zǐyè

S32

[S32]

Sān rén shuōzhe, jiǔ tóu huà.

三人说着九头话。

三人說著九頭話。

Lit [When] three people [are] speaking [the result is] nine [different] opinions.

Fig Each of three people has his or her own opinions.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 5; see also sān rén, liù yàng huà above.]

Topics DIFFERENCES Hé Diǎn OPINIONS PEOPLE

S33

[S33]

Sān rén tái bù guò gè “lǐ” qù.

三人抬不过个“理” 去。

三人抬不過個“理” 去。

Lit Even a majority can't overcome reason.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 65.]

Topics DRC MAJORITY REASON

S34

[S34]

Sān rén tóngxíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī.*

三人同行必有我师。

三人同行必有我師。

Lit [If we] three people are walking together, [at least one of the other two] will be my teacher.

Fig One can always learn something from others.

Note [A famous maxim (géyán) from the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Shù Ér.]

Topics COMPANIONS Confucian Analects Confucius géyán LEARNING Lúnyǔ Shù Ér TEACHING

S35

[S35]

Sān rén tóngxíng, xiǎode kǔ.

三人同行, 小的苦。

Lit [When there are] three partners, the smallest [shoulders] the hardships.

Fig The third of three partners is always the one to suffer.

Note [Said by Piggy in JW, chap. 76, distorting the famous saying of Confucius (see the preceding entry); note: xiǎode, (lit) “small one”; (fig) a polite, self-deprecating term for “I; me”; see also qǔdé jīng lái above.]

Topics COMPANIONS EXPLOITATION HARDSHIPS INJUSTICE JW PARTNERS Pigsy xiǎode

S36

[S36]

Sān rén wù dàshì; liù ěr bù tōng móu.

三人误大事, 六耳不通谋。

三人誤大事, 六耳不通謀。

Lit Three people will foul up any affair; six ears cannot keep a secret.

Fig Nothing can be kept a secret if more than two people know about it.

Note [See also sān rén zhī below.]

Topics SECRETS

S37

[S37]

Sān rén yītiáoxīn, huángtǔ biànchéng jīn.

三人一条心, 黄土变成金。

三人一條心, 黃土變成金。

Lit When three persons are of the same mind, yellow earth becomes gold.

Fig When many people are of one mind and pull together, great things can be accomplished.

Note [Rhyme; see also xiélì shān chéng and yī jiā tóngxīn and zhòngrén yīxīn below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT COOPERATION HEARTS MINDS rhyme SUCCESS UNITY

S38

[S38]

Sān rén zhī, tiānxià xiǎo.

三人知, 天下晓。

三人知, 天下曉。

Lit [If] three people know [a secret], the whole world will know [it].

Fig Not more than two people can keep a secret.

Note [See also sān rén wù dàshì above.]

Topics CAUTION SECRETS

S39

[S39]

Sān rì bù jiànmiàn, bù zuò jiùshí kàn.

三日不见面, 不作旧时看。

三日不見面, 不作舊時看。

Lit [After] three day['s] not seeing [someone], [one can]not look [at him or her] the same old way.

Fig One can hardly imagine what changes will occur after not seeing someone for some time.

Note [Usually said flatteringly to one whom one has not seen for some time; see also shì bié sān rì below.]

Topics CHANGES TIME

S40

[S40]

Sān rì bù tán, shǒu shēng jīngjí.

三日不弹, 手生荆棘。

三日不彈, 手生荊棘。

Lit Three days without playing [one's instrument and one's] hands sprout brambles.

Fig If one does not practice regularly, one gets out of practice.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 86; see also quán bù lí shǒu above and yī rì liàn below.]

Topics MUSIC PRACTICE SKILL

S41

[S41]

Sān rì jiānbǎng, liǎng rì tuǐ.

三日肩膀, 两日腿。

三日肩膀, 兩日腿。

Lit [If one carries things on one's] shoulders [for] three days, [and] walks [for] two days [one will become accustomed to hard work].

Topics TRAINING WORKING

S42

[S42]

Sān rì wú liáng bù jù bīng.

三日无粮不聚兵。

三日無糧不聚兵。

Lit [If the soldiers] have not [had] food for three days, [one can]not muster an army.

Note [See also bīngmǎ wèi dòng and cháotíng bù chāi above.]

Topics CONDITIONS FOOD MILITARY PROVISIONS SOLDIERS

S43

[S43]

Sānshíliù jì, zǒu wéi shàng jì.*

三十六计, 走为上计。

三十六計, 走為上計。

Lit [Of the] thirty-six stratagems, running [away] is best.

Fig (When a difficult situation has reached the point beyond any solution, then) the best thing to do is to run away.

Note [Originally “thirty-six” simply implied “many”; this expression is now often reinterpreted to mean that running away is the best solution to all problems.]

Topics AVOIDANCE DIFFICULTIES ESCAPE PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS STRATEGY

S44

[S44]

Sānshí nián fēngshuǐ lúnliú zhuàn.*

三十年风水轮流转。

三十年風水輪流轉。

Lit Fortunes and misfortunes come in thirty-year cycles.

Note [See also sānshí nián hé dōng below.]

Topics CYCLES FATE FORTUNE MISFORTUNE

S45

[S45]

(Sān)shí nián hé dōng; (sān)shí nián hé xī.*

(三)十年河东, (三)十年河西。

(三)十年河東, (三)十年河西。

Lit [For] thirty/ten years [people] east of the river [prosper], [then] for [another] thirty/ten years those on the west bank [prosper].

Fig Fortune (and misfortune) comes in cycles.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 46; see also liùshí nián and sānshí nián fēngshuǐ above.]

Topics BALANCE CYCLES FORTUNE MISFORTUNE Rúlín_Wàishǐ

S46

[S46]

Sānshí nián nòng mǎ qí, jīnrì bèi lǘ pū.

三十年弄马骑, 今日被驴扑。

三十年弄馬騎, 今日被驢撲。

Lit [After] having ridden horses for thirty years, one can be thrown off a donkey.

Fig Even an old hand can be taken in.

Note [See also mǎ shàng shuāisǐ above.]

Topics CAUTION EXPERIENCE EXPERTS MISTAKES SKILL

S47

[S47]

Sānshí shì gāng; sìshí shì tiě.

三十是钢; 四十是铁。

三十是鋼; 四十是鐵。

Lit [A man at] thirty is [as strong as] steel, [but at] forty is [like] iron.

Fig One becomes physically weaker after forty.

Topics AGE MIDDLE AGE STRENGTH

S48

[S48]

Sānshí wǎnshang qiāo luó-gǔ, bù zhī qióngrén kǔ bù kǔ.

三十晚上敲锣鼓, 不知穷人苦不苦。

三十晚上敲鑼鼓, 不知窮人苦不苦。

Lit [Those who] beat gongs and drums on Lunar New Year's Eve do not know whether the poor are suffering.

Fig Those who are well off do not understand the hardships of the poor.

Note [Rhyme; see also bǎo hàn bù zhī above.]

Topics POVERTY rhyme SUFFERING

S49

[S49]

Sān tiān bù dǎ, shàngfáng jiē wǎ.

三天不打, 上房揭瓦。

Lit [There are some people so bad that if] not beaten [every] three days, [they'll be] up stealing the tiles off [your] roof.

Note [Rhyme; note: shàngfáng, the main rooms in a traditional Chinese house compound where the master's quarters were located.]

Topics EVIL PRECAUTIONS rhyme THIEVES

S50

[S50]

Sān tiān zhù zài shíjiang jiā, bù huì qì wū, huì dǎ qiáng.

三天住在石匠家, 不会砌屋会打墙。

三天住在石匠家, 不會砌屋會打牆。

Lit [After] living three days with a mason, [even if one] can't build a house, [at least one will] know how to lay bricks.

Fig If one spends time with experts, one will inevitably learn something.

Note [See also gēnzhe wǎjiang and rù háng sān rì above.]

Topics ASSOCIATION EXPERTS LEARNING SKILL WORKING

S51

[S51]

Sān zhé gōng zhī wéi liángyī.

三折肱知为良医。

三折肱知為良醫。

Lit [If you] break your arm three times, [you'll naturally] become a good doctor.

Fig Prolonged illness makes a patient a good doctor. Experience is a good teacher.

Note [See also chī yào sān nián and jiǔ bìng chéng liángyī above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE ILLNESS LEARNING TEACHING

S52

[S52]

Sè bù mí rén; rén zì mí.

色不迷人, 人自迷。

Lit Sex does not ensnare men; men ensnare themselves.

Note [Usually preceded by jiǔ bù zuì rén above (q.v.); also said huā bù mí rén etc.; see also the following entry.]

S53

[S53]

Sēng lái, kàn Fó miàn.*

僧来, 看佛面。

僧來, 看佛面。

Lit [When a] monk comes [begging], look at the Buddha's “face” [behind him].

Fig Regardless of what you think of a person who asks for help, you had better consider the “face” of any powerful people he or she may be connected with.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 2.]

Topics CONNECTIONS FACE Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì POWER

S54

[S54]

Sè shì shārén dāo.

色是杀人刀。

色是殺人刀。

Lit Sexual lust is a murderous sword.

Fig Lust can lead to ruin.

Note [Cf. Hòu Hàn Yǎnyì, chap. 75; note: hàosè, “lustful,” is usually said of men only.]

Topics hàosè Hòu Hàn Yǎnyì LUST SEX

S55

[S55]

Shābude pín jiā, zuòbude fù jiā.

杀不得贫家, 做不得富家。

殺不得貧家, 做不得富家。

Lit [If one does] not kill [i.e., oppress or exploit] the poor, [one] cannot get rich.

Note [From traditional China; cf. the chengyu: wéi fù bù rén,“be rich and cruel”; see also ruò yào fā above and shā dé qióngrén below.]

Topics EXPLOITATION KILLING POVERTY WEALTH

S56

[S56]

Shā dé qióngrén; zuò dé fù hù.

杀得穷人, 做得富户。

殺得窮人, 做得富戶。

Lit [One] must oppress [or exploit] the poor [in order to] become rich.

Note [See also shābude pín jiā above.]

Topics EXPLOITATION OPPRESSION POVERTY WEALTH

S57

[S57]

Shā fù zhī chóu, bù gòng dài tiān.*

杀父之仇, 不共戴天。

殺父之仇, 不共戴天。

Lit [With] the enemy who has slain one's father [one can]not [live] together under the same sky.

Fig One must avenge one's father's murder.

Note [Cf. Confucius' Lǐjì: Qū Lǐ; note: bùgòngdàitiān, is a set phrase meaning “absolutely irreconcilable.”]

Topics Book of Rites bùgòngdàitiān CHILDREN Confucius ENEMIES FATHERS Lǐjì MURDER Qū Lǐ VENGENCE

S58

[S58]

Shā jī yān yòng niú dāo？

杀鸡焉用牛刀？

殺雞焉用牛刀？

Lit How can one use an ox-slaughtering knife to kill chickens?

Fig A small job does not require a big operation or a great talent. One should not engage in overkill.

Note [Cf. Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Yáng Huò; WM, chap. 15.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS Confucian Analects Lúnyǔ MODERATION OVERKILL WM Yáng_Huò

S59

[S59]

Shāle tóu, wǎn dà de bā.*

杀了头, 碗大的疤。

殺了頭, 碗大的疤。

Lit [Even if one is] beheaded, [it's nothing but a] scar as big as a bowl.

Fig One should not be afraid to die.

Note [Usually said by those sentenced to die in wǔ xià xiǎoshuō (sword-fighting novels) and communist propaganda literature.]

Topics BEHEADING COURAGE DEATH FEAR propaganda literature sword-fighting novels wǔ_xià_xiǎoshuō

S60

[S60]

Shāmào dǐxia wú qióng hàn.

纱帽底下无穷汉。

紗帽底下無窮漢。

Lit Beneath [a black] cotton gauze cap there are no poor fellows.

Fig One who holds an official post will never be poor (as he can make money from presents, bribes, etc.).

Note [Note: shāmào refers to a black cotton gauze cap with paddle-like ornaments attached to the back, worn by officials in imperial times.]

Topics BRIBERY MONEY OFFICIALS shāmào WEALTH

S61

[S61]

Shān bù ài lù; lù zì tōng shān.

山不碍路, 路自通山。

山不礙路, 路自通山。

Lit Mountains do not block roads; roads naturally go through mountains.

Fig There will always be a way (out).

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 80; see also shān gāo zì yǒu and the following entry.]

Topics ESCAPE PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

S62

[S62]

Shān bù zhuàn, lù zhuàn; (hé bù wān, shuǐ wān).

山不转路转, (河不弯水弯)。

山不轉路轉, (河不彎水彎)。

Lit If the mountains don't turn, the roads [will] turn; ([if] the rivers don't bend, the water bends).

Fig Things are always changing or accommodating. There will always be a way (out).

Note [See also tiān bù zhuàn below and the preceding entry.]

Topics ACCOMMODATION CHANGE PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

S63

[S63]

Shàn è dàotóu zhōng yǒu bào; zhǐ zhēng lái zǎo yǔ lái chí.

善恶到头终有报; 只争来早与来迟。

善惡到頭終有報; 只爭來早與來遲。

Lit Good [and] evil in the end [will] be recompensed; [it is] only a question of sooner or later.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 11; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 28; see also hǎo yǒu hǎo bào above and shàn yǒu shànbào below.]

Topics COMPENSATION Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí EVIL GOODNESS JW

S64

[S64]

Shān gāo pà màn shàng.

山高怕慢上。

Lit High mountains fear slow climbing.

Fig However high the mountains are, people can climb to the top of them if they persevere. However difficult a task, people can succeed if they persevere.

Note [See also bùpà màn, jiù pà zhàn above.]

Topics PERSEVERANCE SUCCESS

S65

[S65]

Shān gāo yǒu dǐng; shuǐ shēn yǒu dǐ; lù cháng yǒu tóu.

山高有顶, 水深有底, 路长有头。

山高有頂, 水深有底, 路長有頭。

Lit [However] high the mountain [is, it] has a top; [however] deep the water [is, it] has a bottom; [however] long the road [is, it] has an end.

Fig There are limits to everything.

Topics LIMITS

S66

[S66]

Shān gāo zhē bu zhù tàiyáng.

山高遮不住太阳。

山高遮不住太陽。

Lit However high a mountain may be, it cannot block the sun.

Fig No matter how powerful someone may be, (s)he cannot hide the truth.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 24; see also nán jiāng yī rén shǒu above.]

Topics DRC LIMITATIONS POWER SECRETS TRUTH

S67

[S67]

Shān gāo zì yǒu kè xíng lù; shuǐ shēn zì yǒu dùchuán rén.

山高自有客行路, 水深自有渡船人。

Lit However high the mountains may be, there are paths for people who traverse them; however deep the rivers may be, there are people who ferry across them.

Fig However difficult the journey, there is bound to be a way.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 74; see also shān bù ài lù above.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES JW SOLUTIONS TRAVEL

S68

[S68]

Shàng bù jǐn, zé xià màn.

上不紧则下慢。

上不緊則下慢。

Lit [If the] superiors are not strict, then [the] inferiors [will be] slack.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 17.]

Topics DISCIPLINE HIERARCHY INFERIORS STRICTNESS SUPERIORS

S69

[S69]

Shǎng bù ràng yuānchóu; fá bù lùn gǔròu.

赏不让冤仇, 罚不论骨肉。

賞不讓冤仇, 罰不論骨肉。

Lit Awards [should be granted] regardless of [whether one has done] wrong [to you, and] punishment [given] regardless of [whether someone is a] flesh and blood [relation to you].

Note [Rhyme; cf. Sān Guó Zhì: Wèi Shū: Wǔ Wén Shì Wáng Gōng Zhuàn.]

Topics AWARDS PUNISHMENT RELATIONSHIPS REWARDS Sān Guó Zhì Wèi Shū Wǔ_Wén_Shì_Wáng

S70

[S70]

Shàngchǎng róngyì; xiàchǎng nán.

上场容易;下场难。

上場容易;下場難。

Lit It's easier to get onto the stage than to get down off it.

Fig It's easier to get into situations than to get out of them.

Note [See also shàngshān róngyì and shàng zéichuán yì below.]

Topics CAUTION ENTANGLEMENTS TROUBLE

S71

[S71]

Shàng guà bùlíng, xià guà líng.

上卦不灵, 下卦灵。

上卦不靈, 下卦靈。

Lit [If] the first divinatory symbol doesn't work, the next one will.

Fig If the first time you fail, the next time you will succeed; “if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.”

Note [Note: bǔguà, “to divine by the Eight Trigrams”; língyàn, “divinely efficacious.”]

Topics bǔguà DIVINATION Eight Dragons língyàn PERSISTENCE SUCCESS TRYING

S72

[S72]

Shàng huí dàng; xué huí guāi.

上回当, 学回乖。

上回當, 學回乖。

Lit Taken in [one] time; learn [one] lesson.

Fig One can learn valuable lessons from setbacks. “A fall into the pit, a gain in wit.”

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also chī yī huí kuī and chī yī qiàn above.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE LEARNING LESSONS LOSSES SETBACKS Wǔ_Sōng

S73

[S73]

Shàngliáng bù zhèng, xià liáng wāi.*

上梁不正, 下梁歪。

Lit [If the] main [roof] beam is not upright, the lower ones [will be] crooked.

Fig If those in authority do not behave properly, their subordinates will follow suit.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 26.]

Topics BEHAVIOR EXAMPLE HONESTY JPM RECTITUDE SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS

S74

[S74]

Shàngmén de mǎi-mài hǎo zuò.

上门的买卖好做。

上門的買賣好做。

Lit It's easier to do business [with people who] come to you.

Fig It's easier to deal with others on one's own turf.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 28.]

Topics ADVANTAGE BUSINESS JW OTHERS PLACE STRATEGY

S75

[S75]

Shàngmíng bù zhī xià àn.

上明不知下暗。

Lit An enlightened superior doesn't know his subordinates' darkness.

Fig An honest superior cannot know the wicked behavior of his subordinates.

Note [See also qīngguān nán chū above.]

Topics DECEIT HONESTY OFFICIALS SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS

S76

[S76]

Shàng rén bù hào, xià rén bù yào.

上人不好, 下人不要。

Lit [If the] superior doesn't like [it], [his] subordinates don't want [it].

Note [Rhyme; cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 23.]

Topics Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) HIERARCHY rhyme SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS

S77

[S77]

Shāngrén zhī yán qiáng yú máo jǐ.

伤人之言强于矛戟。

傷人之言強於矛戟。

Lit Words that hurt people [are] sharper than spears.

Note [See also gùnzi shāng ròu and lì dāo shāng tǐ above.]

Topics SPEECH TALK WORDS

S78

[S78]

Shàng shān dǎchái; guò hé tuō xié.

上山打柴, 过河脱鞋。

上山打柴, 過河脫鞋。

Lit [While] in the mountains cut wood, [and while] crossing a river take off your shoes.

Fig Always be flexible and adapt yourself to circumstances.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ADAPTING CIRCUMSTANCES ENVIRONMENT FLEXIBILITY rhyme

S79

[S79]

Shàng shān diào bù zháo yú; xià shuǐ dǎ bù zháo chái.

上山钓不着鱼, 下水打不着柴。

上山釣不著魚, 下水打不著柴。

Lit It's impossible to catch fish in the mountains or to gather firewood in the river.

Fig One must do things appropriate to the surrounding conditions.

Note [Note the chengyu: yuán mù qiú yú, (lit) “climbing a tree to catch fish”; (fig) “a fruitless approach.”]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS chengyu CONDITIONS yuánmù-qiúyú

S80

[S80]

Shàng shān gǎn dǎ hǔ; xiàhǎi gǎn qín lóng.*

上山敢打虎; 下海敢擒龙。

上山敢打虎; 下海敢擒龍。

Lit Dare to go up into the mountains to hunt tigers, [and] down to the sea to catch dragons.

Fig Do not fear any difficulty.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 9.]

Topics COURAGE DARING DIFFICULTIES Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FEAR

S81

[S81]

Shàng shān kàn shānshì; rù mén kàn rényì.

上山看山势, 入门看人意。

上山看山勢, 入門看人意。

Lit [While] climbing a hill, pay attention to the hill's terrain; [when you] enter a door, pay attention to people's wishes or expectations.

Note [Note: dìshì; xíngshì “terrain”; see also chūmén guān tiānsè above.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS dìshì EXPECTATIONS Xíshì

S82

[S82]

Shàng shān qín hǔ yì; kāikǒu qiúrén nán.*

上山擒虎易, 开口求人难。

上山擒虎易, 開口求人難。

Lit It's easier to go up into the mountains to catch a tiger than [to bring oneself] to ask others for help.

Note [Also said ... kāi kǒu gào rén nán.]

Topics ASKING HELP OTHERS

S83

[S83]

Shàngshān róngyì; xiàshān nán.

上山容易, 下山难。

上山容易, 下山難。

Lit It's easier to go up a hill than it is to go down the hill.

Fig It's easier to get into situations than to get out of them. Mind your step.

Note [A caution to remind people to be careful in doing things which appear to be easy; see also shàngchǎng róngyì above.]

Topics CAUTION ENTANGLEMENTS TROUBLE

S84

[S84]

Shàngsi fàng gè pì, xiàshǔ chàng tái xì.

上司放个屁, 下属唱台戏。

上司放個屁, 下屬唱臺戲。

Lit [When] the superior breaks wind, his subordinates sing an opera.

Fig One word from the superior makes everybody busy.

Note [Rhyme; see also lǎozi fàngpì above.]

Topics HIERARCHY rhyme SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS

S85

[S85]

Shàngtào de hóuzi yóu rén shuǎ.

上套的猴子由人耍。

Lit The tied-up monkey is played with by others.

Fig One who has fallen into another's trap will be controlled by that person.

Note [Note: shuǎ hóuzi, “to play with a monkey.”]

Topics CAUTION CONTROL DANGER shuǎ_hóuzi

S86

[S86]

Shǎng yǐ quàn shàn; fá yǐ chéng'è.

赏以劝善, 罚以惩恶。

賞以勸善, 罰以懲惡。

Lit Awards [are granted in order] to encourage [people to do] good, [and] punishments [are given in order] to punish [those who do] evil.

Topics AWARDS PUNISHMENT REWARDS

S87

[S87]

Shàng yǒu tiāntáng; xià yǒu Sū-Háng.*

上有天堂, 下有苏杭。

上有天堂, 下有蘇杭。

Lit Above there is paradise; below [on earth] there are [the two beautiful cities of] Suzhou [and] Hangzhou.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 1; see also Sū-Háng bù dào below.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō Hangzhou PLACE rhyme Suzhou TRAVEL

S88

[S88]

Shàng yǒu zhèngcè; xià yǒu duìcè.

上有政策, 下有对策。

上有政策, 下有對策。

Lit [Those] above have [official] policies; [those] below have an appropriate [counter] policy [which allows them to get around the official policy by observing its letter, but not its spirit].

Note [A popular saying in use since the Cultural Revolution.]

Topics Cultural Revolution OFFICIALS POLICIES

S89

[S89]

Shàng zéichuán yì; xià zéichuán nán.

上贼船易, 下贼船难。

上賊船易, 下賊船難。

Lit It's easier to get onto a thief's boat than to get off it.

Fig It's easier to get involved with bad people than to get disentangled from them.

Note [See also shàngchǎng róngyì above.]

Topics CAUTION ENTANGLEMENTS TROUBLE

S90

[S90]

Shān lǐ háizi bù pà láng; chénglǐ háizi bù pà guān.

山里孩子不怕狼, 城里孩子不怕官。

山裡孩子不怕狼, 城裡孩子不怕官。

Lit Children in the mountains are not afraid of wolves; those in the cities are not afraid of officials.

Fig One grows accustomed to things with which one is in constant proximity.

Topics HABITUATION PROXIMITY

S91

[S91]

Shān mù wěizi zuò bùliǎo zhèngliáng.

杉木尾子做不了正梁。

Lit Wood from the top part of the China fir [tree] can't be made into a main roof beam.

Fig Ordinary people cannot fulfill the role of talented people.

Note [Said of people of little ability, or modestly of oneself; the China fir has a wood of poor quality.]

Topics ABILITY MODESTY QUALIFICATIONS TALENT

S92

[S92]

Shānshān yǒu lǎohǔ; chùchù yǒu qiángrén.

山山有老虎, 处处有强人。

山山有老虎, 處處有強人。

Lit [Just as] there are tigers on every mountain, there are able people everywhere.

Topics ABILITY LEADERS PLACE

S93

[S93]

Shànshū bù zé bǐ.

善书不择笔。

善書不擇筆。

Lit [One who is] good at calligraphy is not [fussy about] choosing a brush pen.

Fig A good calligrapher can write beautifully even with an inferior pen. A truly talented person can be successful even with inferior tools or help.

Topics CALLIGRAPHY SKILL SUCCESS TALENT TOOLS

S94

[S94]

Shānshuǐ shàng yǒu xiāngféng zhī rì.

山水尚有相逢之日。

Lit The mountains and the rivers will meet sooner or later.

Fig Always part as friends, as you never know when you'll meet again.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 14; see also dàhǎi fúpíng and qù shí liú rénqíng above.]

Topics CONDUCT FRIENDS FUTURE MEETING PARTING RELATIONSHIPS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

S95

[S95]

Shān wài yǒu shān; tiān wài yǒu tiān.

山外有山, 天外有天。

Lit Beyond the mountains there are [more] mountains, [and] beyond heaven there are [more] heavens.

Fig There is always someone or something greater or better. No one thing or person can claim to be the greatest or best.

Note [Note: tiānwài-yǒutiān is used as a set phrase meaning “knowledge/capability is limitless”; see also néngrén zhīwài and qiáng zhōng háiyǒu and rén wài yǒu rén above and shé tūn shǔ and yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics ABILITY COMPETITION LIMITATIONS STRENGTH tiānwài-yǒutiān

S96

[S96]

Shàn yǒu shànbào, è yǒu èbào; (bù shì bù bào, shíchen wèi dào).

善有善报, 恶有恶报; (不是不报, 时辰未到)。

善有善報, 惡有惡報; (不是不報, 時辰未到)。

Lit Goodness is repaid with goodness, [and] evil is repaid with evil; (it is not that there is no recompense; [it is only that] the time has not [yet] come).

Fig There is justice in the world, sooner or later.

Note [Note that the first two parts of the first half of this rhyme are often used together or separately, without the second half; see also hǎo yǒu hǎo bào and shàn è dàotóu above.]

Topics EVIL GOODNESS JUSTICE RECOMPENSE TIME

S97

[S97]

Shān yǒu shānshén; miào yǒu miàozhǔ.

山有山神, 庙有庙主。

山有山神, 廟有廟主。

Lit Mountains have mountain gods [and] temples have head abbots.

Fig In every place there is someone in charge.

Topics HIERARCHY OFFICIALS

S98

[S98]

Shàn yóu zhě nì; shàn qí zhě zhuì.

善游者溺, 善骑者坠。

善游者溺, 善騎者墜。

Lit [Even a] good swimmer [can] drown [and a] good rider [can] be thrown.

Fig Over-confidence may lead to carelessness or failure.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 88; Huái Nán Zǐ: Yuán Dào Xùn; see also mǎ shàng shuāi above.]

Topics CARELESSNESS CAUTION EXPERTISE FAILURE Huái Nán Zǐ OVER-CONFIDENCE Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì SKILL Yuán_Dào_Xùn

S99

[S99]

Shān yǔ yù lái, fēng mǎn lóu.

山雨欲来, 风满楼。

山雨欲來, 風滿樓。

Lit [When the] mountain rains are about to come, the wind fills the tower. “The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains.” “The rising wind forebodes the coming storm.”

Fig Coming events cast their shadows before them.

Note [A line from the poem “Xiányáng Chéng Dōng Lóu” by the Tang dynasty poet Xǔ Hún, later became proverbial.]

Topics FOREBODING POETRY PREDICTIONS Tang dynasty Xiányang Chéng Dōng Lóu Xu_Hun

S100

[S100]

Shān zhōng cháng yǒu qiān nián shù; shìshang bìng wú bǎisuì rén.

山中常有千年树, 世上并无百岁人。

山中常有千年樹, 世上並無百歲人。

Lit In the mountains there are always trees a thousand years old, [but] in the world there are hardly any people one hundred years old.

Fig People rarely live to the age of one hundred.

Topics AGE TIME

S101

[S101]

Shān zhōng wú lǎohǔ, hóuzi chēng dàwáng.*

山中无老虎, 猴子称大王。

山中無老虎, 猴子稱大王。

Lit [When] there's no tiger on the mountain, the monkey becomes king.

Fig When authority is absent, those in lesser positions try to take over. When there are no truly able leaders, one must be content with less able people. “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”

Note [See also hǎishàng wú yú above and shǔ zhōng wú dàjiàng and yánwáng bù zài below.]

Topics ABILITY ABSENCE AUTHORITY LEADERS LEADERSHIP POSITION POWER SUBORDINATES

S102

[S102]

Shān zhōng yǒu zhí shù; shìshang wú zhí rén.

山中有直树, 世上无直人。

山中有直樹, 世上無直人。

Fig In the mountains, there are straight trees, [but] in the world there are no “straight” [i.e., upright and honest] people.

Topics RECTITUDE

S103

[S103]

Shàn zhū, è ná.

善猪恶拿。

善豬惡拿。

Lit [Even when catching a] docile pig, [one must] use a firm hand.

Fig When you are out to catch someone, don't let down your guard.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 19; see also fù hǔ, xiū kuān above.]

Topics CAUTION JW STRATEGY

S104

[S104]

Shào bù xīlì; lǎo bù xiēxīn.

少不惜力, 老不歇心。

Lit [When] young, don't spare [your] energy; [when] old, don't spare [your] mind.

Topics AGE DILIGENCE OLD AGE YOUTH

S105

[S105]

Shào chéng ruò tiānxìng.

少成若天性。

Lit [A habit acquired when one is a] child becomes [like a] natural instinct.

Note [Cf. Hàn Shū: Jiǎ Yì Zhuàn; see also xíguàn chéng zìrán below.]

Topics CHILDHOOD HABITS Hàn Shū Jiǎ Yì Shū TIME

S106

[S106]

Shǎo chī, duō zīwèi; duō chī, huài dùpí.*

少吃多滋味, 多吃坏肚皮。

少吃多滋味, 多吃壞肚皮。

Lit Eat little [and you'll] enjoy the flavor more; eat too much [and you'll] spoil your stomach.

Topics EATING HEALTH MODERATION SELF-RESTRAINT

S107

[S107]

Shǎo chī, xiāng; duō chī, shāng.

少吃香, 多吃伤。

少吃香, 多吃傷。

Lit Eat less [and you will find the food] tasty; eat more [and you will] harm [your health].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EATING FOOD HEALTH rhyme SELF-RESTRAINT

S108

[S108]

Shǎo chī xiányú, shǎo kǒugān.

少吃咸鱼, 少口干。

少吃鹹魚, 少口乾。

Lit [If one does] not eat too much salted fish, [one will] not feel thirsty.

Fig One won't invite trouble if one doesn't poke one's nose into other's affairs.

Topics SELF-RESTRAINT TROUBLE

S109

[S109]

Shāo de zhǐ duō, rě de guǐ duō.

烧的纸多, 惹的鬼多。

燒的紙多, 惹的鬼多。

Lit The more paper [spirit-money one] burns, the more ghosts [one] attracts.

Fig The more you give, the more people come to you for help.

Note [Rhyme; note: burning paper “spirit money” to gods is a traditional way of asking for help from heaven.]

Topics CHARITY GIVING HELP IMPOSITION rhyme SPIRIT_MONEY

S110

[S110]

Shāogōng duōle, dǎ làn chuán.

艄公多了, 打烂船。

艄公多了, 打爛船。

Lit Too many steersmen [will] wreck the boat.

Fig “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Note [See also rén duō, shǒu zá above.]

Topics INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION WORKING

S111

[S111]

Shàonián fūqī, lǎolái bàn; yī tiān bùjiàn, wèn sān biàn.

少年夫妻老来伴, 一天不见问三遍。

少年夫妻老來伴, 一天不見問三遍。

Lit [If] married young, a couple [will become] good company when old; [when they] don't see each other, they inquire about each other three times a day.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE COUPLES FEELINGS MARRIAGE OLD AGE rhyme

S112

[S112]

Shàonián mùjiang; lǎo lángzhōng.

少年木匠, 老郎中。

Lit Young carpenters [and] old doctors [are better qualified].

Topics AGE CARPENTERS DOCTORS MEDICINE YOUTH

S113

[S113]

Shǎo suǒ jiàn, duō jiànguài; dǔ tuótuó wèi mǎ zhǒng bèi.

少所见多见怪, 睹橐驼谓马肿背。

少所見多見怪, 睹橐駝謂馬腫背。

Lit [One who has] seen little regards many things as strange; [(s)he] sees a camel [and] calls [it a] horse with a hunchback.

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 9; see also the following entry.]

Topics EXPERIENCE FAMILIARITY Jìnghuā Yuán STRANGENESS

S114

[S114]

Shǎo (suǒ) jiàn; duō (suǒ) guài.

少(所)见, 多(所)怪。

少(所)見, 多(所)怪。

Lit [Things (which are)] seldom seen [are felt to be] strange.

Note [Cf. the preface to Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì; now more commonly said shǎo jiàn, duō guài; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì EXPERIENCE FAMILIARITY STRANGENESS

S115

[S115]

Shàozhuàng bù nǔlì; lǎodà tú shāng bēi.*

少壮不努力, 老大徒伤悲。

少壯不努力, 老大徒傷悲。

Lit [If one does] not work hard [when young and] strong, [when one is] old, [one will have to] lead a miserable life.

Fig “An idle youth, a needy old age.”

Note [A line from the Han dynasty yuèfǔ poem: “Cháng Gē Xíng”; see also hēi fà bù zhī and lǎo bù xiēxīn above.]

Topics AGE Cháng Gē Xíng CONSEQUENCES Han dynasty IDLENESS LAZINESS OLD AGE poem YOUTH yuèfǔ

S116

[S116]

Shārén bùguò tóu diǎn dì.

杀人不过头点地。

殺人不過頭點地。

Lit Killing someone is the same as [having his] head touch the ground. [When someone “kowtows,” (i.e., kneels and touches one's head to the ground in respect or submission), his head touches the ground, just as it would if one killed him.]

Fig When an enemy has yielded, his life should be spared; a wrongdoer who admits his wrong should be forgiven.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 16; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 87; DRC, chap. 9.]

Topics DRC Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FORGIVENESS KILLING SUBMISSION Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

S117

[S117]

Shārén, chángmìng; qiànzhài, huán qián.*

杀人偿命, 欠债还钱。

殺人償命, 欠債還錢。

Lit A murderer must pay with his life, [just as] a debtor must pay his debt. “An eye for an eye.”

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 33.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DEBT JUSTICE MURDER

S118

[S118]

Shārén kě shè, tiānlǐ nán róng.*

杀人可赦, 天理难容。

殺人可赦, 天理難容。

Lit [If] murder is pardoned, Heaven's justice will find it hard to bear.

Fig If murder were pardoned, there would be no reason in human affairs.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics JUSTICE MURDER REASON

S119

[S119]

Shārén, kě shù; qíng lǐ nán róng.

杀人可恕, 情理难容。

殺人可恕, 情理難容。

Lit [If] murder is forgiven, reason cannot accept it.

Note [Note: qínglǐ-nánróng, “incompatible with the accepted codes of human conduct,” is used as a chengyu meaning “unreasonable; preposterous”; see also the following entry.]

Topics chengyu CONDUCT JUSTICE MURDER qínglǐ-nánróng

S120

[S120]

Shārén mièkǒu; sǐ wú duìzhèng.

杀人灭口, 死无对证。

殺人滅口, 死無對證。

Lit Dead people's mouths are destroyed; the dead [can]not bear witness.

Fig “Dead men tell no tales.”

Note [Note: sǐwúduìzhèng, “the dead cannot bear witness,” is treated as a set phrase; see also sǐrén tóu shàng below.]

Topics DEATH EVIDENCE SILENCE sǐwúduìzhèng WITNESS

S121

[S121]

Shārén xū jiàn xuè; jiù rén xū jiù chè.

杀人须见血, 救人须救彻。

殺人須見血, 救人須救徹。

Lit [In] killing a person [you] must see blood; [in] saving a person [you] must save him completely.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 9; the order of the two parts may be reversed; see also sòng rén, sòng dàojiā below.]

Topics KILLING SAVING THOROUGHNESS

S122

[S122]

Shārén yīwàn; zì sǔn sānqiān.

杀人一万, 自损三千。

殺人一萬, 自損三千。

Lit To kill ten thousand [of the enemy, it is inevitable that you will] lose three thousand of your own.

Fig One cannot win without sacrifice. There are inevitably losses on both sides in any struggle.

Topics CONFLICT KILLING LOSS MILITARY SACRIFICES WAR

S123

[S123]

Shěbude háizi, tào bu zhù láng.*

舍不得孩子, 套不住狼。

捨不得孩子, 套不住狼。

Lit [One who is] not willing to risk [his] child will not catch the wolf.

Fig If one is unwilling to take great risks, one cannot achieve great things.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT DARING RISK SUCCESS

S124

[S124]

Shěbude jīn dànzi, dǎ bùliǎo fènghuáng lái.

舍不得金弹子, 打不了凤凰来。

捨不得金彈子, 打不了鳳凰來。

Lit [One who] begrudges [using] gold bullets will never shoot a phoenix.

Fig If you are not ready to make big sacrifices, you will never achieve great results.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics INVESTMENT RESULTS SACRIFICES

S125

[S125]

Shé cháng, shì duō.

舌长事多。

舌長事多。

Lit The longer the tongue, the more trouble.

Fig Those who talk too much or gossip invite trouble.

Topics GOSSIP TALK TROUBLE

S126

[S126]

Shěde yīshēn guǎ, gǎn bǎ huángdì lā xiàmǎ.

舍得一身剐, 敢把皇帝拉下马。

捨得一身剮, 敢把皇帝拉下馬。

Lit [One who is] willing to risk death by a thousand cuts [will] dare to unhorse the emperor.

Fig A determined person is capable of doing anything.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 68; JW, chap. 25; Mao Zedong used this proverb to encourage the Red Guards to attack “Capitalist Roaders” in the Chinese Communist party during the Cultural Revolution; see also pīnzhe yīshēn guǎ above and sīle lóngpáo below.]

Topics ABILITY ATTACKS Capitalist Roaders Communist party COURAGE Cultural Revolution DETERMINATION DRC JW Mao Zedong POLITICS Red Guards SUCCESS

S127

[S127]

Shè hǔ bùchéng, chóng liàn jiàn; zhǎn lóng bùduàn, chóng mó dāo.

射虎不成重练箭, 斩龙不断重磨刀。

射虎不成重練箭, 斬龍不斷重磨刀。

Lit [If you] shoot at a tiger [and] miss, practice [your] archery more; [if you] hack at a dragon continuously [and don't kill it], sharpen [your] knife again.

Fig “If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.”

Topics PERSEVERANCE SUCCESS

S128

[S128]

Shéi dǎ luó, shéi chīfàn.

谁打锣, 谁吃饭。

誰打鑼, 誰吃飯。

Lit Who[ever] beats the gong [may] have a meal.

Fig Whoever works has the right to enjoy the benefits.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 86.]

Topics BENEFITS JPM RIGHTS WORK

S129

[S129]

Shéi jiā zào tū bù màoyān; shéi jiā guōdǐ méiyǒu hēi？

谁家灶突不冒烟, 谁家锅底没有黑？

誰家灶突不冒煙, 誰家鍋底沒有黑？

Lit Whose family's chimney does not send off smoke, [and] whose family's cooking pot is not black at the bottom?

Fig Every family has its own troubles. Every family has its “skeleton in the cupboard.”

Note [See also jiājiā dōu yǒu above and yī jiā bù zhī below.]

Topics FAMILIES TROUBLE

S130

[S130]

Shéi rén bèihòu wú rén shuō; nǎge rén qián bù shuō rén？

谁人背后无人说, 哪个人前不说人？

誰人背後無人說, 哪個人前不說人？

Lit Who is never gossiped about behind [his or her] back [and] who never talks about people to others?

Note [Cf. Liu Shaoqi's book: Lùn Gòngchǎndǎng Yuán de Xiūyáng (“How to Be a Good Communist”).]

Topics GOSSIP Lùn Gòngchǎndǎng Yuán de Xiūyáng TALK

S131

[S131]

Shéi shì cháng pín jiǔ fù jiā？

谁是长贫久富家？

誰是長貧久富家？

Lit Who[se] family [will remain] forever rich [or] poor?

Topics FAMILIES POVERTY WEALTH

S132

[S132]

Shéi shǒu lǐ yǒu liáng, shéi shì cūnlǐ wǎng.

谁手里有粮, 谁是村里王。

誰手裡有糧, 誰是村里王。

Lit Whoever has [the largest (store of)] grain on hand, [that's] who is the king of the village.

Fig The richest have the final say.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics GRAIN POWER rhyme RICH WEALTH

S133

[S133]

Shéizhī pán zhōng cān, lìlì jiē xīnkǔ？

谁知盘中餐, 粒粒皆辛苦？

誰知盤中餐, 粒粒皆辛苦？

Lit Who knows [that in] the food in [our] bowls, every grain [of rice that one eats is the fruit of] intensive toil?

Fig One should not waste food.

Note [This is a famous line from a Tang dynasty poem entitled “Mǐn Nóng” by Li Shen.]

Topics Bao Yu FOOD Lǐ Shēn Mǐn Nóng Tang dynasty WASTE

S134

[S134]

Shéi zhòng kuángfēng, shéi shòu bàoyǔ.

谁种狂风, 谁受暴雨。

誰種狂風, 誰受暴雨。

Lit Whoever sows gale winds will harvest hail storms.

Fig Evil will be recompensed with evil.

Note [See also shàn yǒu shànbào above.]

Topics COMPENSATION EVIL RECOMPENSE

S135

[S135]

Shéjiān suī ruǎn, néng shì rén.

舌尖虽软, 能螫人。

舌尖雖軟, 能螫人。

Lit The tip of the tongue, although soft, can sting people.

Topics SELF-RESTRAINT SPEECH TALK

S136

[S136]

Shēn ān dǐ wàn jīn.

身安抵万金。

身安抵萬金。

Lit A peaceful life is as precious as ten thousand [ounces of] gold.

Topics LIFE PEACE VALUE

S137

[S137]

Shén bàng yǒuqián de; guǐ qī kuà lán de.

神傍有钱的, 鬼欺挎篮的。

神傍有錢的, 鬼欺挎籃的。

Lit Gods protect those [who] have money, [while] ghosts bully those [who] carry baskets [over their arms; i.e., “bag persons”; beggars, the poor].

Topics GODS POVERTY WEALTH

S138

[S138]

Shēn dà, lì bù kuī.*

身大力不亏。

身大力不虧。

Lit [If one's] body is big, [his] strength [will] not [be] lacking.

Fig A stout person will certainly be physically strong.

Topics SIZE STRENGTH

S139

[S139]

Shén duō, yào shè miào; miào duō, yào shāoxiāng.

神多要设庙, 庙多要烧香。

神多要設廟, 廟多要燒香。

Lit [If there are] more gods, more temples have to [be] built; [if there are] more temples, more incense has to [be] burnt.

Fig If there are more bureaucrats, more and more offices or departments will be set up, so that when one wants to have something done, one will have to go to even more offices. Bureaucracy multiplies itself.

Topics BUREAUCRACY HIERARCHY

S140

[S140]

Shèng-bài nǎi bīngjiā chángshì.*

胜败乃兵家常事。

勝敗乃兵家常事。

Lit [Both] victory [and] defeat are ordinary affairs for [military] commanders.

Fig One encounters both successes and failures in life. “You win some and you lose some.”

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 55; JW, chap. 5.]

Topics DEFEAT FAILURE JW LIFE SUCCESS VICISSITUDES VICTORY WM

S141

[S141]

Shèng bù jiāo; bài bù něi.*

胜不骄, 败不馁。

勝不驕, 敗不餒。

Lit [In] victory [be] not proud; [in] defeat [be] not depressed.

Note [Also said shèn mò jiāo; bài mò nǎi.]

Topics DEFEAT FEELINGS PRIDE VICTORY

S142

[S142]

Shēng bù rù guān mén; sǐ bù rù dìyù.

生不入官门, 死不入地狱。

生不入官門, 死不入地獄。

Lit [When] alive do not enter the doors of officialdom, [and when] dead, do not enter Hell.

Fig Avoid any dealings with government officials as you would the Devil himself.

Topics ADVICE CAUTION DANGER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

S143

[S143]

Shēng chái diǎn bù zháo, quán píng sìmiàn fēng.

生柴点不着, 全凭四面风。

生柴點不著, 全憑四面風。

Lit Fresh[ly cut green] firewood [which usually] cannot catch fire, completely depends on the four winds [to burn].

Fig Even if one's ability is not great, given the right conditions, one can succeed. Favorable conditions can compensate for what one lacks in ability.

Topics ABILITY CONDITIONS SUCCESS

S144

[S144]

Shēngchéng de luòtuo gǎi bù chéng xiàng.

生成的骆驼改不成象。

生成的駱駝改不成象。

Lit A natural-born camel can't be changed [into an] elephant. (fig/pun) One's looks cannot be changed.

Note [Pun: gǎi bù chéng xiàng, (lit) “can't be changed into an elephant,” is a pun on gǎi bù chéng zhǎngxiàng, “can't change/improve one's looks.”]

Topics APPEARANCES

S145

[S145]

Shēngchéng pí; zhǎngchéng gǔ.

生成皮, 长成骨。

生成皮, 長成骨。

Lit [His or her] skin was born like that, [and his or her] bones [just] grew like that.

Fig Some people are just born a certain way and can't be changed.

Topics CHANGE CHARACTER CONGENITAL

S146

[S146]

Shēngcún huáwū; língluò shānqiū.

生存华屋, 零落山丘。

生存華屋, 零落山丘。

Lit [One may] live in a magnificent house, [but end up] withered and fallen [i.e., buried] on a [barren] hill.

Fig One never knows how one will end up in life.

Note [Note: shānqiū, (lit) “hill,” in a literary term for “tomb.”]

Topics CHANGE FATE FORTUNE LIFE shānqiū TIME

S147

[S147]

Shēng, dǎ tóng; shú, dǎtiě.

生打铜, 熟打铁。

生打銅, 熟打鐵。

Lit Strike copper [while it is] cold; strike iron [while it is] hot.

Fig Different problems should be dealt with in different ways.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS PROBLEMS

S148

[S148]

Shēng Dōng Wú; sǐ Dāntú.

生东吴, 死丹徒。

生東吳, 死丹徒。

Lit [One should] live [in] Suzhou [a place of rice and fish, and] die [in] Dantu [in the southwest of Jiangsu province, south of the Yangtse River, where the earth is dry and good for burying the dead].

Note [A rhyme from the collection of Tang poetry: Quán Táng Shī: Dāntú Yàn.]

Topics Dantu Dāntú Yàn DYING PLACE poem Quán Táng Shī rhyme Suzhou Tang poetry Yangtse_River

S149

[S149]

Shēngjiāng shì lǎo de là.*

生姜是老的辣。

Lit Old ginger is hotter than new.

Fig Old people are more experienced. “There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle.”

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; often said in praise of older people; note: the adjective lǎolà, “(1) experienced; (2) determined; drastic; ruthless”; see also lǎo mǎ shí tú and rén lǎo, jīng above.]

Topics AGE EXPERIENCE OLD AGE Wǔ_Sōng

S150

[S150]

(Shéng jù, mù duàn;) shuǐ dī, shí chuān.

(绳锯木断,) 水滴石穿。

(繩鋸木斷,) 水滴石穿。

Lit (A rope [can] saw [through] wood, [and]) water [continuously] dripping [can] pierce a stone.

Fig Anyone can carry out a difficult task if (s)he persists. Persistence overcomes all difficulties.

Note [This rhyme is from the Song dynasty Luo Dajing's Hè Lín Yù Lù, chap. 10; the second part, originally from the Hàn Shū: Méi Chéng Zhuàn, may also appear as dī shuǐ chuān shí; both halves are used independently as chengyu.]

Topics ABILITY chengyu dīshuǐ-chuānshí Hàn Shū Hè Lín Yù Lù Luo Dajing Méi Chéng Zhuàn PERSEVERANCE PERSISTENCE rhyme shéngjù-mùduàn shuǐdī-shíchuān

S151

[S151]

Shēng, kàn yīshang; shú, kàn rén.

生看衣裳, 熟看人。

Lit [When you meet] a stranger, you [can only] judge [him] by his clothes, [but someone you] know well, [you can] judge by [his] personality.

Note [See wéirén, “conduct.”]

Topics APPEARANCES CLOTHING CONDUCT JUDGMENTS PERSONALITY STRANGERS wéirén

S152

[S152]

Shēng mǐ chéngle shú fàn.

生米成了熟饭。

生米成了熟飯。

Lit The raw rice has [already] been cooked.

Fig “What is done is done” (and can't be undone). “The die is cast.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 62; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 91; see also mù yǐ chéng zhōu above and shǐ zài xián shàng below.]

Topics ACTIONS CHANGE COMMITMENT DECISIONS DRC FINALITY Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

S153

[S153]

Shèngrén nù fā bù shàng liǎn.

圣人怒发不上脸。

聖人怒發不上臉。

Lit [When a] sage is angry, [it] never shows on [his] face.

Fig One should not reveal one's emotions openly.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 75.]

Topics ANGER EMOTIONS Fēngshén Yǎnyì SELF-RESTRAINT

S154

[S154]

Shèngrén yě yǒu (sānfēn) cuò.*

圣人也有(三分)错。

聖人也有(三分)錯。

Lit [Even] a wise man makes mistakes (thirty percent [of the time]).

Fig Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. “Even Homer sometimes nods.”

Note [See also cōngming yīshì above and zhìzhě qiān lǜ below.]

Topics MISTAKES

S155

[S155]

Shěngshì, wú shì.

省事无事。

省事無事。

Lit Doing less [in the end will] save trouble.

Fig The less one does, the less potential for trouble there is for problems arising later on.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; see also duō zuò, duō cuò above.]

Topics ACTION CAUTION SELF-RESTRAINT TROUBLE Wǔ_Sōng

S156

[S156]

Shénguǐ pà léng rén.

神鬼怕楞人。

Lit [Even] gods [and] ghosts are afraid of those [who] speak their minds.

Fig People who speak their minds straightforwardly are usually not popular with others.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 36; also said as shén guǐ pà è rén in WM, chap. 36; note: léng, (lit) “sharp-edged,” here has the sense of léngjiǎo, “daring to differ with others”; see also zhí gōu diào bùliǎo yú below.]

Topics FRANKNESS léngjiǎo STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS TALK WM

S157

[S157]

Shèngyàn bì sàn.

盛宴必散。

Lit [Even the] grandest feast must come to an end.

Fig Good times cannot last forever.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 13; see also liú jūn qiān rì and qiān lǐ dā cháng péng above and sòng jūn qiān lǐ and tiānxià wú bù below.]

Topics COURTESY DEPARTURES DRC ENDINGS GUESTS HOSTS PARTING TIME

S158

[S158]

Shēngyi hǎo zuò; huǒji nán kào.

生意好做, 伙计难靠。

生意好做, 伙計難靠。

Lit It's easy to do business, [but] difficult to depend on [one's] employees.

Note [Said by employers.]

Topics BUSINESS EMPLOYEES

S159

[S159]

Shēng yǒu yá; zhī wúyá.

生有涯, 知无涯。

生有涯, 知無涯。

Lit Life has limits [but] knowledge has no bounds. Ars dura; vita brevis.

Note [Cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Yǎng Shēng Zhǔ.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE LIFE LIMITS Yǎng Shēng Zhǔ Zhuāngzǐ

S160

[S160]

Shèng zhě wéi wáng; bài zhě wéi kòu.

胜者为王, 败者为寇。

勝者為王, 敗者為寇。

Lit [If] one wins, [he becomes a] king; [if one] loses, [he becomes a] bandit.

Fig Winners are always right, and losers are always in the wrong.

Note [Also said shèng zhě wáng hóu; bǎi zhě kòu.]

Topics LOSERS RIGHT WINNERS WRONG

S161

[S161]

Shēnhòu shí Fāng Gān.

身后识方干。

身後識方幹。

Lit [Not until] after [his] death was Fang Gan recognized.

Fig Many talented people are not appreciated until after they have died.

Note [Note: Fang Gan was a talented scholar in the Tang dynasty.]

Topics Fan Gang RECOGNITION REPUTATION TALENT

S162

[S162]

Shēnjiào zhòngyú yánjiào.

身教重于言教。

身教重於言教。

Lit Personal example [carries] more weight than [mere] preaching.

Fig Example is better than precept.

Note [Also said shēnjiào shèngyú yánjiào.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT EXAMPLE PREACHING

S163

[S163]

Shén pà jìng; guǐ pà sòng.

神怕敬, 鬼怕送。

Lit Gods don't want to be worshiped [just as] ghosts fear [being] exorcised.

Fig Truly good people don't want admiration [just as] bad people don't want to be driven off.

Topics ADMIRATION GOODNESS MODESTY

S164

[S164]

Shēnshān cáng hǔ bào; kuàngyě, nì qílīn.

深山藏虎豹, 旷野匿麒麟。

深山藏虎豹, 曠野匿麒麟。

Lit The mountains hide tigers and leopards, [and the] wilderness conceals unicorns.

Fig There may be people of talent hidden in remote places.

Note [Cf. the píngshū: Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 43; see also the following two entries.]

Topics DISTANCE píngshū TALENT Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

S165

[S165]

Shēnshān chū jùnmǎ; píngdì chū dāi lǘ.

深山出骏马, 平地出呆驴。

深山出駿馬, 平地出呆驢。

Lit [From the] far mountains come strong horses, [while the] flatlands produce stupid donkeys.

Fig Talented people are produced by difficult conditions, while an easy life produces good-for-nothings.

Topics CONDITIONS DIFFICULTIES IDLENESS TALENT

S166

[S166]

Shēnshān chū jùn niǎo.

深山出俊鸟。

深山出俊鳥。

Lit [From] deep [in the] mountains come beautiful birds.

Fig Beautiful ladies and gifted scholars are (sometimes) produced in remote places.

Note [See also hánmén chū cáizǐ and pì xiāng chū hǎo jiǔ above and yáng qún chū luòtuo below and the preceding two entries.]

Topics BEAUTY DISTANCE PLACE SCHOLARS

S167

[S167]

Shēnshǒu bù dǎ chuí wěi gǒu.

伸手不打垂尾狗。

Lit Don't stretch out [your] arm to beat dogs [with their] tails between [their] legs.

Fig Treat leniently those who show signs of repentance.

Topics LENIENCE REPENTANCE

S168

[S168]

Shēnshǒu bù dǎ xiàoliǎn rén.*

伸手不打笑脸人。

伸手不打笑臉人。

Lit An extended hand [will] not hit someone with a smiley face.

Fig No one will strike a smiling face.

Topics APPEARANCES FACE FIGHTING SMILES

S169

[S169]

Shēnshǒu sānfēn lì; bù gěi yě gòuběn.

伸手三分利, 不给也够本。

伸手三分利, 不給也夠本。

Lit [If one just] sticks out [one's] hand, [one will usually get] thirty percent profit; [but even if one is] not given anything, [at least one] loses nothing.

Fig As long as one at least takes action, one may get some benefit, whereas if one just sits idle, one will certainly get nothing at all. “Don't just sit there; do something!”

Note [See also xíngdòng yǒu sānfēn below.]

Topics ACTION BENEFITS BUSINESS IDLENESS INVESTMENT PROFIT

S170

[S170]

Shénxiān dǎgǔ yǒu cuò diǎn.

神仙打鼓有错点。

神仙打鼓有錯點。

Lit [Even] gods make slips [when] beating a drum.

Fig “To err is human.”

Topics MISTAKES

S171

[S171]

Shénxiān nán diào wǔ shí yú.

神仙难钓午时鱼。

神仙難釣午時魚。

Lit [Even] gods [find it] difficult to catch fish [at] noontime.

Fig Nothing can be done if the time is not right.

Note [Note: wǔshí, the time period between 11 A.M. and 1 P.M.; see sān gè wǔgēng above.]

Topics CONDITIONS gēng TIMING wǔshí

S172

[S172]

Shénxiān nán shí wán sǎn.

神仙难识丸散。

神仙難識丸散。

Lit [Even] gods are hard put to tell [what's inside the medicines in traditional Chinese] pills [and] powders.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 3.]

Topics MEDICINE Wǔ_Sōng

S173

[S173]

Shénxian xiàfán, xiān wèn tǔdì.

神仙下凡, 先问土地。

神仙下凡, 先問土地。

Lit [When] celestial beings descend [from Heaven] to earth, [they have to] first enquire of the local Earth God.

Fig Upon entering another's territory, it is essential to pay one's respects to the local authorities.

Note [Note: xiàfán is a Buddhist term referring to gods descending to earth from Heaven; see also xíng kè bài zuò kè below.]

Topics AUTHORITY Buddhism COURTESY Earth God LOCALITIES OFFICIALS PLACE RESPECT TERRITORY xiàfán

S174

[S174]

Shēn xiū érhòu jiā qí.

身修而后家齐。

身修而後家齊。

Lit [When a] person purges [himself of] error, then [his] family [will be] well-behaved.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 11.]

Topics EXAMPLE FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS MISTAKES REFORM Rúlín_Wàishǐ

S175

[S175]

Shēn zài fú zhōng, bù zhī fú.

身在福中, 不知福。

Lit [When] one is in the midst of happiness, [one may] not know [what] happiness [is].

Fig One may not appreciate a good thing when one has it.

Topics APPRECIATION FEELINGS HAPPINESS

S176

[S176]

Shēn zhèng, bùpà yǐngr wāi/xié.

身正不怕影儿歪/斜。

身正不怕影兒歪/斜。

Lit [If one's] body is upright, [one has] no [need to] fear [one's] shadow [being] crooked.

Fig If one's behavior is always correct, one need never fear slanderous accusations.

Note [See also jiǎo zhèng bùpà above and xīn zhèng bùpà below.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS BEHAVIOR CONDUCT CONSCIENCE FALSITY LIES RECTITUDE RUMORS SLANDER

S177

[S177]

Shè rén xiān shè mǎ; qín zéi xiān qín wáng.*

射人先射马, 擒贼先擒王。

射人先射馬, 擒賊先擒王。

Lit ([When] shooting a person, first shoot [his] horse;) [when] catching robbers, first catch their leader.

Fig In attacking people or a problem, concentrate on the key points.

Note [Originally a couplet from Du Fu's poem: “Qián Chū Sài”; cf. DRC, chap. 55.]

Topics ATTACKS couplet DRC Du Fu LEADERS PROBLEMS Qián Chū Sài ROBBERS STRATEGY

S178

[S178]

Shé rù zhú dòng, qū xīn hái zài.

蛇入竹洞, 曲心还在。

蛇入竹洞, 曲心還在。

Lit [Even though a] snake enters [a straight] bamboo tube, [its] inclination to wiggle still exists.

Fig An evil doer cannot change his basic nature. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

Note [Also said shé zhuān zhú dòng, etc.; see also gǒu chī shǐ and jiāngshān yì gǎi above and tōu shí (de) māor and yī rén, yī xiàng below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN_NATURE

S179

[S179]

Shē sān bùdí xiàn èr.

赊三不敌见二。

賒三不敵見二。

Lit [Getting] a promise for three is not as good as actually seeing two [in hand].

Fig “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 3; also said qiān qián shē bùrú bābǎi xiàn in Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; Hé Diǎn, chap. 4; note: shēqiàn “to give or get credit”; see also duō dé bùrú above and shí shē bùrú below.]

Topics BUSINESS COMPARISON CREDIT Hé Diǎn JW VALUE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S180

[S180]

Shé shàng yǒu lóng quán; shārén bù jiàn xuè.

舌上有龙泉, 杀人不见血。

舌上有龍泉, 殺人不見血。

Lit On the tongue, there is a [sharp] sword; [it] kills people without a drop of blood being seen.

Fig Words (of a sharp-tongued person) can do serious harm.

Note [Note: Lóng Quán refers to a city in southern Zhejiang province where famous Lóng Quán swords are made; see also ruǎndāozi above.]

Topics CRITICISM HARM Lóng Quán TALK WORDS Zhejiang_province

S181

[S181]

Shétou dǎ gè gǔn, zhīshi jì yī běn.

舌头打个滚, 知识记一本。

舌頭打個滾, 知識記一本。

Lit Give [your] tongue a roll [and your] knowledge [will] increase [by] one book.

Fig If you are willing to ask people what you don't know, your knowledge will increase.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE rhyme

S182

[S182]

Shétou dǐxia yāsǐ rén.

舌头底下压死人。

舌頭底下壓死人。

Lit People [can be] crushed to death under the tongue.

Fig Rumors and gossip can seriously injure people.

Topics GOSSIP RUMORS

S183

[S183]

Shé tūn shǔ, yīng diāo shé; yī wù xiáng yī wù.

蛇吞鼠, 鹰叼蛇, 一物降一物。

蛇吞鼠, 鷹叼蛇, 一物降一物。

Lit Snakes swallow rats [and] eagles hold snakes in their mouths; there is always one thing to conquer another.

Fig Everything has its vanquisher.

Note [Note: this entire proverb may be used as a xiehouyu; the second part is commonly used alone; see also néngrén zhīwài and qiáng zhōng háiyǒu and rén wài yǒu rén and shān wài yǒu shān above and yī wù xiáng yī wù below.]

Topics ABILITY COMPETITION LIMITATIONS STRENGTH xiehouyu

S184

[S184]

Shé wéi lì-hài běn; kǒu shì huò-fú mén.

舌为利害本, 口是祸福门。

舌為利害本, 口是禍福門。

Lit [One's] tongue is the root [cause of both] benefits [and] harm; [one's] mouth is [like] a door [open to either] disaster [or] blessings.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 29; see also bìng cóng kǒu rù above.]

Topics BENEFITS CAUTION HARM TALK Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S185

[S185]

Shé wú tóu ér bù xíng; niǎo wú chì ér bù fēi.

蛇无头而不行, 鸟无翅而不飞。

蛇無頭而不行, 鳥無翅而不飛。

Lit [A] snake without a head [can]not crawl [and a] bird without wings [can]not fly.

Fig A group cannot act without a leader.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 77; see also bīng wú jiàng and rén wú tóu above.]

Topics ACTION GROUPS JW LEADERS

S186

[S186]

Shē zhě, fù bùzú; jiǎn zhě, pín yǒuyú.

奢者富不足, 简者贫有余。

奢者富不足, 簡者貧有餘。

Lit One [who lives in] luxury [will always feel the] want of money [even if he is] wealthy; one [who lives] frugally [will always feel there is] enough [even if he is] poor.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DESIRE FRUGALITY WEALTH

S187

[S187]

Shé zhě ménhù zhī guān yuè.

舌者门户之关钥。

舌者門戶之關鑰。

Lit The tongue [is like the] door key [which] shuts the mouth.

Fig Be prudent in speech. “Be a guardian, not an usher, at the portal of thy thought.”

Topics PRUDENCE SPEECH TALK

S188

[S188]

Shé zǒu wúshēng; jiānjì wúxíng.

蛇走无声, 奸计无形。

蛇走無聲, 奸計無形。

Lit [Just as] snakes move silently, [so] evil plots are invisible.

Topics PLOTS SCHEMES

S189

[S189]

Shé zuān de kūdòng, shé zhīdào.

蛇钻的窟洞, 蛇知道。

蛇鑽的窟洞, 蛇知道。

Lit The snake knows the hole into which it crawls.

Fig One who has done some mischief knows very well what (s)he has done.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 86.]

Topics JPM MISCHIEF RESPONSIBILITY SELF-KNOWLEDGE TROUBLE

S190

[S190]

Shíbā, èrshísān, dǐ guò mǔdān.

十八, 二十三抵过牡丹。

十八, 二十三抵過牡丹。

Lit [A girl between] eighteen [and] twenty-three [years old] is [as beautiful] as a peony.

Fig Young women are beautiful. “Sweet sixteen.”

Topics BEAUTY GIRLS WOMEN YOUTH

S191

[S191]

Shì bài, nú qī zhǔ; shí shuāi, guǐ nòng rén.

势败奴欺主, 时衰鬼弄人。

勢敗奴欺主, 時衰鬼弄人。

Lit [When] circumstances defeat [one], [one's] servants [will] bully [their] master; [when you have had] bad luck, devils [will] “do” you.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 11.]

Topics BULLYING Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì CIRCUMSTANCES LUCK MISFORTUNE

S192

[S192]

Shì biàn zhī rénxīn.

事变知人心。

事變知人心。

Lit [Only when the] situation changes [does one] know a person's [true] mind.

Fig One only gets to know another's true loyalty, sincerity or friendship in times of adversity or emergency.

Note [Note: shìbiàn as a noun means “emergency”; see also guó luàn chū zhōngchén and rén dào nánchù above.]

Topics ADVERSITY CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES FRIENDSHIP LOYALTY MINDS OTHERS SINCERITY

S193

[S193]

Shì bié sān rì, guā mù xiāng kàn.

士别三日, 刮目相看。

士別三日, 刮目相看。

Lit A scholar who has been away three days must be looked at with new eyes.

Fig One can hardly imagine what changes will occur after a period of separation.

Note [Usually said to one whom one has not seen for some time; originally guā mù xiàng dài in Sān Guó Zhì: Wǔ Shū: Lǚ Méng Zhuàn; note: guāmù-xiāngkàn is used as a chengyu meaning “to treat someone with increased respect”; see also sān rì bù jiàn above.]

Topics CHANGE chengyu guāmù-xiāngkàn Lǚ Méng Zhuàn Sān Guó Zhì SCHOLARS SEPARATION TIME Wǔ_Shū

S194

[S194]

Shì bù guò sān.*

事不过三。

事不過三。

Lit Never do anything more than three [times].

Fig One may be forgiven once, and maybe twice, but not a third time.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 27; this is also sometimes understood to mean “things happen in threes”; see also ràng yī, ràng èr above.]

Topics FORGIVENESS LIMITS

S195

[S195]

Shí bù kě shī; (jī bù zài lái).

时不可失, (机不再来)。

時不可失, (機不再來)。

Lit The time [should] not be lost; (the opportunity [may] not come again).

Fig “There is no time like the present.” “Opportunity doesn't knock twice.”

Topics OPPORTUNITY TIME TIMING

S196

[S196]

Shì bù néng bàn de tài jué; huà bù néng shuō de tài sǔn.*

事不能办得太绝, 话不能说得太损。

事不能辦得太絕, 話不能說得太損。

Lit Affairs cannot be handled too uncompromisingly, [and] words cannot be spoken too cuttingly.

Fig Do not go to extremes or excess: Never force others' backs to the wall, nor be overly insulting to others.

Topics EXCESS EXTREMES FORCE INSULTS MODERATION SELF-RESTRAINT

S197

[S197]

Shì bù sānsī, zhōng yǒu hòuhuǐ.

事不三思, 终有后悔。

事不三思, 終有後悔。

Lit [If one does] not think things over three [times before doing anything], eventually there will be [a day of] regret.

Note [Cf. Yù Shì Míng Yán, chap. 2; see also shì yào qián sī below.]

Topics CAUTION PLANNING REGRET THINKING

S198

[S198]

Shí bù yán; qǐn bù yǔ.

食不言, 寝不语。

食不言, 寢不語。

Lit [When] eating or [when] in bed, don't talk too much.

Note [Note: Chinese were traditionally taught that this was injurious to health; originally from the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Xiāng Dǎng Piàn; see qǐnshí, “sleeping and eating.”]

Topics Confucian Analects EATING HEALTH Lúnyǔ qǐnshí TALK Xiāng_Dǎng_Piàn

S199

[S199]

Shí bù zhīnèi, bì yǒu fāngcǎo.

十步之内, 必有芳草。

十步之內, 必有芳草。

Lit Within ten steps there must be fragrant grass.

Fig Though a small place, there must be heroes there. There are able people everywhere.

Note [As a chengyu: shí bù fāng cǎo; see also shí shì zhī yì below.]

Topics ABILITY HEROES PLACE STEPS TALENT

S200

[S200]

Shì cǎo yǒu gēn; shì huà yǒu yīn.

是草有根, 是话有因。

是草有根, 是話有因。

Lit [Just as] every [blade of] grass has [its] roots; [so behind] every word there is a reason.

Note [See also shì yǒu yīn below.]

Topics CAUSE REASONS ROOTS WORDS

S201

[S201]

Shì cóng huǎn lái.

事从缓来。

事從緩來。

Lit Things [should be] done in a slow and unhurried manner.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 85; see also shì kuān zé yuán below.]

Topics ACTION JW MODERATION SELF-RESTRAINT SPEED

S202

[S202]

Shí dào, huā jiù kāi.

时到花就开。

時到花就開。

Lit [When the] time is right, the flowers will bloom.

Fig In doing anything, wait for the right time.

Note [See the chengyu: shuǐ dào gú chéng, “when conditions are ripe success will follow”; see also shíjiān zú and yùn dào shí lái below.]

Topics CONDITIONS SUCCESS TIMING

S203

[S203]

Shí dào tiānliàng fāng hǎo shuì; rén dào lǎolái cái xuéguāi.

时到天亮方好睡, 人到老来才学乖。

時到天亮方好睡, 人到老來才學乖。

Lit [Just as it is] not until [just before] dawn [that people] sleep best, [so it is] not until people are old [that they] learn to be wise.

Note [Note: guāiqiǎo, “clever.”]

Topics AGE guāiqiǎo SLEEP TIME WISDOM

S204

[S204]

Shì dàotóulái, bù zì yóu.

事到头来, 不自由。

事到頭來, 不自由。

Lit In the end, [it's] not up to one [to decide].

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 78; note: dàotóulái, “after all; in the long run; in the end”; see also móushì zài rén and qiān suàn, wàn suàn above and tiān suàn bù yóu below.]

Topics CRISIS DECISIONS NECESSITY Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì TIMING

S205

[S205]

Shì dà, shì xiǎo; jiàn guān jiù liǎo.

事大事小, 见官就了。

事大事小, 見官就了。

Lit [No matter whether the] matter is large or small, once [one] sees the magistrate, [it will] be resolved.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COURTS LAW MAGISTRATES rhyme SOLUTIONS

S206

[S206]

Shī duōle, bù yǎng; zhài duōle, bù chóu.*

虱多了不痒, 债多了不愁。

虱多了不癢, 債多了不愁。

Lit [Just as when one has] too many lice, [one] doesn't itch, [so when one has] too many debts, [one] stops worrying.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 4.]

Topics DEBT Hé Diǎn WORRIES

S207

[S207]

Shí duō, wú zīwèi.

食多, 无滋味。

食多, 無滋味。

Lit Eating (too) much, there is no flavor.

Fig Over-indulgence dulls one's appetite.

Topics APPETITE EATING INDULGENCE SELF-RESTRAINT

S208

[S208]

Shī ēn mò wàng bào; wàng bào mò shī'ēn.

施恩莫望报, 望报莫施恩。

施恩莫望報, 望報莫施恩。

Lit [If you] do [others a] favor, don't expect [to be] rewarded; [if you] expect [to be] rewarded, don't do [others any] favors.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 32, and Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 27.]

Topics COMPENSATION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FAVORS REWARDS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

S209

[S209]

Shì ér bù sǐ; shì cái bù sàn.

是儿不死, 是财不散。

是兒不死, 是財不散。

Lit [If one] is [destined to have a] son, [the son will] not die; [if one] is [destined to have] wealth, [it will] not be lost.

Fig What is destined to be, will be. “Que será, será.”

Topics FATE FUTURE INEVITABILITY SONS WEALTH

S210

[S210]

Shí fǎng jiǔ kōng, yěhǎo shěng qióng.

十访九空, 也好省穷。

十訪九空, 也好省窮。

Lit [Even if] nine out of ten [relatives or friends you] visit refuse [you, you] can still [borrow enough to] get by [on].

Fig Even if you are refused nine out of ten times, don't give up hope; keep trying.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 25.]

Topics BORROWING FRIENDS HOPE PERSEVERANCE POVERTY REFUSAL RELATIVES Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

S211

[S211]

Shì fēi jīngguò, bù zhī nán.

事非经过不知难。

事非經過不知難。

Lit Unless [one] has experienced something oneself, [one can]not know its difficulties.

Note [See also jiàn rén tiāodàn above.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING

S212

[S212]

Shìfēi lái rù ěr, bù tīng zìrán wú.

是非来入耳, 不听自然无。

是非來入耳, 不聽自然無。

Lit [When] gossip comes to [your] ear, [if you do] not listen [to it, it will] naturally disappear.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 85.]

Topics GOSSIP JPM

S213

[S213]

Shìfēi zhǐ wèi duō kāikǒu; fánnǎo jiēyīn qiáng chūtóu.

是非只为多开口, 烦恼皆因强出头。

是非只為多開口, 煩惱皆因強出頭。

Lit Troubles only [come about] as [a result of] too much opening of the mouth; worries [are] all because of deliberately showing off.

Note [Rhyme; see also bìng cóng kǒu rù above.]

Topics BRAGGING CAUTION rhyme SELF-RESTRAINT TALK TROUBLE

S214

[S214]

Shìfēi zhōngrì yǒu; bù tīng zìrán wú.

是非终日有, 不听自然无。

是非終日有, 不聽自然無。

Lit Troubles and disputes occur all day long, [but] if [you just] don't listen, of course there aren't any.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 83; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 1.]

Topics CONFLICT DISPUTES JPM LISTENING TROUBLE Wǔ_Sōng

S215

[S215]

Shìfēi zì yǒu gōnglùn.*

是非自有公论。

是非自有公論。

Lit Rights and wrongs are [subject to] public opinion.

Fig Public opinion is the best judge of who's right and who's wrong. Public opinion is the best judge.

Note [Cf. Shì Shuō Xīn Yǔ: Pǐn Zǎo; also said shìfēi qūzhí zì yǒu gōnglùn; see also gōngpíng chūyú zhòng yì and lùshang xíngrén and rén yǎn shì bǎ chèng above and tiānxià qiányǎnr and zhīdǐ mò guò and zhòngrén yǎnjing below.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE JUDGMENTS OPINIONS Pǐn Zǎo PUBLIC PUBLIC OPINION Shì_Shuō_Xīn_Yǔ

S216

[S216]

Shífēn xīngxīng, shǐ jiǔfēn.

十分惺惺, 使九分。

Lit [Of] all [your] wisdom and intelligence, use [only] ninety percent.

Fig Use your wisdom sparingly. Don't “put all your cards on the table.” Don't “show off” or “come on too strong” at first. Always hold back a bit, and leave yourself some room to maneuver later.

Note [Note the colloquial expression liú yīshǒu, “to hold back a trick or two”; see also shí gè chúzi below.]

Topics colloquial expression INTELLIGENCE liú yīshǒu SELF-RESTRAINT STRATEGY

S217

[S217]

Shì fú, bù shì huò; shì huò, duǒ bu guò.

是福不是祸, 是祸躲不过。

是福不是禍, 是禍躲不過。

Lit [If it] is a blessing, [it will] not be[come] misfortune; [if it] is misfortune, [it] cannot be avoided.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BLESSINGS FATE INEVITABILITY MISFORTUNE rhyme

S218

[S218]

Shīfu lǐng jìnmén; xiūxíng zài gèrén.

师傅领进门, 修行在个人。

師傅領進門, 修行在個人。

Lit The master leads [the student] into the door [i.e., teaches the trade], [but] the perfection [of the apprentice's skill] lies in the individual [apprentice's own efforts].

Note [Note: xiūxíng, “practice” (of Buddhism).]

Topics APPRENTICES Buddhism EFFORT INDIVIDUALS PERFECTION PRACTICE SKILL STUDENTS TRADES xiūxíng

S219

[S219]

Shí gè chúzi, jiǔ gè dàn.

十个厨子, 九个淡。

十個廚子, 九個淡。

Lit [Out of] ten cooks, nine [leave their dishes a little] bland.

Fig A good chef always holds back on the salt. Don't go all-out, don't stick your neck all the way out; always allow for unforeseen circumstances; leave room to maneuver.

Note [See also shífēn xīngxīng above.]

Topics COOKING SELF-RESTRAINT STRATEGY

S220

[S220]

Shí gè piányi, jiǔ gè ài.

十个便宜, 九个爱。

十個便宜, 九個愛。

Lit [If there are] ten [opportunities to take] petty advantage, nine [people will] love [to do so].

Fig Nine out of ten people like to get things on the cheap or to gain petty advantages.

Topics ADVANTAGE EXPLOITATION PETTINESS

S221

[S221]

Shí gè qián yào huā; yī gè qián yào shěng.

十个钱要花, 一个钱要省。

十個錢要花, 一個錢要省。

Fig Spend ten coins [when it's] necessary, [but] save [every] one [when it's not needed].

Topics ECONOMY FRUGALITY

S222

[S222]

Shí gè rén, shí yàng xìng.

十个人, 十样性。

十個人, 十樣性。

Lit Ten persons [have] ten different characters.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 2.]

Topics CHARACTER DIFFERENCES Hé Diǎn PEOPLE

S223

[S223]

Shí gè zhǐtou bù néng yībān qí.*

十个指头不能一般齐。

十個指頭不能一般齊。

Lit [Even one's] ten fingers are unequal in length.

Fig All people are not all the same

Note [e.g., equally talented, capable, etc.; said, e.g., of one's children; see also nǎ gēn zhǐtou above.]

Topics ABILITY CHILDREN DIFFERENCES EQUALITY TALENT

S224

[S224]

Shì gǒu, gǎi bùliǎo chī shǐ; shì láng, gǎi bùliǎo chī ròu.

是狗改不了吃屎, 是狼改不了吃肉。

Lit [If it] is a dog, [it] cannot change [its habit of] eating excrement, [and if it] is a wolf, [it can]not change [its habit of] eating meat.

Fig An evil person cannot change his or her nature. “A leopard cannot change his spots.”

Note [See also gǒu chī shǐ and the following entry.]

Topics CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN_NATURE

S225

[S225]

Shì gǒu jiù huì chī shǐ; shì shé jiù yào yǎo rén.

是狗就会吃屎, 是蛇就要咬人。

是狗就會吃屎, 是蛇就要咬人。

Lit [If it] is a dog, then [it] will eat excrement, [and if it] is a snake, then it will bite people.

Fig Evil people always do evil things.

Note [See also gǒu zǒu qiān lǐ above and the preceding entry.]

Topics CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN NATURE INEVITABILITY

S226

[S226]

Shí jiā guō zào, jiǔ bùtóng.

十家锅灶, 九不同。

十家鍋灶, 九不同。

Lit In [any] ten homes, nine kitchens are different.

Fig Different people have different ideas.

Note [See also sān rén, liù yàng huà below.]

Topics DIFFERENCES IDEAS

S227

[S227]

Shìjiān jiǎzǐ xūyú shì.

世间甲子须臾事。

世間甲子須臾事。

Lit In [the earthly] world, sixty years [are but the] matter of a moment.

Fig Time flies like an arrow.

Note [From a Tang dynasty poem by Xu Hun: “Sòng Chùshī Guī Shān.”]

Topics LIFE POETRY Sòng Chùshī Guī Shān Tang dynasty TIME Xu_Hun

S228

[S228]

Shìjiān kǔshì mòruò kū; wú yán zhī kū zuìwéi kǔ.

世间苦事莫若哭; 无言之哭最为苦。

世間苦事莫若哭; 無言之哭最為苦。

Lit Nothing on earth is more bitter than crying, [but] crying without words is the most bitter.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BITTERNESS CRYING rhyme SORROW SUFFERING WORDS

S229

[S229]

Shìjiān méi gè zǎo zhīdao.

世间没个早知道。

世間沒個早知道。

Lit No one on earth [can] predict [what will happen in the] future.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 35.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FUTURE PREDICTIONS

S230

[S230]

Shíjiān zú, guǒzi shú.

时间足, 果子熟。

時間足, 果子熟。

Lit [When the] time is ripe, the fruit will mature.

Note [Rhyme; see also shí dào, huā jiù kāi above.]

Topics CONDITIONS rhyme TIME TIMING

S231

[S231]

Shí jìn, niǎo tóu lín.

食尽鸟投林。

食盡鳥投林。

Lit [When the] food is gone, [city] birds seek the forest.

Fig Those who cannot support themselves in one place will try someplace else.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 5.]

Topics DRC EMIGRATION PLACE TRAVEL WORKING

S232

[S232]

Shì jí wú jūnzǐ.

事急无君子。

事急無君子。

Lit In times of emergency there are no gentlemen.

Fig Courtesies are neglected in times of emergency.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 7; see also lù jí wú jūnzǐ above.]

Topics DESPERATION EMERGENCIES SELF-INTEREST SELF-PRESERVATION Suí_Táng_Yǎnyì

S233

[S233]

Shí jù yànyǔ, wǔ jù zhēn.

十句谚语, 五句真。

十句諺語, 五句真。

Lit [Out of] ten proverbs, five [are] true.

Fig Not all proverbs are correct.

Topics PROVERBS

S234

[S234]

Shǐkelàng zuò bù chū mì lái.

屎壳郎做不出蜜来。

屎殼郎做不出蜜來。

Lit Dung beetles don't produce honey.

Fig Evil persons never do anything good.

Topics CONDUCT EVIL

S235

[S235]

Shì kě shā ér bùkě rǔ.

士可杀而不可辱。

士可殺而不可辱。

Lit A gentleman prefers death to humiliation.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 29.]

Topics DEATH GENTLEMEN HONOR HUMILIATION INSULTS PRIDE SHAME Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S236

[S236]

Shǐ kǒu rú bí, zhì lǎo bù shī.

使口如鼻, 至老不失。

Lit Use [your] mouth as [you use your] nose [i.e., for not speaking] [and you'll] never have trouble in all [your] life.

Fig Be prudent in speech.

Topics PRUDENCE SPEECH TALK

S237

[S237]

Shì kuān zé yuán.

事宽则圆。

事寬則圓。

Lit [Handling one's] affairs in a calm and unhurried manner will [result in] success.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 25; note: yuánmǎn, “satisfactory”; see also shì cóng huǎn lái above.]

Topics ACTION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn MODERATION SELF-RESTRAINT SPEED SUCCESS yuánmǎn

S238

[S238]

Shí lái, fú còu.

时来福凑。

時來福湊。

Lit When luck is with one, blessings follow.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 35.]

Topics BLESSINGS Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì LUCK

S239

[S239]

Shí lái, shéi bù lái; shí bù lái, shéi lái？

时来谁不来, 时不来谁来？

時來誰不來, 時不來誰來？

Lit [When] fortune smiles on one, everyone comes; when bad luck befalls one, everyone goes away.

Fig “Nobody knows you when you're down and out.”

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 30; see also pín jū nàoshì and qián jù rúxiōng above.]

Topics FORTUNE FRIENDSHIP JPM LUCK POVERTY SELF-INTEREST

S240

[S240]

Shí lái, wán tiě yě shēng guāng.

时来, 顽铁也生光。

時來, 頑鐵也生光。

Lit [When] luck comes, even dull iron becomes bright.

Fig When things are going well everything seems to go right.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31; see also yùn qù, huángjīn shīsè below.]

Topics CONDITIONS FORTUNE Jǐngshì Tōngyán LUCK

S241

[S241]

Shí lǐ bùtóng sú.

十里不同俗。

Lit Ten miles [apart] the customs are quite different.

Fig Different districts have different customs.

Note [See also gèchù gè xiāngsú above.]

Topics CUSTOMS DIFFERENCES LOCALITIES PLACE

S242

[S242]

Shí lǐ bù wèn fàn; èrshí lǐ bù wèn diàn.

十里不问饭, 二十里不问店。

十里不問飯, 二十里不問店。

Lit [When traveling,] don't ask about food [for the first] ten leagues, [and] don't ask about inns [for the first] twenty leagues.

Fig When starting to do anything, don't concern yourself about the end, otherwise you will just slacken your efforts; concentrate on the task at hand.

Note [Note: one lǐ equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics BEGINNING EFFORT lǐ TRAVEL

S243

[S243]

Shí lǐ wú zhēn xìn.

十里无真信。

十里無真信。

Lit [After traveling] ten lǐ, there are no true words.

Fig After a story or message is repeated several times, it will become completely distorted.

Note [One lǐ equals one-half of a kilometer.]

Topics GOSSIP REPETITION RUMORS WORDS

S244

[S244]

Shīluò huángjīn yǒu chù zhǎo; shīluò guāngyīn wú chù xún.

失落黄金有处找, 失落光阴无处寻。

失落黃金有處找, 失落光陰無處尋。

Lit Gold lost may be found somewhere, [but] time lost is nowhere to be found.

Note [More commonly said yī cùn guāngyīn below.]

Topics TIME

S245

[S245]

Shì mǎ, jiù chōng bùliǎo qílín.

是马就充不了麒麟。

是馬就充不了麒麟。

Lit [If it] is a horse, then it cannot pass as a Chinese unicorn.

Fig An ordinary person can't be passed off as an outstanding one.

Topics COMMON UNUSUAL

S246

[S246]

Shì mǎ, yǒu sānfēn lóng gǔ.

是马有三分龙骨。

是馬有三分龍骨。

Lit [Even if it] is a horse, [it] has one-third dragon's bones.

Fig There's something uncommon in everything common.

Topics COMMON UNUSUAL

S247

[S247]

Shí mó, jiǔ nàn chū hǎorén.

十磨九难出好人。

十磨九難出好人。

Lit Hardships produce outstanding persons.

Note [Note: mónàn, “hardships.”]

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS mónàn TALENT

S248

[S248]

Shí nián chuāng xià wú rén wèn; yījǔ chéngmíng tiānxià zhī.

十年窗下无人问, 一举成名天下知。

十年窗下無人問, 一舉成名天下知。

Lit [After persevering] in obscurity for ten years in [one's] study, [one may] become famous overnight.

Note [Used in traditional China to encourage children to study hard. Note: yījǔ-chéngmíng has become a set phrase meaning “to become famous overnight”; see also shū zhōng zìyǒu below.]

Topics ENCOURAGEMENT FAME PERSEVERANCE STUDYING yījǔ-chéngmíng

S249

[S249]

Shí nián hé dōng; shí nián hé xī.*

十年河东, 十年河西。

十年河東, 十年河西。

Note [See sānshí nián hé dōng; sānshí nián hé xī above.]

S250

[S250]

Shí nián jī tóu, shēng pīshuāng.

十年鸡头, 生砒霜。

十年雞頭, 生砒霜。

Lit The head of a ten-year[-old] chicken [is as poisonous as] fresh arsenic [so don't eat it].

Note [This is a common Chinese belief.]

Topics CHICKENS folk belief FOOD POISON

S251

[S251]

Shí nián pùzi, rén pěng zìhao; bǎinián pùzi, zìhao pěng rén.

十年铺子,人捧字号; 百年铺子,字号捧人。

十年鋪子,人捧字號; 百年鋪子,字號捧人。

Lit [In a] ten-year[-old] shop, [it's] customers [who] make the name famous, [but with a] hundred-year[-old] shop, [it's] the name [which makes] the people [who own the shop] famous.

Note [See also rén pěng xì above.]

Topics BUSINESS FAME REPUTATION

S252

[S252]

Shí nián shù mù, bǎi nián shù rén.*

十年树木, 百年树人。

十年樹木, 百年樹人。

Lit [It takes] ten years to grow trees, [but] a hundred years to rear people.

Fig It takes ten years to grow a tree and a hundred years to cultivate (a generation of) good people.

Note [Cf. Gǔnzi: Quán Xiū; note: bǎinián-shùrén has become a set phrase meaning “it takes a century to rear talented people”; see also yī nián shù gǔ below.]

Topics bǎinián-shùrén EDUCATION GENERATIONS GOODNESS Gǔnzi PEOPLE Quán Xiū TREES

S253

[S253]

Shípò rénqíng biànshì xiān.

识破人情便是仙。

識破人情便是仙。

Lit [One who can] see through [and ignore] worldly entanglements is [like a] god [i.e., detached and free].

Topics DETACHMENT ENTANGLEMENTS FREEDOM GODS SAINTS

S254

[S254]

Shìqián yào dǎnxiǎo; shìhòu yào dǎndà.

事前要胆小, 事后要胆大。

事前要膽小, 事後要膽大。

Lit Before something [happens], be cautious; after something [has happened], [(then) you can be] bold.

Topics BOLDNESS CAUTION EXPERIENCE

S255

[S255]

Shì qīn, bì gù.

是亲必顾。

是親必顧。

Lit [If someone] is a relative, [one] must show [special] consideration.

Note [See also shì yī qīn below and the following entry.]

Topics FAVORITISM RELATIVES

S256

[S256]

Shìqíng kàn lěngnuǎn; rén miàn zhú gāodī.

世情看冷暖, 人面逐高低。

Lit The ways of the world depend on hot and cold, [and other] people's faces follow [one's] ups [and] downs.

Fig The feelings of people toward one alter with one's rise and fall in social position.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 40.]

Topics FEELINGS Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō POSITION VICISSITUDES

S257

[S257]

Shì qīn, sānfēn xiàng; shì huǒ, rè guò kàng.

是亲三分向, 是火热过炕。

是親三分向, 是火熱過炕。

Lit [If people] are relatives, [they're at least] thirty-percent inclined [to favor one another], [just as surely as] a fire [is] hotter than a [heated] tile sleeping platform.

Fig “Blood is thicker than water.”

Note [Rhyme; see also rén qīn, gǔròu xiāng above and xuè bǐ shuǐ nóng below and the preceding entry.]

Topics BLOOD FAVORITISM RELATIVES rhyme

S258

[S258]

Shí qióng, jié nǎi jiàn.

时穷, 节乃见。

時窮, 節乃見。

Lit [In] times [of] poverty, [moral] integrity is seen.

Note [Note: qìjié, “integrity; moral courage.”]

Topics COURAGE INTEGRITY POVERTY qìjié

S259

[S259]

Shīqù yī è, rì zhǎng shí shàn.

失去一恶, 日长十善。

失去一惡, 日長十善。

Lit Eliminating one evil counts [as the equivalent of] developing virtues [in a day].

Topics EVIL GOODNESS VIRTUE

S260

[S260]

Shì ruò qiúquán, hé suǒ lè？

事若求全, 何所乐？

事若求全, 何所樂？

Lit If [you] want everything perfect, how [can there be] any happiness?

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 76; see also fāng mùtou and rén fēi shèngxián and rén wú wánrén above.]

Topics DESIRE DRC FAULTS HAPPINESS HUMAN NATURE LIMITATIONS MISTAKES PERFECTION

S261

[S261]

Shìshàng wú nánshì, zhǐpà yǒuxīnrén.*

世上无难事, 只怕有心人。

世上無難事, 只怕有心人。

Lit Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it.

Fig “Where there's a will, there's a way.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 2; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 16; see also tiānxià wú nánshì and yǒuzhìzhě below.]

Topics DETERMINATION DIFFICULTIES Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn JW MINDS SUCCESS WILL

S262

[S262]

Shì shàng wú yú, háma guì.

市上无鱼, 蛤蟆贵。

市上無魚, 蛤蟆貴。

Lit [If] on the market there is no fish, frogs [will] be expensive.

Fig If there are no goods of fine quality available, the price of poor quality goods will rise.

Note [See also hé lǐ wú yú above.]

Topics MARKETS PRODUCTS QUALITY

S263

[S263]

Shí shē bùrú yī xiàn.

十赊不如一现。

十賒不如一現。

Lit Ten credits are not as good as one in ready cash.

Fig One shouldn't risk losing something sure for something that is not sure. “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

Note [See also shē sān bùdí above.]

Topics CASH CAUTION CREDIT RISK

S264

[S264]

Shí shì bàn tōng bùrú yī shì jīngtōng.

十事半通不如一事精通。

Lit [To have] half-knowledge of ten things is not as good as [having a] thorough knowledge of one thing.

Note [See also bùpà qiān zhāo above and yàngyàng jīngtōng below.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE SKILL

S265

[S265]

Shìshí shèngyú xióngbiàn.

事实胜于雄辩。

事實勝於雄辯。

Lit Facts are stronger than eloquence.

Fig Facts speak louder than words.

Note [This was used as the title of an essay in Lu Xun's Rè Fēng.]

Topics EVIDENCE FACTS Lu Xun Rè Fēng WORDS

S266

[S266]

Shíshíwùzhě wéi jùnjié.*

识时务者为俊杰。

識時務者為俊傑。

Lit Those [who are] attuned to the tide of the times are people of outstanding talent.

Fig A wise person knows when to bow to circumstances. Realists succeed.

Note [Originally from Sān Guó Zhì; also cf. R3K, chap. 76; see also dàzhàngfu néng qū above.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES FLEXIBILITY REALISTS TALENT TIMING

S267

[S267]

Shìshì yǒuchéng bì yǒu bài; wéirén yǒu xīng bì yǒu shuāi.

世事有成必有败, 为人有兴必有衰。

世事有成必有敗, 為人有興必有衰。

Lit [In life's] affairs [one] must have failures as well as successes; to conduct one['s life] is to have rises as well as declines.

Note [Rhyme; see also rén yǒu qī pín above and suī yǒu xiōngsuì below.]

Topics CHANGE FAILURE LIFE rhyme SUCCESS VICISSITUDES

S268

[S268]

Shíshì zào yīngxióng.*

时势造英雄。

時勢造英雄。

Lit Situations create heroes.

Fig The times produce great men.

Note [Vs. yīngxióng zào shíshì below.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES GREAT MEN HEROES HISTORY

S269

[S269]

Shí shì zhī yì, bì yǒu zhōng xìn.

十室之邑必有忠信。

Lit [Even in] a town of ten households, there must be loyal and honest people.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 1; see also shí bù zhīnèi above.]

Topics HONESTY Jǐngshì Tōngyán LOYALTY

S270

[S270]

Shí shuāi, guǐ nòng rén.

时衰, 鬼弄人。

時衰, 鬼弄人。

Lit [When one's] luck is in decline, devils [come to] bully you.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 28; note: zuònòng, “to play tricks on.”]

Topics Jǐngshì Tōngyán LUCK TIME zuònòng

S271

[S271]

Shí wǎng, jiǔ kōng; yī wǎng chénggōng.

十网九空, 一网成功。

十網九空, 一網成功。

Lit [Cast a] net ten [times, you will have] nine empty [and only] one success.

Fig Success comes only after setbacks and failures.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FAILURE rhyme SUCCESS

S272

[S272]

Shì wèi zhījǐ zhě sǐ; (nǚ wèi fēijǐ zhě róng).

士为知己者死, (女为悦己者容)。

士為知己者死, (女為悅己者容)。

Lit A scholar [is willing to] die for a convivial friend, ([just as] a woman will beautify herself for the one who loves her).

Note [See also mǎ féng Bólè above.]

Topics BEAUTY FRIENDS FRIENDSHIP LOVE SCHOLARS WOMEN

S273

[S273]

Shì wú bù kě duì rén yán.

事无不可对人言。

事無不可對人言。

Lit [One's] doings [should] not contain any [words that can]not be said in front of others.

Fig Nothing should be hidden from others. [Cf. Sòng Shǐ: Sīmǎ Guāng Zhuàn.]

Topics ACTIONS HONESTY SECRETS Sīmǎ Guāng Zhuàn Sòng Shǐ WORDS

S274

[S274]

Shì wú sān, bùchéng.

事无三不成。

事無三不成。

Lit Affairs without three [tries will] not succeed.

Fig One will not succeed without making repeated efforts. “Third try never fails.” “Third time's a charm.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 83.]

Topics EFFORT JW PERSISTENCE SUCCESS

S275

[S275]

Shì wú shàn wéi; xíng wú dú chū.

事无擅为, 行无独出。

事無擅為, 行無獨出。

Lit Things [can]not be done at will; actions [can]not be independently produced.

Fig People cannot do things or just act in any way that they wish to.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 6.]

Topics ACTION INDIVIDUALITY Jǐngshì Tōngyán SELFISHNESS WILL WILLFULNESS

S276

[S276]

Shǐ xīn, yòngxīn; fǎn hài qí shēn.

使心用心, 反害其身。

Lit [One who] has [ulterior] motives [to harm others] in fact [will] harm himself.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 5; note: xīnjì, “scheming.”]

Topics HARM MOTIVES OTHERS SCHEMING Xǐngshì Héngyán xīnjì

S277

[S277]

Shì yào qián sī; miǎn láo hòuhuǐ.

事要前思, 免劳后悔。

事要前思, 免勞後悔。

Lit Thinking before doing things [will] save one regretting later.

Note [See also shì bù sānsī above.]

Topics CAUTION PLANNING REGRET THINKING

S278

[S278]

Shí yè zhūmén, jiǔ bù kāi.

十谒朱门九不开。

十謁朱門九不開。

Lit [Of] ten visits [paid] to the vermilion gate [of an official mansion], nine are [sure to be] rejected.

Fig It's not easy to get access to an official.

Topics OFFICIALS REJECTION VISITING

S279

[S279]

Shì yì bù kuī rén.

事艺不亏人。

事藝不虧人。

Lit [If there] is a skill, [it will] not harm anyone.

Fig Having (mastered) a skill never did anyone any harm.

Note [See also cì zǐ qiānjīn above.]

Topics SKILL

S280

[S280]

Shì yīnyuán, bàng dǎ bù huí.

是姻缘, 棒打不回。

是姻緣, 棒打不回。

Lit [If they] are destined to be together, [then] clubs could not beat [them] apart.

Fig Those fated to be married cannot be separated.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 90; see also qiān lǐ yīnyuán above.]

Topics COUPLES DRC FATE MARRIAGE

S281

[S281]

Shì yī qīn, guà yī xīn.

是一亲, 挂一心。

是一親, 掛一心。

Lit [If it] is a relative, one's heart is involved.

Fig One is always concerned about one's relatives.

Note [Rhyme; see also shì qīn, bì gù above.]

Topics HEARTS INVOLVEMENT RELATIVES rhyme

S282

[S282]

Shì yǒu dòuqiǎo; wù yǒu gù rán.

事有斗巧, 物有故然。

事有鬥巧, 物有故然。

Lit [In some] matters there are coincidences, [just as some] objects are [the way they are] naturally.

Fig Sometimes coincidences just happen, and some things just turn out the way they do.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 31; note: dòuqiǎo is colloquial for còuqiǎo, “coincidences”; see also wú qiǎo, bù chéng shū below.]

Topics COINCIDENCE còuqiǎo dòuqiǎo Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S283

[S283]

Shì yǒu yīn; huà yǒu yuán.*

事有因, 话有缘。

事有因, 話有緣。

Lit [Just as] things have causes, [so] words have reasons.

Note [See also shì cǎo yǒu gēn above.]

Topics CAUSE REASONS WORDS

S284

[S284]

Shì zài rén wéi.*

事在人为。

事在人為。

Lit [Every]thing [depends] on human effort.

Fig People make things happen.

Note [Note: shìzàirénwéi is treated like a fixed phrase idiom; vs. móushì zài rén above.]

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT shìzàirénwéi

S285

[S285]

Shǐ zài xián shàng, bùdé bù fā.

矢在弦上, 不得不发。

矢在弦上, 不得不發。

Lit [Once] the arrow is [fitted] to the bowstring, [it] cannot but be shot.

Fig Some things, once started, can't be stopped. “The die is cast.”

Note [Note: shǐzàixiánshàng is used as a set phrase meaning “imminent; unstoppable”; see also shēng mǐ chéngle above.]

Topics ACTIONS COMMITMENT DECISIONS FINALITY shǐzàixiánshàng

S286

[S286]

Shí zhàng shēnshuǐ yì cè; yī rén xīnsi nán liáng.

十丈深水易测, 一人心思难量。

十丈深水易測, 一人心思難量。

Lit Water thirty-three feet deep is easily measured, [but a] person's thoughts are hard to fathom.

Topics OTHERS UNDERSTANDING

S287

[S287]

Shì zhēn, nán jiǎ; shì jiǎ, nán zhēn.*

是真难假, 是假难真。

是真難假, 是假難真。

Lit [If it] is true, [it is] difficult to falsify; [if it] is false, [it is] difficult to [make it] true.

Fig Truth and falsehood are hard to confuse.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 17.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí FALSITY TRUTH

S288

[S288]

Shì zhēn, nán miè; shì jiǎ, yì chú.

是真难灭, 是假易除。

是真難滅, 是假易除。

Lit [If it] is truth, [it is] hard to destroy; [if it] is false, [it is] easy to eradicate.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 62; see also huángjīn wú jiǎ above.]

Topics FALSITY TRUTH WM

S289

[S289]

Shī zhī háolí, chā yǐ qiān lǐ.

失之毫厘, 差以千里。

失之毫釐, 差以千里。

Lit A miscalculation of a millimeter [causes] a discrepancy of a thousand lǐ.

Fig An error the breadth of a single hair can lead one a thousand leagues astray; a small discrepancy can lead to a great error.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Tài Shǐ Gōng Zìxù; see also chā zhī háolí above; one lǐ equals one-half of a kilometer.]

Topics CAUTION MISTAKES Shǐ Jì Tài_Shǐ_Gōng_Zìxù

S290

[S290]

Shǒubèi yě shì ròu; shǒuxīn yě shì ròu.*

手背也是肉, 手心也是肉。

Lit Both the back of one's hand and the palm of one's hand are of one's own flesh.

Fig All of one's children and family members are dear to one; one should love and treat all one's family members equally.

Note [Cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 71; see also nǎ gēn zhǐtou above.]

Topics CHILDREN CONDUCT EQUALITY FAMILIES LOVE Zàishēng_Yuán

S291

[S291]

Shòubude yān xūn, chéngbude Fó.

受不得烟熏, 成不得佛。

受不得煙熏, 成不得佛。

Lit [If one] can't endure [incense] smoke, [one] can't become a Buddha.

Fig Everything has a cost. If one is not willing to invest some effort or pay some price, one cannot attain one's goals. “If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

Topics EFFORT SUCCESS

S292

[S292]

Shòu bù yā zhí.

寿不压职。

壽不壓職。

Lit Age [should] not outweigh official rank.

Fig Mere age should not be considered more important than (high) official rank (in observing courtesies or formalities).

Note [Note: guān zhī “official position.”]

Topics AGE guān zhī POSITION RANK

S293

[S293]

Shǒu cháng, shān xiù duǎn; rén qióng, yánsè dī.

手长衫袖短, 人穷颜色低。

手長衫袖短, 人窮顏色低。

Lit When the arms are long, [one's] gown sleeve seems short; if a person is poor [(s)he has to put on a] humble countenance.

Fig Poverty makes one feel inferior.

Topics FACE HUMILITY POVERTY SHAME

S294

[S294]

Shǒu chā yú lán, bìbude xīng.

手插鱼篮避不得腥。

手插魚籃避不得腥。

Lit One can't avoid the smell of fish when one puts one's hand into a fish-basket.

Fig If one engages in bad behavior, one will certainly get a bad reputation.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 86.]

Topics BEHAVIOR EVIL JW REPUTATION

S295

[S295]

Shōu chuán hǎo zài shùnfēng shí.

收船好在顺风时。

收船好在順風時。

Lit Gather in [your] sails when the wind is favorable.

Fig Quit while things are going well. “Quit while you are ahead.”

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 15; note also the chengyu: jiànfēng-shǐduò, “trim one's sails to the wind.”]

Topics ADVANTAGE chengyu Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn jiànfēng-shǐduò STRATEGY

S296

[S296]

Shǒu dào yún kāi, yuè zìmíng.

守到云开, 月自明。

守到雲開, 月自明。

Lit Wait until the clouds disperse [and the] moon will [be] bright/evident.

Fig Wait for the right opportunity and things will go well.

Note [Note: zìmíng, (lit) “become bright”; (fig) “be self-evident.”]

Topics CONDITIONS OPPORTUNITY PATIENCE TIMING zìmíng

S297

[S297]

Shòu gǒu, mò tī; bìng mǎ, mò qī.

瘦狗莫踢, 病马莫欺。

瘦狗莫踢, 病馬莫欺。

Lit Don't kick a thin dog [and] don't mistreat a sick horse.

Fig Don't bully the poor and weak.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BULLYING CONDUCT rhyme WEAKNESS

S298

[S298]

Shǒu kǒu rú píng; fáng yì rú chéng.

守口如瓶, 防意如城。

Lit Keep [your] mouth [shut as tightly as a] bottle [and] restrain [your] desires as [closely as a fortress] wall.

Note [Note: shǒukǒu-rúpíng is used as a chengyu meaning “(be) tight-mouthed.”]

Topics chengyu DESIRE PRUDENCE SELF-RESTRAINT shǒukǒu-rúpíng SPEECH TALK

S299

[S299]

Shòu luòtuo qiáng sì xiàng.

瘦骆驼强似象。

瘦駱駝強似象。

Lit [A] lean camel [is as] strong as [an] elephant.

Fig The rich, though in decline, are still better off than ordinary working people.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 25; see also shòu sǐ de luòtuo below.]

Topics COMPARISON DECLINE Jǐngshì Tōngyán POVERTY WEALTH WORKING

S300

[S300]

Shòu rén yī fàn, tīng rén shǐhuan.

受人一饭, 听人使唤。

受人一飯, 聽人使喚。

Lit [If you] accept a meal [from] someone, [then you must be prepared to] accept orders from him (or her).

Note [Cf. Lu Xun's essay “Guānyu Fùnǔ Jiěfàng” in Nán Chāng Běi Diào Jí; see also chī rénjiā wǎn above.]

Topics Guānyu Fùnǔ Jiěfàng Lu Xun Nán Chāng Běi Diào Jí OBLIGATION ORDERS RECIPROCITY

S301

[S301]

Shòu rén zhī tuō, zhōng rén zhī shì.

受人之托, 终人之事。

受人之托, 終人之事。

Lit [If one] agrees to do something [for] someone, [then one should] see it through to the end.

Fig If one promises to do something, one should fulfill one's promise.

Note [Note: wěituō, “entrust”; shòurénzhītuō has become an idiom meaning “to receive a request to do something.”]

Topics DUTY PROMISES shòurénzhītuō THOROUGHNESS TRUST

S302

[S302]

Shǒushēn rú zhí yù.

守身如执玉。

守身如執玉。

Lit [One should] preserve [one's] honor (or chastity) as [one] holds [a treasured] jade.

Note [Note: shǒushēn, “to keep oneself flawless”; shēnfen, “dignity.”]

Topics CHASTITY DIGNITY HONOR INTEGRITY shēnfen shǒushēn

S303

[S303]

Shòu sǐ de luòtuo bǐ mǎ dà.

瘦死的骆驼比马大。

瘦死的駱駝比馬大。

Lit A starved camel is [still] bigger than a horse.

Fig A rich person in decline is still better off than an ordinary working person.

Note [Cf. Lao She's play: Lóng Xū Gōu (“Dragon Beard Ditch”) Scene I, Act 2; DRC, chap. 6; see also bǎi zú zhī chóng and qióng suī qióng above and shòu luòtuo above.]

Topics COMPARISON DECLINE Dragon Beard Ditch DRC Lao She Lóng Xū Gōu POVERTY WEALTH WORKING

S304

[S304]

Shòuxiáng rú shòudí.

受降如受敌。

受降如受敵。

Lit [One should be as vigilant in] accepting a surrender as [in] engaging an enemy (i.e., it may be a trick).

Topics ENEMIES STRATEGY VIGILANCE

S305

[S305]

Shòuyī duōle, zhìsǐ niú.

兽医多了, 治死牛。

獸醫多了, 治死牛。

Lit [If there are] too many veterinarians, [they will] “cure” the ox to death.

Fig “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Topics NUMBER SUPERFLUITY

S306

[S306]

Shǒuzhǎngr zěnyàng kàn de jiàn shǒubèir？

手掌儿怎样看得见手背儿？

手掌兒怎樣看得見手背兒？

Lit How can the palm see [what] the back of the hand [is doing]?

Fig One doesn't have eyes in the back of one's head; one can't be aware of everything that's going on behind the scenes.

Note [See also rén wú hòu yǎn above.]

Topics CAUTION LIMITATIONS PERSPECTIVE

S307

[S307]

Shǒuzhe duōdà de wǎn, chī duōdà de fàn.

守着多大的碗, 吃多大的饭。

守著多大的碗, 吃多大的飯。

Lit Eat [your] meals according to the size of the bowl [you] hold.

Fig Keep expenditures within the limits of income.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 6; see also chīfàn, chuān yī and kězhe tóu above.]

Topics BUDGETING DRC EXPENDITURES LIMITS MONEY SELF-RESTRAINT

S308

[S308]

Shǒu zhōng méi bǎ mǐ, jiào jī, jī bù lái.

手中没把米, 叫鸡鸡不来。

手中沒把米, 叫雞雞不來。

Lit Without a handful of rice in your hand, [when you] summon chickens, they won't follow [you].

Fig You can't get anything done if you give no benefits to others.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT BENEFITS ENTICEMENTS LEADERSHIP OTHERS SUCCESS

S309

[S309]

Shuǎngkǒu wù duō, zhōng zuò jí; kuài xīn shì guò, bì wéi yāng.

爽口物多终作疾, 快心事过必为殃。

爽口物多終作疾, 快心事過必為殃。

Lit [One who eats too] many tasty things [will] end up falling ill, [and one who indulges in] too much pleasure must invite disaster.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 3; note the chengyu: lèjí-shēngbēi, “extreme joy begets sorrow.”]

Topics chengyu EXTREMES Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō lèjí-shēngbēi MODERATION OVERINDULGENCE PLEASURE SELF-RESTRAINT

S310

[S310]

Shuāng mù qiáo hǎo zǒu; dúmùqiáo nán xíng.

双木桥好走, 独木桥难行。

雙木橋好走, 獨木橋難行。

Lit [It is] easy to walk [across a] double-plank bridge, [but] difficult to walk [across a] single-plank one.

Fig It is difficult to do anything single-handedly.

Note [Note: dúmùqiáo, (lit) “single-plank bridge,” (fig) “difficult path.”]

Topics COOPERATION DIFFICULTIES dúmùqiáo INDIVIDUALISM

S311

[S311]

Shuāng quán nán dí sì shǒu.

双拳难敌四手。

雙拳難敵四手。

Lit Two fists are no match for four hands.

Fig A few are no match against the many.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 29; see also sān bù niù liù above and sì bù niù liù below.]

Topics FIGHTING FORCE NUMBER Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S312

[S312]

Shuāngrì bù zháo, dānrì zháo.

双日不着, 单日着。

雙日不著, 單日著。

Lit [If we] don't meet on even-numbered days, [we are bound to] meet on odd-numbered days.

Fig People are bound to run into each other again.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 21; see also chuántóu bù yù and dàhǎi fúpíng above.]

Topics FUTURE MEETING SMALL WORLD WM

S313

[S313]

Shuānzhe bózi de gǒu dǎ bù chéng liè.

拴着脖子的狗打不成猎。

拴著脖子的狗打不成獵。

Lit A dog leashed by the neck cannot hunt.

Fig One who is restricted or controlled cannot do a good job.

Topics CONDITIONS CONTROL RESTRICTIONS

S314

[S314]

Shuān zhù lǘ zuǐ, mǎ zuǐ; shuān bu zhù rén zuǐ.

拴住驴嘴马嘴, 拴不住人嘴。

拴住驢嘴馬嘴, 拴不住人嘴。

Lit [One can] muzzle the mouth of a donkey [or] a horse, [but] not the mouths of people.

Fig You can't silence people; they will be heard.

Note [See also tán kǒu hǎo fēng below.]

Topics OPINIONS PEOPLE SPEECH

S315

[S315]

Shū bù jiàn qīn.*

疏不间亲。

疏不間親。

Lit Distant [relations should] not interfere [between] close relatives.

Fig Outsiders should not sow discord among close relatives or friends.

Note [Cf. Hán Shī Wàizhuàn, chap. 3; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 2; note: jiàn is a verb, “to create a gap”; see líjiàn, “to sow discord”; note: shūbùjiànqīn is used as a set phrase meaning “blood is thicker than water”; see also qīn bù jiàn shū and qīn zhě gē zhī above and xuè bǐ shuǐ nóng below.]

Topics chengyu CONNECTIONS FRIENDS Hán Shī Wàizhuàn INTERFERENCE RELATIONS RELATIVES shūbùjiànqīn TROUBLE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S316

[S316]

Shù bù xiū, bù chéngcái; ér bù yù, bù chéngrén.

树不修不成材, 儿不育不成人。

樹不修不成材, 兒不育不成人。

Lit [Just as] trees not trimmed won't become good timber, [so] children not educated won't grow up [properly].

Note [Pun/note: mùcái, “wooden material” and réncái, “talented people”; chéngcái, (1) “grow into useful timber”; (2) “become a useful person”; bùchéngcái is also an idiomatic expression meaning “good-for-nothing”; see also kōngxīn dà shù above and the following entry.]

Topics bùchéngcái chéngcái CHILDREN EDUCATION pun

S317

[S317]

Shù bù xiū, guǒ bù shōu.

树不修, 果不收。

樹不修, 果不收。

Lit [If] trees are not pruned, fruit cannot be harvested.

Fig Young people won't become useful adults without discipline and education.

Note [Rhyme; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics DISCIPLINE EDUCATION YOUTH

S318

[S318]

Shù dà, fēn chà; rén dà, fēnjiā.

树大分叉, 人大分家。

樹大分叉, 人大分家。

Lit [Just as a] tree will produce branches [when it] grows taller, [so a traditional extended] family will divide up the family property and live apart [when the children] grow up.

Note [Rhyme; see also fēn jiā sān nián above.]

Topics EXTENDED FAMILIES FAMILIES fēnjiā rhyme

S319

[S319]

Shù dǎo, húsūn sàn.*

树倒猢狲散。

樹倒猢猻散。

Lit [When the] tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

Fig When one's family or patron falls from power, those who have been supported or protected will disperse.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 13; Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 22; note: shù-dǎo-húsūn-sàn is a colloquial expression meaning “when the mighty fall, their hangers-on disperse.”]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì colloquial expression DECLINE DRC HELP POWER shù-dǎo-húsūn-sàn

S320

[S320]

Shū dào yòng shí fāng hèn shǎo; (shì fēi jīngguò bù zhī nán).*

书到用时方恨少, (事非经过不知难)。

書到用時方恨少, (事非經過不知難)。

Lit [One will] not regret having done too little reading until [one is required to] apply [what one has studied, and one will] not know the difficulty of the work until one begins to do it [oneself].

Note [The first half is most commonly used alone.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE READING REGRET WORK

S321

[S321]

Shù dà, yǒu kūzhī.

树大有枯枝。

樹大有枯枝。

Lit [When] a tree [gets] big, [it always] has [some] withered twigs.

Fig There will always be a few bad people in any large group of people.

Topics EVIL GROUPS INDIVIDUALS

S322

[S322]

Shù dà zhāofēng; (guān dà zhāo huò).

树大招风, (官大招祸)。

樹大招風, (官大招禍)。

Lit [Just as a] tall tree invites the wind, ([so a] high official invites disasters).

Fig A person in a high social position is likely to be attacked.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 33; the first part is usually used alone, often as a chengyu, with the meaning of the second part understood, as in a xiehouyu; see also the following entry.]

Topics chengyu FAME JW OFFICIALS shùdà-zhāofēng xiehouyu

S323

[S323]

Shù dà, zhāofēng; (míng dà, zhāo jì).*

树大招风, (名大招忌)。

樹大招風, (名大招忌)。

Lit Great trees invite the wind, ([and] great fame invites envy).

Fig Detraction pursues the great.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 35; the second part is usually omitted; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics chengyu DETRACTION ENVY FAME shùdà-zhāofēng

S324

[S324]

Shú dú Tángshī Sānbǎi Shǒu, bù huì yínshī, yě huì yín.*

熟读唐诗三百首, 不会吟诗, 也会吟。

熟讀唐詩三百首, 不會吟詩, 也會吟。

Lit [If one has] thoroughly read the Three Hundred Poems of the Tang, [even if one really does] not know how to compose/recite poetry, [one will] still [be able to] compose/recite.

Note [From the preface to the most popular edition of the Three Hundred Poems of the Tang, by the Qing dynasty editor who called himself Héng Táng Jù Shì (Heng Tang, the Lay Buddhist); note: yínshī means to recite or compose poetry; see also āizhe tiějiang above.]

Topics COMPOSITION Héng Táng Jù Shì POETRY Qing dynasty Tángshī Sānbǎi Shǒu Three Hundred Poems of the Tang yínshī

S325

[S325]

Shú dú Wáng Shūhé bùrú lín zhèng duō.

熟读王叔和不如临症多。

熟讀王叔和不如臨症多。

Lit Thoroughly reading [medical books by] Wang Shuhe, [a famous doctor of the Jin dynasty,] is not as good as [having] treated a lot [of cases; i.e., clinical experience].

Fig Actual experience is better than abstract knowledge.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 31; note: línchuáng; lín zhèng “clinical experience.”]

Topics DOCTORS EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE línchuáng Rúlín_Wàishǐ

S326

[S326]

Shù gāo qiān zhàng, yè luò guī gēn.*

树高千丈, 叶落归根。

樹高千丈, 葉落歸根。

Lit A tree [may grow a] thousand feet tall, [but when its] leaves fall, [they] return to [its] roots.

Fig People residing far from home will eventually return to their native soil.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 96; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 19; as a chengyu: yèluò-guīgēn; note: one zhàng equals 3.33 meters; see also shuǐ liú qiān zāo and tùzi mǎn shān below.]

Topics chengyu Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HOME HOMESICKNESS PLACE yèluò-guīgēn yèluò-guīgēn zhàng

S327

[S327]

Shù gāo qiān zhàng zǒng yǒu gēn; héliú wàn lǐ zǒng yǒu yuán.

树高千丈总有根, 河流万里总有源。

樹高千丈總有根, 河流萬里總有源。

Lit A tree a thousand feet tall always has roots; a river ten thousand leagues long always has a source.

Fig One can trace everything to its origins, causes or reasons.

Note [Note: one lǐ equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics CAUSE lǐ ORIGINS

S328

[S328]

Shuǐ bù jī bù yuè; rén bù jī bù fèn.

水不激不跃, 人不激不奋。

水不激不躍, 人不激不奮。

Lit [Just as] water not dammed won't rise, [so] people not stimulated won't exert [themselves].

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 5.]

Topics ACTION Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō MOBILIZATION MOTIVATION

S329

[S329]

Shuǐ dà, màn bu guò yāzi qù.

水大, 漫不过鸭子去。

水大, 漫不過鴨子去。

Lit However high the river rises, it cannot rise over the ducks.

Fig However hard one tries, one can never surpass everyone; you'll never catch up with everyone.

Topics COMPARISON COMPETITION EFFORT LIMITATIONS

S330

[S330]

Shuǐdī jī duō, chéng mǎn pén; yànyǔ jī duō, chéng xuéwen.

水滴积多盛满盆, 谚语积多成学问。

水滴積多盛滿盆, 諺語積多成學問。

Lit [Just as] water drops accumulated fill up a basin, [so] many proverbs become knowledge.

Topics KNOWLEDGE PROVERBS

S331

[S331]

Shuǐ dī, shí chuān.

水滴石穿。

Lit See shéng jù, mù duàn above.

Note [As a chengyu: shuǐdī-shíchuān.]

Topics chengyu shuǐdī-shíchuān

S332

[S332]

Shuǐ gāo, chuán qù jí; shā xiàn, mǎ xíng chí.

水高船去急, 沙陷马行迟。

水高船去急, 沙陷馬行遲。

Lit [When] the river rises, boats sail fast [and when] the sand sinks, horses run slowly.

Fig One can only do what the situation allows.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 55.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES CONDITIONS JW LIMITATIONS

S333

[S333]

Shuǐhuǒ bù liúqíng.*

水火不留情。

Lit Floods [and] fire show no mercy.

Fig Everyone is equally liable to fires and floods.

Note [Note: shuǐhuǒ, (lit) “water and fire,” also “flood and conflagration,” is a metaphor for “extreme misery”; liúqíng, “to show mercy or forgiveness.”]

Topics DISASTERS FIRES FLOODING liúqíng MERCY shuǐhuǒ

S334

[S334]

Shuǐhuǒ bùtóng lú.

水火不同炉。

水火不同爐。

Lit Fire [and] water can't [coexist in the] same stove.

Fig (Some people are) incompatible as fire and water.

Note [Note: shuǐhuǒ, (lit) “water and fire,” is here a metaphor for “opposites”; see also the following entry.]

Topics INCOMPATIBILITY PEOPLE shuǐhuǒ

S335

[S335]

Shuǐhuǒ bù xiāngróng.*

水火不相容。

Lit Fire and water are incompatible.

Fig (Some people are) as incompatible as fire and water.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics INCOMPATIBILITY PEOPLE shuǐhuǒ

S336

[S336]

Shuǐ jìng zé bù shēn.

水径则不深。

水徑則不深。

Lit Straight-running water doesn't [run] deep.

Fig One who tries to show off his or her abilities or talents is shallow.

Note [Cf. Hán Shī Wàizhuàn, chap. 1; see also gǔ kōng, shēng gāo and hǎo māo bù jiào and kōng guànzi above and zhěng píng bù yáo below.]

Topics BRAGGING Hán Shī Wàizhuàn MODESTY TALENT

S337

[S337]

Shuǐ jí yú; yú jí shuǐ. / Shuǐ bàng yú; yú bàng shuǐ.

水籍鱼, 鱼籍水。 / 水傍鱼, 鱼傍水。

水籍魚, 魚籍水。 / 水傍魚, 魚傍水。

Lit Water is interdependent with fish [and] fish with water.

Fig People and or things are all interdependent.

Note [Note also the communist slogan: jūn mín yú shuǐ qíng, “the [People's Liberation] army [and] the people [are as] close [as] fish [and] water.”]

Topics Communist slogan INTERDEPENDENCE Mao Zedong People_s_Liberation_Army

S338

[S338]

Shuǐ kuān, yú dà.

水宽鱼大。

水寬魚大。

Lit Wide rivers contain big fish.

Fig Talented people come from or stay in places where there are excellent conditions and scope for their talents.

Note [See also shuǐ qīng, yǎngbude yú below.]

Topics CONDITIONS PLACE TALENT

S339

[S339]

Shuǐ lái hé zhǎng; fēng lái shù dòng.

水来河涨, 风来树动。

水來河漲, 風來樹動。

Lit [When the] water approaches, the river rises [and when the] wind blows, the trees stir.

Fig There must be a cause behind every result.

Note [See also mù yǒu běn above and wú fēng bù qǐ and yǒu fēng fāng qǐ below.]

Topics CAUSE RESULTS

S340

[S340]

Shuǐ lái, tǔ yǎn; bīng dào, jiàng yíng.

水来土掩, 兵到将迎。

水來土掩, 兵到將迎。

Lit [When the] water rises, [we use] earth to resist [it]; [when] soldiers come [we use] generals to deal with [them].

Fig Different situations require different measures.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 20; R3K, chap. 73.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS CIRCUMSTANCES R3K STRATEGY WM

S341

[S341]

Shuǐ liú qiān zāo, rào huí dàhǎi.

水流千遭, 绕回大海。

水流千遭, 繞回大海。

Lit However long a distance the water flows, it [eventually] returns to the sea.

Fig However far away people travel, they will eventually come back (home) where they started from.

Note [See also shù gāo qiān zhàng above and tùzi mǎn shān below.]

Topics DISTANCE HOME RETURNING TRAVEL

S342

[S342]

Shuǐ liú shī; huǒ jiù zào.

水流湿, 火就燥。

水流濕, 火就燥。

Lit Water flows to wet [lower places, and] fire [burns] toward dry [places].

Fig “Like seeks like.”

Note [Cf. Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 11.]

Topics Lǎo Cán Yóujì SIMILARITIES

S343

[S343]

Shuǐ luò shítou xiàn; shìhòu jiàn rénxīn.

水落石头现, 事后见人心。

水落石頭現, 事後見人心。

Lit [Only after the] water [has] receded [do the] stones appear; [only] after things [happen can one] see people['s] true natures.

Fig “Truth will out”; see also bèitóu lǐ zuòshì and chái duī lǐ cáng above and zhǐ bāo bu zhù huǒ below.]

Note [Note the chengyu: shuǐluò-shíchū, (lit) “When the water recedes, the stones appear,”]

Topics chengyu OTHERS shuǐluò-shíchū shuǐluò-shíchū TRUTH

S344

[S344]

Shuǐ néng chuān shí; rén néng bān shān.

水能穿石, 人能搬山。

Lit [Just as dripping] water [can] wear through rock; [so] people can remove mountains.

Fig “Constant effort brings success.”

Note [Note the chengyu: shuǐdī-shíchuān, (lit) “Dripping water wears through stones.”

Topics chengyu EFFORT shuǐdī-shíchuān SUCCESS

S345

[S345]

Shuǐ píng bù liú; rén píng bù yán.

水平不流, 人平不言。

Lit Water won't flow [if the surface is] level [and] people won't complain [if they are treated] “on the level” [i.e., fairly].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17; the two halves also occur in the reverse order: see also yī wǎn shuǐ below.]

Topics COMPLAINTS EQUALITY FAIRNESS JUSTICE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S346

[S346]

Shuǐ píng bù liú; rén píng bù yǔ.

水平不流, 人平不语。

水平不流, 人平不語。

Lit [Just as] water [held] level doesn't flow, [so] people [treated on the] level [i.e., fairly; equally] don't talk [i.e., complain].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics EQUALITY FAIRNESS JUSTICE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

S347

[S347]

Shuǐ qiǎn bùróng dà zhōu.

水浅不容大舟。

水淺不容大舟。

Lit Shallow waters [can]not hold big boats.

Fig (1) Limited by conditions, one cannot accomplish anything great. (2) Talented people cannot work under a leader of little ability.

Topics CONDITIONS LIMITATIONS TALENT

S348

[S348]

Shuǐ qiǎn, yǎng bu zhù dà yú.

水浅养不住大鱼。

水淺養不住大魚。

Lit [When the] water is too shallow, big fish cannot be kept.

Fig Small places cannot attract or keep people of talent.

Note [See also shuǐ kuān, yú dà above and xiǎo shuǐ bùróng below.]

Topics LOCALS PLACE TALENT

S349

[S349]

Shuǐ qīng, shí zì jiàn.

水清, 石自见。

水清, 石自見。

Lit [When] the water becomes clear, the stones will be seen.

Fig The truth will come out by itself when things clear up.

Note [Note the chengyu: shuǐluò-shíchū, “Truth will out.”]

Topics chengyu CONDITIONS shuǐluò-shíchū TRUTH

S350

[S350]

Shuǐ qīng, wú dà yú.

水清无大鱼。

水清無大魚。

Lit [If] the water is [too] clear and clean, there are no big fish.

Fig If you are too particular about trifling matters, people of talent will not stay around you or work under you.

Note [See also shuǐ zhì qīng zé below and the following entry.]

Topics FOLLOWERS FRIENDS PRECISION SELF-RESTRAINT

S351

[S351]

Shuǐ qīng, yǎngbude yú.

水清养不得鱼。

水清養不得魚。

Lit [If the] water is [too] clear, fish cannot be raised.

Fig If one is to clear or frank about things, people won't be happy.

Note [Often used in the sense of “leave sleeping dogs lie”; see also shuǐ zhì qīng above and the preceding entry.]

Topics FOLLOWERS FRIENDS PRECISION SELF-RESTRAINT

S352

[S352]

Shuǐ shēn bù xiǎng; xiǎng shuǐ bù shēn.

水深不响, 响水不深。

水深不響, 響水不深。

Lit Deep water doesn't [make a] sound, [and] water [that makes a] sound isn't deep.

Fig Learned people are modest, while shallow people brag.

Note [See also gǔ kōng, shēng gāo and kōng guànzi and shuǐ jìng zé above and zhěng píng bù yáo below.]

Topics BRAGGING MODESTY

S353

[S353]

Shuǐ shēn jiàn cháng rén.

水深见长人。

水深見長人。

Lit [If] the water is deep [one can] see [who's a] tall person.

Fig Difficult problems reveal people's true abilities.

Note [Also said rù shuǐ jiàn cháng rén; see also lièhuǒ jiàn zhēnjīn above.]

Topics ABILITY CHARACTER DIFFICULTIES TESTING TRUTH

S354

[S354]

Shuì shí shǎo yǐnshuǐ; shuì qián bù yǐnchá.

睡时少饮水, 睡前不饮茶。

睡時少飲水, 睡前不飲茶。

Lit When sleeping, drink less water [and] don't drink tea before going to bed [and you'll sleep through the night].

Topics DRINKING HEALTH SLEEP TEA

S355

[S355]

Shuǐ tài qīng zé wú yú; rén tài jǐn zé wú zhì.

水太清则无鱼, 人太紧则无智。

水太清則無魚, 人太緊則無智。

Lit Too-clear water [can]not hold fish [and] overly harsh or demanding people have no wisdom.

Note [See also shuǐ zhì qīng below.]

Topics DEMANDS EXCESS HARSHNESS WISDOM

S356

[S356]

Shuǐ zhì qīng zé wú yú; rén zhì chá zé wú tú.

水至清则无鱼, 人至察则无徒。

水至清則無魚, 人至察則無徒。

Lit [If] water is too clear, there will be no fish [in it, and if] a person is too discerning [in his or her observations], (s)he'll have no followers.

Fig People who insist on being too precise about things will not have any followers or friends.

Note [See also shuǐ qīng, wú dà yú and shuǐ qīng, yǎngbude yú and shuǐ tài qīng above.]

Topics FOLLOWERS FRIENDS PRECISION SELF-RESTRAINT

S357

[S357]

Shūjí hǎobǐ héliú, shǐ rén sìtōng-bādá.

书籍好比河流, 使人四通八达。

書籍好比河流, 使人四通八達。

Lit Books are like flowing rivers, [which can] carry one in all directions.

Note [Note: chengyu: sìtōng-bādá, “extending in all directions.”]

Topics BOOKS chengyu LEARNING sìtōng-bādá STUDYING

S358

[S358]

Shù jīngjí, dé cì; shù táolǐ, dé yīn.

树荆棘得刺, 树桃李得荫。

樹荊棘得刺, 樹桃李得蔭。

Lit [If you] plant brambles, [you'll] get thorns; [if you] plant peach [and] plum [trees], [you'll] get shade.

Fig Good-heartedness often meets with like recompense, while evil will be recompensed with evil. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 18; see also shàn yǒu shànbào above.]

Topics EVIL GOODNESS Jǐngshì Tōngyán RECIPROCATION RECOMPENSE

S359

[S359]

Shù lǎo, bàn xīn kōng; rén lǎo, shìshì tōng.

树老半心空, 人老事事通。

樹老半心空, 人老事事通。

Lit [When] trees [get] old, [they have] half-empty trunks, [but when] people [get] old, [they are full of] knowledge [about how to] get things done.

Note [Rhyme; see also the following entry.]

Topics AGE EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE OLD AGE rhyme

S360

[S360]

Shù lǎo, gēn duō; rén lǎo, huà duō.

树老根多, 人老话多。

樹老根多, 人老話多。

Lit [Just as when] trees get older, [they] have more roots, [so when] people get older, [they] talk more.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE OLD AGE rhyme TALK

S361

[S361]

Shù lǎo, gēn duō; rén lǎo, jiànshi duō.

树老根多, 人老见识多。

樹老根多, 人老見識多。

Lit Old trees have more roots [and] old people [have had] more experience.

Topics AGE EXPERIENCE OLD_AGE

S362

[S362]

Shù lǎo, shēng chóng; rén lǎo, wúyòng.

树老生虫, 人老无用。

樹老生蟲, 人老無用。

Lit [Just as when] trees get old [they become] full of worms, [so when] people get old [they are] useless.

Note [Rhyme; see also rén lǎo, zhū huáng above.]

Topics ABILITY AGE OLD AGE rhyme

S363

[S363]

Shù lǎo, xīn kōng; rén lǎo, diān dōng.

树老心空, 人老颠东。

樹老心空, 人老顛東。

Lit [Just as when] trees get old they become hollow at the core, [so when] people get old, they become muddle-headed.

Note [Rhyme; note: diān sān dǎo sì, “incoherent; confused.”]

Topics AGE CONFUSION diān sān dǎo sì MINDS OLD AGE rhyme

S364

[S364]

Shù lǎo, zhāofēng; rén lǎo, zhāo jiàn.

树老招风, 人老招贱。

樹老招風, 人老招賤。

Lit [Just as when] trees get old, [they] invite [attack by the] wind, [so when] people get old [they] invite contempt [from others].

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 6; see also mǎ lǎo, wú rén qí above.]

Topics AGE CONTEMPT INFIRMITY Jǐngshì Tōngyán OLD AGE POWER

S365

[S365]

Shúlù fānchē.

熟路翻车。

熟路翻車。

Lit Familiar roads overturn vehicles.

Fig Mistakes can easily occur when one is not cautious due to overfamiliarity.

Note [See also shùnshuǐ zhōu below.]

Topics CAUTION MISTAKES OVERFAMILIARITY

S366

[S366]

Shū náng wú dǐ.

书囊无底。

書囊無底。

Lit Book bags have no bottoms.

Fig One cannot read every book on earth.

Topics BOOKS LIMITATIONS READING

S367

[S367]

Shùn dài bù wéi tōu.

顺带不为偷。

順帶不為偷。

Lit [Accidentally] walking off with [something] is not [to be] regarded as stealing.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 8.]

Topics BORROWING STEALING Wǔ_Sōng

S368

[S368]

Shùn dé gū lái, shī sǎo yì.

顺得姑来, 失嫂意。

順得姑來, 失嫂意。

Lit [If you] please older brother's sister, [you'll] offend older brother's wife.

Fig If you please one person, you'll offend another. It's difficult to please everyone.

Topics DIFFICULTIES OTHERS PLEASING

S369

[S369]

Shùnqíng shuō hǎohuà, miǎnde tǎorénxián.

顺情说好话, 免得讨人嫌。

順情說好話, 免得討人嫌。

Lit [It is better to] speak fairly and reasonably [in accordance with others' feelings], [so as to] avoid being [considered] disagreeable.

Topics COURTESY DISLIKE FEELINGS OTHERS SPEECH

S370

[S370]

Shùnshuǐ zhōu, duō kuánglán.

顺水舟, 多狂澜。

順水舟, 多狂瀾。

Lit A ship that sails with the wind meets more big waves.

Fig People under favorable conditions may get themselves in danger (out of negligence).

Note [See also shúlù fānchē above.]

Topics CONDITIONS DANGER NEGLIGENCE

S371

[S371]

Shùn tiān zhě chāng; nì tiān zhě wáng.

顺天者昌, 逆天者亡。

順天者昌, 逆天者亡。

Lit Those who obey [the will of] heaven [will] prosper, [while] those who oppose heaven [will] perish.

Note [A rhyme; cf. Qīng Shǐ Yǎnyì, chap. 46; also said shùn tiān zhě cún; nì tiān zhě wáng, “those who obey the will of heaven will survive, etc.”; see also the following entry.]

Topics HEAVEN OBEDIENCE Qīng Shǐ Yǎnyì REBELLION SURVIVAL

S372

[S372]

Shù nuó, sǐ; rén nuó, huó.

树挪死, 人挪活。

樹挪死, 人挪活。

Lit [When] trees move, [they] die, [but when] people move, [it will enable them to] survive.

Note [Note: nuówō, “to move to another place”; see also nǎ chù huángtǔ above.]

Topics EMIGRATION MOVING nuówō PLACE WORK

S373

[S373]

Shùn zhī zhě chāng; nì zhī zhě wáng.*

顺之者昌, 逆之者亡。

順之者昌, 逆之者亡。

Lit Those who obey it [will] prosper, [while] those who oppose it [will] perish.

Note [Said, e.g., of the rule of a tyrant; also said shùn wǒ zhě cháng; nì wǒ zhě wáng and shùn zhī zhě cún; nì zhī zhě wáng, “those who obey will survive, etc.”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics OBEDIENCE SURVIVAL TYRANTS

S374

[S374]

Shuōdào Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo jiù dào.

说到曹操, 曹操就到。

說到曹操, 曹操就到。

Lit Speak of Cáo Cāo, [and] Cáo Cāo arrives.

Fig “Speak of the devil (and he shall appear).”

Note [Cf. Niè Hǎi Huā, chap. 29; and Mao Dun's novel, Zǐyè (Midnight); see also qiǎo zhōng shuōhuà and rì lǐ mò shuō rén above and shuōzhe hóngliǎn de below.]

Topics Cáo Cāo COINCIDENCE Mao Dun Niè Hǎi Huā SPEECH Zǐyè

S375

[S375]

Shuō dào nǎli, zuòdào nǎli.

说到哪里, 做到哪里。

說到哪裡, 做到哪裡。

Lit Whatever [one] says, [one should] do it.

Note [See also shuō yī shì yī below.]

Topics PROMISES SPEECH

S376

[S376]

Shuō de hǎo bùrú zuò de hǎo.

说得好不如做得好。

說得好不如做得好。

Lit Good talk is not as good as good work.

Fig “Actions speak louder than words.”

Topics ACTION TALK WORK

S377

[S377]

Shuō de hǎotīng, zhǐ tīng bāfēn.

说的好听, 只听八分。

說的好聽, 只聽八分。

Lit [When someone] speaks pleasing [words], only listen to eighty percent.

Fig Believe only eighty percent of pleasing words.

Note [See also tián yán duó zhì below.]

Topics CAUTION FLATTERY WORDS

S378

[S378]

Shuōhuà bùmíng, yóurú hūn jìng.

说话不明, 犹如昏镜。

說話不明, 猶如昏鏡。

Lit [When one] speaks unclearly, [it is] just like a murky mirror.

Fig Ambiguous speech is like a cloudy mirror.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 23.]

Topics AMBIGUITY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn SPEECH

S379

[S379]

Shuōhuà méi jiǎo, zǒu qiān lǐ.

说话没脚, 走千里。

說話沒腳, 走千里。

Lit Spoken words have no feet, [but they] travel a thousand leagues.

Fig Be prudent in speech.

Topics PRUDENCE SPEECH WORDS

S380

[S380]

Shuōhuǎng bù mán dàng xiāngrén.

说谎不瞒当乡人。

說謊不瞞當鄉人。

Lit [When] telling lies, [one can]not deceive the local people.

Fig One can't deceive the local people with lies.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 76; see also mán tiān, mán dì above.]

Topics DECEIT JW LIES LOCALITIES

S381

[S381]

Shuōhuà shí duǎn; jì huà shí cháng.

说话时短, 记话时长。

說話時短, 記話時長。

Lit To speak [takes only a] short time, [but] words are remembered a long time.

Fig Be prudent in speech.

Topics MEMORY PRUDENCE WORDS

S382

[S382]

Shuō lái róngyì; zuò shí nán.*

说来容易, 做时难。

說來容易, 做時難。

Lit Talking is easy, [but] when [it comes to] action [it's more] difficult.

Fig Things are “easier said than done.”

Topics ACTION DIFFICULTIES TALK

S383

[S383]

Shuōshuō-xiàoxiào, tōngtong qīqiào.

说说笑笑, 通通七窍。

說說笑笑, 通通七竅。

Lit Talking [and] laughing clear out the head.

Fig Talking and laughing are good to health.

Note [Note: qīqiào, “the seven apertures of the human head.”]

Topics HEALTH LAUGHING LAUGHTER qīqiào TALK

S384

[S384]

Shuō xiāhuà, zuǐ zhǎng dīng.

说瞎话, 嘴长疔。

說瞎話, 嘴長疔。

Lit [If one] speaks nonsense, [one's] mouth [will] grow boils.

Topics NONSENSE SPEECH TALK

S385

[S385]

Shuō xiào chǎng shàng, wú dàxiǎo.

说笑场上, 无大小。

說笑場上, 無大小。

Fig [In] scenes of talking [and] laughing (i.e., informal situations), there [should be] no distinction between seniors [and] juniors [i.e., elders and youngers, etc.].

Topics FORMALITY HIERARCHY INFORMALITY LAUGHING TALK

S386

[S386]

Shuō yī shì yī; shuō èr shì èr.

说一是一, 说二是二。

說一是一, 說二是二。

Lit Say “one,” it's one; say “two,” it's two.

Fig One should keep (to) one's word.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 65; also said shuō yī, bù èr; see also shuō dào nǎli above.]

Topics DRC PROMISES WORDS

S387

[S387]

Shuōzhe hóngliǎn de, biàn láile Guāngōng.

说着红脸的, 便来了关公。

說著紅臉的, 便來了關公。

Lit [When one is] speaking of the red-faced, there comes Guan Gong.

Fig “Speak of the devil (and he will appear).”

Note [Note: Guan Gong or Guan Yu, a famous general of the Kingdom of Shu in the period of the Three Kingdoms, is always portrayed with a red face; see also shuōdào Cáo Cāo above.]

Topics COINCIDENCE Guan Gong Guan Yu Kingdom of Shu SPEECH Three_Kingdoms_period

S388

[S388]

Shuōzhě wúyì; tīngzhě (/wénzhě) yǒuyì (/yǒuxīn).

说者无意, 听者(/闻者)有意(/有心)。

說者無意, 聽者(/聞者)有意(/有心)。

Lit [Sometimes it happens that a] speaker had no [particular] intent, [but the] hearer had [something on his or her] mind [which caused the hearer to interpret what the speaker said in a certain way or to take offense].

Note [See also wúxīn rén shuōhuà above and yán zhě wúxīn below.]

Topics MINDS OFFENDING TALK UNDERSTANDING

S389

[S389]

Shuōzuǐ lángzhōng wú hǎo yào.

说嘴郎中无好药。

說嘴郎中無好藥。

Lit A glib-tongued quack has no good medicine.

Fig One who boasts of his or her own talents probably is not very good in reality.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 3; also said màizuǐ ... etc. (q.v.)]

Topics BRAGGING CHARLATANS Hé Diǎn MEDICINE

S390

[S390]

Shū qián zhǐ wèi yíng qián qǐ.

输钱只为赢钱起。

輸錢只為贏錢起。

Lit [One] loses money just because [one] began by winning money.

Fig Winning is just a prelude to losing.

Topics GAMBLING LOSING LOSS MONEY REVENGE SCHEMING WINNING

S391

[S391]

Shùqǐ jǐliang zuòshì; fàngkāi yǎnguāng dúshū.

竖起脊梁做事, 放开眼光读书。

豎起脊梁做事, 放開眼光讀書。

Lit [One should always hold one's] backbone upright in doing things [and] read with [one's] eyes open wide

Note [i.e., with an open mind.]

Topics OPEN-MINDEDNESS OPENNESS READING RECTITUDE

S392

[S392]

Shùqǐ zhāo jūn qí, jiù yǒu chīliáng rén.

竖起招军旗, 就有吃粮人。

豎起招軍旗, 就有吃糧人。

Lit [Once the army] enlistment flag is hoisted, there will be enlistees [who will come to join in the army].

Fig Once an opportunity is made known, (surely) there will be people interested.

Note [Note: chīliáng, “be a soldier; serve in the army”; liángcǎo, “army provisions.”]

Topics chīliáng INTERESTS liángcǎo OPPORTUNITY

S393

[S393]

Shū sān xiě, yú chéng lǔ, dì chéng hǔ.

书三写, 鱼成鲁, 帝成虎。

書三寫, 魚成魯, 帝成虎。

Lit [If an article is] copied three times, [the character] yú [“fish”] will become lǔ [“fool-hardy”], [and the character] di [“emperor”] become hǔ [“tiger”].

Fig Mistakes are bound to appear as (ancient) writings are copied and recopied over the ages.

Note [See also zì (jīng) sān xiě below.]

Topics COPYING MISTAKES TIME WRITING

S394

[S394]

Shùshēn shēng de zhèng, bùpà fēng lái yáo.

树身生的正, 不怕风来摇。

樹身生的正, 不怕風來搖。

Lit A tree grown straight is not afraid of the wind.

Fig An upright and honest person is not to be corrupted by unhealthy tendencies.

Topics CORRUPTION HONESTY RECTITUDE

S395

[S395]

Shùshēn zhǎng de zhèng, bùpà yǐngzi xié.

树身长得正, 不怕影子斜。

樹身長得正, 不怕影子斜。

Lit A tree grown straight is not afraid of a slanting shadow.

Fig An upright and honest person is not afraid of slanderous attacks.

Note [See also gān shǐ mǒ bù dào and gēn shēn bùpà and hǎorén shuō bù huài and jiǎo zhèng bùpà and shēn zhèng, bùpà above and xīn zhèng bùpà below.]

Topics ATTACKS HONESTY RECTITUDE SLANDER

S396

[S396]

Shū wú bǎi rì gōng.

书无百日功。

書無百日功。

Lit [One's] calligraphy cannot be perfected in [only] a hundred days.

Note [Originally a quotation from a work on calligraphy: Shūfǎ Yào Lù, chap. 3; note: shūfǎ, “calligraphy”; also said zì wú bǎi rī gōng.]

Topics CALLIGRAPHY PERFECTION Shūfǎ Shūfǎ_Yào_Lù

S397

[S397]

Shǔ wú géyè liáng.

鼠无隔夜粮。

鼠無隔夜糧。

Lit Rats never keep [their] grain overnight.

Fig Some people seem to be congenitally shortsighted.

Note [See also láng wú géyè ròu above.]

Topics SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

S398

[S398]

Shù xiǎo, fú zhí yì; shù dà, bān zhí nán.

树小扶直易, 树大扳直难。

樹小扶直易, 樹大扳直難。

Lit [When a] tree is young, [it is] easier to prop [it] up straight, [but when a] tree is older, straightening [it] is harder.

Fig It's easy to help correct children's shortcomings or bad habits, but (more) difficult to do so with adults.

Note [See also xiǎo jū kě xùn below.]

Topics CHILDREN EDUCATION HABITS SHORTCOMINGS

S399

[S399]

Shù xiǎo, yīnliángr shǎo; zhàoyìng bù dào.

树小荫凉儿少, 照应不到。

樹小蔭涼兒少, 照應不到。

Lit [When a] tree is small, [its] shadow is small, [and it can]not produce [a lot of shade]. (fig/pun) A person in a small position cannot take care of too many others.

Note [Usually used self-deprecatingly.]

Topics HELP LIMITS MODESTY POSITION rhyme

S400

[S400]

Shū yào jīngdú; tián yào xì guǎn.

书要精读, 田要细管。

書要精讀, 田要細管。

Lit Books must [be] read intensively, [just as] fields must [be] cultivated intensively.

Topics BOOKS DILIGENCE READING

S401

[S401]

Shù yù jìng ér fēng bùzhǐ; (zǐ yù yǎng ér qīn bùdài).*

树欲静而风不止, (子欲养而亲不待)。

樹欲靜而風不止, (子欲養而親不待)。

Lit The trees [may] wish [to remain] quiet, but the wind [will] not subside; (the son [may] wish to serve [his parents in their old age,] but they are no more). (fig/originally) Events are not subject to human will. “The wind will not subside.”

Note [Originally from the Han dynasty work by Han Yin, Hán Shī Wàizhuàn, chap. 9. The first half was quoted by Mao Zedong in the 1960s to refer to the inevitability of class struggle, meaning that although the proletariat might wish for calm, the bourgeoisie would inevitably try to stage a counter-revolutionary comeback.]

Topics bourgeoisie class struggle Hán Shī Wàizhuàn Han Yin INEVITABILITY Mao Zedong proletariat WILL

S402

[S402]

Shù zhí, sǐ; rén zhí, qióng.

树直死, 人直穷。

樹直死, 人直窮。

Lit [Just as a] straight tree [is always the first to] die [i.e., to be cut down, so a] “straight” [i.e., straightforward person is always] poor.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics FRANKNESS POVERTY RECTITUDE STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS

S403

[S403]

Shù zhí, yòngchù duō; rén zhí, péngyou duō.

树直, 用处多; 人直, 朋友多。

樹直, 用處多; 人直, 朋友多。

Lit [Just as a] straight tree [has] many uses, [so a] “straight” [i.e., honest and upright] person has many friends.

Note [See also rén zhí, yǒu rén hé above and the preceding entry.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP HONESTY RECTITUDE

S404

[S404]

Shǔ zhōng wú dàjiàng, Liào Huà zuò xiānfēng.

蜀中无大将, 廖化作先锋。

蜀中無大將, 廖化作先鋒。

Lit [Since] in [the Kingdom of] Shu there were no great generals [remaining], Liao Hua, [an assistant to the generals, had to] take the lead.

Fig In the absence of competent leadership, one has to be content with whomever one has available.

Note [Sometimes said modestly of oneself; this refers to an incident in R3K; note the colloquial expressions ǎizi lǐ tiáo chángzi and ǎizi lǐ xuǎn jiàngjūn, (lit) “to choose a tall one/leader from among the dwarves”; meaning “to make do with the best of an inferior lot”; see also shān zhōng wú lǎohǔ below.]

Topics CHOICES colloquial expression COMPETENCE COMPROMISE LEADERSHIP Liao Hua MILITARY MODESTY R3K Shǔ_kingdom

S405

[S405]

Shū zhōng zìyǒu huángjīn wū; shū zhōng zìyǒu yán rú yù.

书中自有黄金屋, 书中自有颜如玉。

書中自有黃金屋, 書中自有顏如玉。

Lit In books there are golden houses and [beauties with] faces like jade.

Fig If you study hard, you'll have fine houses and a beautiful wife someday because you'll become an official and get rich.

Note [A rhyme; originally from the Song dynasty author Zhen Zhong's Quàn Xuéwen; traditional advice given before 1949 to encourage young people to study; note: yánmiàn, (lit) “face, countenance”; see also xué ér yōu zé shì below and the following entry.]

Topics BEAUTY ENCOURAGEMENT OFFICIALS PERSEVERANCE Quàn Xuéwen rhyme Song dynasty STUDYING WEALTH yánmiàn Zhen_Zhong

S406

[S406]

Shū zhōng zìyǒu qiān zhōng sù.

书中自有千钟粟。

書中自有千鍾粟。

Lit There are a thousand zhōng of grain in books.

Fig If you study hard, you'll become wealthy some day by becoming an official.

Note [Note: a zhōng is an ancient measure of grain; originally from the Song dynasty author Zhen Zhong's Quàn Xuéwen, followed by the two lines in the preceding entry; traditional advice given before 1949 to encourage young people to study; see also shí nián chuāng xià above and the preceding entry.]

Topics ENCOURAGEMENT OFFICIALS PERSEVERANCE Quàn Xuéwen Song dynasty STUDYING WEALTH Zhen_Zhong

S407

[S407]

Sì bù niù liù.

四不拗六。

Lit Four [people can]not overcome six [people].

Fig A minority cannot defy the will of the majority.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 1; see also sān bù niù liù and shuāng quán nán dí above.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí FORCE MAJORITY MINORITY NUMBER

S408

[S408]

Sī chǎng yǎn; guānchǎng yòng.

私场演, 官场用。

私場演, 官場用。

Lit Practice in private, [and] perform in public.

Topics PERFORMANCE PRACTICE PRIVATE PUBLIC SKILL SUCCESS

S409

[S409]

Sǐ diàn, huórén kāi.

死店活人开。

死店活人開。

Lit A dead shop [is still] run [by] living people.

Fig Inanimate objects simply exist, but human beings have to be flexible in dealing with life's affairs in order to be successful; be flexible.

Note [Note: sǐhuò, “dead goods,” which no one wants to buy.]

Topics FLEXIBILITY HUMANITY PEOPLE RELATIONSHIPS sǐhuò SUCCESS

S410

[S410]

Sǐ gǒu fú bù shàng qiáng.

死狗扶不上墙。

死狗扶不上牆。

Lit A dead dog can't be propped up [on top of] a wall.

Fig One cannot help a good-for-nothing person to rise above his station.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 68; see also the colloquial expression: fù bù qǐ de Ā Dǒu, “a worthless person beyond help,” referring to Liu Bei in R3K, who was supported by Zhuge Liang to no avail.]

Topics A Dou colloquial expression DRC HELP HELPLESS Liu Bei POSITION R3K suyu Zhuge_Liang

S411

[S411]

Sìhǎi zhīnèi jiē xiōngdì yě.*

四海之内皆兄弟也。

四海之內皆兄弟也。

Lit Within the four seas all [men] brothers are.

Fig All human beings in the world are as family.

Note [Originally from the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Yán Yuān; also cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 10.]

Topics BROTHERHOOD Confucian Analects FAMILIES HUMANITY Lúnyǔ PEOPLE Xǐngshì Héngyán Yán_Yuān

S412

[S412]

Sīle lóngpáo yě shì sǐ; dǎsǐ tàizǐ yě shì sǐ.

撕了龙袍也是死, 打死太子也是死。

撕了龍袍也是死, 打死太子也是死。

Lit To tear an emperor's clothes is to die; to beat a prince is also to die.

Fig When one is in desperate straits, one cares little for the consequences. “Hung for sheep, hung for a lamb.”

Note [See also pīnzhe yīshēn guǎ above.]

Topics CONSEQUENCES DESPERATION

S413

[S413]

Sǐle Zhāng túfū, bù chī hún máozhū.*

死了张屠夫, 不吃浑毛猪。

死了張屠夫, 不吃渾毛豬。

Lit [Even if] Zhang the butcher dies, [we] won't eat pork with hairs [on it].

Fig No one person is indispensable; the work will continue regardless of [one person's] participation.

Note [Note: this is Mao's own negation of méile Wáng tú, lián máo chī zhū (q.v.); cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 73; see also sǐ zhū bù pà and yǒu jī, tiān yě liàng below.]

Topics INDISPENSABILITY INDIVIDUALS JPM Mao Zedong PARTICIPATION

S414

[S414]

Sì liǎng bō qiānjīn.

四两拨千斤。

四兩撥千斤。

Lit Four ounces can move a thousand catties.

Fig If one is clever, one can accomplish great things with few resources.

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 88; note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CLEVERNESS Dàng Kòu Zhì EFFORT jīn qiānjīn (wt.) SUCCESS

S415

[S415]

Sǐ māo xiào dǎo huó lǎoshǔ.

死猫笑倒活老鼠。

死貓笑倒活老鼠。

Lit A dead cat [can] frighten a live rat [to death].

Fig An able person can frighten a rival just by taking a stance.

Topics ABILITY

S416

[S416]

Sī píng wénshū; guān píng yìn.

私凭文书, 官凭印。

私憑文書, 官憑印。

Lit Private business relies on contracts, [while] official [business] relies on [official] seals.

Topics BUSINESS CONTRACTS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PRIVATE PUBLIC

S417

[S417]

Sǐrén chòu yī lǐ; huórén chòu qiān lǐ.

死人臭一里, 活人臭千里。

Lit [The smell of] a dead person stinks for [only] one mile, [but the bad reputation of] a living person will stink far and wide.

Note [Note: one lǐ equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics EVIL REPUTATION

S418

[S418]

Sǐrén shēnbiān zìyǒu huó guǐ.

死人身边自有活鬼。

死人身邊自有活鬼。

Lit Beside the bodies of the dead there are living ghosts.

Fig If someone is murdered, there will be people who will appeal for redress.

Note [Cf. Shí Diǎn Tóu, chap. 4.]

Topics DEATH JUSTICE MURDER Shí_Diǎn_Tóu

S419

[S419]

Sǐrén tóu shàng wú duìzhèng.

死人头上无对证。

死人頭上無對證。

Lit One cannot make a dead person bear witness. “Dead men tell no tales.”

Note [As a chengyu: sǐ wú duìzhèng; cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 14; see also shārén mièkǒu above.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DEATH EVIDENCE SILENCE WITNESS

S420

[S420]

Sǐ zé tóng sǐ, shēng zé tóng shēng.

死则同死, 生则同生。

死則同死, 生則同生。

Lit [If this is your time to] die, [I will] die with you; [if it is your time to] live, [then I will] live with you.

Note [Said by close friends, sworn brothers, lovers, etc.]

Topics DEATH FRIENDS LIFE LOVERS LOYALTY OATHS

S421

[S421]

Sǐ zhīfǔ bùrú yī gè huó lǎoshǔ.

死知府不如一个活老鼠。

死知府不如一個活老鼠。

Lit A dead district magistrate is not as good as a live rat.

Fig Officials out of power are completely worthless.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 18; note: from the Tang to the Qing dynasties a fǔ (“prefecture”) was below the shěng (“province”) level and above the xiàn (“county”) level; see also bále máo de above.]

Topics COUNTY fù LOSS OFFICIALS POWER province RESPECT shěng xiàn

S422

[S422]

Sǐ zhū bù pà kāishuǐ tàng.

死猪不怕开水烫。

死豬不怕開水燙。

Lit A dead pig is not afraid of being scalded in water [used to soften skin before shaving the hair off].

Fig When one is in a desperate situation, one will try anything. Desperate people will try anything, as they have nothing to lose.

Topics DARING DESPERATION

S423

[S423]

Sǐ Zhūgě xiàsǐ shēng Zhòng Dá.

死诸葛吓死生仲达。

死諸葛嚇死生仲達。

Lit The dead Zhuge [Liang] scared off the living Zhong Da [Sima Yi].

Fig A clever person can outsmart a superior force by trickery.

Note [In the Three Kingdoms period, the master strategist Zhuge Liang, before he died, left instructions that an image of himself be placed in a cart to dismay his enemy Sima Yi, the King of Wei, which ruse in fact succeeded; cf. Sān Guó Zhì: Zhūgě Liàng Zhuàn; see also Lu Xun's Qiě Jiè Tíng Záwén: (Mò Bián).]

Topics FORCE Lu Xun Mo Bian Qiě Jiè Tíng Zá Wén Sān Guó Zhì Sima Yi STRATEGY Three Kingdoms period TRICKERY WINNING Zhuge_Liang

S424

[S424]

Sòng Fó, sòng dào Xī(tiān).

送佛送到西(天)。

Lit [When] seeing off a Buddha, escort him to the West(ern Paradise).

Fig If you're going to help someone, help until help is no longer needed.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 9; see also bāng rén, bāng dàodǐ above.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HELP THOROUGHNESS

S425

[S425]

Sòng jūn qiān lǐ, zhōng xū yī bié.*

送君千里终须一别。

送君千里終須一別。

Lit [Although you] escort [your] guest a thousand leagues, [in the] end [there] must [be] a parting.

Fig The time has come for us to part. [Said by the one who is leaving.]

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 10; see also liú jūn qiān rì and qiān lǐ dā cháng péng and shèngyàn bì sàn above and tiānxià wú bù sàn below.]

Topics COURTESY DEPARTURES ENDINGS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GUESTS HOSTS PARTING TIME

S426

[S426]

Sòng qīn de lù duǎn; huánxiāng de lù cháng.

送亲的路短, 还乡的路长。

送親的路短, 還鄉的路長。

Lit [When] seeing close friends and relatives off, [one always feels the] way [is too] short; [when] going back to [one's] home, [one always feels the] way [is too] long.

Note [See also xīnjí, mǎ xíng chí below.]

Topics IMPATIENCE TIME

S427

[S427]

Sòng rén, sòng dàojiā;* (wéi rén xū wéi chè).

送人送到家, (为人须为彻)。

送人送到家, (為人須為徹)。

Lit [When you] escort someone, escort [him all the way] home; ([if you] help someone, help [him] thoroughly).

Fig If you help someone, help him or her until help is no longer needed.

Note [The second part is usually omitted; see also bāng rén, bāng dàodǐ and jiù rén, jiù dàodǐ and shārén xū jiàn xuè and sòng Fó, sòng dào Xī above.]

Topics CONDUCT HELP THOROUGHNESS

S428

[S428]

Sū-Háng bù dào, wǎng wéirén.

苏杭不到枉为人。

蘇杭不到枉為人。

Lit [If one has] never been to Su[zhou and] Hang[zhou], one['s life has] not been worthwhile.

Note [Both spots are famous for their scenic beauty; also said bù dào Sū-Háng, sǐ de yuānwang; note: yuānwang, “wasted; unproductive”; see also shàng yǒu tiāntáng above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE Hangzhou LIFE PLACE SCENERY Suzhou TRAVEL

S429

[S429]

Sū-Hú shú, tiānxià zú.

苏湖熟, 天下足。

蘇湖熟, 天下足。

Lit [When the] harvest is good in Suzhou and Huzhou, [people will be] well fed throughout the country.

Note [In ancient China the areas around Suzhou in Jiangsu province and Huzhou in Zhejiang province were the main producers of rice; see also Hú-Guǎng shú and liǎng Guǎng shú above.]

Topics FOOD HARVEST Huzhou Jiangsu province RICE Suzhou Zhejiang_province

S430

[S430]

Suíbǐ dēng zhàng, miǎn hòu sīliang.

随笔登帐, 免后思量。

隨筆登帳, 免後思量。

Lit Keep accounts [as] you go along [and you will] avoid [having to] recall [them] later.

Note [Rhyme; note: sīliang, “turn over in one's mind”; see also hǎo jìxing bùrú làn bǐtóu above.]

Topics ACCOUNTS BUSINESS sīliang

S431

[S431]

Suì má cuō chéng shéng, néng dān qiānjīn zhòng.

碎麻搓成绳, 能担千斤重。

碎麻搓成繩, 能擔千斤重。

Lit [When] pieces of flax [are] twisted into rope, [they] can bear [the weight of a] thousand catties.

Fig In unity there is strength.

Note [Note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics COOPERATION qiānjīn (wt.) STRENGTH UNITY

S432

[S432]

Suī yǒu qīn fù, ān zhī bù wéi hǔ; suī yǒu qīn xiōng, ān zhī bù wéi láng？

虽有亲父, 安知不为虎; 虽有亲兄, 安知不为狼？

雖有親父, 安知不為虎; 雖有親兄, 安知不為狼？

Lit Though [he] is [your] father, how [do you] know [he is] not as [fierce as a] tiger; though [he] is [your] brother, how [do you] know [he is] not as [vicious as a] wolf?

Fig One cannot truly know anyone, even one's closest relatives.

Note [See also hǎi kū zhōng jiàn and huà lóng, huà hǔ above and zhī rén, zhī miàn below.]

Topics KNOWING MINDS RELATIVES TRUST TRUTH

S433

[S433]

Suī yǒu xiōngsuì, bì yǒu fēngnián.

虽有凶岁, 必有丰年。

雖有凶歲, 必有豐年。

Lit Although there are bad years, there must [also] be bumper years.

Fig In every life, there are good and bad times.

Note [See also rén yǒu qī pín and shìshì yǒuchéng above.]

Topics LIFE VICISSITUDES

S434

[S434]

Suī yǒu zhìhuì, bùrú chéngshì; suī yǒu zījī, bùrú dài shí.

虽有智慧不如乘势, 虽有鎡基不如待时。

雖有智慧不如乘勢, 雖有鎡基不如待時。

Lit Although [one] has intelligence, [it is] not as good as seizing the right moment; although one has a hoe, [it is] not as good as [plowing] at the right time.

Fig Timing is the most important element in success.

Note [Cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Gōng Sūn Chǒu, Shàng; note: zījī means “a hoe.”]

Topics Gōng Sūn Chǒu, Shàng INTELLIGENCE Mencius SUCCESS TIMING

S435

[S435]

Sǔn rén zì sǔn.

损人自损。

損人自損。

Lit [To] injure others [is to] injure oneself.

Fig “What goes around, comes around.”

Note [Note the expression (yǐ) sǔn rén kāishǐ, (yǐ) hài jǐ gào zhòng, “(to) begin by injuring others and end up ruining oneself.”]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT INJURY

S436

[S436]

Suǒyuè jìn gù, jìng dòu kě yóu.

锁钥尽固, 径窦可由。

鎖鑰盡固, 徑竇可由。

Lit [Although] lock and key [are] securely fastened, [a] small hole [will remain] to pass through.

Fig Despite one's precautions, there are always some loopholes to be exploited, (so be careful!)

Topics CAUTION DANGER LOOPHOLES PRECAUTIONS

S437

[S437]

Súyǔ bù sú.

俗语不俗。

俗語不俗。

Lit Common sayings are not “common” [i.e., lower class or vulgar].

Note [Note: suyu “proverbial expressions,” “common sayings” or “folk adages,” as opposed to chengyu “fixed phrase literary idioms” and geyan “maxims; aphorisms,” were traditionally looked upon by the literati as common and vulgar; note: yōngsú, “vulgar; philistine”; súqì, “vulgar; in poor taste.”]

Topics aphorisms chengyu common sayings folk adages literati maxims proverbial expressions SAYINGS súqì suyu VULGARITY yōngsú

【L1】T T1

[T1]

Tài gāng zé zhé.

太刚则折。

太剛則折。

Lit [Anything that is] too rigid will break.

Fig Anyone who is too upright and outspoken will meet with disaster.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 39.]

Topics DISASTER Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) FLEXIBILITY RECTITUDE SELF-RESTRAINT

T2

[T2]

Tàigōng diàoyú, yuàn zhě shànggōu.*

太公钓鱼, 愿者上钩。

太公釣魚, 願者上鉤。

Note [See (Jiāng) Tàigōng diàoyú above.]

T3

[T3]

Tā jìng wǒ yī chǐ; wǒ jìng tā yī zhàng.*

他敬我一尺, 我敬他一丈。

Lit [If] someone respects me one foot, I'll respect him ten feet.

Fig Help, favors, or respect should be reciprocal.

Note [Also said nǐ jìng wǒ yī chǐ, etc.; note: one zhàng equals ten Chinese feet or 3.33 meters.]

Topics FAVORS HELP RECIPROCITY RESPECT zhàng

T4

[T4]

Tángláng bǔ chán, huángquè zàihòu.*

螳螂捕蝉, 黄雀在后。

螳螂捕蟬, 黃雀在後。

Lit The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Fig Don't covet gains ahead without being aware of the dangers behind. People who plot evil deeds may suffer the same fate.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 57; see also què bǔ tángláng above.]

Topics CAUTION DANGER EVIL JUSTICE Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

T5

[T5]

Táng tián yīkǒu; xīn tián yīshēng.

糖甜一口, 心甜一生。

Lit Sugar [tastes] sweet [only while it's in one's] mouth, [but a clear] conscience [makes one's life] sweet [for] all [one's] life.

Topics CONSCIENCE

T6

[T6]

Tān jiàn, mǎi lǎo niú.

贪贱买老牛。

貪賤買老牛。

Lit [If you try to] get things on the cheap, [you'll just get stuck with] buying an old ox.

Fig If one (always) tries to get things on the cheap, one will end up with something useless.

Note [Note: tānxīn, “greedy”; tān piányi, “anxious to get things on the cheap,” see also guì de bù guì above.]

Topics CHEAPNESS PETTINESS STINGINESS tān_piányi

T7

[T7]

Tán kǒu hǎo fēng; rén zuǐ nán wǔ.

坛口好封, 人嘴难捂。

罈口好封, 人嘴難捂。

Lit The mouths of jars are easy to seal, [but] people's mouths are difficult to seal.

Fig People like to gossip.

Note [See also shuān zhù lǘ zuǐ above.]

Topics GOSSIP PEOPLE

T8

[T8]

Tān kuài chū chācuò; màn cháng dé zīwèi.

贪快出差错, 慢尝得滋味。

貪快出差錯, 慢嘗得滋味。

Lit A desire for speed produces mistakes, [while] slow tasting [lets one] get the flavor.

Fig “More haste (means) less speed.” “Haste makes waste.”

Note [See also jí xíng wú shàn jì and jí zhōng yǒu shī above and yù sù zé bù dá below.]

Topics HASTE MISTAKES SPEED

T9

[T9]

Tānlán de rén bǎo bù liǎo; lìnsè de rén fù bùliǎo.

贪婪的人饱不了, 吝啬的人富不了。

貪婪的人飽不了, 吝嗇的人富不了。

Lit A greedy person never feels full, [while] a penny-pincher never gets rich.

Topics AVARICE GREED STINGINESS

T10

[T10]

“Tān” zì jìn “pín.”

“贪” 字近 “贫”。

“貪” 字近 “貧”。

Lit The Chinese character [for] “greed” [is] close [in shape] to [that for] “poverty.”

Fig A greedy person will inevitably end up in poverty.

Topics AVARICE Chinese characters GREED POVERTY

T11

[T11]

Tǎofàn pà gǒu yǎo; xiùcai pà suì kǎo.

讨饭怕狗咬, 秀才怕岁考。

討飯怕狗咬, 秀才怕歲考。

Lit Beggars fear dogs [and] scholars [traditionally] were afraid of the yearly [imperial] examinations.

Fig Everybody has something to fear.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BEGGARS EXAMINATIONS FEAR rhyme SCHOLARS

T12

[T12]

Táolǐ bù yán; xià zì chéng xī.

桃李不言, 下自成蹊。

Lit [Although] peach [trees and] plum [trees do] not speak, [yet] beneath [them] naturally a path [will] form.

Fig Sincere people attract others although they don't speak much. A person of true worth naturally attracts admiration.

Note [Cf. Hàn Shū: Lǐ Guǎng Zhuàn Zàn.]

Topics ADMIRATION Hàn Shū Lǐ Guǎng Zhuàn Zàn SINCERITY VALUE WORTH

T13

[T13]

Tàpò tiě xié, wú mì chù; dé lái quán bù fèi gōngfu.

踏破铁鞋无觅处, 得来全不费工夫。

踏破鐵鞋無覓處, 得來全不費工夫。

Lit [One may] wear out [a pair of] iron shoes without finding [a thing, and then] come upon [it] without expending any effort at all.

Fig One may find something by chance after having traveled all over looking for it in vain.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 53; see also kě yù ér bù kě qiú and qiúzhī-bùdé above.]

Topics COINCIDENCE FINDING LUCK SEARCHING WM

T14

[T14]

Tārén gōng mò wǎn; tārén mǎ xiū qí.

他人弓莫挽, 他人马休骑。

他人弓莫挽, 他人馬休騎。

Lit Don't draw another's bow [and] don't ride another's horse.

Fig Never take anything that doesn't belong to you.

Topics HONESTY STEALING

T15

[T15]

Tiān bùkě wéi.

天不可违。

天不可違。

Lit Heaven may not [be] opposed.

Fig Humans can't go against Heaven's will.

Topics FATE HEAVEN

T16

[T16]

Tiān bù néng zǒng qíng; rén bù néng cháng zhuàng.

天不能总晴, 人不能常壮。

天不能總晴, 人不能常壯。

Lit The sky can't always be sunny [and] people can't always be healthy.

Fig Human fortunes are as unpredictable as the weather.

Note [See also tiān yǒu bùcè below.]

Topics FATE FORTUNE HEALTH LIFE WEATHER

T17

[T17]

Tiān bù pà; dì bù pà; jiù pà yǒu rén shuō xiánhuà.

天不怕地不怕, 就怕有人说闲话。

天不怕地不怕, 就怕有人說閑話。

Lit Fear neither Heaven nor Earth; rather fear people gossiping.

Note [Rhyme; note: tiān bù pà; dì bù pà; jiù pà/zhǐpà ... is a standard formula.]

Topics GOSSIP

T18

[T18]

Tiān bù yán, ér zì gāo; dì bù yán, ér zìbēi.

天不言而自高, 地不言而自卑。

Lit Heaven does not speak, but it's high; earth does not speak, but it's low.

Fig The sky is high and the earth is low, no matter what people say. Good is good and bad is bad, no matter what people may say.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 62.]

Topics DISTORTIONS EVIL GOODNESS HEAVEN JPM TRUTH

T19

[T19]

Tiān bù yán zì gāo; dì bù yán zì hòu.

天不言自高, 地不言自厚。

Lit Heaven [need] not speak of its height, nor earth of its thickness.

Fig If one is good, one is good, and it's not necessary to boast about it.

Note [See the colloquial suyu expression tiān gāo, dì hòu, (lit) “how high the sky and how deep the earth”; (fig) “the immensity of the universe; the complexity of things; how things are.”]

Topics BRAGGING colloquial expression GREED suyu tiān_gǎo_dì_hòu

T20

[T20]

Tiān bù zhuàn, dì zhuàn; dì bù zhuàn, rén zhuàn.

天不转地转,地不转人转。

天不轉地轉,地不轉人轉。

Lit If Heaven doesn't turn, the earth will; (if the earth doesn't turn, people will [keep things moving]).

Fig Things keep on happening and changing in life, regardless.

Note [Note: tiānbuzhuàn dìzhuàn is a colloquial expression meaning “to happen regardless”; “we are bound to run into each other again some day”; see also shān bù zhuàn above.]

Topics CHANGE colloquial expression EARTH HEAVEN tiānbuzhuàn_dìzhuàn

T21

[T21]

Tiān cháng dì jiǔ, yǒu shí jìn.

天长地久, 有时尽。

天長地久, 有時盡。

Lit [To the] long existence of Heaven and Earth there [will] come an end.

Fig There is nothing permanent in the universe.

Note [Note the chengyu: tiāncháng-dìjiǔ, “enduring as the universe.”]

Topics chengyu chengyu PERMANENCE tiāncháng-dìjiǔ tiāncháng-dìjiǔ TRANSIENCE

T22

[T22]

Tián cóng kǔ zhōng lái; fú cóng huò zhōng shēng.

甜从苦中来, 福从祸中生。

甜從苦中來, 福從禍中生。

Lit Sweetness comes from bitterness, [and] fortune from misfortune.

Note [See also huò xī fú suǒ yǐ and huò yǔ fú wéi lín above.]

Topics BITTERNESS COMPENSATION FORTUNE HARDSHIPS

T23

[T23]

Tiān dào chóu qín.

天道酬勤。

Lit Heaven rewards the diligent.

Topics DILIGENCE PERMANENCE

T24

[T24]

Tiāndì wéi dà; qīn shī wéi zūn.

天地为大亲师为尊。

天地為大親師為尊。

Lit Heaven [and] earth are great; parents [and] teachers are [to be] respected.

Note [In traditional China, students were taught to respect tiān, dì, jūn, qīn, shī, “Heaven, Earth, the emperor, parents, teachers.”]

Topics PARENTS RESPECT TEACHERS

T25

[T25]

Tiān gāo, huángdì yuǎn.*

天高, 皇帝远。

天高, 皇帝遠。

Lit Heaven is high [above and the] emperor is far [away].

Fig The control of the government is weaker in remote areas.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 12.]

Topics EMPEROR GOVERNMENT HEAVEN LOCALITIES Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

T26

[T26]

Tiāngōng, rén kě dài; réngōng, tiān bùrú.

天工人可代, 人工天不如。

Lit [What] nature creates, man can recreate, [but what] man creates, nature [can]not equal.

Note [Note: tiāngōng, “(exquisitely fine) work of nature”; see also rénshì kěyǐ bǔ above.]

Topics ART CREATION NATURE SKILL

T27

[T27]

Tiāngǒu chī bu liǎo rìtou.*

天狗吃不了日头。

天狗吃不了日頭。

Lit The heavenly dog cannot devour the sun [forever].

Fig Evil can never prevail over right forever.

Note [Note: it was a popular superstition in traditional China that solar eclipses were caused by a heavenly dog devouring the sun.]

Topics ECLIPSES EVIL GOODNESS SUN SUPERSTITION

T28

[T28]

Tiānjī bùkě xièlòu.*

天机不可泄露。

天機不可泄露。

Lit Heavenly secrets must not be leaked.

Fig Secrets should be kept strictly confidential.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 85; note: tiānjī, (lit) “heavenly mysteries,” is here being used hyperbolically to refer to ordinary secrets.]

Topics CAUTION SECRETS WM

T29

[T29]

Tiān lěng bù dòng Zhīnǚ shǒu; jīhuang bù è kǔ gēng rén.

天冷不冻织女手, 饥荒不饿苦耕人。

天冷不凍織女手, 飢荒不餓苦耕人。

Lit Cold weather won't freeze girl-weavers hands [and] famine won't starve diligent farmers.

Fig Those who work hard will survive cold and hunger.

Note [Note: kǔgēng, “hard work”; kǔgàn, “work hard.”]

Topics DILIGENCE kǔgàn kǔgēng

T30

[T30]

Tiān liáng bùrú jiǎn kǒu.

添粮不如减口。

添糧不如減口。

Fig [Trying to] supply more food is not as [good as] reducing [the number of] mouths [to be fed; e.g., employees, servants, etc.].

Topics BUDGETING EMPLOYEES FOOD POPULATION

T31

[T31]

Tiān luò mántou, yě yào qǐzǎo qù shí.

天落馒头, 也要起早去拾。

天落饅頭, 也要起早去拾。

Lit [Even if] steamed bread falls from the sky, [you] have to go early and pick it up.

Fig Even when good fortune befalls one, one has to exert oneself to accomplish anything. “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

Note [See also rén hǒng dìpí above and tiānshí, rénshì below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT EFFORT FORTUNE HELP LUCK

T32

[T32]

Tián pà qiūrì hàn; rén pà lǎolái qióng.

田怕秋日旱, 人怕老来穷。

田怕秋日旱, 人怕老來窮。

Lit [As] fields dread drought in autumn, [so] people fear poverty in old age.

Note [See also rén pà lǎolái pín above.]

Topics AGE FEAR OLD AGE POVERTY

T33

[T33]

Tiān qíng bù kāi gōu, yǔ lái dàochù liú.

天晴不开沟, 雨来到处流。

天晴不開溝, 雨來到處流。

Lit [If, when] the weather is fine, ditches are not dug, [when it] rains, water [will] run everywhere.

Fig Make preparations well in advance. “Prepare for a rainy day.”

Note [Rhyme; see also qíng gān kāi shuǐdào above.]

Topics PREPARATION rhyme

T34

[T34]

Tiān qíng bùkěn zǒu; zhǐ dài yǔ líntóu.

天晴不肯走, 只待雨淋头。

天晴不肯走, 只待雨淋頭。

Lit [If when] the weather's fine [one] won't leave, [then one will] be caught in the rain [later].

Fig Do things at the right time.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 33; see also qíng gān bùkěn above.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES Fēngshén Yǎnyì FUTURE PLANNING TIMING

T36

[T36]

Tiānshàng méiyǒu duòluò lóng; dìshàng méiyǒu è shā chóng.

天上没有堕落龙; 地上没有饿煞虫。

天上沒有墮落龍; 地上沒有餓煞蟲。

Lit There will be no dragons falling down from the skies, [and] there will be no worms starving to death.

Fig There will always be some way to make a living or survive.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LIVING rhyme SURVIVAL

T37

[T37]

Tiānshàng wú yún, bù xiàyǔ; dìshàng wú rén, shì bù chéng.

天上无云不下雨, 地上无人事不成。

天上無雲不下雨, 地上無人事不成。

Lit [If] there were no clouds in the sky, it wouldn't rain; [if] there were no humans on earth, nothing would get accomplished.

Fig Nothing in life can be accomplished without human effort.

Note [Note the chengyu: shìzàirénwéi, “Things are to be done by human beings; it all depends on human effort”; see also lěngshuǐ yào rén and the following entry.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT chengyu EFFORT HUMAN BEINGS shìzàirénwéi

T38

[T38]

Tiānshàng wú yún, bù xiàyǔ; dìxia wú méi, bù chénghūn.

天上无云不下雨, 地下无媒不成婚。

天上無雲不下雨, 地下無媒不成婚。

Lit [Just as when] there are no clouds in the sky, it doesn't rain, [so if] there were no go-betweens in the world, [there would] be no marriages.

Note [See also zhōngjiān méi rén below and the preceding entry.]

Topics GO-BETWEENS MARRIAGE MATCHMAKERS

T39

[T39]

Tiānshàng xiàyǔ, dìxia huá; zìjǐ diēle, zìjǐ pá.

天上下雨地下滑, 自己跌了自己爬。

Lit Everywhere the ground is slippery after it rains; if one slips, one has to get up by oneself.

Fig Life being the way it is, one has to rely on oneself to solve one's own problems.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LIFE PROBLEMS rhyme SELF-RELIANCE SOLUTIONS

T40

[T40]

Tiānshàng xiàyǔ, dìxia liú; liǎngkǒur dǎjià bù jìchóu.

天上下雨, 地下流, 两口儿打架不记仇。

天上下雨, 地下流, 兩口兒打架不記仇。

Lit [Just as it's natural that] water flows away on the ground [after it] rains; [so it's equally natural that] “we two” [i.e., husband and wife] bear no grudges [against each other after they/we've] had a fight

Note [Rhyme; note: liǎngkǒu is a colloquial expression meaning “we two; both of us”; see also fūqī wú gé xiǔ zhī chóu above.]

Topics colloquial expression COUPLES FIGHTING GRUDGES HUSBANDS liǎngkǒu rhyme WIVES

T41

[T41]

Tiān shēng yī gè rén, bì yǒu yī fèn liáng.

天生一个人, 必有一份粮。

天生一個人, 必有一份糧。

Lit [Since] Heaven [permits] one person to be born, there must be one['s] portion of food.

Fig Since one was born, one is sure to have something to eat.

Note [Cf. Tian Han's modern play Yú Guāng Qǔ.]

Topics FOOD HEAVEN LIFE Tian Han Yú_Guāng_Qǔ

T42

[T42]

Tiānshí, rénshì, liǎng xiāng fú.

天时人事, 两相扶。

天時人事, 兩相扶。

Lit Heaven's timing [and] people's [own] efforts are equally important [in accomplishing anything].

Fig “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

Note [See also tiān luò mántou above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT EFFORT HEAVEN HELP SUCCESS TIMING

T43

[T43]

Tián shì zhǔrén; rén shì kè.

田是主人, 人是客。

Lit The land is the host [and] people are [merely] guests.

Fig Land owners may change, but the land remains forever.

Note [See also qiān nián tiándì above.]

Topics LAND OWNERS TIME

T44

[T44]

Tiān suàn bù yóu rén suàn.*

天算不由人算。

Lit Heaven's calculations don't follow man's calculation.

Fig Whatever human minds intend, it's heaven that decides the end; “man proposes, heaven disposes.”

Note [See also móushì zài rén and qiān suàn, wàn suàn and shì dàotóulái above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT FATE HEAVEN PLANNING

T45

[T45]

Tiān tā bù xiàlái; dì chén bù xiàqù.

天塌不下来, 地沉不下去。

天塌不下來, 地沉不下去。

Lit The sky won't fall down [and] the earth won't sink away.

Fig There's nothing to fear or worry about.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics EARTH FEAR HEAVEN SKY WORRIES

T46

[T46]

Tiān tā xiàlai, zìyǒu cháng de chēng zhù.*

天塌下来, 自有长的撑住。

天塌下來, 自有長的撐住。

Lit [Even if] the sky [starts to] fall, there are tall [people who will] prop it up.

Fig Don't worry; (even) if problems come up, there are able people who can deal with them.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 7; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also tiān tā, zìyǒu below.]

Topics ABILITY DIFFICULTIES WORRIES Wǔ Sōng Xǐngshì_Héngyán

T47

[T47]

Tiān tā, zá zhòngrén.

天塌砸众人。

天塌砸眾人。

Lit [When] the sky falls, everyone [will be] crushed.

Fig No one can escape great disasters (so why should one person worry?).

Note [Also said tiān tā, dàjiā sǐ, “If the sky falls, everyone will die.”]

Topics DISASTER WORRIES

T48

[T48]

Tiān tā, zìyǒu cháng rén dǐng.*

天塌, 自有长人顶。

天塌, 自有長人頂。

Lit [If] the sky falls, there will be taller people [to] hold [it] up.

Fig If anything goes wrong, don't worry about it, there will always be people who are more qualified who will take care of things.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 7; see also rù shuǐ jiàn cháng rén and tiān tā xiàlai above.]

Topics ABILITY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

T49

[T49]

Tiānwǎng-huīhuī, shū ér bù lòu.

天网恢恢, 疏而不漏。

天網恢恢, 疏而不漏。

Lit The vast net of Heaven has large meshes, but it lets nothing through.

Fig Heaven's retribution is slow but sure. Crime or injustice will be punished in the end.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 18 and Lǎozǐ: Dào Dé Jīng, chap. 73; note: the chengyu: tiānwǎng-huīhuī, “justice has a long arm”; shū'érbùlòu, “justice is implacable.”]

Topics chengyu CRIME Dào Dé Jíng Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HEAVEN INJUSTICE JUSTICE Lǎozǐ PUNISHMENT RETRIBUTION shū'érbùlòu tiānwǎng-huīhuī

T50

[T50]

Tiān wúbiān; zhì wúxiàn.

天无边, 智无限。

天無邊, 智無限。

Lit [Just as] the heavens have no boundaries, [so] wisdom has no limits.

Topics LIMITS rhyme WISDOM

T51

[T51]

Tiān wú èr rì; mín wú èr wáng.

天无二日, 民无二王。

天無二日, 民無二王。

Lit There are not two suns in the sky, [and] the people can only have one ruler.

Fig There can only be one ruler in a country.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 86; note: tiānwú'èrrì is used as a set phrase; see also yī guó bùróng below.]

Topics COUNTRY GOVERNMENT LEADERS R3K RULERS tiānwú_èrrì

T52

[T52]

Tiān wú èr rì; rén wú èr lǐ.

天无二日, 人无二理。

天無二日, 人無二理。

Lit There are not two suns in the sky [and] there are not two truths on earth.

Fig There is only one truth on earth.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 78; see the preceding entry.]

Topics JW tiānwú'èrrì TRUTH

T53

[T53]

Tiān wú jué rén zhī lù.*

天无绝人之路。

天無絕人之路。

Lit Heaven has no roads which completely block a person.

Fig Heaven never drives one to desperation. “God never closes one door but he opens another.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 37: note also the Spanish proverb: No hieve Dios con dos manos, “God never wounds with both hands.”]

Topics DESPERATION HEAVEN Spanish Xǐngshì_Héngyán

T54

[T54]

Tiān wú sān rì yǔ; rén méi yīshì qióng.

天无三日雨, 人没一世穷。

天無三日雨, 人沒一世窮。

Lit [Just as] it doesn't rain for three days in a row, [so] one won't be poor all one's life.

Topics CHANGE LIFE POVERTY RAIN TIME

T55

[T55]

Tiānxià běn wú shì; yōngrén zì rǎo zhī.

天下本无事, 庸人自扰之。

天下本無事, 庸人自擾之。

Lit Originally the world was eventless; [it is only] foolish people [who] create trouble [for] themselves.

Fig Some people imagine trouble out of nothing; people (often) create problems (for) themselves.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 22; note the chengyu: yōngrén-zìrǎo, “worry(ing) about troubles of one's own imagining; bark(ing) at the moon.”]

Topics chengyu Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FOOLS PROBLEMS rhyme TROUBLE yōngrén-zìrǎo yōngrén-zìrǎo

T56

[T56]

Tiānxià dàoli qiān qiānwàn; méi qián bù néng bǎ shì bàn.

天下道理千千万, 没钱不能把事办。

天下道理千千萬, 沒錢不能把事辦。

Lit There are thousands upon thousands of principles on earth, [but] without money, nothing can be accomplished.

Note [Rhyme; see also qián kě tōng shén above and tiānxià wú nánshì below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CONDITIONS MONEY PRINCIPLES SUCCESS

T57

[T57]

Tiānxià de huàishì zhǐpà bù zuò; bù pà bù pò.

天下的坏事只怕不做, 不怕不破。

天下的壞事只怕不做, 不怕不破。

Lit [The] best way [to deal with] all bad acts is not to commit [them], not [just to] worry about being found out.

Fig If you don't want to get caught, then don't do anything wrong in the first place.

Note [See also ruò yào rén bù zhī above and zhǐpà bù zuò below.]

Topics ACTIONS EVIL SELF-RESTRAINT WORRIES

T58

[T58]

Tiānxià nánshì bì zuò yú yì.

天下难事必做于易。

天下難事必做於易。

Lit [All] difficult things should [be handled by] starting from [the] easy [part].

Note [Cf. Lǎozǐ, chap. 63.]

Topics BEGINNING DIFFICULTIES Lǎozǐ

T59

[T59]

Tiānxià qiányǎnr dōu yīyàng.

天下钱眼儿都一样。

天下錢眼兒都一樣。

Lit All the “eyes” in the world are the same.

Fig Everyone is capable of making judgments about persons or things.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 15; qiányǎnr refers to the square hole in the center of copper “cash” coins used to string them together in traditional China; here it is a metaphor for the uniformity of people's eyes; see also gōngpíng chūyú and línjū yǎnjing above.]

Topics CASH EQUALITY JPM JUDGMENTS

T60

[T60]

Tiānxià rén guǎn tiānxià shì.

天下人管天下事。

Lit Everyone under heaven has [a right to have] a say about the affairs of the world.

Note [See also tiānxià wéi gōng below.]

Topics GOVERNMENT POLITICS RIGHTS SPEECH

T61

[T61]

Tiānxià shì nán jìn rú rényì.

天下事难尽如人意。

天下事難盡如人意。

Lit [All the] things in the world [are] hard put to be completely as people wish.

Fig Not everything in life can be completely the way people wish them to be.

Note [Note: jìnrú-rényì is used as a chengyu meaning “things develop as wished.”]

Topics chengyu DESIRE jìnrú-rényì LIFE

T62

[T62]

Tiānxià wéi gōng.*

天下为公。

天下為公。

Lit [Everything] under heaven is public [business].

Fig The world (and political power) belongs to everyone. Everyone should be concerned with public affairs.

Note [Originally a line from the Confucian Lǐjì (Book of Rites): Lǐ Yùn; later quoted by Sun Yatsen as a slogan expressing his concept of mínquán, “people's rights”; this is sometimes presented as a chengyu.]

Topics Book of Rites chengyu GOVERNMENT Lǐjì Lǐ Yùn mínquán POLITICS POWER PUBLIC Sun Yatsen tiānxià-wéigōng

T63

[T63]

Tiānxià wú bù sàn de yánxí.

天下无不散的筵席。

天下無不散的筵席。

Lit There is no party in the world which does not have an end.

Fig Even the finest feast must break up at last. “All good things must come to an end.”

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 1; see also liú jūn qiān rì and méiyǒu bù sàn and qiān lǐ dā cháng péng and shèngyàn bì sàn and sòng jūn qiān lǐ above.]

Topics COURTESY DEPARTURES ENDINGS GUESTS Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HOSTS PARTING TIME

T64

[T64]

Tiānxià wú bùshi de fùmǔ.

天下无不是的父母。

天下無不是的父母。

Lit There are no incorrect parents in the world.

Fig Parents are always right. Obedience to one's parents should be absolute.

Note [Note: bùshi, “fault.”]

Topics bùshi CHILDREN OBEDIENCE PARENTS

T65

[T65]

Tiānxià wú nánshì, zhǐpà yǒuxīnrén.*

天下无难事, 只怕有心人。

天下無難事, 只怕有心人。

Lit There's nothing difficult in the world; it only takes a person with will.

Fig “Where there's a will, there's a way.”

Note [Also said shì shàng wú nán shì, etc.; see also shìshàng wú nánshì above and yǒuzhìzhě below.]

Topics DETERMINATION DIFFICULTIES MINDS SUCCESS WILL yǒuxīnrén

T66

[T66]

Tiānxià wú nánshì, zhǐyào lǎomiànpí.

天下无难事, 只要老面皮。

天下無難事, 只要老面皮。

Lit Nothing in the world is difficult for one who is thick-skinned (or brazen-faced) enough.

Note [A sarcastic variant of the preceding entry.]

Topics lǎomiànpí SARCASM

T67

[T67]

Tiānxià wú nánshì, zǒng jiào xiàn yínzi.

天下无难事, 总教现银子。

天下無難事, 總教現銀子。

Lit Nothing in the world is difficult so long as there is ready cash at hand.

Note [Note: 教 jiào is now often replaced by 交 jiāo; see also the preceding two entries and tiānxià dàoli above and yǒuqián néng shǐ below.]

Topics CASH DIFFICULTIES

T68

[T68]

Tiānxià wūyā yībān hēi.*

天下乌鸦一般黑。

天下烏鴉一般黑。

Lit Crows are black the world over.

Fig Bad people are the same everywhere in the world.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 57; see also dōng shān lǎohǔ above.]

Topics DRC EVIL SIMILARITIES

T69

[T69]

Tiānxià yǒu hěnxīn de ér-nǚ; wú hěnxīn de diē-niáng.

天下有狠心的儿女, 无狠心的爹娘。

天下有狠心的兒女, 無狠心的爹娘。

Lit In this world, there are heartless sons [and] daughters, [but] there are no heartless fathers [and] mothers.

Topics CHILDREN LOVE PARENTS

T70

[T70]

Tián yán duó zhì; táng shí huài chǐ.

甜言夺志, 糖食坏齿。

甜言奪志, 糖食壞齒。

Lit Sweet words weaken a person's will [just as] sweet food rots the teeth.

Note [See also shuō de hǎotīng above.]

Topics FLATTERY FOOD WORDS

T71

[T71]

Tián yán měi yǔ, sān dōng nuǎn; èyǔ shāngrén Liùyuè hán.*

甜言美语三冬暖, 恶语伤人六月寒。

甜言美語三冬暖, 惡語傷人六月寒。

Lit Sweet, nice words warm [one even in the] coldest days of winter; ill-intended, injurious words [will] chill [one even in the] heat of August.

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, Scene 2, Act 3; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 76; note: sānjiǔ hándōng refers to the coldest days of winter, and the sixth lunar month generally occurs in late July or August.]

Topics HARM JPM sānjiǔ hándōng SPEECH WORDS Xīxiāng_Jì

T72

[T72]

Tián yào dōnggēng; zǎi yào qīnshēng.

田要冬耕, 崽要亲生。

田要冬耕, 崽要親生。

Lit [Just as it is best that] fields be plowed in winter, [so it's best that] sons should be one's own.

Fig It is best to have one's own natural sons, not adopted ones.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ADOPTION CHILDREN rhyme SONS

T74

[T74]

Tiān yǒu bùcè fēngyún; rén yǒu dàn-xī huò fú.*

天有不测风云, 人有旦夕祸福。

天有不測風雲, 人有旦夕禍福。

Lit [Just as in] nature there are unexpected storms, [so in] human [life] there are unpredictable vicissitudes.

Fig Just as storms gather without warning in nature, people's luck can change in a short time. Human fortunes are as unpredictable as the weather.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 11; note: bùcè, “unpredictable”; the first half is usually used alone as a set phrase; see also tiān bù néng zǒng above.]

Topics CHANGE DRC LIFE LUCK NATURE STORMS VICISSITUDES WEATHER

T75

[T75]

Tiān yǒu shíkè yīn qíng; rén yǒu sān huí, liù zhuàn.

天有时刻阴晴, 人有三回六转。

天有時刻陰晴, 人有三回六轉。

Lit [Just as] the weather is constantly [changing from] dark [to] clear, [so] people['s minds] are [also constantly] changing.

Topics CHANGE HEARTS MINDS

T76

[T76]

Tiān yǔ bù qǔ, fǎn shòu qí jiù.

天与不取, 反受其咎。

天與不取, 反受其咎。

Lit [If] heaven offers [and you] refuse, then [prepare to] receive its punishment.

Fig If “opportunity knocks,” and you don't take advantage of it, then be it on your own head. [Rhyme; cf. Shǐ Jì: Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn.]

Topics ACTIONS HEAVEN Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn OPPORTUNITY RESPONSIBILITY rhyme Shǐ_Jì

T77

[T77]

Tiānzǐ shàngqiě bì zuìhàn.*

天子尚且避醉汉。

天子尚且避醉漢。

Lit Even the emperor [tries to] avoid meeting drunkards.

Fig Never argue with a drunkard.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 4; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 5; see also ruò yào duàn jiǔ fǎ above.]

Topics ARGUMENTS DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR WM Wǔ_Sōng

T78

[T78]

Tiān zuòniè, yóu kě wéi; zì zuòniè, bù kě huàn/huó.

天作孽犹可违, 自作孽不可逭/活。

天作孽猶可違, 自作孽不可逭/活。

Lit [If] nature causes disasters, there is [still something that] can be done to avoid [them], [but if humans] bring disaster [upon them]selves, nothing can be done to avoid [them].

Note [More commonly, ... bù kě huó, “... one cannot live; one is done for”; cf. JW, chap. 43 and Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 3; note: zuò'è; zuòniè: “to do evil”; said, e.g., of the rénhuò, “man-made disasters” of the Great Leap Forward, which followed the “Three Bad Years” of bad harvests in 1959-1961.]

Topics DISASTERS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn Great Leap Forward HARVEST HUMAN BEINGS JW NATURE rénhuò Three Bad Years zuò'è zuòniè

T79

[T79]

Tiān zuò, yǒu yǔ; rén zuò, yǒu huò.

天作有雨, 人作有祸。

天作有雨, 人作有禍。

Lit [When] Heaven takes action, it rains; [when] people take action, there are disasters.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics ACTIONS BEHAVIOR DISASTERS EVIL HEAVEN RAIN WEATHER

T80

[T80]

Tiāoshí de rén bù pàng.

挑食的人不胖。

Lit One [who is too] fussy about food won't get fat [i.e., won't be healthy].

Topics FOOD HEALTH

T81

[T81]

Tiě bù mó, shēngxiù; shuǐ bù liú, fāchòu.

铁不磨生锈, 水不流发臭。

鐵不磨生鏽, 水不流發臭。

Lit Iron not whetted [will] grow rusty; water [which does] not flow [will] become stale.

Fig One must remain active or become stale.

Note [Rhyme; see also liúshuǐ bù fǔ above.]

Topics ACTION ACTIVITY rhyme

T82

[T82]

Tiědǎ de yámen; liúshuǐ de guān.

铁打的衙门, 流水的官。

鐵打的衙門, 流水的官。

Lit Government offices [are] made of iron [which remains for ages, but the] officials [working in them are like] running water [changing from time to time].

Fig Government officials come and go; that's the way it is.

Note [Note: tiědǎ (de), (lit) “iron-hammered”; (fig) “unshakable.”]

Topics CHANGE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS yámen

T83

[T83]

Tiědǎ fángliáng mó xiù zhēn; gōng dào zìrán chéng.

铁打房梁磨绣针, 功到自然成。

鐵打房梁磨繡針, 功到自然成。

Lit An iron roof beam [can be] ground down into an embroidery needle; [when] effort is applied, naturally [things will be] accomplished.

Fig Persistence can grind an iron roof beam (down) into a needle. Persistence can accomplish anything.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 5 and 23; JW, chap. 36; note: gōngdào zìránchéng is used alone (q.v.) as an idiom meaning “constant effort yields sure success”; see also zhǐyào gōngfu shēn below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn idiom JW PERSISTENCE SUCCESS

T84

[T84]

Tiě guàn mò shuō guō zhān huī; jìyú mò shuō lǐ tuóbèi.

铁罐莫说锅粘灰, 鲫鱼莫说鲤驼背。

鐵罐莫說鍋粘灰, 鯽魚莫說鯉駝背。

Lit An iron pot [must] not call a kettle black, nor [should] a crucian carp call a carp hunchbacked.

Fig One should not criticize faults in others which one has oneself. “The pot calling the kettle black.”

Note [See also wūguī mò xiào biē and zhū mà wūyā hēi below.]

Topics CRITICISM FAULTS SELF-REFLECTION

T85

[T85]

Tiě pà luò lú; rén pà luò tào.

铁怕落炉, 人怕落套。

鐵怕落爐, 人怕落套。

Lit [Just as] iron is afraid to be put into a furnace, [so] people are afraid to be taken in [i.e., cheated or tricked into doing things].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 25; WM, chap. 61.]

Topics DECEIT FEAR TRICKERY WM Xǐngshì_Héngyán

T86

[T86]

Tiē rén bù fù, zìjiā qióng.

贴人不富, 自家穷。

貼人不富, 自家窮。

Lit [If you] help [other] people, [they will] not [become] rich, [but you your]self [will become] poor.

Fig People do not get rich by relying on others; they must do it for themselves.

Topics HELP POVERTY SELF-RELIANCE WEALTH

T87

[T87]

Tiě shēngxiù zé huài; rén shēng dù zé bài.

铁生锈则坏, 人生妒则败。

鐵生鏽則壞, 人生妒則敗。

Lit [When] iron gets rusty it's useless; [when] people get jealous [they] will fail.

Topics ENVY JEALOUSY

T88

[T88]

Tīng bù tīng, zhěntou fēng.

听不听, 枕头风。

聽不聽, 枕頭風。

Lit [Whether one wants to] listen or not, [there's bound to be] “pillow talk.”

Fig A man has to listen to what his wife says in bed at night whether he wants to or not. A man is sure to be influenced by his spouse's private opinions.

Note [See also zhěn biān gàozhuàng below.]

Topics COUPLES MEN OPINIONS PILLOW TALK SPOUSE WOMEN

T89

[T89]

Tīng chuányán, shīluò jiāngshān.

听传言, 失落江山。

聽傳言, 失落江山。

Lit [If a ruler] listens to [and believes] rumors, the country will be ruined.

Fig Anyone who listens to rumors will suffer great losses.

Note [Note: zuò jiāngshān, “to rule the country.”]

Topics LOSSES RUMORS zuò_jiāngshān

T90

[T90]

Tīng huà tīngyīn; luó-gǔ tīng shēng.

听话听音, 锣鼓听声。

聽話聽音, 鑼鼓聽聲。

Lit [When you] listen to [someone] talk, [you must] listen [to his or her] tone, [just as when you listen to] gongs and drums, [you must listen to the rhythm of the] music.

Fig “The words are the mirror of the mind.”

Note [The two halves of this yanyu may be in either order; note: tīngyīn is a colloquial expression meaning to “take a hint”; note the colloquial suyu expression xiánwàizhīyīn, (lit) “the sound beyond the strings”; (fig) “overtones; implication”; see also luó-gǔ tīng yīn above and wén qí yán and yào zhī xīnfùshì below.]

Topics colloquial expression JUDGMENTS LISTENING MINDS SPEECH suyu TALK UNDERSTANDING WORDS xiánwàizhīyīn

T91

[T91]

Tīng qiān biàn bùrú kàn yī biàn; kàn qiān biàn bùrú zuò yī biàn.

听千遍不如看一遍, 看千遍不如做一遍。

聽千遍不如看一遍, 看千遍不如做一遍。

Lit To see [something] once is better than to hear [about it a] thousand times; to do [something] once is better than to look [at it a] thousand times.

Note [See also bǎiwén bùrú yījiàn above and yǎn jiàn qiān biàn below.]

Topics ACTION EXPERIENCE SEEING

T92

[T92]

Tīng rén quàn; chībǎo fàn.

听人劝, 吃饱饭。

聽人勸, 吃飽飯。

Lit Listen to others' advice [and you] won't go hungry.

Fig One can always benefit from listening to the advice of others.

Note [Technically a rhyme.]

Topics ADVICE BENEFITS LISTENING OTHERS rhyme

T93

[T93]

Tóng chuáng dǎ shuì; gèzì zuòmèng.

同床打睡, 各自做梦。

同床打睡, 各自做夢。

Lit [Even] people who sleep in the same bed each dream their own [separate] dreams.

Note [As a chengyu: tóngchuáng-yìmèng.]

Topics chengyu DIFFERENCES DREAMS INDIVIDUALS SLEEP tóngchuáng-yìmèng

T94

[T94]

Tóngháng shì yuānjia.*

同行是冤家。

Lit [Two in the] same trade are [always] rivals.

Note [As a chengyu: tóngháng-xiāngjì, “People in the same trade always quarrel”; see also dāng háng yàn and géháng rú géshān above.]

Topics chengyu PROFESSIONS RIVALS tóngháng-xiāngjì TRADES

T95

[T95]

Tónghú bù lòu, shuǐ bù dī.

铜壶不漏, 水不滴。

銅壺不漏, 水不滴。

Lit [If a] copper kettle doesn't leak, not a drop of water [will] come out.

Fig If there's a problem, there must be a cause.

Topics CAUSE

T96

[T96]

Tóng jí xiāng lián; tóng yōu xiāng jiù.*

同疾相怜, 同忧相就。

同疾相憐, 同憂相就。

Lit Similarly afflicted people pity each other; fellow sufferers help each other.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 74; Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 12; the first part is now more commonly tóngbìng-xiānglián, often used alone as a chengyu; see also zìjǐ tānbēi below.]

Topics chengyu Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) HELP Jǐngshì Tōngyán PITY SIMILARITIES SUFFERING SYMPATHY tóngbìng-xiānglián

T97

[T97]

Tónglèi bù xiāng cán.

同类不相残。

同類不相殘。

Lit One doesn't harm one's own kind.

Topics COMPANIONS CONDUCT GROUPS HARM RELATIONS SIMILARITIES

T98

[T98]

Tóng míng, xiāng zhào; tónglèi xiāng cóng.

同明相照, 同类相从。

同明相照, 同類相從。

Lit [Just as] similar bright [objects] illuminate each other, [so the] same sort [of people] get together. “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Bō Yí Lièzhuàn.]

Topics Bō Yí Lièzhuàn COMPANIONS FRIENDSHIP KINDS Shǐ_Jì

T99

[T99]

Tóng pén lànle, jīnliǎng zài; dà chuán lànle, dīngzi duō.

铜盆烂了斤两在, 大船烂了钉子多。

銅盆爛了斤兩在, 大船爛了釘子多。

Lit [When a] copper basin gets rusty, its weight [as scrap metal] remains; [when a] big ship gets rotten, there are many nails [left over].

Fig Even if a rich family falls into decline, they still have a lot of property left.

Note [See also dà chuán lànle and shòu sǐ de luòtuo above.]

Topics DECLINE WEALTH

T100

[T100]

Tóng pén zhuàngle tiě sàozhou; èrén zì yǒu èrén mó.

铜盆撞了铁扫帚, 恶人自有恶人磨。

銅盆撞了鐵掃帚, 惡人自有惡人磨。

Lit [Like a] copper pan running into [an] iron broom, [so] evil doers always come up against even worse evil doers [in the end].

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 34; see also cǎo pà yánshuāng and èrén zì yǒu above.]

Topics EVIL JUSTICE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

T101

[T101]

Tóng sǎn bùtóng bǐng; tóng rén bùtóng mìng.

同伞不同柄, 同人不同命。

同傘不同柄, 同人不同命。

Lit [Just as] umbrellas [may be] similar [but have] different handles, [so] people [may be] similar [but] have different fates.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DIFFERENCES FATE PEOPLE SIMILARITIES

T102

[T102]

Tóngshēng xiāngyìng; tóng qì xiāng qiú.*

同声相应, 同气相求。

同聲相應, 同氣相求。

Lit Similar sounds echo one another, [and people of] similar temperament seek each other out.

Fig “Birds of a feather flock together”; “like attracts like.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 5; note: tóngshēng-xiāngyìng is used as an idiom meaning “act(ing) in unison”; note also the chengyu: qìwèi-xiāngtóu, “to be two of a kind.”]

Topics ATTRACTION chengyu qìwèi-xiāngtóu SIMILARITIES tóngshēng-xiāngyìng Xǐngshì_Héngyán

T103

[T103]

Tóng shì tiānyá lúnluò rén; xiāngféng hébì céng xiāngshí？

同是天涯沦落人, 相逢何必曾相识？

同是天涯淪落人, 相逢何必曾相識？

Note [See xiāngféng hébì below.]

T104

[T104]

Tóngxíng bù shū bàn.

同行不疏伴。

Lit [Those who] travel together don't distance [themselves from their] fellow [travelers].

Fig Fellow travelers become close companions.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 47; see also tóngxíng wú shū bàn below.]

Topics COMPANIONS COMPANIONS Rúlín Wàishǐ TRAVEL

T105

[T105]

Tóngxìng shì yījiā.

同姓是一家。

Lit [People who have the] same surname are [as of] one family.

Note [See also wǔbǎi nián qián and yī bān shù shàng below.]

Topics FAMILIES SURNAMES

T106

[T106]

Tóngxíng wú shū bàn.

同行无疏伴。

同行無疏伴。

Lit [Among] fellow travelers there are no distant companions.

Fig Traveling companions stick together and form close friendships.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 10; note: shūyuǎn, “separated; estranged”; see also tóngxíng bù shū bàn; vs. lù yù bù shì bàn above.]

Topics COMPANIONS FRIENDSHIP shūyuǎn TRAVEL

T107

[T107]

Tóng zhōu gòng jì.

同舟共济。

同舟共濟。

Lit [People in the] same boat [should] help one another.

Fig Those who share the same fate should help each other.

Note [Cf. Hòu Hàn Shū and Sūnzǐ's Bīngfǎ: Jiǔ Dì Piān; as a chengyu: tóngzhōu-gòngjì; see also the following entry.]

Topics Bīngfǎ chengyu FATE HELP Hòu Hàn Shū Jiǔ Dì Piān SIMILARITIES Sūnzǐ tóngzhōu-gòngjì

T108

[T108]

Tóng zhōu héyī mìng.

同舟合一命。

Lit People in the same boat share the same fate.

Fig People in similar circumstances share the same fate. “We're all in the same boat.”

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES FATE

T109

[T109]

Tōuchī bù féi; zuò zéi bù fù.

偷吃不肥, 做贼不富。

偷吃不肥, 做賊不富。

Lit No one [can] grow fat [or] become rich by stealing.

Topics THEFT WEALTH

T110

[T110]

Tóu cù bù suān; èr cù bù là.

头醋不酸, 二醋不辣。

頭醋不酸, 二醋不辣。

Lit [If the] first [batch of] vinegar isn't sour (enough), the second is [sure to be even] blander [because you can't rebrew it].

Fig The initial step is most important in doing everything (so get it right the first time).

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 25; WM, chap. 51.]

Topics ACTION BEGINNING Jǐngshì Tōngyán VINEGAR WM

T111

[T111]

Tóu dào shēng; èr dào shú; sān dào, sì dào, chéng shīfu.

头道生二道熟, 三道四道成师傅。

頭道生二道熟, 三道四道成師傅。

Lit [In doing everything] the first time [one is] not well-skilled, the second time [one] is, [and by] the third and fourth times [one] becomes a master.

Fig “Practice makes perfect.”

Topics PERFECTION PRACTICE SKILL

T112

[T112]

Tōu de yé qián, méi shǐ chù.

偷的爷钱, 没使处。

偷的爺錢, 沒使處。

Lit Money stolen from [one's] father [one can]not find a place to spend.

Fig One dare not openly spend money which was obtained by stealing or cheating.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 20; see also tōu lái de luó-gǔ below.]

Topics CHEATING Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí EVIL THEFT

T113

[T113]

Tóu duì fēng, nuǎnhōnghong; jiǎo duì fēng, qǐng lángzhōng.

头对风暖烘烘, 脚对风请郎中。

頭對風暖烘烘, 腳對風請郎中。

Lit [If you sleep with your] head in a draft, [you'll be] comfortably warm; [if you sleep with your] feet in a draft, call for a doctor.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CAUTION COLD HEALTH rhyme SLEEP

T114

[T114]

Tóufa suī xì, gè yǒu yǐngzi.

头发虽细, 各有影子。

頭髮雖細, 各有影子。

Lit Even a tiny hair has a shadow.

Fig Even very insignificant things have some influence.

Topics INFLUENCE INSIGNIFICANCE

T115

[T115]

Tōu fēng, bù tōu yuè; tōu yǔ, bù tōu xuě.

偷风不偷月, 偷雨不偷雪。

偷風不偷月, 偷雨不偷雪。

Lit [Thieves] steal [on] wind[y nights, but do] not steal [on] moon[lit nights]; [thieves] steal [on] rain[y nights, but do] not steal [on] snow[y nights, because they might be seen in the moonlight or leave tracks in the snow].

Fig People generally do evil deeds “in the dark of night” when they are less likely to get caught.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EVIL rhyme STRATEGY THIEVES

T116

[T116]

Tóu huí shàngdàng; èr huí xīn liàng.*

头回上当, 二回心亮。

頭回上當, 二回心亮。

Lit The first time [one is] deceived, [but] the second time [one is] clearheaded (i.e., one can see through the trick).

Fig One won't get taken the second time.

Note [Rhyme; see also chī yī qiàn and shàng huí dàng above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE TRICKERY

T117

[T117]

Tōu lái de luó-gǔ, dǎbude.

偷来的锣鼓, 打不得。

偷來的鑼鼓, 打不得。

Lit Gongs [and] drums [one has] stolen one dare not beat.

Fig Things done or obtained wrongly cannot be revealed.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 65; see also tōu de yé qián above.]

Topics DRC EVIL SECRETS THEFT

T118

[T118]

Tóumǎ bù huāng, mǎ qún bù luàn.

头马不慌, 马群不乱。

頭馬不慌, 馬群不亂。

Lit [If the] lead horse is not spooked, the herd won't run off in different directions.

Fig If the leader is steady, his followers will be well organized.

Note [Note: huāngluàn, “alarmed and bewildered”; see also bǎduò de bù huāng above.]

Topics huāngluàn LEADERSHIP

T119

[T119]

Tóu nán, tóu nán; wànshì kāitóu nán.*

头难头难, 万事开头难。

頭難頭難, 萬事開頭難。

Lit Nothing is easy in the beginning; in everything the first step is [the most] difficult.

Note [Rhyme; see also tóu sān jiǎo and wànshì qǐtóu below.]

Topics BEGINNING DIFFICULTIES rhyme

T120

[T120]

Tóuqīn bùrú luò diàn.

投亲不如落店。

投親不如落店。

Lit Staying at a relative's (or friend's) [house] is not as good as staying at an inn.

Fig One is not comfortable imposing on one's relatives' or friends' hospitality.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 12; note: qīn here refers to qīnyǒu “relatives and friends”; see also xiāngjiàn hǎo below.]

Topics GUESTS HOSPITALITY IMPOSITION qīnyǒu RELATIVES Suí Táng Yǎnyì VISITING

T121

[T121]

Tōuqu de quántou, dǎ bù sǐ běnrén.

偷去的拳头, 打不死本人。

偷去的拳頭, 打不死本人。

Lit [Martial arts] techniques stolen [from someone secretly] cannot be used to overcome the original person [from whom they were copied].

Fig One can never defeat one's teacher using techniques one has stolen from him.

Note [Cf. Lu Xun's short story: Bēn Yuè in the collection Gùshi Xīn Biān (“Old Tales Retold”).]

Topics Bēn Yuè Gùshi Xīn Biān Lu Xun MARTIAL ARTS Old Tales Retold SKILLS STRATEGY TEACHERS THEFT

T122

[T122]

Tóu sān jiǎo, nán tī; kāiluó xì, nán chàng.

头三脚难踢, 开锣戏难唱。

頭三腳難踢, 開鑼戲難唱。

Lit The most difficult [is] to kick the first three kicks [and to] start singing at the very beginning of an opera.

Fig Beginning is the hardest part of doing something.

Note [Note: kāiluó is a theatrical term meaning “to begin the performance”; see also tóu nán, tóu nán above and wànshì qǐtóu nán below.]

Topics BEGINNING DIFFICULTIES FIGHTING SINGING

T123

[T123]

Tōu shí (de) māor, xìng bù gǎi.*

偷食(的)猫儿, 性不改。

偷食(的)貓兒, 性不改。

Lit A cat that steals food won't change its nature.

Fig “A leopard won't change its spots.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17; Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 38; see also gǒu chī shǐ and jiāngshān yì gǎi and shé rù zhú dòng and shé zuān de kūdòng above and yī rén, yī xiàng below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL Jǐngshì Tōngyán NATURE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

T124

[T124]

Tōuzuǐ māor, pà lòuxiàng.

偷嘴猫儿, 怕露相。

偷嘴貓兒, 怕露相。

Lit The cat that steals food is afraid of being exposed.

Fig One who does evil deeds is afraid of being found out.

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT EVIL THIEVES

T125

[T125]

Tǔ bāng tǔ chéng qiáng; qióng bāng qióng chéng wáng.

土帮土成墙, 穷帮穷成王。

土幫土成牆, 窮幫窮成王。

Lit [Just as] earth sticks to earth [and] makes a wall, [so] poor people stick to poor people [and together] create a king.

Fig In unity there is strength.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COOPERATION POVERTY rhyme STRENGTH UNITY

T126

[T126]

Tǔ bì zé cǎomù bù zhǎng.

土弊则草木不长。

土弊則草木不長。

Lit [If the] soil is poor, the grass [and] trees won't grow.

Fig Talented people cannot be produced under poor conditions.

Note [Cf. Lǚ Shì Chūnqiū: Yīn Chū; see also jǐngshuǐ wú dà yú above.]

Topics CONDITIONS LIMITATIONS Lǚ Shì Chūnqiū TALENT Yīn_Chū

T127

[T127]

Tùháo wú yōu-liè; guǎn shǒu yǒu qiǎo zhuō.

兔毫无优劣, 管手有巧拙。

兔毫無優劣, 管手有巧拙。

Lit [It's] not [whether the writing brush made of] rabbit hair is good [or] bad; [it's whether the] hand which controls [the brush is] skillful [or] clumsy.

Fig Good calligraphy depends on the skill of the calligrapher.

Topics CALLIGRAPHY SKILL

T128

[T128]

Tuǐ cháng zhān lùshui; zuǐ cháng rě shìfēi.

腿长沾露水, 嘴长惹是非。

腿長沾露水, 嘴長惹是非。

Lit [Just as] long legs get wet [with] dew-drops, [so] “long tongues” invite trouble.

Topics CAUTION GOSSIP PERSEVERANCE SPEECH TROUBLE

T129

[T129]

Tuìhòu yī bù, tiān kuān dì kuò.

退后一步, 天宽地阔。

退後一步, 天寬地闊。

Lit [If you] take a step backwards [you will have a] broad expanse of sky and earth.

Fig In doing everything allow for unforeseen circumstances, and in dealing with people, make concessions.

Note [See also ràng rén yī zhāo above.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES CONCESSIONS STRATEGY tiānkuān-dìkuò YIELDING

T130

[T130]

Tuǐkuài bùpà lù yuǎn.

腿快不怕路远。

腿快不怕路遠。

Lit Fast legs are not afraid of long distances.

Fig Able people are not afraid of difficult tasks.

Topics ABILITY DIFFICULTY DILIGENCE GOSSIP

T131

[T131]

Tuì yī bù, jìn liǎng bù.*

退一步, 进两步。

退一步, 進兩步。

Lit Retreat one step; advance two steps.

Fig One step backwards now can mean two steps forward in the future. “One step back; two steps forward.”

Note [This is the Chinese translation of the title of an article by Lenin on making concessions to the Russian bourgeoisie.]

Topics bourgeoisie INVESTMENT Lenin PLANNING POLITICS STEPS STRATEGY

T132

[T132]

Tǔ jū sānshí zǎi, wú yǒu bù qīnrén.

土居三十载, 无有不亲人。

土居三十載, 無有不親人。

Lit After living in a locality for thirty years, [one is] bound to have friends and acquaintances.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 1; note that traditionally Chinese consider one's home place to be where one's ancestors came from.]

Topics ACQUAINTANCES FRIENDS Jǐngshì Tōngyán PLACE

T133

[T133]

Tuōrén rú tuō shān.

托人如托山。

Lit Entrusting [things to other] people [entails a risk (to the requester) as] heavy [as holding up a] mountain [so consider carefully before you do so]!

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 5; this is a pun on two senses of the verb tuō meaning “to ask a favor” and “to hold or support.”]

Topics CAUTION Hé Diǎn pun RISK TRUST

T134

[T134]

Tuó tuó qiānjīn, yǐ fù lì mǐ.

驮驼千斤, 蚁负粒米。

馱駝千斤, 蟻負粒米。

Lit A camel [can] carry a thousand catties, [and an] ant [can] carry a grain of rice.

Fig People should exert themselves to the utmost (regardless) of their abilities.

Note [Note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics DILIGENCE PERSEVERANCE qiānjīn_wt._

T135

[T135]

Tù sǐ, hú bēi; wù shāng qí lèi.

兔死狐悲, 物伤其类。

兔死狐悲, 物傷其類。

Lit [When] the rabbit dies, the fox mourns; [all] creatures grieve for their [own (bad)] ilk.

Note [Rhyme; cf. JW, chap. 62; R3K, chap. 89; the two halves are used independently as chengyu with derogatory senses; see also wù shāng qí lèi below.]

Topics chengyu chengyu COMPANIONS EVIL GRIEF JW R3K rhyme SIMILARITIES tùsǐ-húbēi wùshāng-qílèi

T136

[T136]

Tú xiǎolì, dàshì bù chéng.

图小利, 大事不成。

圖小利, 大事不成。

Lit [One who likes to] exploit petty advantages won't accomplish anything great.

Topics EXPLOITATION PETTINESS

T137

[T137]

Tùzi bù chī wō biān cǎo.*

兔子不吃窝边草。

兔子不吃窩邊草。

Lit A rabbit never eats the grass beside its burrow [so that it will be protected].

Fig A criminal does not commit crimes near home. (Even) a scoundrel won't harm his own immediate neighbors or surroundings, (as it is not in his interest to do so).

Note [Also said tùzi fú chī kē biān cǎo; cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 8; see also lùsī bù dǎ and měnghǔ bù chī above.]

Topics BEHAVIOR HARM Hé Diǎn NEIGHBORS SELF-INTEREST SELF-RESTRAINT

T138

[T138]

Tùzi huítóu, xiōng sì hǔ.

兔子回头, 凶似虎。

兔子回頭, 凶似虎。

Lit A rabbit [which] turns [in desperation is as] fierce as a tiger.

Fig When overly oppressed, even the meek will turn and fight. “Even a worm will turn.”

Note [See also tùzi jíle and zhí xiàng gǎn gǒu below.]

Topics DESPERATION

T139

[T139]

Tùzi jià bùliǎo yuán.

兔子驾不了辕。

兔子駕不了轅。

Lit A rabbit cannot be harnessed to a carriage.

Fig Don't ask someone weak or incapable to shoulder heavy responsibilities.

Topics CAPABILITY RESPONSIBILITY STRENGTH WEAKNESS

T140

[T140]

Tùzi jíle, hái yǎo rén.*

兔子急了, 还咬人。

兔子急了, 還咬人。

Lit Even a rabbit will bite people [when it's] desperate.

Fig Even a meek person will revolt when pushed too far. “Even a worm will turn.”

Note [See also tùzi huítóu above.]

Topics DESPERATION MEEKNESS PRESSURE REVOLT

T141

[T141]

Tùzi kào tuǐ, láng kào yá; gè yǒu gè de móushēng fǎ.

兔子靠腿, 狼靠牙, 各有各的谋生法。

兔子靠腿, 狼靠牙, 各有各的謀生法。

Lit Rabbits depend on [their fast] legs [and] wolves on [their sharp] teeth; every [creature] has [his or her] own way of making a living.

Note [Rhyme; note: gèyǒu-gède, “each had his own involvements.”]

Topics gèyǒu-gède LIVING rhyme WORKING

T142

[T142]

Tùzi mǎn shān pǎo, hái děi huí lǎo wō.

兔子满山跑, 还得回老窝。

兔子滿山跑, 還得回老窩。

Lit A rabbit [may] run all over the hills, [but sooner or later it will] return to [its] hole.

Fig Everybody returns home sooner or later.

Note [See also shù gāo qiān zhàng above and shuǐ liú qiān zāo below.]

Topics HOME HOMESICKNESS PLACE RETURNING

【L1】W W1

[W1]

Wǎguàn bù lí jǐng shàng pò; jiāngjūn nánmiǎn zhèn zhōng wáng.

瓦罐不离井上破, 将军难免阵中亡。

瓦罐不離井上破, 將軍難免陣中亡。

Lit [Just as] clay [water-carrying] jugs will [always] break not far from the well, [so] generals will die on the battlefield [sooner or later].

Fig People who engage in dangerous occupations or activities eventually will be hurt or killed.

Topics CAUTION DANGER DEATH HARM MILITARY

W2

[W2]

Wài cái bù fú rén.

外财不扶人。

外財不扶人。

Lit Property [gained by] improper [means] won't make one rich.

Note [See also xiǎng shí hèngcái below; vs. rén wú hèngcái above.]

Topics DISHONESTY HONESTY

W3

[W3]

Wāi mùtou; zhí mùjiang.

歪木头, 直木匠。

歪木頭, 直木匠。

Lit A crooked board [but a] straight carpenter.

Fig A board may be crooked, but a good carpenter can make use of it for various purposes. Human effort is the decisive factor.

Topics EFFORT HUMAN_BEINGS

W4

[W4]

Wàirén nán guǎn jiāwù shì.*

外人难管家务事。

外人難管家務事。

Lit Outsiders are hard put to manage the domestic problems of others.

Note [See also hútuzhàng hǎo suàn and qīngguān nán duàn above.]

Topics FAMILIES JUDGMENTS PROBLEMS

W5

[W5]

Wàisheng duō sì jiù.*

外甥多似舅。

Lit Nephews are often like [i.e., imitate] [their] maternal uncles.

Note [Note: jiù refers to both mother's older and younger brothers; see also zhínǚ xiàng gūmā below.]

Topics jiù NEPHEWS SIMILARITIES UNCLES

W6

[W6]

Wài(tou) yǒu (gè) zhèngqián shǒu; jiā (lǐ) yǒu (gè) jù qián dǒu.

外(头)有(个)挣钱手, 家(里)有(个)聚钱斗。

外(頭)有(個)掙錢手, 家(裡)有(個)聚錢斗。

Lit Out(side) there's (a) hand earning money [while] (at) home there's (a) rice container saving it.

Fig The husband earns money outside and the wife saves money at home.

Note [Rhyme; said of a frugal couple; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics BEHAVIOR BUDGETING COUPLES FRUGALITY HUSBANDS WIVES Wǔ_Sōng

W7

[W7]

Wànbān jiē shì mìng, bàndiǎn bù yóu rén.

万般皆是命,半点不由人。

萬般皆是命,半點不由人。

Lit Everything is fore-ordained by fate, not in the least under human control.

Topics CONTROL FATE HUMANITY

W8

[W8]

Wànbān jiē xiàpǐn, wéiyǒu dúshū gāo.*

万般皆下品, 惟有读书高。

萬般皆下品, 惟有讀書高。

Lit All occupations are lowly; only book-learning is exalted.

Note [Said of scholar-officials in traditional China; cf. Guan Hanqing's Yuan dynasty play, Wàng Jiāng Tíng, Act 1.]

Topics Guan Hanqing OFFICIALS PROFESSIONS SCHOLARS STUDYING Wàng Jiāng Tíng WORK Yuan_dynasty

W9

[W9]

Wān chǐ huà bù chū zhíxiàn.

弯尺划不出直线。

彎尺畫不出直線。

Lit A crooked rule cannot draw a straight line.

Fig If one's basic nature is bad, one cannot do anything good.

Topics EVIL RECTITUDE

W10

[W10]

Wàn'è, yín wéishǒu; (bǎi shàn, xiào wéi xiān).

万恶淫为首, (百善孝为先)。

萬惡淫為首, (百善孝為先)。

Lit [Of] all the evils, lewdness is the first; ([of the] hundred goodnesses, filial piety is the first).

Fig Lewdness is the worst of all sins (and filial piety is the best of all virtues).

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 10; the second part is usually omitted; see also yǒu qí yín zhě below.]

Topics CHILDREN EVIL FILIAL PIETY GOODNESS Jìnghuā Yuán LEWDNESS PARENTS VIRTUE

W11

[W11]

Wáng shū jiǔ sì shī liáng péng.

亡书久似失良朋。

亡書久似失良朋。

Lit To neglect [a certain] book [for a] long [time] is like losing a good friend.

Topics BOOKS READING

W12

[W12]

Wáng yáng bǔ láo, (yóu wèi wéi wǎn).

亡羊补牢, (犹未为晚)。

亡羊補牢, (猶未為晚)。

Lit [After] losing sheep, mending the fold (is still not too late).

Fig It is not too late to mend the fold, even after (some of) the sheep have been lost. “Better late than never.”

Note [The first half is often used alone as a chengyu: wángyáng-bǔláo; note: this is not “locking the barn after the horse has bolted”; see also jiàn tù gù quǎn above.]

Topics chengyu LATENESS LOSS STRATEGY TIMING wángyáng-bǔláo

W13

[W13]

Wángzǐ fànfǎ, yǔ shùmín tóng zuì.*

王子犯法与庶民同罪。

王子犯法與庶民同罪。

Lit [If a] prince violates the law, [he must be] punished like an ordinary person.

Fig No matter who he is, anyone who violates the law must be dealt with according to the law. All men are equal under the law.

Note [See also rén suí wángfǎ above.]

Topics EQUALITY LAW LEADERS PRINCES SUPERIORS

W14

[W14]

Wàn liǎng huángjīn róngyì dé; zhīxīn yī gè yě nán qiú.

万两黄金容易得, 知心一个也难求。

萬兩黃金容易得, 知心一個也難求。

Lit Ten thousand taels of gold are easier to come by [than] one true friend.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 57.]

Topics COMPARISON DRC FRIENDS FRIENDSHIP

W15

[W15]

Wànshì jiē cóng jí zhōng cuò.

万事皆从急中错。

萬事皆從急中錯。

Lit [In (doing)] all things, all mistakes come from being in a hurry.

Note [See also jí zhōng yǒu shī above.]

Topics ACTIONS CAUTION HASTE MISTAKES SPEED

W16

[W16]

Wànshì qǐtóu nán.*

万事起头难。

萬事起頭難。

Lit [In doing] anything the first step is the most difficult. Nothing is easy at the outset.

Note [See also tóu nán, tóu nán and tóu sān jiǎo above.]

Topics BEGINNING DIFFICULTIES

W17

[W17]

Wànwù wú quán yòng.

万物无全用。

萬物無全用。

Lit [In] all things, there are none [which are] completely useful.

Fig Everything has limits to its uses.

Note [Cf. Lièzǐ: Tiān Ruì; note: wànwù, “all living things; universe.”]

Topics Lièzǐ LIMITATIONS Tiān Ruì USE

W18

[W18]

Wàn yán, wàn zhòng bùrú yī mò.

万言万中不如一默。

萬言萬中不如一默。

Lit Even better than ten thousand [accurate] words [which] hit [the nail on the head] every time [is] silence.

Fig “Speech is silver; silence is gold.”

Topics COMPARISON SILENCE TALK WORDS

W19

[W19]

Wànzhàng gāolóu píngdì qǐ.*

万丈高楼平地起。

萬丈高樓平地起。

Lit [Even] a ten-thousand zhang high building [has to] start from level ground [and be built up step by step].

Fig Everything has to start from the very beginning and be built up step by step.

Note [Note: technically one zhàng equals 3.33 meters, but wànzhàng is used as a metaphor for “lofty.”]

Topics ACTIONS BEGINNING BUILDING ORGANIZATION PLANNING

W20

[W20]

Wánzhèng hái xū měng yào yī.

顽症还需猛药医。

頑症還需猛藥醫。

Lit Stubborn [i.e., chronic] diseases require strong medicine to cure [them].

Fig Strong measures have to be taken to correct those who persist in wrong-doing.

Topics CORRECTION PUNISHMENT

W21

[W21]

Wǎpiàn shàng yǒu fānshēn rì.

瓦片尚有翻身日。

Lit Even [roof] tiles have their day to turn over.

Fig Everybody will have a time of happiness sooner or later. “Every dog has his day.”

Topics HAPPINESS TIME

W22

[W22]

Wázi bù kū, nǎi bù zhàng.

娃子不哭, 奶不涨。

娃子不哭, 奶不漲。

Lit [If the] baby does not cry, [the mother's] breasts [will] not engorge.

Fig Don't seek trouble, and you won't have any.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 45; when mothers hear their babies cry, lactation often automatically starts.]

Topics BABIES MOTHERS Rúlín Wàishǐ SELF-RESTRAINT TROUBLE

W23

[W23]

Wèicéng chūbīng, xiān chóu bài lù.

未曾出兵, 先筹败路。

未曾出兵, 先籌敗路。

Lit Before dispatching troops into battle, plan the route for retreat.

Note [See also xiān lǜ bài below.]

Topics PLANNING STRATEGY

W24

[W24]

Wèicéng shuǐ lái, xiān lēi bà.

未曾水来先垒坝。

未曾水來先壘壩。

Lit Before the floods come, build dikes first.

Fig In good times provisions should be made for bad times. “Save against a rainy day.”

Note [Cf. Shī Gōng Ān, chap. 147; see also qíng gān kāi shuǐdào above.]

Topics CAUTION PLANNING PREPARATION SAVING Shī_Gōng_Ān

W25

[W25]

Wèi dào bāshíbā, bùkě xiào rén jiǎo zhì, yǎn xiā.

未到八十八, 不可笑人脚踬眼瞎。

未到八十八, 不可笑人腳躓眼瞎。

Lit Before [you] reach the age of eighty-eight, don't laugh at those [who are] lame or blind.

Fig One should never laugh at old or disabled people or others' defects; it could happen to you.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE DEFECTS FATE LAUGHING MOCKERY OLD AGE rhyme SELF-RESTRAINT

W26

[W26]

Wèi kàn lǎopo, xiān kàn Ā-jiù.

未看老婆, 先看阿舅。

Lit Before seeing [your] wife [to be], first look at [her] brother.

Fig One can judge (the character of) one's fianceé by first looking at her brother.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 17; note: here jiù refers to one's future brother-in-law.]

Topics BROTHERS BROTHERS-IN-LAW CHARACTER Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí FIANCEES jiù MARRIAGE SIMILARITIES WIVES

W27

[W27]

Wéi lǎo bù zūn, jiāohuài zǐsūn.

为老不尊, 教坏子孙。

為老不尊, 教壞子孫。

Lit [If the] elders behave without respect, [it will] set a bad example for [their] descendants.

Fig If the older generation behaves badly, the younger ones will follow their bad example.

Note [See also shàngliáng bù zhèng above.]

Topics EXAMPLE GENERATIONS

W28

[W28]

Wèi liáng tārén, xiān liáng zìjǐ.

未量他人, 先量自己。

Lit Before [you begin to] judge others, first judge yourself.

Note [See also zhèng rén xiān zhèng jǐ below.]

Topics JUDGMENTS OTHERS SELF-KNOWLEDGE

W29

[W29]

Wèi lì pǐn, xiān lìzhì.

未立品, 先立志。

Lit Before [one has] established character, [one should] first establish determination.

Fig Have determination first and then you will have a good character.

Topics CHARACTER DETERMINATION

W30

[W30]

Wèi niú děi lí; wèi mǎ děi qí.

喂牛得犁, 喂马得骑。

喂牛得犁, 喂馬得騎。

Lit [If you] feed [an] ox, [it should] plow [the fields for you]; [if you] feed [a] horse, [you should be able to] ride [on it].

Fig One should get some return on one's investment.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics INVESTMENT PROFIT rhyme

W31

[W31]

Wèi qù cháo tiānzǐ, xiān lái yè xiànggōng.

未去朝天子, 先来谒相公。

未去朝天子, 先來謁相公。

Lit Before one can hope to see the emperor, one must first pay one's respects to the prime minister.

Note [Said before going through one intermediary to see someone else; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 3; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 33.]

Topics BUREAUCRACY HIERARCHY INTERMEDIARIES Jǐngshì Tōngyán PROTOCOL Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

W32

[W32]

Wèi wǎn xiān tóusù; jī míng zǎo kàn tiān.

未晚先投宿, 鸡鸣早看天。

未晚先投宿, 雞鳴早看天。

Lit Before evening, find somewhere to stay for the night, [and when the] cock crows, [get an] early start on your way [and you will have a safe journey].

Topics BEGINNING PREPARATION TRAVEL

W33

[W33]

Wéiyǒu gǎn'ēn bìng jī hèn; wànnián qiānzǎi bù shēng chén.

惟有感恩并积恨, 万年千载不生尘。

惟有感恩並積恨, 萬年千載不生塵。

Lit Only gratitude [and] hatred [even after] thousands of years [do] not gather dust.

Fig Gratitude and hatred do not diminish with time.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Lù Tiān Chǐ Xīxiāng Jì, Act 16.]

Topics GRATITUDE HATRED Lù Tiān Chǐ TIME Xīxiāng_Jì

W34

[W34]

Wèn bǎi rén, tōng bǎi shì.

问百人, 通百事。

問百人, 通百事。

Lit Ask a hundred people, learn a hundred things.

Fig The more you ask others, the more you will learn.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics ASKING LEARNING

W35

[W35]

Wènbiàn wàn jiā, chéng hángjiā.

问遍万家成行家。

問遍萬家成行家。

Lit [If you] ask ten thousand people everywhere, [you'll] become an expert.

Fig You can become an expert by asking others.

Topics ASKING EXPERTISE LEARNING

W36

[W36]

Wénchóng zāo shàn dǎ, zhǐ wèi zuǐ shāngrén.

蚊虫遭扇打, 只为嘴伤人。

蚊蟲遭扇打, 只為嘴傷人。

Lit [The reason] mosquitoes get struck [by] fans [is] just because [they] bite people with [their] mouths.

Fig Talk invites trouble.

Note [Cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 63.]

Topics CAUTION TROUBLE WORDS Xīyáng_Jì

W37

[W37]

Wén dào bǎi, yǐwèi mò jǐ ruò.

闻道百, 以为莫己若。

聞道百, 以為莫己若。

Lit [One who has] learned many [things] thinks [that] there is [no one] as [good as him]self.

Note [Actually a famous quotation (míngjù) from Zhuāngzǐ: Qiū Shuǐ.]

Topics CONCEIT LEARNING míngjù Qiū Shuǐ Zhuāngzǐ

W38

[W38]

Wén de hǎokàn; jiàn de píngcháng.

闻得好看, 见得平常。

聞得好看, 見得平常。

Lit [To] hear of [it, it's] beautiful, [but when you] see [it, it's] ordinary.

Fig What one hears is always far better than what the reality actually is.

Topics EXAGGERATION HEARING HEARSAY REALITY

W39

[W39]

Wèn kè shā jī, jiǎqíng, jiǎyì.

问客杀鸡, 假情假意。

問客殺雞, 假情假意。

Lit Asking a guest [whether one should] kill a chicken [for dinner is] false hospitality.

Note [Rhyme; this is also used as a xiēhòuyǔ.]

Topics GUESTS HOSPITALITY rhyme SINCERITY xiehouyu

W40

[W40]

Wénmíng bùrú jiànmiàn; jiànmiàn shèngsì wénmíng.

闻名不如见面, 见面胜似闻名。

聞名不如見面, 見面勝似聞名。

Lit Knowing [people by] reputation is not as good as meeting [them] face to [face]; meeting [them] face [to face] is better than [just] hearing [of their] reputation.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 3; DRC, chap. 63.]

Topics DRC MEETING REPUTATION WM

W41

[W41]

Wén qí yán ér zhī qí rén.

闻其言而知其人。

聞其言而知其人。

Lit Listen to [someone's] speech and [you shall] know that person.

Note [See also tīng huà tīngyīn above.]

Topics LISTENING SPEECH UNDERSTANDING

W42

[W42]

Wén yīn, zhī niǎo; wén yán, zhī rén.

闻音知鸟, 闻言知人。

聞音知鳥, 聞言知人。

Lit [By] hearing [its] song, [you may] know [what kind of] bird [it is]; [so by] hearing [someone's] words, [you can] know [what kind of] person [(s)he] is.

Topics CHARACTER HEARING JUDGMENT

W43

[W43]

Wénzhāng zìgǔ wú píngjù.

文章自古无凭据。

文章自古無憑據。

Lit Essays since antiquity have never had fixed standards [by which to be judged].

Fig Critical judgments are always subjective. Just because one's writings are not recognized or praised does not necessarily mean that they're bad.

Note [Said as (self) consolation about not having one's talent recognized, something like “you were born before your time.”]

Topics CONSOLATION JUDGMENTS SUBJECTIVITY TALENT WRITING

W44

[W44]

Wènzhe yīshēng, biàn yǒu yào; wènzhe shīniáng, biàn yǒu guǐ.

问着医生便有药, 问着师娘便有鬼。

問著醫生便有藥, 問著師娘便有鬼。

Lit [If you] ask a [medical] doctor, then [you'll] get medicine; [if you] ask a shamaness, then [you'll] get ghosts.

Fig One must ask of the right person to get the right thing.

Note [Cf. Hòu Xīyóu Jì, chap. 35; note: yǒuguǐ is also a colloquial expression meaning “there's something fishy going on.”]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS ASKING HELP Hòu Xīyóu Jì SHAMANS yǒuguǐ

W45

[W45]

Wòtà zhī cè, qǐ róng tārén hānshuì？

卧榻之侧, 岂容他人鼾睡？

臥榻之側, 豈容他人鼾睡？

Lit [By the] side of [my] bed, how [can I] let other people snore?

Fig One must not let others interfere with one's self interest.

Topics INTERFERENCE OTHERS SELF-INTEREST

W46

[W46]

Wǔbǎi nián qián shì yījiā.

五百年前是一家。

Lit [People of the same surname came from] the same family five hundred years ago.

Note [This is a polite formula often said by people sharing the same surname upon first meeting; sometimes preceded by yī bān shù shàng below (q.v.); see also tóngxìng shì yījiā above.]

Topics FAMILIES SURNAMES

W47

[W47]

Wú bìng, yīshēn qīng.

无病一身轻。

無病一身輕。

Lit [When one is] in good health, [he feels] completely carefree.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 20.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì HEALTH WORRIES

W48

[W48]

Wù bì xiān fǔ érhòu chóng shēng.

物必先腐而后虫生。

物必先腐而後蟲生。

Lit Things first get rotten and [only] later [do] worms appear.

Fig Disaster befalls only after (and because) something has first gone wrong inside, (so beware of small problems within).

Note [From Xúnzǐ: Quàn Xué; also said as wù fǔ shēng chóng.]

Topics PRECAUTIONS PROBLEMS Quàn Xué wù fǔ shēng chóng Xúnzǐ

W49

[W49]

Wū bù lòu, qiáng bù dǎo.

屋不漏, 墙不倒。

屋不漏, 牆不倒。

Lit [If a] house does not leak, the walls won't collapse.

Fig Failure results from negligence or mistakes. One should take preventative measures early.

Topics FAILURE MISTAKES NEGLIGENCE PRECAUTIONS

W50

[W50]

Wú cái, dòu lì; yǒu cái, dòuzhì.

无才斗力, 有才斗智。

無才鬥力, 有才鬥智。

Lit [Those who] have no talent vie [with each other in physical] strength, [while those who] have talent compete in intellect.

Note [See also jūnzǐ dòng kǒu above.]

Topics INTELLIGENCE STRENGTH TALENT

W51

[W51]

Wú chǒu, bù xiǎn jùn; wú jiān, bù xiǎn zhōng.

无丑不显俊, 无奸不显忠。

無醜不顯俊, 無奸不顯忠。

Lit Without ugliness, beauty won't be seen; without treachery, loyalty won't be shown.

Topics BEAUTY COMPARISONS LOYALTY TREACHERY UGLINESS

W52

[W52]

Wú chù táo de lǎoshǔ yǎo límāo.

无处逃的老鼠咬狸猫。

無處逃的老鼠咬狸貓。

Lit A rat with no way out [will] bite a leopard cat.

Note [See also tùzi huítóu above and zhí xiàng gǎn gǒu below.]

Topics DESPERATION

W53

[W53]

Wú dú, bù zhàngfu.

无毒不丈夫。

無毒不丈夫。

Lit One who is not ruthless [can]not be a great man.

Fig One cannot be a great man without being ruthless.

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, Act 5, Scene 4 and Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 92; wúdúbùzhàngfu has become a set phrase.]

Topics GREATNESS JPM POWER RUTHLESSNESS STRENGTH wúdúbùzhàngfu Xīxiāng_Jì

W54

[W54]

Wú ěr, bù diàoyú; wú mǐ, bù jiào jī.

无饵不钓鱼, 无米不叫鸡。

無餌不釣魚, 無米不叫雞。

Lit Without bait, [one can]not fish; without rice, [one can]not call chickens.

Fig People will not cooperate or work for you without enticements or rewards.

Topics COOPERATION MOTIVATION REWARDS

W55

[W55]

Wú fēng bù qǐ làng; (wú gēn bù zhǎng cǎo).

无风不起浪, (无根不长草)。

無風不起浪, (無根不長草)。

Lit There are no waves without wind; (there is no grass without roots).

Fig There is always a reason or cause behind things. “Where there's smoke, there's fire.”

Note [See also mù yǒu běn and shuǐ lái hé zhǎng above and yǒu fēng fāng qǐ làng below.]

Topics CAUSE RESULTS

W56

[W56]

Wú fēng, hán yěhǎo; wú zhài, qióng yěhǎo.

无风, 寒也好; 无债, 穷也好。

無風, 寒也好; 無債, 窮也好。

Lit [Just as] without wind, cold can be endured, [so] without debt, poverty can be tolerated.

Note [See also lěng pà fēng qǐ above and wú zhài, yīshēn qīng below.]

Topics DEBT POVERTY

W57

[W57]

Wú fù, bù chéngjiā.

无妇不成家。

無婦不成家。

Lit Without a wife, [a man] is not established.

Fig A man should be married and have a family in order to be considered truly mature and trustworthy.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 10; note: chéngjiā, (lit) “to form a family”; (colloq) “to be married.”]

Topics chéngjiā MARRIAGE MATURITY TRUST Xǐngshì_Héngyán

W59

[W59]

Wǔgēng qǐchuáng, bǎi shì xīngwàng.

五更起床, 百事兴旺。

五更起床, 百事興旺。

Lit (S)he who would thrive, must rise at five [i.e., before dawn].

Note [Note wǔgēng refers to the last of the five two-hour time periods into which the night was traditionally divided; see also yī yè wǔgēng below.]

Topics EARLINESS EFFORT gēng NIGHTS SLEEP SUCCESS TIMING wǔgēng

W60

[W60]

Wú gōng, bù shòu lù.*

无功不受禄。

無功不受祿。

Lit [If one has] not [exerted any] effort, [one should] not receive a reward.

Fig [Traditionally said modestly when accepting a gift or honor, or as an excuse to decline:] “I have done nothing worthy of this honor.”

Note [See also jūnzǐ bù chī above and the following two entries.]

Topics EFFORT EXCUSES GIFTS HONORS MODESTY REWARDS

W61

[W61]

Wú gōng shòu lù, fǎn shòu qí yāng.

无功受禄, 反受其殃。

無功受祿, 反受其殃。

Lit [One who] receives rewards without merit will get into trouble.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 2; note: as a chengyu: wúgōng-shòulù, “to get an undeserved reward”; see also the preceding entry and the following entry.]

Topics chengyu Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō MERIT REWARDS TROUBLE wúgōng-shòulù

W62

[W62]

Wú gōng shòu lù, qǐnshí bù ān.*

无功受禄, 寝食不安。

無功受祿, 寢食不安。

Lit To receive [such a] reward without deserving [it would make one] feel guilty night [and] day.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 28; note: qǐnshí bù'ān is a chengyu meaning “to lose sleep and sleep from worry”; see also the preceding two entries.]

Topics chengyu GUILT qǐnshí bù'ān REWARDS WM wúgōng-shòulù

W63

[W63]

Wǔguān huì shā; wénguān huì guā.

武官会杀, 文官会刮。

武官會殺, 文官會刮。

Lit Military officers can kill [people and] civil officials can exploit [people, in traditional China].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EXPLOITATION MILITARY OFFICIALS rhyme traditional_China

W64

[W64]

Wú guān, yīshēn qīng.*

无官一身轻。

無官一身輕。

Lit [When one is] relieved of official duties [one feels] completely carefree.

Fig Out of office, out of danger.

Note [See also wú shì, yīshēn qīng below.]

Topics DANGER OFFICIALS RETIREMENT

W65

[W65]

Wūguī mò xiào biē; dàjiā ní lǐ xiē.

乌龟莫笑鳖, 大家泥里歇。

烏龜莫笑鱉, 大家泥裡歇。

Lit Turtles should not laugh at tortoises, [as] we/they both live in the mud.

Fig People of the same (bad) ilk should not criticize each other. “The pot calling the kettle black.”

Note [See also tiě guàn mò shuō above and zhū mà wūyā hēi below.]

Topics CRITICISM FAULTS

W66

[W66]

Wú huǎng, bù chéng méi.

无谎不成媒。

無謊不成媒。

Lit Without lies, [one] cannot make a marriage match.

Fig There are no matchmakers who don't tell lies.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 7.]

Topics LIES MARRIAGE MATCHMAKERS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

W67

[W67]

Wú huǎng, bù chéng zhuàng.

无谎不成状。

無謊不成狀。

Lit Without lies, [one] cannot make a lawsuit.

Fig One cannot bring a lawsuit without including some falsehoods.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 2; note: gàozhuàng, “to bring a lawsuit.”]

Topics FALSEHOODS gàozhuàng Hé Diǎn LAWSUITS LIES

W68

[W68]

Wú jī, bù chéng yàn.

无鸡, 不成宴。

無雞, 不成宴。

Lit Without chicken [on the table], [a dinner can]not [be counted as a] feast.

Fig If a certain crucial element is missing, nothing can be done.

Note [See also wú jiǔ, bù chéng xí below.]

Topics CONDITIONS

W69

[W69]

Wú jìn wú jì, huángjīn pū dì.

无禁无忌, 黄金铺地。

無禁無忌, 黃金鋪地。

Lit [If you observe] no taboos, [you will see] gold covering the ground.

Fig Be bold and resolute and don't hesitate to grasp an opportunity whenever it comes.

Note [Rhyme; note: jìnjì, “taboo.”]

Topics BOLDNESS jìnjì OPPORTUNITY TABOOS

W70

[W70]

Wú jiǔ, bù chéng xí.

无酒不成席。

無酒不成席。

Lit Without wine, [it can]not be [reckoned a] feast.

Fig If a certain crucial element is missing, nothing can be done.

Note [See also wú jī, bù chéng yàn above.]

Topics CONDITIONS

W71

[W71]

Wú liáng, bù dòngbīng.

无粮不动兵。

無糧不動兵。

Lit Never dispatch soldiers without provisions.

Fig Do not start anything until all the necessary preparations have been completed.

Note [See also bīngmǎ wèi dòng and the following entry.]

Topics BEGINNING CONDITIONS PREPARATION

W72

[W72]

Wú liáng bù jù bīng.

无粮不聚兵。

無糧不聚兵。

Lit Without provisions, don't enlist soldiers.

Fig Until all necessary preparations have been made, don't start.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics BEGINNING CONDITIONS PREPARATION

W73

[W73]

Wūlǐ bù shāohuǒ, wū wài bù màoyān.

屋里不烧火, 屋外不冒烟。

屋裡不燒火, 屋外不冒煙。

Lit [If] inside the house [there is] no fire, outside the house [there will] not be smoke.

Fig There are no results without causes. “Where there's smoke there's fire.”

Topics CAUSE RESULTS

W74

[W74]

Wū lòu gèng zāo liányè yǔ; (chuán chí yòu yù dǎtóufēng).

屋漏更遭连夜雨, (船迟又遇打头风)。

屋漏更遭連夜雨, (船遲又遇打頭風)。

Lit A leaky house gets hit by all-night rain; a late boat meets with a head wind.

Fig “Misfortunes never come singly.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 1; see fú wú shuāng zhī and làn chuán piān yù and pò chuán piān yù above.]

Topics LUCK MISFORTUNE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

W75

[W75]

Wū lòu zài shàng, zhī zhī zài xià.

屋漏在上, 知之在下。

Lit [When the] house leaks above, [the ones who] know it [are those who] are underneath.

Fig If mistakes are committed by the superior, it will be known to his subordinates.

Note [Note: zàixià is also a traditional term of humility used by an inferior; vs. shàngmíng bù zhī above.]

Topics HIERARCHY MISTAKES SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS zàixià

W76

[W76]

Wú míng bù zhī; yǒumíng biàn xiǎo.

无名不知, 有名便晓。

無名不知, 有名便曉。

Fig [When one is] not famous, no [one] knows [him]; [when one becomes] famous, [he] is known to all.

Topics FAME

W77

[W77]

Wù mò néng liǎng dà.

物莫能两大。

物莫能兩大。

Lit Two equally large [opposing] forces cannot coexist; (i.e., one will conquer the other).

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Zhuāng Gōng 22 Nián; also Qián Hàn Yǎnyì, chap. 44; see also yī shān bù néng and yī gè shāntóu and yī guó bùróng, etc. below.]

Topics COEXISTENCE EQUALITY FORCE OPPOSITION Qián Hàn Yǎnyì Zhuāng Gōng 22 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

W78

[W78]

Wúnéng zhě wú suǒ qiú.

无能者无所求。

無能者無所求。

Lit Those [who] have little ability do not seek [anything].

Fig Those who seek nothing are people of no ability or talent.

Topics ABILITY TALENT

W79

[W79]

Wú píng, bù bēi; wú wǎng, bù fù.

无平不陂, 无往不复。

無平不陂, 無往不復。

Lit [Just as] there are no [flat] plains without slopes [i.e., ups and downs], [so] there is no “to” without a “fro.”

Fig One is bound to suffer revenge if one does evil. “What goes around, comes around.”

Note [See also yī rén yī zāo below.]

Topics ACTION EVIL RECOMPENSE RETURNING REVENGE

W80

[W80]

Wú qián chī jiǔ, dù rén miàn chì.

无钱吃酒, 妒人面赤。

無錢吃酒, 妒人面赤。

Lit With no money to drink wine, [one is] envious of another's red face.

Fig One envies others when one can't get what one wishes for.

Topics DESIRE ENVY FRUSTRATION OTHERS

W81

[W81]

Wú qiǎo, bù chéng shū.*

无巧不成书。

無巧不成書。

Lit Without coincidence(s) [there would be] no story.

Fig By a happy coincidence.

Note [This expression is commonly found in the traditional popular novels, e.g., Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 29; cf. WM, chap. 24; in speech, also sometimes said méi qiǎo bù chéng huà; see also shì yǒu dòuqiǎo above.]

Topics COINCIDENCE WM

W82

[W82]

Wǔrén bùxī sǐ.

武人不惜死。

Lit Warriors do not hesitate to die.

Note [Cf. Sòng Shǐ: Yuè Fēi Zhuàn.]

Topics MILITARY Sòng Shǐ WAR Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

W83

[W83]

Wù shāng qí lèi.

物伤其类。

物傷其類。

Lit Creatures mourn their own ilk.

Fig Fellow creatures care about their own kind.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 73; as a chengyu: wùshāng-qílèi; see also tù sǐ, hú bēi above.]

Topics CARING chengyu CREATURES DRC FEELINGS KINDS SIMILARITIES wùshāng-qílèi

W84

[W84]

Wú shì, bù dēng Sānbǎodiàn.*

无事不登三宝殿。

無事不登三寶殿。

Lit [If one did] not have any business, [one] would not enter the [Buddhist] temple hall.

Fig One never goes to visit someone unless one is in need of help, e.g., I wouldn't be here bothering you, except I have to ask a favor; (s)he only comes here when (s)he needs a favor, etc.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 91; see also lái zài huā shù above.]

Topics FAVORS JPM MOTIVES VISITING

W85

[W85]

Wǔshí bù zhòng shù; liùshí bù gài fáng.

五十不种树, 六十不盖房。

五十不種樹, 六十不蓋房。

Lit [At age] fifty don't plant trees [and at age] sixty don't build a house.

Fig Don't wait until late in life to get started, or you will have no time to enjoy the benefits of your labors; start early in life.

Topics AGE BEGINNING STARTING

W86

[W86]

Wú shì, yīshēn qīng.

无事一身轻。

無事一身輕。

Lit Without [official] tasks, [one's] life [will be] completely carefree.

Fig One can lead a carefree life if one has no official responsibilities.

Note [See also wú guān, yīshēn qīng above.]

Topics OFFICIALS RETIREMENT

W87

[W87]

Wú suǒ qiú zé wú suǒ huò.*

无所求则无所获。

無所求則無所獲。

Lit Without seeking, nothing is obtained.

Fig One must exert some effort in order to get some result.

Note [Note: not “nothing ventured, nothing gained,” as there is no element of risk.]

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT RESULTS

W88

[W88]

Wúxīn rén shuōhuà, zhǐpà yǒuxīnrén lái tīng.

无心人说话, 只怕有心人来听。

無心人說話, 只怕有心人來聽。

Lit The only thing a person who talks guilelessly has to worry about is being (over)heard by a listener who is sensitive on a certain topic.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 17; see also shuōzhě wúyì above and yán zhě wúxīn below.]

Topics EAVESDROPPING Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn TALK WORRIES

W89

[W89]

Wūyā bù rù fènghuáng qún.

乌鸦不入凤凰群。

烏鴉不入鳳凰群。

Lit Crows [can]not join a flock of phoenixes.

Fig Evil people cannot get along with good people.

Topics EVIL GOODNESS

W90

[W90]

Wū, yào rén zhī; rén, yào liáng chēng.

屋要人支, 人要粮撑。

屋要人支, 人要糧撐。

Lit [Just as] houses need people to erect [them, so] people need food to support [their lives].

Note [Note: zhīchēng, “support; sustain.”]

Topics FOOD HOUSES NECESSITIES zhīchēng

W91

[W91]

Wūyā qǐ ǒu cǎi fèng.

乌鸦岂偶彩凤。

烏鴉豈偶彩鳳。

Lit How can a black crow be mated to a colorful phoenix?

Fig People from different social backgrounds will not be well-matched in marriage.

Topics MARRIAGE SOCIAL_CLASS

W92

[W92]

Wūyā zhī fēng; chóngyǐ zhī yǔ.

乌鸦知风, 虫蚁知雨。

烏鴉知風, 蟲蟻知雨。

Lit Crows [are the first to] know [the coming of the] wind, [and] ants, the rain.

Fig Those who are familiar with the environment can foresee changes in the offing.

Note [See also mǎyǐ lěi wō above.]

Topics CHANGES ENVIRONMENT FAMILIARITY PREDICTIONS WEATHER

W93

[W93]

Wù yǐ lèi jù; (rén yǐ qún fēn).

物以类聚, (人以群分)。

物以類聚, (人以群分)。

Lit ([Just as]) things come together according to category, ([so] people divide [into similar] groups).

Fig “Like attracts like”; “birds of a feather flock together.”

Note [The first half is used alone as a chengyu: wùyǐlèijù, meaning “like attracts like”; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics CATEGORIES chengyu chengyu COMPANIONS GROUPS SIMILARITIES wùyǐlèijù Xǐngshì_Héngyán

W94

[W94]

Wǔyì wú jiǎ; bǎxì wú zhēn.

武艺无假, 把戏无真。

武藝無假, 把戲無真。

Lit [True] martial arts skills [can]not be fake[d], [just as conjuring] tricks cannot be real.

Fig If one is going to something, it must be studied well or it will be of no use.

Topics MARTIAL ARTS SKILL STUDYING

W95

[W95]

Wù yǒu qiān biàn, rén yǒu wàn biàn; ruò yào bùbiàn, huángtǔ gài miàn.

物有千变, 人有万变; 若要不变, 黄土盖面。

物有千變, 人有萬變; 若要不變, 黃土蓋面。

Lit Things change a thousand times [and] people ten thousand times, if [you] want no change, [wait until the] yellow earth covers [your] face.

Fig Change is inevitable in life.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31; note: huángtǔ, (lit) “yellow earth,” means “loess.”]

Topics CHANGES Jǐngshì Tōngyán rhyme

W96

[W96]

Wù yǒu suǒ guī; gè jìn qí yòng.

物有所归, 各尽其用。

物有所歸, 各盡其用。

Lit [All] things have their [proper] placement; each [should be] put to its best use.

Fig Things have their proper places, and best uses. “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Let all things serve their best or proper purpose.

Note [As set phrase: wùjìnqíyòng; see also yī wù zìyǒu below.]

Topics KINDS PLACE PURPOSE USE wùjìnqíyòng wùjìnqíyòng

W97

[W97]

Wú yù, zhì zé gāng.

无欲志则刚。

無欲志則剛。

Lit [If one] has no [selfish] desires [or self-interest], [one] will be resolute.

Fig One can be free to do what is right if one is not hampered by worldly ambitions.

Topics AMBITION DESIRE

W98

[W98]

Wú zhài, yīshēn qīng.*

无债一身轻。

無債一身輕。

Lit [When one has] no debts, [one feels] completely carefree.

Fig One who owes nothing, bows to no one.

Note [See also wú fēng, hán yěhǎo above.]

Topics DEBT MONEY WORRIES

W99

[.]

Wú zhēn bù yǐn xiàn.

无针不引线。

無針不引線。

Lit [If] there's no needle, [one can]not draw the thread [through].

Fig Nothing can be accomplished without someone's introduction or recommendation.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; note: as a noun, yǐnxiàn, (lit) “thread drawer,” refers to a “go-between.”]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT INTRODUCTIONS RECOMMENDATION RELATIONSHIPS SUCCESS Wǔ Sōng yǐnxiàn

W100

[W100]

Wú zhì zhī rén cháng lìzhì.

无志之人常立志。

無志之人常立志。

Lit A person without resolution always makes resolutions.

Fig One who is always making resolutions never carries them out.

Topics ACTIONS PLANNING PROMISES RESOLVE

【L1】X X1

[X1]

Xià bù shuì shí.

夏不睡石。

Lit [In] summer, don't sleep [on] stones.

Note [Note: It's easy to catch cold sleeping on cool stones in summer, because stone absorbs body heat very fast.]

Topics HEAT SLEEP SUMMER

X2

[X2]

Xià chóng bù kě(yǐ) yǔ bīng; (jǐngwā bù kěyǐ tán tiān).

夏虫不可(以)语冰, (井蛙不可以谈天)。

夏蟲不可(以)語冰, (井蛙不可以談天)。

Lit [To a] summer insect, [one] cannot speak of ice; ([to] a frog-in-a-well, [one] cannot speak of the sky).

Fig Shallow people are always narrow-minded, (so don't waste your time talking with them).

Note [Cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Qiū Shuǐ; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 37; note: jǐngwā or jǐngdǐzhīwā refers to a person with a very limited outlook on life, and tántiān, (lit) “to talk [about the] sky,” as an idiom means “to chat with; to engage in casual conversation”; see also huìgū bù zhī and jǐngwā bù kěyǐ above.]

Topics Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí FOOLS idiom jǐngdǐzhīwā jǐngwā NARROW-MINDEDNESS NARROWNESS Qiū Shuǐ TALK tántiān Zhuāngzǐ

X3

[X3]

Xiàděng zhī rén, shuōle bù zuò; zhōngděng zhī rén, biān shuō biān zuò; shàngděng zhī rén, zuòle cái shuō.

下等之人, 说了不做; 中等之人, 边说边做; 上等之人, 做了才说。

下等之人, 說了不做; 中等之人, 邊說邊做; 上等之人, 做了才說。

Lit Lower class people talk without doing, middle class people talk while doing, [and] upper class people talk only after doing.

Topics ACTION SOCIAL CLASS TALK

X4

[X4]

Xiā de sān dǒu cù, zuò de gū shuāngfù.

呷得三斗醋, 做得孤孀妇。

呷得三斗醋, 做得孤孀婦。

Lit [As] bitter as sipping three measures of vinegar [it is to] be a lonely widow.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 35; here dǒu refers to a container used for measuring grain, equal to one deciliter.]

Topics deciliter dǒu Jǐngshì Tōngyán LONELINESS WIDOWS

X5

[X5]

Xiàhǎi fāng zhī hǎishuǐ shēn; shàng shān fāng xiǎo shān nán xíng.

下海方知海水深, 上山方晓山难行。

下海方知海水深, 上山方曉山難行。

Lit Until [you] go into the sea, [you] won't know the sea's depth; until [you] go up a mountain, [you] won't know the hardship of climbing.

Fig One cannot truly understand something until one has experienced it oneself.

Topics DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCE LEARNING

X6

[X6]

Xiā māo zhuō bu zhù huó lǎoshǔ.

瞎猫捉不住活老鼠。

瞎貓捉不住活老鼠。

Lit A blind cat won't catch a live mouse.

Fig One who does everything blindly can accomplish nothing.

Topics RASHNESS

X7

[X7]

Xiā mǎ zì jīng.

瞎马自惊。

瞎馬自驚。

Lit A blind horse [always] frightens itself.

Fig If one doesn't know how things stand, one will always have doubts and fears in taking any action.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS DEBT FEAR IGNORANCE KNOWLEDGE

X8

[X8]

Xiàn cháng, hǎo fàng yuǎn fēngzheng.

线长好放远风筝。

線長好放遠風箏。

Lit [The] longer [the] string, [the] easier [it is to fly one's] kite higher.

Fig If one takes a long-term point of view, one will obtain benefits in the long run.

Note [See also yào diào dà yú below.]

Topics BENEFITS PERSPECTIVE TIME

X9

[X9]

Xiāndān nán zhì méi liángxīn.

仙丹难治没良心。

仙丹難治沒良心。

Lit [Even] the gods' medicine cannot cure [people] without consciences.

Fig There is no way to convert those without consciences into kind-hearted people.

Note [Note: xiāndān, (lit) “immortals' pills,” usually refers to a magical “elixir of life.”]

Topics CONSCIENCE elixir of life immortals' pills MEDICINE xiāndān

X10

[X10]

Xiān dào mòfáng, xiān shǐ mò.

先到磨房, 先使磨。

Lit The first to come to the mill [is] the first to do [his] grinding.

Fig “The early bird gets the worm”; “first come, first served.”

Note [See also xiān guò hé, xiān shī jiǎo below.]

Topics EARLINESS SUCCESS

X11

[X11]

Xiān dào wéi jūn; hòu dào wéi chén.*

先到为君, 后到为臣。

先到為君, 後到為臣。

Lit The first to arrive is the king, [and] the later to arrive are ministers.

Fig Seniority takes precedence.

Note [See also xiān jìnmén below.]

Topics HIERARCHY PRECEDENCE SENIORITY

X12

[X12]

Xiān duàn, hòu bùduàn.

先断后不断。

先斷後不斷。

Lit [If one] first [makes a hasty] decision, later [one will have] unceasing [trouble].

Note [Note: this is a play on words between pànduàn, “to decide,” and jìxù bùduàn, “continuing endlessly.”]

Topics DECISIONS HASTE pànduàn TROUBLE

X13

[X13]

Xiāngchūn shù shàng yě yǒu dǎpìchóng.

香椿树上也有打屁虫。

香椿樹上也有打屁蟲。

Lit Even in a fragrant Chinese toon tree, there are stinkbugs.

Fig Even a wonderful person has some shortcomings.

Note [The leaves of the Chinese toon tree are an edible delicacy.]

Topics Chinese toon SHORTCOMINGS

X14

[X14]

Xiāng ěr zhīxià, bì yǒu sǐ yú.

香饵之下必有死鱼。

香餌之下必有死魚。

Lit Under tasty bait, there are bound to be dead fish.

Fig If the enticement is tempting enough, there will always be someone willing to “take the bait.”

Topics ENTICEMENTS ENTRAPMENT TEMPTATION

X15

[X15]

Xiāngféng hébì céng xiāngshí.

相逢何必曾相识。

相逢何必曾相識。

Lit To meet why must [people] already know each other?

Fig One need not necessarily already have been introduced in order to meet (with) someone. Sometimes people are predestined to meet.

Note [Used when two strangers meet; a line referring to two wandering travelers from the poem “Pípa Xíng” from the Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi; the preceding line is tóng shì tiānyá lúnluò rén, so both lines together mean: “Both [of us] are wanderers at the ends of the earth; to meet each other here, why should we already have met before?” (i.e., we were predestined to meet by fate); see also jì zài Fó huì xià above.]

Topics Bai Juyi FATE MEETING Tang_dynasty

X16

[X16]

Xiāngféng zhījǐ huà piān cháng.

相逢知己话偏长。

相逢知己話偏長。

Lit When congenial friends meet, there'll be endless talk.

Note [See also jiǔ féng zhījǐ above.]

Topics FRIENDS MEETING TALK

X17

[X17]

Xiāngféng zǒngshì Tiāngōng qiǎo.

相逢总是天工巧。

相逢總是天工巧。

Lit Chance meetings are always arranged by Providence.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 12.]

Topics CHANCE COINCIDENCE HEALTH Jǐngshì_Tōngyán

X18

[X18]

Xiǎng gǔ bùyòng zhòng chuí qiāo.

响鼓不用重锤敲。

響鼓不用重錘敲。

Lit A resonant drum need not be struck with a heavy drum stick.

Fig A wise person requires no detailed explanation. “A word to the wise is sufficient.”

Note [See also míngrén bùyòng above.]

Topics EXPLANATIONS INTELLIGENCE UNDERSTANDING

X19

[X19]

Xiāngjiàn hǎo; tóng zhù nán.

相见好, 同住难。

相見好, 同住難。

Lit [Occasionally] seeing one another is good, [but] living together is difficult.

Fig It is easier to visit people than to live with them.

Note [See also tóuqīn bùrú above.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES LIVING TOGETHER VISITING

X20

[X20]

Xiāngjiàn yì dé hǎo; gòng zhù nán wéirén.

相见易得好, 共住难为人。

相見易得好, 共住難為人。

Lit [People who only] meet [occasionally can] easily get along, [but when they have] to live together [under the same roof] it's hard to get along.

Note [Note: wéirén “conduct oneself appropriately”; see also qìngjia péngyou above.]

Topics CONDUCT EXCESS FRIENDSHIP RELATIVES wéirén

X21

[X21]

Xiāngjiāo mǎn tiānxià, zhīxīn néng jǐ rén.*

相交满天下, 知心能几人。

相交滿天下, 知心能幾人。

Lit [Those whom one] knows casually [may] fill the world, [but] those [who truly understand one] can [only] be few [in number].

Fig One may have acquaintances all over the world, but very few true friends.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 23; also said xiāng shí mǎn, etc.]

Topics ACQUAINTANCES FRIENDS Rúlín_Wàishǐ

X22

[X22]

Xiàng mǎ shī zhī shòu; xiàng shì shī zhī pín.

相马失之瘦, 相士失之贫。

相馬失之瘦, 相士失之貧。

Lit In judging a horse's [ability], [one may] misjudge it [because of its] thinness; in judging a scholar['s ability], [one may] misjudge it [because he is] poor.

Fig A horse may be misjudged because it is thin, and a man because he is poor.

Topics ABILITY JUDGMENTS POVERTY SCHOLARS

X23

[X23]

Xiāng mà, wàng rén quàn; xiàng dǎ, wàng rén tuō.

相骂望人劝, 相打望人拖。

相罵望人勸, 相打望人拖。

Lit [When] quarreling, both [sides] hope [there'll be] someone [who will come to] exhort [them to make peace]; [when] fighting, each [side] hopes [there'll be] someone [who will come and try to] separate [them].

Topics FIGHTING PEACE QUARRELING

X24

[X24]

Xiāng mà wú hǎo yán; xiāng dǎ wú hǎo quán.

相骂无好言, 相打无好拳。

相罵無好言, 相打無好拳。

Lit In swearing at one another, there are no fine words, [and in] fighting, no light blows will be struck.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 87.]

Topics CURSING FIGHTING WORDS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

X25

[X25]

Xiàng mǎ yǐ yú; xiàng shì yǐ jū.

相马以舆, 相士以居。

相馬以輿, 相士以居。

Lit [Just as one] judges a horse by the cart [it pulls, so some people] judge a gentleman according to [the place he] lives in.

Note [Rhyme; compare the preceding entry.]

Topics GENTLEMEN JUDGMENTS PLACE

X26

[X26]

Xiān gōng (ér) hòu sī.*

先公(而)后私。

先公(而)後私。

Lit First public [business] and [only] later private [business].

Fig Public business first; private later.

Note [See also gōng ér wàng sī above.]

Topics BUSINESS PRIVATE PUBLIC PUBLIC

X27

[X27]

Xiǎng qiǎo bì cuò.

想巧必错。

想巧必錯。

Lit [One who] resorts to trickery is bound to make mistakes.

Topics MISTAKES TRICKERY

X28

[X28]

Xiàng qíng, xiàng bùliǎo lǐ.

向情向不了理。

Lit [If one] favors friendship, [one] cannot favor reason/justice.

Fig If one practices favoritism, then one won't be able to adhere to justice.

Note [Note: jiāoqing; qíngyì, “friendship.”]

Topics FAVORITISM jiāoqing JUSTICE qíngyì

X29

[X29]

Xiàngshàng pāo shítou; liúxīn zìjǐ tóu.

向上抛石头, 留心自己头。

向上拋石頭, 留心自己頭。

Lit [When you] throw a stone upwards [into the sky], mind [your] own head.

Fig Those who intend to harm others will themselves be harmed.

Topics EVIL HARM

X30

[X30]

Xiǎng shí héngcái, yīshì qióng.

想拾横财, 一世穷。

想拾橫財, 一世窮。

Lit [Those who] try to get rich by evil means [will] remain poor all [their] lives.

Note [See also wài cái bù fú rén above; vs. rén wú hèngcái above.]

Topics EVIL POVERTY

X31

[X31]

Xiànguān bùrú xiàn guǎn.*

县官不如现管。

縣官不如現管。

Lit A county magistrate['s control over someone] is not as effective as [that of one's] immediate superior.

Fig A higher official may not have as much power as the immediate manager on the spot.

Note [Used in both good and bad senses; see also guān chà, lì chà above.]

Topics CONTROL MAGISTRATES POWER SUPERIORS

X32

[X32]

Xiànguān mànmàn; yuānsǐ zhě bàn.

县官漫漫, 冤死者半。

縣官漫漫, 冤死者半。

Lit [If a] county magistrate is undisciplined [i.e., not supervised by his superiors], those who die unjustly [by his sentence may be as many as] half [of the cases he hears].

Fig The great power of a local magistrate in traditional China had to be carefully monitored and exercised with a great sense of responsibility or there could be disastrous results for those who came for judgment.

Note [Rhyme; see also pò jiā xiànlìng above.]

Topics DISASTERS MAGISTRATES POWER rhyme

X33

[X33]

Xiánguān qīng; chǒu fù zhēn; qióng chīsù; lǎo kàn jīng.

闲官清丑妇贞, 穷吃素老看经。

閑官清醜婦貞, 窮吃素老看經。

Lit Idle officials are pure, ugly women are chaste, poor [people] eat vegetarian [meals, and] old [people] read the [Buddhist] scriptures.

Fig Some people's morals and conduct are determined by their circumstances.

Topics AGE CIRCUMSTANCES CONDUCT MORALS OFFICIALS OLD AGE POVERTY WOMEN

X34

[X34]

Xiān guò hé, xiān shī jiǎo.

先过河, 先湿脚。

先過河, 先濕腳。

Lit [The one who is the] first to cross the river [is also the] first [to get his] feet wet.

Fig There are advantages as well as disadvantages in being ahead of others.

Topics ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE EARLINESS

X35

[X35]

Xiāngxià méiyǒu ní tuǐ, chénglǐ èsǐ yóuzuǐ.

乡下没有泥腿, 城里饿死油嘴。

鄉下沒有泥腿, 城裡餓死油嘴。

Lit [If] there were no muddy legs in the countryside, the “oily-mouths” in the city [would] starve to death.

Fig Without the efforts of the peasant farmers in the rural areas, those in the cities would have no food to eat.

Note [Rhyme; yóuzuǐ, (lit) “oily mouths,” refers to “slick-tongued glib talkers.”]

Topics CITIES CITY DWELLERS EFFORT FARMERS FOOD PEASANTS rhyme yóuzuǐ

X36

[X36]

Xiāngxià shīzi, xiāngxià wǔ.

乡下狮子, 乡下舞。

鄉下獅子, 鄉下舞。

Lit Country lion dancers [will only be welcomed] in the countryside.

Fig The customs of the country won't be welcomed in the city.

Topics CITIES COUNTRYSIDE CUSTOMS

X37

[X37]

Xiàng yǐ chǐ fén shēn; bàng yǐ zhū pò tǐ.

象以齿焚身; 蚌以珠破体。

象以齒焚身; 蚌以珠破體。

Lit Elephants [are] killed because [they have ivory] tusks; clams [have their] bodies split because [they have] pearls.

Fig One who has treasures invites robberies or attacks.

Topics DANGER ROBBERY WEALTH

X38

[X38]

Xiǎng zhì chuāng, bù néng pà wā ròu.

想治疮不能怕挖肉。

想治瘡不能怕挖肉。

Lit [If one] wants to cure a boil, [one] cannot be afraid of cutting out flesh.

Fig Solving problems requires some sacrifice.

Topics PROBLEMS SACRIFICES SOLUTIONS

X39

[X39]

Xiánhuà duōbàn jù shì huǎnghuà.

闲话多半句是谎话。

閑話多半句是謊話。

Lit [In] idle talk the greater part [of the] sentences are lies.

Fig Too much idle talk becomes lies, (so don't talk too much!)

Topics EXAGGERATION LIES LYING TALK

X40

[X40]

Xián huò zhèngshì mǎi huò rén.

嫌货正是买货人。

嫌貨正是買貨人。

Lit [The customer who] complains [about the defects of] goods is [a serious] buyer [who wants to buy] the goods [rather than just a casual “window shopper”].

Note [See also bāobiǎn shì mǎizhǔ above.]

Topics BUSINESS BUYING CRITICISM CUSTOMERS WINDOW_SHOPPING

X41

[X41]

Xiān jìnmén yī rì, yě shì dà.

先进门一日, 也是大。

先進門一日, 也是大。

Lit The first to enter the gate [even if only by] one day still has seniority.

Fig Seniority must be observed.

Note [Cf. Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 8; see xiān dào wéi jūn above.]

Topics Píng Yāo Zhuàn PRECEDENCE SENIORITY

X42

[X42]

Xiān lái de chī ròu; hòulái de hē tāng.

先来的吃肉; 后来的喝汤。

先來的吃肉; 後來的喝湯。

Lit [Those who] come first [will] eat meat, [while those who] come last [will only] get soup.

Fig Those who go ahead of others usually get some advantage(s). “The early bird gets the worm.”

Note [See also xiān dào mòfáng above.]

Topics EARLINESS TIMELINESS

X43

[X43]

Xiànlìng, xiànlìng; tīng qián diàoyòng.

县令县令, 听钱调用。

縣令縣令, 聽錢調用。

Lit County magistrates [are] controlled [by] money [in their decision-making].

Fig Money makes the magistrate go.

Note [Note: diàoyòng here means to be controlled by money or financial interest; see also qián kě tōng shén above.]

Topics diàoyòng MAGISTRATES MONEY OFFICIALS POWER

X44

[X44]

Xiān lǜ bài; hòu lǜ shèng.

先虑败, 后虑胜。

先慮敗, 後慮勝。

Lit Consider first [what to do if you] fail, [and only] later consider [what to do if you] win.

Fig Always prepare for the worst (case).

Note [See also wèicéng chūbīng above.]

Topics PLANNING PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION

X45

[X45]

Xiànqián mǎi de shǒuzhǐ ròu.

现钱买得手指肉。

現錢買得手指肉。

Lit [If one has] cash money, [one] can buy [any] meat [that one can] point to.

Fig “Money talks.”

Topics CASH MEAT MONEY POWER

X46

[X46]

Xiánrén duō cái, zé sǔn qí zhì; chángrén duō cái, zé yì qí guò.

闲人多财则损其智, 常人多财则益其过。

閑人多財則損其智, 常人多財則益其過。

Lit [If a] worthy person gets rich, [it] will weaken [his] wisdom; [if an] ordinary person gets rich, [it] will increase [his] transgressions.

Topics CORRUPTION MONEY WEALTH WISDOM

X47

[X47]

Xiānrén nán duàn yè jià.

仙人难断叶价。

仙人難斷葉價。

Lit Even gods are hard put to [fore]tell the prices of [mulberry] leaves [used to feed silkworms].

Fig It is very difficult to predict market prices.

Topics BUSINESS FUTURE MARKETS PREDICTIONS PRICE

X48

[X48]

Xiánrén (yě) yǒu máng shí.

闲人(也)有忙时。

閑人(也)有忙時。

Lit (Even) idle people can [sometimes] be busy.

Note [Often said ironically.]

Topics IDLENESS

X49

[X49]

Xián rén yì chǒu; děng rén yì jiǔ.

嫌人易丑, 等人易久。

嫌人易醜, 等人易久。

Lit [Just as if one] dislikes a person, [it's] easy [to feel that (s)he is] ugly, [so, if one has to] wait for someone, [it is easy to feel that the waiting time is] long.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 7.]

Topics DISLIKE rhyme Suí Táng Yǎnyì TIME WAITING

X50

[X50]

Xiān sǎ wōzi, hòu diàoyú.

先撒窝子, 后钓鱼。

先撒窩子, 後釣魚。

Lit First scatter the bait [and] then fish.

Fig Make correct preparations before you take action.

Topics PLANNING PREPARATION

X51

[X51]

Xiánshí zhìxia, máng shí yòng.*

闲时置下忙时用。

閑時置下忙時用。

Lit [When there's] leisure time, buy [things] to use when [you're] busy.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 40; see also yǎngbīng qiān rì below.]

Topics LEISURE NECESSITY PREPARATION TIME

X52

[X52]

Xiān shuō duàn, hòu bù luàn.

先说断, 后不乱。

先說斷, 後不亂。

Lit First talk about the specifics [and] later [there will be] no confusion.

Fig (It is best to) explain or discuss the plan clearly at first so as to avoid any confusion later.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 7; see also xiān xiǎorén below.]

Topics CONFUSION DETAILS JPM PLANNING PRECISION rhyme STRATEGY

X53

[X53]

Xiān tiānxià zhī yōu ér yōu; hòu tiānxià zhī lè ér lè.*

先天下之忧而忧, 后天下之乐而乐。

先天下之憂而憂, 後天下之樂而樂。

Lit [One should] first worry about the worries of the (world) at large; [only] later [after] everyone else is happy should one [seek one's own] happiness.

Note [Said of the scholar-gentry in traditional China; from an essay by the Song dynasty writer Fan Zhongyan entitled “Yuē Yáng Lóu Jì.”]

Topics Fan Zhongyan HAPPINESS INDIVIDUALS SELFLESSNESS Song dynasty WORRIES Yuē_Yáng_Lóu_Jì

X54

[X54]

Xiān xià mǐ, xiān chī fàn.

先下米, 先吃饭。

先下米, 先吃飯。

Lit The first to put the rice on [to cook will be] the first to eat.

Fig The one who takes action first will get results first; “first in, first out.”

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 84; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 34; note: there is no element of competition implied, unlike “the early bird gets the worm”; see also the following entry.]

Topics ACTION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn JPM RESULTS TIMING

X55

[X55]

Xiān xiǎorén, hòu jūnzǐ.*

先小人, 后君子。

先小人, 後君子。

Lit [Be] petty at first, [and a] gentleman later.

Fig In one's dealings, one should be very clear about the terms of negotiation (or business) at first, and then more flexible later on.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 84; see also xiān shuō duàn above.]

Topics BUSINESS FLEXIBILITY GENTLEMEN JW NEGOTIATIONS PETTINESS STRATEGY

X56

[X56]

Xiān xiàshǒu wéi qiáng; hòu xiàshǒu zāoyāng.*

先下手为强, 后下手遭殃。

先下手為強, 後下手遭殃。

Lit The first to strike will gain [the upper hand, while the one who] delays will meet disaster.

Note [Rhyme; cf. JW, chap. 81; see also zhǐyào xiān shàng chuán below and the preceding entry.]

Topics DELAY DISASTERS FIGHTING JW PROCRASTINATION STRATEGY SUCCESS TIMING

X57

[X57]

Xián xīn shēng qiǎo xīn.

闲心生巧心。

閑心生巧心。

Lit [A clear] calm mind produces clever ideas.

Topics CALM CLEVERNESS IDEAS

X58

[X58]

Xiān xué sān nián, tiānxià qù dé; zài xué sān nián, cùn bù nán xíng.

先学三年,天下去得; 再学三年,寸步难行。

先學三年,天下去得; 再學三年,寸步難行。

Lit [When you] first study [for] three years, [you think you've learned everything and can] go anywhere in the world; [after you've studied for] another three years, [you feel you haven't learned enough and can] hardly budge an inch.

Fig The more one learns, the more modest one will become.

Note [Note: the chengyu: cùnbù-nánxíng, “unable to do anything”; see also xuédào zhī xiū chù and xué ránhòu zhī bùzú below.]

Topics chengyu cùnbù-nánxíng LEARNING MODESTY STUDYING

X59

[X59]

Xiān yǒu gēngyún; hòu yǒu shōuhuò.*

先有耕耘, 后有收获。

先有耕耘, 後有收穫。

Lit First there is plowing, [and] later there is harvesting.

Fig One must work before one can enjoy the fruits of one's labor.

Topics RESULTS WORKING

X60

[X60]

Xiān zhǎng de méimao, bǐ bu shàng hòu zhǎng de húzi.

先长的眉毛, 比不上后长的胡子。

先長的眉毛, 比不上後長的鬍子。

Lit The eyebrows, [which started] growing first, can't compare with the beard, [which started] growing later.

Fig Youth is stronger than age. The older can't compete with the younger.

Note [Vs. xiān dào wéi jūn above.]

Topics AGE COMPETITION STRENGTH YOUTH

X61

[X61]

Xiān zhě nánwei zhī.

先者难为知。

先者難為知。

Lit Those [who go] first are hard pressed to understand.

Fig The pioneer experiences the most difficulties.

Note [Usually used of pioneering scholars.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES PIONEERS

X62

[X62]

Xiān zuò xuésheng; hòu zuò xiānsheng.*

先做学生, 后做先生。

先做學生, 後做先生。

Lit First be a pupil [and] then be a teacher.

Fig One must learn before one can teach.

Note [Mao Zedong paraphrased this to refer to cadres learning from the masses; see also yào zuò xiānsheng below.]

Topics LEARNING Mao Zedong STUDYING TEACHING

X63

[X63]

Xiǎo bìng bù zhì, chéng dà bìng; lòu yǎn bù sāi, dà dī bēng.

小病不治, 成大病; 漏眼不塞, 大堤崩。

Lit A slight illness [that is] not cured [can] become a serious illness; a small hole [that is] not blocked [can] collapse a dam.

Note [See also xiǎo dòng bù bǔ below.]

Topics ILLNESS PRECAUTIONS

X64

[X64]

Xiǎo bù rěn zé luàn dà móu.

小不忍则乱大谋。

小不忍則亂大謀。

Lit [If one does] not forbear little [matters, one will create] havoc in greater plans.

Fig (Sometimes) it is wiser to put up with small insults, inconveniences, etc. for a greater good or to achieve greater benefits later on.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Wèi Líng Gōng 26; R3K, chap. 13.]

Topics BENEFITS Confucian Analects FORBEARANCE INSULTS Lúnyǔ PATIENCE R3K Wèi_Líng_Gōng

X65

[X65]

Xiǎo chù bùkě dà suàn.

小处不可大算。

小處不可大算。

Lit Small details may not be taken lightly.

Fig Never neglect the details (or they will pile up and cause trouble later).

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 47; see also the following entry.]

Topics CAUTION DETAILS Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì TROUBLE

X66

[X66]

Xiǎo dòng bù bǔ, dà dòng chīkǔ.*

小洞不补, 大洞吃苦。

小洞不補, 大洞吃苦。

Lit [If] small holes are not mended, big ones will cause suffering [later].

Fig A little neglect may breed great mischief; “a stitch in time saves nine.”

Note [Rhyme; see also xiēxiǎo bù bǔ and zhēnjiān dà de below and the preceding entry.]

Topics CAUTION DETAILS DISASTERS rhyme TROUBLE

X67

[X67]

Xiǎo'ér fànzuì, zuì zuò jiāzhǎng.

小儿犯罪, 罪坐家长。

小兒犯罪, 罪坐家長。

Lit [When] children commit crimes, the punishment [should] rest on their parents.

Note [Note: liánzuò: “to be punished for being related to or friendly with someone who has committed an offense”; vs. jiā wú quán fàn above and yī rén zuò zuì below.]

Topics CHILDREN liánzuò PARENTS PUNISHMENT RESPONSIBILITY

X68

[X68]

Xiǎoguǐ diē Jīngāng.

小鬼跌金刚。

小鬼跌金剛。

Lit A minor devil [can] topple a guardian warrior [in a Buddhist temple].

Fig The weak (can) defeat the strong; David may vanquish Goliath.

Note [Vs. xiǎoguǐ dòu bu guò below.]

Topics POWER STRONGER WEAKNESS

X69

[X69]

Xiǎoguǐ dǐng bùliǎo Yánwang zhài.

小鬼顶不了阎王债。

小鬼頂不了閻王債。

Lit A minor devil cannot be reckoned as a payment for the debts the King of Hell owes.

Fig The crimes of small criminals are not equal to those of their leader(s); one should punish the major criminal(s), not just the minor one(s).

Note [Note: elsewhere, yánwangzhài as one word is a colloquial expresssion for a usurious loan.]

Topics colloquial expression CRIME King of Hell LEADERS PUNISHMENT SUBORDINATES Yánwang yánwangzhài

X70

[X70]

Xiǎoguǐ dòu bu guò Yánwang.*

小鬼斗不过阎王。

小鬼鬥不過閻王。

Lit A minor devil in Hell is no match for the King of Hell.

Fig The weak cannot overcome the strong.

Note [See also mín bù yù guān dòu above and xiǎotuǐ niǔ bu guò below; vs. xiǎoguǐ diē Jīngāng above.]

Topics COMPETITION King of Hell LIMITATIONS POWER STRONGER WEAKNESS Yánwang

X71

[X71]

Xiǎo guò dé chéng, dà cuò bù shēng.

小过得惩, 大错不生。

小過得懲, 大錯不生。

Lit [If] small transgressions are punished, serious mistakes won't occur.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CORRECTION MISTAKES PUNISHMENT rhyme TRANSGRESSIONS

X72

[X72]

Xiǎoháirjia kǒu méi zhēlán.*

小孩儿家口没遮拦。

小孩兒家口沒遮攔。

Lit Children have no covers on their mouths.

Fig Children often speak of taboo subjects without being aware of it (so don't get upset).

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, Act 3, Scene 2; DRC, chap. 49; note: here -jia is a coloquial plural suffix: xiǎoháizijia, “children.”]

Topics CHILDREN DRC SPEECH TABOOS Xīxiāng_Jì

X73

[X73]

Xiǎo háizi de liǎn (xiàng māo liǎn), yī tiān biàn sān biàn.*

小孩子的脸(象猫脸), 一天变三变。

小孩子的臉(象貓臉), 一天變三變。

Lit A child's face (is like a cat's face), changing three times every day.

Fig A child's (or woman's) face or attitude is constantly changing.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics ATTITUDE CHANGE CHILDREN FACE WOMEN

X74

[X74]

Xiǎohái zuǐ lǐ tǎo shíhuà.

小孩嘴里讨实话。

小孩嘴裡討實話。

Lit In a child's mouth [one may] ask the truth.

Fig If you want the truth, ask a child. “Out of the mouths of babes.”

Topics CHILDREN SPEECH TRUTH

X75

[X75]

Xiǎo hé zhǎngshuǐ, dà hé mǎn; xiǎo hé méi shuǐ, dà hé gān.*

小河涨水大河满, 小河没水大河干。

小河漲水大河滿, 小河沒水大河乾。

Lit If the water rises in small rivers, the big rivers will be full; if there's no water in small rivers, the big rivers will go dry.

Fig If the individuals are rich, the community will become rich, too; if individuals are poor, the community won't get rich.

Note [Rhyme; see also dà hé lǐ yǒu shuǐ above.]

Topics COMMUNITY ECONOMICS GROUPS INDIVIDUALS rhyme WEALTH

X76

[X76]

Xiǎo huàn bù mǐ, chéng dà zāi.

小患不弭, 成大灾。

小患不弭, 成大災。

Lit Small troubles [that are] not done away with [will] become great disasters.

Note [Cf. Hán Fèizi: Yù Lǎo.]

Topics Hán Fēizǐ PRECAUTIONS TROUBLE Yù_Lǎo

X77

[X77]

Xiǎo hú lǐ de shuǐ kāi de kuài.

小壶里的水开得快。

小壺裡的水開得快。

Lit The water in small kettles boils quickly.

Fig Small-minded people get impatient and angry easily.

Topics ANGER IMPATIENCE

X78

[X78]

Xiǎo jū kě xùn; lǎo mǎ nán yù.

小驹可驯, 老马难驭。

小駒可馴, 老馬難馭。

Lit Young colts can be trained [but] old horses can hardly be driven.

Fig It's easier to educate the young than the old. If you do not educate the young, when they are older, they will be hard to handle.

Note [See also shù xiǎo, fú zhí yì above.]

Topics AGE CHILDREN EDUCATION YOUTH

X79

[X79]

Xiào kǒu cháng kāi; qīngchūn cháng zài.

笑口常开, 青春常在。

笑口常開, 青春常在。

Lit [If one has one's] mouth always open in a smile, [one will] always [feel] youthful.

Note [Rhyme; see also xīnkuān chū shàonián below.]

Topics FEELINGS SMILES YOUTH

X80

[X80]

Xiǎo lái, chuān xiàn; dà lái, chuān juàn.

小来穿线, 大来穿绢。

小來穿線, 大來穿絹。

Lit [When] young, wear cotton; [when] an adult, wear silk.

Fig If one lives a frugal life when young, (s)he will have a comfortable life when old.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 10.]

Topics AGE BUDGETING CLOTHING FRUGALITY Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō YOUTH

X81

[X81]

Xiǎo luàn, zhù chéng; dà luàn, zhù xiāng.

小乱住城, 大乱住乡。

小亂住城, 大亂住鄉。

Lit [When there are] small disturbances [in society], move to the city; [when there are] great disturbances, move to the countryside.

Topics CITIES COUNTRYSIDE DISTURBANCES SOCIETY

X82

[X82]

Xiǎo mǎ zhà xíng, xián lù zhǎi.

小马乍行, 嫌路窄。

小馬乍行, 嫌路窄。

Lit A pony [when] learning to run complains that the road is too narrow.

Fig Callow youth arrogantly complain that they cannot fully bring their talents into play.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 33.]

Topics COMPLAINTS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn TALENT YOUTH

X83

[X83]

Xiǎoqián bù qù; dàqián bù lái.

小钱不去, 大钱不来。

小錢不去, 大錢不來。

Lit [If you are] unwilling to spend a few coppers, big money won't come [to you].

Fig If you don't make small sacrifices, you won't get great benefits; “spend a penny to gain a pound.”

Note [Also said xiǎo cái bù chū, dà cái bù lái; note: xiǎoqián originally referred to a small coin from the Qing Dynasty, but is also used for a small amount of money; similarly, dàqián, “a big sum of money,” previously referred to a larger old Chinese coin; see also zhàn xiǎopiányi below.]

Topics BENEFITS dàqián INVESTMENT MONEY SACRIFICES xiǎoqián

X84

[X84]

Xiǎoqì yì yíng.

小器易盈。

Lit Small containers are easily filled.

Fig Small-minded people easily become self-satisfied.

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 12; note: xiǎoqì is also used to refer to small household utensils.]

Topics Jìnghuā Yuán PETTINESS SELF-SATISFACTION xiǎoqì

X85

[X85]

Xiǎo qū bì yǒu dà shēn.

小曲必有大伸。

Lit [One who is willing to make] small concessions surely has great ambitions.

Note [Cf. Sān Guó Zhì: Shú Shū Xì Zhèng Zhuàn.]

Topics AMBITION AMBITION CONCESSIONS Sān Guó Zhì Shú_Shū_Xì_Zhèng_Zhuàn

X86

[X86]

Xiǎorén dézhì, bù kě yī shì.*

小人得志, 不可一世。

Lit [When a] petty person gets into [a position of] power, [he considers himself] unexcelled in the world.

Fig When a petty person gets into a position of power, (s)he becomes insufferably arrogant.

Note [Rhyme; note: both halves are used as chengyu: xiǎorén-dézhì, “villains hold sway”; bùkě-yīshì, “(to be) insufferably arrogant”; see also yīzhāo quán zài shǒu and the following entry.]

Topics ARROGANCE bùkě-yīshì chengyu PETTINESS POWER xiǎorén-dézhì

X87

[X87]

Xiǎorén dézhì, wéi guǐ wéi yù.

小人得志, 为鬼为蜮。

小人得志, 為鬼為蜮。

Lit [When] petty people get into [positions of] power, [they] become like devils and beasts

Note [Note: a yù is a mythical undersea monster which shoots sand at people; note: guǐyù, “devils and monsters”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics guǐyù PETTINESS POWER xiǎorén-dézhì

X88

[X88]

Xiǎorén lè wén jūnzǐ guò; jūnzǐ chǐ wèn xiǎo rén è.

小人乐闻君子过, 君子耻问小人恶。

小人樂聞君子過, 君子恥問小人惡。

Lit Lowly people [are] happy to learn about great persons' faults, [but] great persons are above inquiring about lowly people's evils.

Topics FAULTS GREATNESS MAGNANIMITY

X89

[X89]

Xiǎorén zhī jiāo, tián rú mì.

小人之交甜如蜜。

Lit Friendship between petty people is [thick and] sweet as honey.

Fig Friendship between petty people is based on material interest.

Note [Usually preceded by jūnzǐ zhī jiāo, dàn rú shuǐ (q.v.); originally in Zhuāngzǐ: Shān Mù: ... gān rú lì, “... sweet as wine”; see also yì dòng jūnzǐ below.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP PETTINESS SELF-INTEREST Shān Mù Zhuāngzǐ

X90

[X90]

Xiǎoshí bù jīn yā, dào lǎo méi jié shā.

小时不禁压, 到老没结煞。

小時不禁壓, 到老沒結煞。

Lit [One who] when young is not subjected to discipline, when old will accomplish nothing.

Fig “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 105; note: jīn, “to bear; endure”; yā, “control.”]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT ADULTS Dàng Kòu Zhì DISCIPLINE YOUTH

X91

[X91]

Xiǎo shuǐ bùróng dà yú.

小水不容大鱼。

小水不容大魚。

Lit A small river can't hold a big fish.

Fig A person of great ability in a small place has no scope for his talents.

Note [See also shuǐ qiǎn, yǎng bu zhù above.]

Topics ABILITY PLACE TALENT

X92

[X92]

Xiǎo shù suī lǜ, bù chéng yīn.

小树虽绿不成荫。

小樹雖綠不成蔭。

Lit Young trees, although green, give no shade.

Fig Clever children cannot accomplish anything great without education.

Topics CHILDREN CLEVERNESS EDUCATION

X93

[X93]

Xiǎotuǐ niǔ bu guò dàtuǐ.*

小腿扭不过大腿。

小腿扭不過大腿。

Lit The calf cannot twist the upper leg.

Fig The weak cannot overcome the strong.

Note [See also xiǎoguǐ dòu bu guò above.]

Topics COMPETITION LIMITATIONS POWER STRONGER WEAKNESS

X94

[X94]

Xiǎoxīn méi dà chà.

小心没大差。

小心沒大差。

Lit With prudence there are no big mistakes.

Fig One can't be too careful.

Topics CAUTION MISTAKES PRUDENCE

X95

[X95]

Xiǎoxīn tiānxià qù dé; dàdǎn cùn bù nán xíng.

小心天下去得, 大胆寸步难行。

小心天下去得, 大膽寸步難行。

Lit Prudence [allows one to] go everywhere [while] boldness [makes it] difficult to take a small step forward.

Note [Note: cùnbù-nánxíng is used as a chengyu meaning “unable to do anything”; vs. dàdǎn tiānxià above.]

Topics BOLDNESS chengyu cùnbù-nánxíng PROGRESS PRUDENCE

X96

[X96]

Xiǎo yào zhì dà bìng.

小药治大病。

小藥治大病。

Lit Common medicines [can] cure major illnesses.

Note [See also piānfāng zhì dà bìng above.]

Topics ILLNESS MEDICINE

X97

[X97]

Xiào yī xiào, shí nián shào; (chóu yī chóu, báile tóu).*

笑一笑十年少, (愁一愁白了头)。

笑一笑十年少, (愁一愁白了頭)。

Lit Smile [and feel] ten years younger; (worry, [and you'll] become white haired).

Fig Smiling makes one younger; (worrying makes one age).

Note [Rhyme; see also nǎo yī nǎo and xiào kǒu cháng kāi above.]

Topics AGE FEELINGS LAUGHTER rhyme SMILES WORRIES YOUTH

X98

[X98]

Xiào zāng xiào zhuō, bù xiào bǔ; xiào chán xiào lǎn, bù xiào kǔ.

笑脏笑拙不笑补, 笑馋笑懒不笑苦。

笑髒笑拙不笑補, 笑饞笑懶不笑苦。

Lit [You may] laugh at [someone's] dirtiness [and] stupidity, [but] not at his mended [clothes]; [you may] ridicule [someone's] greediness [and] laziness, [but] not his poverty.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics GREED LAZINESS POVERTY rhyme STUPIDITY

X99

[X99]

Xià qiǎn shuǐ zhǐnéng zhuā yú-xiā; rù shēn tán fāng néng qín jiāolóng.

下浅水只能抓鱼虾, 入深潭方能擒蛟龙。

下淺水只能抓魚蝦, 入深潭方能擒蛟龍。

Lit Go into the shallow waters [and you] can only catch shrimp [and] fish; only if [you] go into the deep waters can [you] catch flood-dragons.

Fig The greater the efforts, the greater the rewards or achievements.

Note [Note: jiāolóng refers to a mythical creature capable of invoking storms and floods.]

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT jiāolóng REWARDS

X100

[X100]

Xiàqí bù yǔ; luò zǐ bù huǐ.

下棋不语, 落子不悔。

下棋不語, 落子不悔。

Lit [While] playing chess, [do] not talk, [and once you have] made a move, never go back on it.

Fig Think before you act; once you act, have no regrets.

Topics ACTION REGRET

X101

[X101]

Xiàshān róngyì, shàng shān nán; shàng de shān lái, jǐng gèng kuān.

下山容易, 上山难; 上得山来, 景更宽。

下山容易, 上山難; 上得山來, 景更寬。

Lit It's easier to go down a hill than to go up; once [you] get to the top, [you will have a] broader view.

Fig One has to exert effort to progress, but once you have succeeded, one knows more and has a broader perspective on life.

Note [Rhyme; vs. shàngshān róngyì above.]

Topics EFFORT PERSPECTIVE

X102

[X102]

Xiāyǎn jī chī hǎo mǐ.

瞎眼鸡吃好米。

瞎眼雞吃好米。

Lit Blind chickens [can] eat fine rice.

Fig One can sometimes get more benefits because of one's misfortune.

Topics MISFORTUNE

X103

[X103]

Xiāzi shàn tīng; lóngzi shàn shì.

瞎子善听, 聋子善视。

瞎子善聽, 聾子善視。

Lit The blind [have a] sharp [sense of] hearing, [while] the deaf [have] good vision.

Fig One's defect(s) may be compensated for by bringing into full play ones' strong points.

Topics COMPENSATION DEFECTS

X104

[X104]

Xié bù néng shèng zhèng.

邪不能胜正。

邪不能勝正。

Lit Evil can never prevail over righteousness.

Fig The upright need not fear the crooked. [Cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 75; Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 19; as a chengyu: xié bù yā zhèng.]

Topics chengyu CONFLICT EVIL Jǐngshì Tōngyán RECTITUDE Xīyáng_Jì

X105

[X105]

Xié bù ràng fēn; yī bù ràng cùn.

鞋不让分, 衣不让寸。

鞋不讓分, 衣不讓寸。

Lit Shoes do not yield [a] tenth [of an] inch, [and] clothes do not yield [an] inch.

Fig One won't feel comfortable if one's shoes are just a little too small, nor will one feel comfortable if one's clothes are just a few inches too small.

Note [Note: one Chinese chǐ contains ten cùn or “inches,” each of which may be divided into ten fēn.]

Topics chǐ CLOTHING cùn fēn SHOES

X106

[X106]

Xiē chéng de lǎnzi; lèi chéng de hànzi.

歇成的懒子, 累成的汉子。

歇成的懶子, 累成的漢子。

Lit Resting makes [one] lazy, [while] working makes [one a] man.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DILIGENCE EFFORT LAZINESS RESTING rhyme

X107

[X107]

Xiélì shān chéng yù; tóngxīn tǔ biàn jīn.

协力山成玉, 同心土变金。

協力山成玉, 同心土變金。

Lit [Many people working with] concerted effort can turn mountains into jade, [and many hearts working with] one purpose can turn earth into gold.

Fig “In unity there is strength.”

Note [See also bùpà fēnglàng dà and sān rén yītiáoxīn above and zhòngrén yīxīn below.]

Topics COOPERATION STRENGTH UNITY

X108

[X108]

Xiě shū bùrú jiě shū rén.

写书不如解书人。

寫書不如解書人。

Lit The writer of a book is not as good as the annotator of the book.

Fig A reader (or listener) often (claims to) understand more than an author (or speaker) originally intended to mean.

Topics BOOKS CRITICISM READING

X109

[X109]

Xiēxiǎo bù bǔ, zhízhì chǐ wǔ.

些小不补, 直至尺五。

些小不補, 直至尺五。

Lit [If] minute holes are not mended [in time, they will go] right on [to become as big as] five feet [in diameter].

Fig “A stitch in time saves nine.”

Note [Rhyme; more commonly said xiǎo dòng bù bǔ above.]

Topics MISTAKES REPAIRS rhyme

X110

[X110]

Xìfǎ rénrén huì biàn; gè yǒu qiǎomiào bùtóng.

戏法人人会变, 各有巧妙不同。

戲法人人會變, 各有巧妙不同。

Lit Everyone can perform [conjuring] tricks, [but] each [one] has [his or her own] special way [which is] different.

Fig Everyone has his or her own way of doing things, (no one of which is necessarily better than any other). “There's more than one way to skin a cat.”

Note [Cf. Lu Xun's Wěi Zìyóu Shū: Xiàndài Shǐ; note: biàn xìfa, “to do conjuring tricks”; see also gè shīfu, gè chuánshòu above.]

Topics INDIVIDUALS Lu Xun TRICKS VARIETY Wěi Zìyóu Shū WORKING WORK_STYLE

X111

[X111]

Xīfú, jīfú.

惜福积福。

惜福積福。

Lit Treasure [your] happinesses [and you'll] accumulate happinesses.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 10.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HAPPINESS

X112

[X112]

Xíguàn chéng zìrán.*

习惯成自然。

習慣成自然。

Lit What's habitually done becomes natural.

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 32; see also shào chéng ruò tiānxìng above.]

Topics CUSTOMS HABITS Jìnghuā Yuán PRACTICE

X113

[X113]

Xíguàn zhī shǐ rú zhūsī; xíguàn zhīhòu rú shéngsuǒ.

习惯之始如蛛丝, 习惯之后如绳索。

習慣之始如蛛絲, 習慣之後如繩索。

Lit The beginning of a habit [is as weak] as a cobweb, [but] after [it has become a] habit, [it is as strong] as a rope.

Fig Habits once cultivated are hard to break.

Topics HABITS

X114

[X114]

Xīn ān máowū wěn.

心安茅屋稳。

心安茅屋穩。

Lit [He who has] peace of mind feels secure [even living in] a thatched cottage.

Fig One who is contented in poverty and devoted to things spiritual will always feel leisurely and carefree.

Note [Describing scholars who did not wish to be officials; cited in the Ming dynasty author Yang Shen's Shēng Ān Jīng Shuō, chap. 4 and his Yì Lín Fá Shān, chap. 13.]

Topics MINDS Ming dynasty OFFICIALS PEACE POVERTY Shēng Ān Jīng Shuō SPIRITUALITY WORRIES Yang Shen Yì_Lín_Fá_Shān

X115

[X115]

Xīnbìng cónglái wú yào yī.

心病从来无药医。

心病從來無藥醫。

Lit A broken heart has never been cured by medicine.

Fig “Where love's the case, the doctor's an ass.”

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics HEARTS LOVE MEDICINE

X116

[X116]

Xīnbìng hái yòng xīn yào yī.

心病还用心药医。

心病還用心藥醫。

Lit A heart's sickness [must] be treated in the heart.

Fig A wounded heart can only be healed in the mind.

Note [Also said xīn bìng zhòng shì xīn yào yī, and xīn bìng hái xū xīn yào yī; cf. DRC, chap. 90; Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 6; note also the chengyu: xīn bìng nán yī, “'heart sickness (is) hard to treat.”]

Topics chengyu Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DRC HEALING HEARTS MINDS

X117

[X117]

Xīn bìng hǎo yī; jiù bìng nán zhì.

新病好医, 旧病难治。

新病好醫, 舊病難治。

Lit A new[ly contracted] illness is easier to cure than an old [i.e., chronic] one.

Fig It is easier to solve problems as soon as they crop up.

Topics ILLNESS PROBLEMS

X118

[X118]

Xīn chí wú dà yú; xīn lín wú cháng mù.

新池无大鱼, 新林无长木。

新池無大魚, 新林無長木。

Lit [In a] new[ly dug] pond, there are no big fish; [in a] new[ly planted] forest, there are no big trees.

Fig It takes time for things to grow and mature.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MATURITY rhyme TIME

X119

[X119]

Xīn chū yěmāo qiángsì hǔ.

新出野猫强似虎。

新出野貓強似虎。

Lit A wild kitten is stronger than a tiger.

Fig Young people, not bound by tradition, will dare to do anything.

Note [See also chūshēngzhīdú above.]

Topics DARING TRADITION YOUTH

X120

[X120]

Xíng bǎi lǐ zhě, bàn yú jiǔshí.

行百里者半于九十。

行百里者半於九十。

Lit [For] one who [has to] travel one hundred leagues, [having traveled] ninety [of them] is equal to [no more than] half[way, because the last part is always the most difficult].

Fig Finishing something is always the most difficult part of any job; a thing is not done until it is completely done.

Note [Cf. Zhànguó Cè: Qín Cè, Part 5; note: one lǐ equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics COMPLETION DIFFICULTIES FINISHING WORKING Zhànguó_Cè

X121

[X121]

Xíngchuán, zǒumǎ, sānfēn mìng.

行船走马, 三分命。

行船走馬, 三分命。

Lit [In] traveling, on a boat or on horseback, [there is always at least] thirty percent danger.

Fig There is always a certain element of risk involved when traveling.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 3.]

Topics DANGER Hé Diǎn RISK TRAVEL

X122

[X122]

Xíng de chūnfēng, zhǐwàng xià yǔ.

行得春风, 指望夏雨。

行得春風, 指望夏雨。

Lit [Once the] spring breeze has come, [one can] look forward to the summer rains [coming soon].

Fig When one has sown, one can expect to reap; when one has done something good, one can look forward to reaping some benefit.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 25.]

Topics BENEFITS EFFORT INVESTMENT Jǐngshì Tōngyán RESULTS

X123

[X123]

Xíngdòng yǒu sānfēn cái qì.

行动有三分财气。

行動有三分財氣。

Lit [Don't just sit idle;] do something and you'll have [at least] a thirty percent [chance of getting some] benefit.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 68; see also shēnshǒu sānfēn lì above.]

Topics ACTION BENEFITS BUSINESS IDLENESS INVESTMENT JW PROFIT

X124

[X124]

Xīng duō, tiānkōng liàng; rén duō, zhìhuì guǎng.

星多天空亮, 人多智慧广。

星多天空亮, 人多智慧廣。

Lit The more stars, the brighter the sky; the more people, the greater the wisdom.

Fig “Many heads are better than one.”

Note [Rhyme; see also sān gè chòu píjiàng above and yī rén jì duǎn below.]

Topics COOPERATION rhyme WISDOM

X125

[X125]

Xìngjí diàobude yú; xīnjí chéng bu liǎo shì.

性急钓不得鱼, 心急成不了事。

性急釣不得魚, 心急成不了事。

Lit An impatient person won't catch any fish, [and] one who is hasty can accomplish nothing.

Fig Nothing can be accomplished in haste. “Haste makes waste.”

Note [See also jí xíng wú hǎo bù above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT HASTE IMPATIENCE PATIENCE

X126

[X126]

Xíng kè bài zuò kè.

行客拜坐客。

Lit Travelers [from other places should] pay their respects to local hosts.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 12; see also shénxian xiàfán above.]

Topics COURTESY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HOSTS RESPECT TRAVEL

X127

[X127]

Xíngshàn, dé shàn; xíng è, dé è.

行善得善, 行恶得恶。

行善得善, 行惡得惡。

Lit Do good, receive good; do evil, receive evil.

Fig Charity will have a good recompense and vice an evil recompense.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 26; see also hǎo yǒu hǎo bào and shàn yǒu shànbào above and the following entry.]

Topics CHARITY EVIL GOODNESS Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō RECOMPENSE

X128

[X128]

Xíngshàn, huò fú; xíng è, dé yāng.

行善获福, 行恶得殃。

行善穫福, 行惡得殃。

Lit Do good, reap good; do evil, reap evil.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

X129

[X129]

Xīnguān shàngrèn, sān bǎ huǒ.

新官上任三把火。

Lit A new official assuming office [sets] three fires [i.e., does something to impress his subordinates or the populace].

Fig Someone assuming a new position deliberately makes some changes just to impress people.

Note [This is not equivalent to “A new broom sweeps clean.”]

Topics IMPRESSIONS OFFICIALS POSITION

X130

[X130]

Xīn gū (de) mǎtǒng, sān rì xiāng.*

新箍(的)马桶三日香。

新箍(的)馬桶三日香。

Lit A newly-banded nightsoil bucket [only] smells good [for] three days.

Fig New people, new jobs, or new things are usually only favored at the beginning.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 5; also said xīn gài de cèsuǒ, etc., “A newly built toilet ...”]

Topics BEGINNING FAVORITISM FAVORITISM Hé_Diǎn

X131

[X131]

Xīngxing xī xīngxing; hǎohàn xī hǎohàn.*

惺惺惜惺惺, 好汉惜好汉。

惺惺惜惺惺, 好漢惜好漢。

Lit The clever cherish the clever, [and the] gallant cherish the gallant.

Fig Kindred spirits respect each other.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 2; DRC, chap. 87; see also hǎohàn shí hǎohàn above and yīngxióng shí yīngxióng below.]

Topics CLEVERNESS COURAGE DRC FEELINGS SIMILARITIES WM

X132

[X132]

Xīngxīng zhī huǒ kěyǐ liáoyuán.*

星星之火可以燎原。

Lit A single spark may start a prairie fire.

Fig A small incident or action can have great consequences.

Note [This is an updated paraphrase of a sentence originally in Shāng Shū: Pán Gēng; it was used as the title of a famous essay by Mao Zedong, and was widely used as a political slogan during the Cultural Revolution; as a chengyu: xīnghuǒ-liáoyuán.]

Topics ACTION AROUSAL chengyu CONSEQUENCES Cultural Revolution Mao Zedong Pán Gēng political slogan Shāng Shū xīnghuǒ-liáoyuán

X133

[X133]

Xíng yào hǎo bàn; zhù yào hǎo lín.

行要好伴, 住要好邻。

行要好伴, 住要好鄰。

Lit [When] traveling, find good company, [when choosing a place to] live, find good neighbors.

Note [See also bǎiwàn mǎi zhái and qiānjīn mǎi chǎn above and xuǎnzé fángwū below.]

Topics COMPANIONS HOME NEIGHBORS TRAVEL

X134

[X134]

Xīng yī lì, bì yǒu yī hài.*

兴一利必有一害。

興一利必有一害。

Lit Promoting a benefit [to someone will] inevitably produce some harm [to someone else].

Fig Everything in life is a trade-off. Everything has its costs.

Topics BENEFITS COSTS HARM LIFE

X135

[X135]

Xīnhuāng chuān bùliǎo zhēn.

心慌穿不了针。

心慌穿不了針。

Lit [One] can't get the thread through [the eye of a] needle in haste.

Fig One cannot do any work that requires meticulous care in haste.

Topics HASTE WORKING

X136

[X136]

Xīnhūn bùrú yuǎn/jiǔ bié.*

新婚不如远/久别。

新婚不如遠/久別。

Lit [Being] newly married is not as [good as reunion after a] long separation.

Fig Reunion after long separation is better than a wedding night.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 21.]

Topics DRC MARRIAGE REUNIONS SEPARATION

X137

[X137]

Xīn jiān, shí yě chuān.

心坚石也穿。

心堅石也穿。

Lit A determined heart can drill through stone.

Fig One who is determined can accomplish anything.

Note [See also yǒuzhìzhě below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DETERMINATION WILL

X138

[X138]

Xīn jì bùrú mò jì.

心记不如墨记。

心記不如墨記。

Lit A written record is better than [trusting to] memory.

Note [Also said xīn jì bùrú bǐ jì; see also hǎo jìxing bùrú above.]

Topics MEMORY RECORDS WRITING

X139

[X139]

Xīn jí chībude rè zhōu.*

心急吃不得热粥。

心急吃不得熱粥。

Lit [One who is] burning with impatience cannot eat hot rice porridge.

Fig One must have patience to accomplish anything.

Note [See also jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT IMPATIENCE PATIENCE

X140

[X140]

Xīn jí, děngbude rén; xìngjí, diàobude yú.

心急等不得人, 性急钓不得鱼。

心急等不得人, 性急釣不得魚。

Lit [When one is] impatient, it's hard to wait for people, [just as one who is] impatient can't catch fish.

Topics IMPATIENCE

X141

[X141]

Xīnjí, guō bù gǔn.*

心急锅不滚。

心急鍋不滾。

Lit [When one is] impatient, the pot never [comes to a] rolling boil.

Fig “A watched pot never boils.”

Note [Also said xīnjí, shuǐ bù kāi.]

Topics IMPATIENCE PATIENCE

X142

[X142]

Xīnjí, mǎ xíng chí.

心急马行迟。

心急馬行遲。

Lit [When one is] impatient, [one feels that one's] horse travels [too] slowly.

Note [See also mǎ chí xián biān qīng and sòng qīn de lù duǎn above.]

Topics IMPATIENCE

X143

[X143]

Xīnjìng, zìrán liáng.

心静自然凉。

心靜自然涼。

Lit [If one's] heart/mind is calm, [one is] naturally cool.

Fig Those who are calm will be cool (even under the most stressful conditions). It is best to remain calm. “Stay cool.”

Topics CALM CIRCUMSTANCES HEARTS MINDS STRESS TEMPER

X144

[X144]

Xīnkuān bù zài wū kuān.

心宽不在屋宽。

心寬不在屋寬。

Lit [Whether one's] mind is at ease doesn't [depend] on [whether one's] house is large [or not].

Note [Note the colloquial expression xīnkuān tǐ pàng, “[when the] mind [is] relaxed, [one's] body [gets] fat”; see also xīn ān máowū wěn above.]

Topics colloquial expression MINDS RELAXATION WEALTH xīnkuān_tǐ_pàng

X145

[X145]

Xīnkuān chū shàonián.

心宽出少年。

心寬出少年。

Lit An easy mind produces youth.

Fig Laugh and grow young.

Note [See also xiào kǒu cháng kāi above.]

Topics LAUGHTER MINDS YOUTH

X146

[X146]

Xīn lái héshang hào zhuàng zhōng.

新来和尚好撞钟。

新來和尚好撞鐘。

Lit [A] newly arrived monk loves to ring [the] bell.

Fig A newcomer likes to do more work (out of initial enthusiasm or to make a good impression).

Topics ENTHUSIASM IMPRESSIONS NEWCOMERS

X147

[X147]

Xīn lái, wǎn dào, bù zhī máokēng jǐng zào.

新来晚到, 不知茅坑井灶。

新來晚到, 不知茅坑井灶。

Lit [The] latest newcomer doesn't know [where the] latrine, [the] well, [and the kitchen] stove [are].

Fig The most recently arrived newcomer doesn't know his or her new environment or situation.

Note [See also zhà rù lúwéi below.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES NEWCOMERS UNDERSTANDING

X148

[X148]

Xīn lái xífù sān rì qín.

新来媳妇三日勤。

新來媳婦三日勤。

Lit [A] newly married daughter-in-law [is often] diligent [in her duties for the first] three days.

Fig A new employee is often diligent at the beginning.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 84; see also xīnguān shàngrèn above and the preceding entry.]

Topics BEGINNING DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW DILIGENCE EMPLOYEES Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

X149

[X149]

Xìnle dù, màile wū.

信了肚, 卖了屋。

信了肚, 賣了屋。

Lit [If all you] believe [is your] stomach, [you'll end up having] sold [your] house.

Fig If you live an extravagant life, you'll have to sell off all your property sooner or later.

Note [Rhyme; see also rén kùn mài wū above.]

Topics EXTRAVAGANCE FRUGALITY MODERATION rhyme

X150

[X150]

Xīn lǐ yǒu bìng, shétou duǎn.

心里有病, 舌头短。

心裡有病, 舌頭短。

Lit [If one] has a guilty conscience, [one will feel oneself to be] short-tongued.

Fig If one has a guilty conscience, it is difficult to speak out boldly.

Note [Vs. lǐ bù duǎn, zuǐ bù ruǎn above.]

Topics BOLDNESS CONSCIENCE GUILT SPEECH

X151

[X151]

Xīn píng, guò de hǎi.

心平过得海。

心平過得海。

Lit [If one's] heart is “level,” [one] can cross the sea.

Fig One who has no ambition for wealth or power can weather all sorts of difficult times.

Topics AMBITION DETACHMENT DIFFICULTIES POWER WEALTH

X152

[X152]

Xīn qù, yì nán liú; liúxia, jié yuānchóu.

心去意难留, 留下结冤仇。

心去意難留, 留下結冤仇。

Lit [When one's] heart/mind is gone [elsewhere], it is difficult to hold [his] will, [and if he is forcibly] detained, [he] will bear a grudge.

Fig If someone is determined to leave, you can hardly keep him or her.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 18; said, e.g., of one who wants a transfer; also said xīn qù, rén nán liú; see also rén qù, bùzhōng liú above.]

Topics CHANGES Fēngshén Yǎnyì GRUDGES MINDS RESENTMENT WILL

X153

[X153]

Xīnrén shàngle chuáng; méiren diū guò qiáng.*

新人上了床, 媒人丢过墙。

新人上了床, 媒人丟過牆。

Lit [After the] bridal couple has gone to bed, [the] matchmaker [is] thrown over the wall [i.e., ignored].

Fig When the deal is done, the go-between who made it possible is (often) dropped.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics INGRATITUDE MATCHMAKERS rhyme

X154

[X154]

Xīn sān nián; jiù sān nián; féngféng-bǔbǔ yòu sān nián.

新三年旧三年, 缝缝补补又三年。

新三年舊三年, 縫縫補補又三年。

Lit [A suit looks] new [for] three years, old [for another] three years [and if mended it can last] three more years.

Fig Live a thrifty life.

Note [A rhyme popular during the “Three Bad Years” in China, 1959-1962.]

Topics CLOTHING FRUGALITY rhyme Three Bad Years THRIFT

X155

[X155]

Xīn yǒu língxī yī diǎn tōng.*

心有灵犀一点通。

心有靈犀一點通。

Lit [The] hearts [of a lover and his beloved are] linked [like the] white line [which runs through the horn of the divine rhino] língxī.

Fig (For those whose hearts or minds are closely linked,) at just a hint, the hearer understands immediately.

Note [This is a celebrated line from the Tang dynasty poet Li Shangyin's poem, “Wú Tí” (“Untitled”).]

Topics HEARTS língxī Li Shangyin LOVERS MINDS RECIPROCITY Tang dynasty UNDERSTANDING Wú_Tí

X156

[X156]

Xīn yǒuyú, ér lì bùzú.*

心有余而力不足。

心有餘而力不足。

Lit The spirit is strong but the flesh is weak.

Note [A rhyme usually said of oneself to reluctantly deny a request for a favor; cf. DRC, chap. 25.]

Topics DRC FAVORS FLESH SELF-RESTRAINT SPIRIT WEAKNESS WILL

X157

[X157]

Xīn yù zhuān, záo shí chuān.

心欲专, 凿石穿。

心欲專, 鑿石穿。

Lit [If one's] heart's desire is concentrated, [one can] chisel through stone.

Fig A determined will can accomplish anything.

Note [Rhyme; note: zhuānxīn, “to concentrate one's attention.”]

Topics CONCENTRATION DETERMINATION

X158

[X158]

Xīn zhèng bùpà yǐng'r xié; jiǎo zhèng bùpà dǎo dǎo xié.*

心正不怕影儿邪, 脚正不怕倒蹈鞋。

心正不怕影兒邪, 腳正不怕倒蹈鞋。

Lit [One whose] heart is upright, is not afraid that his shadow slants; [one whose] feet are straight doesn't care about [having his] shoes reversed [i.e., on the wrong foot].

Fig One who is correct in behavior is not afraid of gossip.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 26; see also jiǎo zhèng bùpà and shēn zhèng, bùpà above.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS CONSCIENCE Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FALSITY GOSSIP LIES RECTITUDE RUMORS SLANDER

X159

[X159]

Xīn zhèng hé chóu zháo guǐ mí.

心正何愁着鬼迷。

心正何愁著鬼迷。

Lit [If one's] heart is righteous why worry [that one will be] led astray by devils?

Fig One who has a righteous heart won't yield to temptation.

Note [Note: zháomí, “led astray.”]

Topics HEARTS RECTITUDE TEMPTATION

X160

[X160]

Xīn zhī guān zé sī.

心之官则思。

心之官則思。

Lit The function of the mind is to think.

Note [Cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Gào Zǐ Shàng, also quoted by Mao Zedong in Xuéxi Hé Shíjú.]

Topics Gào Zǐ Mao Zedong Mencius MINDS THINKING THOUGHTS Xuéxi_Hé_Shíjú

X161

[X161]

Xīn zhí, kǒu kuài, zhāo rén zéguài.

心直口快, 招人责怪。

心直口快, 招人責怪。

Lit [A] straightforward [and] outspoken [person will be] blamed by others [i.e., not welcomed].

Note [Rhyme; cf. DRC, chap. 34; note the chengyu: xīnzhí-kǒukuài, “frank; outspoken.”]

Topics chengyu DRC FRANKNESS xīnzhí-kǒukuài

X162

[X162]

Xiōngdì chán xì, wǔ rén bǎi lǐ.

兄弟谗阋, 侮人百里。

兄弟讒鬩, 侮人百里。

Lit Brothers [even if] quarreling [at home will join to] drive off attackers [from without one] hundred leagues away.

Fig Internal disunity dissolves at the threat of external invasion.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Guó Yǔ: Zhōu Yǔ, Zhōng.]

Topics COOPERATION FAMILIES Guó Yǔ INVASION rhyme THREATS UNITY Zhōu_Yǔ_Zhōng

X163

[X163]

Xiōngdì rútóng shǒuzú.*

兄弟如同手足。

Lit Brothers [are] like hands [and] feet.

Note [Note the chengyu: qíngtuńg-shǒuzú, “as close as brothers,” and xiōngdì shǒuzú, “as close as brothers.”]

Topics BROTHERS

X164

[X164]

Xiōngdì suī hé, qín suàn shù.

兄弟虽和勤算数。

兄弟雖和勤算數。

Lit Although brothers live in harmony, accounts [between them] should be settled promptly.

Fig Even (people as close as) brothers should keep clear and careful accounts between them (to avoid trouble later on).

Note [See also qīnxiōngdì míng suànzhàng above.]

Topics ACCOUNTING FRIENDSHIP LOANS MONEY REPAYMENT

X165

[X165]

Xióngpí yǎn zhí; èrén mù héng.

熊罴眼直, 恶人目横。

熊羆眼直, 惡人目橫。

Lit The brave [have] straightforward eyes; evil people [have] shifty eyes.

Note [Note: xióngpí, (lit) “brown bears,” here refers to the brave.]

Topics COURAGE EVIL STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS

X166

[X166]

Xiōngshì bùyàn chí; jí shì bùyàn jìn.

凶事不厌迟, 吉事不厌近。

凶事不厭遲, 吉事不厭近。

Lit Bad things can't happen [too] late, [and] good things can't happen [too] soon.

Topics EVIL GOODNESS TIMING

X167

[X167]

Xí shàn, zé shàn; xí è, zé è.

习善则善, 习恶则恶。

習善則善, 習惡則惡。

Lit [If one always] imitates the good, [one will] become good; [if one always] imitates the bad, [one will] become evil.

Topics EDUCATION EVIL GOODNESS IMITATION PRACTICE

X168

[X168]

Xǐ shí duō shīyán; nù shí duō shīlǐ.

喜时多失言, 怒时多失礼。

喜時多失言, 怒時多失禮。

Lit When happy, [it is easy to make] more indiscreet remarks, [and] when angry, to be unreasonable.

Topics ANGER CAUTION DISCRETION INDISCRETION

X169

[X169]

Xì shuǐ cháng liú; chī-chuān bù chóu.

细水长流, 吃穿不愁。

細水長流, 吃穿不愁。

Lit [A] fine [trickle of] water [will] run [for a] long [time]; [if one manages one's finances in a similar manner, one will] never worry [about] food [and] clothing.

Note [Rhyme; xìshuǐ-chángliú is used as a chengyu meaning “to economize to avoid shortage.”]

Topics chengyu FINANCES FRUGALITY rhyme xìshuǐ-chángliú

X170

[X170]

Xiùcai bùchūmén, néng/fāng zhī tiānxià shì.*

秀才不出门能/方知天下事。

秀才不出門能/方知天下事。

Lit [A] scholar, (even) without going outside [of his study] knows [all] the affairs of the world.

Note [A traditional saying, praising the traditional literati; note: xiùcai technically refers to one who passed the imperial examination at the lowest (county) level in the Ming and Qing dynasties; vs. yīshēng bùchūmén below.]

Topics EDUCATION KNOWLEDGE literati Ming dynasty Qing dynasty SCHOLARS WORLD xiùcai

X171

[X171]

Xiùcai bùpà yīshan pò, jiù pà dù lǐ méiyǒu huò.

秀才不怕衣衫破, 就怕肚里没有货。

秀才不怕衣衫破, 就怕肚裡沒有貨。

Lit A scholar doesn't mind shabby clothes; all [he should] worry about is not “having the goods inside” [i.e., not being sufficiently learned].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CLOTHING LEARNING QUALIFICATIONS rhyme SCHOLARS

X172

[X172]

Xiùcai èsǐ, bù mài shū.

秀才饿死, 不卖书。

秀才餓死, 不賣書。

Lit [Even if a] scholar is starving to death, [he] won't sell [his] books.

Topics BOOKS SCHOLARS

X173

[X173]

Xiùcai rénqíng, zhǐ bàn zhāng.

秀才人情纸半张。

秀才人情紙半張。

Lit A scholar's [expressions of] feeling [are as light as] half a sheet of paper.

Fig Scholars are not rich and can only paint pictures or do calligraphy to present as gifts.

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, Act 1, Scene 2; xiùcáirénqíng, (lit) “scholars' feelings,” is used metaphorically as a set prhase meaning gifts from scholars (scrolls, paintings, etc.) and more generally, small gifts (usually books).]

Topics CALLIGRAPHY FEELINGS GIFTS PAINTINGS SCHOLARS xiùcáirénqíng Xīxiāng_Jì

X174

[X174]

Xiùcai tán shū; túhù tán zhū.

秀才谈书, 屠户谈猪。

秀才談書, 屠戶談豬。

Lit Scholars talk of [nothing but] books, [just as] butchers talk of [nothing but] pigs.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BOOKS rhyme SCHOLARS

X175

[X175]

Xiùcai yùjiàn bīng; yǒulǐ, jiǎng bù qīng.*

秀才遇见兵, 有理讲不清。

秀才遇見兵, 有理講不清。

Lit [When] a scholar encounters a soldier, he [may] have reason [or right on his side, but] is not able to express [it].

Fig Reason is helpless before force.

Note [Rhyme; also said shūsheng yùjiàn ... , etc.]

Topics FORCE REASON RECTITUDE rhyme SCHOLARS SOLDIERS

X176

[X176]

Xiùcai zàofǎn, sān nián bùchéng.*

秀才造反, 三年不成。

Lit Scholars rising in rebellion [will or could] never succeed [even in] three years.

Note [See also bǎi wú yī yòng above.]

Topics REBELLION SCHOLARS SUCCESS

X177

[X177]

Xiù dà, hǎo zuò zéi.

袖大好做贼。

袖大好做賊。

Lit [With] bigger (and longer) sleeves it's easier to commit theft.

Fig It's easier for the powerful to do evil things.

Note [Wealthy persons and officials in traditional China had long, wide sleeves on their garments.]

Topics EVIL OFFICIALS POWER THEFT WEALTH

X178

[X178]

Xiùhuāzhēn duì dà tiě liáng; dàxiǎo gèzì yǒu yòngchǎng.

绣花针对大铁梁, 大小各自有用场。

繡花針對大鐵梁, 大小各自有用場。

Lit [Like] embroidery needles and iron beams, each is useful in its one way.

Fig Big or small, everything is useful in its own way.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics rhyme SIZE USEFULNESS

X179

[X179]

Xiū jiàng wǒ yǔ tóng tā yǔ; wèibì tā xīn sì wǒ xīn.

休将我语同他语, 未必他心似我心。

休將我語同他語, 未必他心似我心。

Lit [Let me] not take my words [and] pass [them] on to others whose minds [may] not necessarily be like mine.

Fig One should be careful who one talks to or confides in.

Topics CAUTION OTHERS TALK WORDS

X180

[X180]

Xǐ xīn, děi zhēnqíng; xǐ ěr, tú mǎi míng.

洗心得真情, 洗耳图买名。

洗心得真情, 洗耳圖買名。

Lit [In] doing away with [one's] evil desires, [one] should be sincere; [merely to pretend to] listen respectfully [to others] is a pointless [exercise in] acquiring [a (false)] reputation [for modesty].

Note [A rhymed line from a Tang dynasty poem by Li Bai; note the colloquial expression xǐ'ér-gōngtīng, “to listen respectfully.”]

Topics chengyu colloquial expression DESIRE Li Bai MODESTY PRETENDING rhyme SINCERITY Tang dynasty xǐ_ér-gōngtīng

X181

[X181]

Xuǎnzé fángwū bùrú xuǎnzhé línjū.

选择房屋不如选择邻居。

選擇房屋不如選擇鄰居。

Lit Choosing [one's] house is not as important as choosing [one's] neighbors.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Zāo Gōng 3 Nián; see also bǎiwàn mǎi zhái and qiānjīn mǎi chǎn and qiān qián mǎi lín and xíng yào hǎo bàn above.]

Topics HOUSES NEIGHBORS

X182

[X182]

Xuè bǐ shuǐ nóng; (shū bù jiàn qīn).

血比水浓, (疏不见亲)。

血比水濃, (疏不見親)。

Lit Blood is thicker than water; (distant [relations should] not interfere [between] close relatives).

Fig Closer relatives are more important than more distant ones, (who should not come between them).

Note [This is a combination of two separate proverbs: the second part (q.v.) may be omitted or used separately (q.v.); see also rén qīn, gǔròu xiāng and shì qīn, sānfēn xiàng above.]

Topics FRIENDS INTERFERENCE RELATIONS RELATIVES TROUBLE

X183

[X183]

Xué dào lǎo, bù huì dào lǎo.

学到老, 不会到老。

學到老, 不會到老。

Lit [Even if one] studies until [one is] aged, [there will still be things that one does] not know how [to do even when one is] old.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 10; see also huó dào lǎo above.]

Topics AGE JPM LEARNING LIMITATIONS rhyme STUDYING

X184

[X184]

Xuédào zhī xiū chù, fāng zhī yì bù jīng.

学到知羞处, 方知艺不精。

學到知羞處, 方知藝不精。

Lit Only when [you have] studied to the point [where you feel] ashamed [of how little you know will you] realize [that you have] not learned enough.

Note [See also xiān xué sān nián above and xué ránhòu zhī bùzú below.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE STUDYING

X185

[X185]

Xué ér bù sī yóurú shí ér bù huà.

学而不思犹如食而不化。

學而不思猶如食而不化。

Lit Learning without reflecting is like eating without digesting.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics LEARNING THINKING

X186

[X186]

Xué ér bù sī zé wǎng; sī ér bù xué zé dài.

学而不思则罔, 思而不学则殆。

學而不思則罔, 思而不學則殆。

Lit Learning without reflecting gains nothing; thought without learning is dangerous.

Note [From the Wéi Zhèng in the Confucian Analects (Lúnyǔ); see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Confucian Analects LEARNING Lúnyǔ THINKING Wéi_Zhèng

X187

[X187]

Xué ér yōu zé shì.*

学而优则仕。

學而優則仕。

Lit [Those who] study and do well become officials.

Fig An official career is the natural outlet for good students [under the traditional imperial examination system].

Note [See also shū zhōng zìyǒu above.]

Topics EXAMINATIONS OFFICIALS STUDYING

X188

[X188]

Xuéhǎo sān nián; xué huài sān tiān.

学好三年; 学坏三天。

學好三年; 學壞三天。

Lit [It takes] three years [to] learn [to do] good, [but only] three days [to] learn [to do] evil.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EVIL GOODNESS rhyme TIME

X189

[X189]

Xuéhǎo shù-lǐ-huà, zǒubiàn tiānxià dōu bù pà.

学好数理化, 走遍天下都不怕。

學好數理化, 走遍天下都不怕。

Lit [If one] studies math, physics, [or] chemistry, [one can] go anywhere without fear [of being unemployed].

Note [A student saying from the mid-1950s, the modern equivalent of yī zhāo xiān, zǒubiàn tiān (q.v.); see also xuéhuì shù-lǐ-huà below.]

Topics CHEMISTRY EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT MATHEMATICS PHYSICS STUDYING SUCCESS

X190

[X190]

Xué huài róngyì; xuéhǎo nán.*

学坏容易; 学好难。

學壞容易; 學好難。

Lit To learn badness is easy, [but] to learn goodness is difficult.

Topics CAUTION EVIL GOODNESS

X191

[X191]

Xuéhuì shù-lǐ-huà bùrú yǒu ge hǎo bàba.

学会数理化不如有个好爸爸。

學會數理化不如有個好爸爸。

Lit Having mastered mathematics, physics, and chemistry is not [worth as] much as having a good father.

Fig Even better than a good education is to have parents with useful social connections (in order to get a good job placement).

Note [See also xuéhǎo shù-lǐ-huà above.]

Topics ADVANTAGE CHEMISTRY CONNECTIONS EDUCATION MATHEMATICS PHYSICS SUCCESS WORK

X192

[X192]

Xuě lǐ mái bu zhù sǐrén.

雪里埋不住死人。

雪裡埋不住死人。

Lit Snow cannot cover the dead forever.

Fig Secrets will come out sooner or later.

Note [See also zhǐ bāo bu zhù huǒ above.]

Topics SECRETS TRUTH

X193

[X193]

Xuě qián sòng tàn hǎo; yǔ hòu sòng sǎn chí.

雪前送炭好, 雨后送伞迟。

雪前送炭好, 雨後送傘遲。

Lit Sending charcoal before it snows is good, [whereas] sending an umbrella after it rains is too late.

Fig One should help those in their time of need; it's no use giving help after the problem is over.

Note [Note: yǔhòusòngsǎn is used as a colloquial expression meaning “to give belated help”; see also jǐnshàng-tiānhuā above and zhǐyǒu jǐnshàng-tiānhuā below.]

Topics colloquial expression HELPING PROBLEMS TIMELINESS yǔhòusòngsǎn

X194

[X194]

Xué ránhòu zhī bùzú.

学然后知不足。

學然後知不足。

Lit After [one has] studied [one] knows [one's learning is] not sufficient.

Fig The more one learns, the more one realizes one's own limitations.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Lǐjì: Xué Jì; see also xiān xué sān nián and xuédào zhī xiū chù above.]

Topics Book of Rites EDUCATION LEARNING Lǐjì STUDYING

X195

[X195]

Xué rú nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu, bù jìn zé tuì.

学如逆水行舟, 不进则退。

學如逆水行舟, 不進則退。

Lit Learning is like “sailing a boat against the current; not to advance is to drop back.”

Note [Note: nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu (q.v.) is a chengyu meaning “to go against the current.”]

Topics chengyu EFFORT LEARNING nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu

X196

[X196]

Xué rú niúmáo; chéng rú lín jiǎo.

学如牛毛, 成如麟角。

學如牛毛, 成如麟角。

Lit [Those who] study are as [many as the number of] hairs [on an ox], [but those who] succeed are as [rare as Chinese] unicorns' horns.

Note [Rhyme; note the chengyu: duōrú-niúmáo, “as numerous as the hairs on an ox” and the chengyu: fèngmáo-línjiǎo, “precious and rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.”]

Topics chengyu duōrú-niúmáo fèngmáo-línjiǎo STUDYING SUCCESS

X197

[X197]

Xuéshí hé rú, guān diǎn shū.

学识何如观点书。

學識何如觀點書。

Lit How learned [one is can be judged by] seeing [how one] annotates [one's] books.

Topics ANNOTATIONS BOOKS JUDGMENTS LEARNING

X198

[X198]

Xuéwen qín nǎi yǒu; bù qín fù kōngxū.

学问勤乃有, 不勤腹空虚。

學問勤乃有, 不勤腹空虛。

Lit Learning only comes from diligence; [if one is] not diligent, [one ends up] empty-headed [(lit) “with an empty belly”].

Note [Note: mǎnfù jīnglún, “to have one's mind filled with the Classics; be well-read,” and the colloquial expression tā dùzi lǐ yǒu xuéwen, “(s)he has a lot of learning.”]

Topics colloquial expression DILIGENCE EDUCATION EFFORT IGNORANCE LEARNING mǎnfù_jīnglún

X199

[X199]

Xuéwèn, xuéwèn; yào xué, yào wèn.

学问学问, 要学要问。

學問學問, 要學要問。

Lit “Learn-in(g) learn-in(g)”; [if you] want to “learn,” [you've] got to “in(g)”-quire.

Fig To gain knowledge, one has to study and ask questions.

Note [A play on the word xuéwèn, “learning.”]

Topics ASKING KNOWLEDGE LEARNING

X200

[X200]

Xué yī bùmíng, àn dāo shārén.

学医不明, 暗刀杀人。

學醫不明, 暗刀殺人。

Lit [One who has] studied medicine not well, [can] kill people [just like an] assassin's knife.

Fig A quack can kill people without the victims' realizing it.

Topics DOCTORS MEDICINE

X201

[X201]

Xuèzhài yào yòng xuě lái huán.*

血债要用血来还。

血債要用血來還。

Lit Blood debts must be repaid in blood. “An eye for an eye.”

Note [Often used as a political slogan.]

Topics BLOOD DEBT political slogan VENGENCE

X202

[X202]

Xuězhōng-sòngtàn, zhēn jūnzǐ; jǐnshàng-tiānhuā shì xiǎorén.

雪中送炭, 真君子; 锦上添花是小人。

雪中送炭, 真君子; 錦上添花是小人。

Lit [One who] “sends charcoal in snow[y weather” is a] true gentleman; [one who only] “adds flowers to the brocade” is a lowly person.

Fig One who provides timely help is a true gentleman, while one who only “jumps on the bandwagon” is not.

Note [Note: xuězhōng-sòngtàn and jǐnshàng-tiānhuā are used independently as chengyu; see also jǐnshàng-tiānhuā and xuě qián sòng tàn above.]

Topics chengyu GENTLEMEN HELPING jǐnshàng-tiānhuā TIMELINESS xuězhōng-sòngtàn

X203

[X203]

Xǔ rén yī wù, qiānjīn bù yí.

许人一物, 千斤不移。

許人一物, 千斤不移。

Lit [Once] something is promised, a thousand catties [should] not move [it back].

Fig Once something is promised, it should never be taken back.

Note [Rhyme; note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton, a great weight”; note also the chengyu: yīnuò-qiānjīn, “a solemn promise”; see also hǎi yuè shàng kě qīng above and yī yǔ wéizhòng below.]

Topics chengyu PROMISES qiānjīn (wt.) rhyme yīnuò-qiānjīn

X204

[X204]

Xūxīn, xūxīn; dé yín, dé jīn.

虚心虚心, 得银得金。

虛心虛心, 得銀得金。

Lit [Be] modest again and again [and you'll be rewarded] with silver and gold.

Fig Be modest above all else.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MODESTY rhyme

【L1】Y Y1

[Y1]

Yā chī tiánluó, jī chī gǔ; gèrén zì yǒu gèrén fú.

鸭吃田螺, 鸡吃谷; 各人自有各人福。

鴨吃田螺, 雞吃穀; 各人自有各人福。

Lit Ducks eat river snails and chickens eat grain; every individual has his own blessings.

Note [Rhyme; see also niú chī qīngcǎo above.]

Topics ADVANTAGE INDIVIDUALS rhyme

Y2

[Y2]

Yámen bā zì kāi; yǒulǐ, wú qián, mò jìnlái.*

衙门八字开, 有理无钱莫进来。

衙門八字開, 有理無錢莫進來。

Lit The yamen [gates] open wide [(lit) like the Chinese character for “eight”], [but if one only] has right [on one's side, but] no money, [one had best] not enter [them].

Fig Although the gates of the county magistrate's office are theoretically open to all, without money for bribes, one had best avoid them.

Note [Rhyme; also said: yámen cháo nán kāi, etc. “Magistrates' offices open [their gates] toward the south, etc.”; see also “bā” zì yámen above.]

Topics BRIBERY Chinese characters MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS rhyme yámen

Y3

[Y3]

Yámen de qián; xiàshuǐ de chuán.

衙门的钱, 下水的船。

衙門的錢, 下水的船。

Lit [In a traditional] magistrate's office, the money [to bribe officials flows as fast as a] boat running with the current.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 37; see also guān qīng, yámen shòu above.]

Topics BRIBERY MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

Y4

[Y4]

Yámen qián, yī péng yān; shēngyi qián, liùshí nián; zhòngtián qián, wànwàn nián.

衙门钱一蓬烟, 生意钱六十年, 种田钱万万年。

衙門錢一蓬煙, 生意錢六十年, 種田錢萬萬年。

Lit [Ill-gotten] money [gained in the] magistrate's court [is spent as fast as a puff of] smoke [disperses]; money [earned by doing] business [lasts] sixty years [i.e., a lifetime]; money made by farming will last a hundred million years.

Fig Easy come, easy go, but hard won lasts forever. People who work hard for their money don't waste it.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BRIBERY BUSINESS FARMING MAGISTRATES MONEY WORK

Y5

[Y5]

Yán bì xìn; xíng bì guǒ.

言必信, 行必果。

Lit [One's] words must be credible [and one's] actions must [produce] results.

Fig One's promises must be kept and one's actions must be resolute.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Zǐ Lù.]

Topics ACTIONS Confucian Analects Lúnyǔ PROMISES RESULTS TRUST WORDS Zǐ_Lù

Y6

[Y6]

Yǎn bùjiàn wéi jìng.*

眼不见为净。

眼不見為凈。

Lit [What the] eye does not see is clean.

Fig All is clean that you have not seen. What you don't see doesn't upset you.

Note [Most commonly said of unclean food or conditions; see also bùgān-bùjìng above and the following entry.]

Topics CLEANLINESS SANITATION SEEING

Y7

[Y7]

Yǎn bùjiàn, xīn bù fán.*

眼不见心不烦。

眼不見心不煩。

Lit [What one's] eye does not see, [one's] heart is not bothered [by].

Fig What you don't see doesn't upset you. “What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over.”

Note [See also ěr bù tīng above and the preceding entry.]

Topics EYES HEARTS SEEING WORRIES

Y8

[Y8]

Yán duō le, bù xián; huà duō le, bù tián.

盐多了不咸, 话多了不甜。

鹽多了不鹹, 話多了不甜。

Lit [Just as] too much salt won't [taste] salty, [so] too many words won't be sweet.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics MODERATION rhyme WORDS

Y9

[Y9]

Yán duō, shī yǔ; shí duō, shāng shēn.

言多失语, 食多伤身。

言多失語, 食多傷身。

Lit Too much talk causes slips, [just as] too much food harms the health.

Topics EXCESS MODERATION TALK

Y10

[Y10]

Yàn fēi qiān lǐ, diànjìzhe lúwěi dàng.

雁飞千里, 惦记着芦苇荡。

雁飛千里, 惦記著蘆葦蕩。

Lit [Although they have] flown a thousand leagues [away], wild geese [are always] thinking of the reed marshes [where they came from].

Fig Travelers always miss their home places.

Note [Note: one lǐ equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics HOME lǐ TRAVEL

Y11

[Y11]

Yàn fēi qiān lǐ, kào tóuyàn.

雁飞千里, 靠头雁。

雁飛千里, 靠頭雁。

Lit Wild geese [may fly a] thousand leagues, [but they always] follow the lead(ing) goose.

Fig People must have a leader.

Note [See also qún yàn wú shǒu and shé wú tóu above and yáng qún zǒulù below.]

Topics LEADERSHIP

Y12

[Y12]

Yǎn gāo jiǎo dī rén cháng diē jiāo.

眼高脚低人常跌跤。

眼高腳低人常跌跤。

Lit One [who walks with his] eyes upward [and] steps low [will] always stumble.

Fig One who is self-conceited but of little ability will always meet with setbacks, (so be modest).

Topics CONCEIT MODESTY

Y13

[Y13]

Yǎngbīng qiān rì; yòngbīng yīshí.*

养兵千日, 用兵一时。

養兵千日, 用兵一時。

Lit [One] maintains an army [for] a thousand days [in order to] use it once.

Fig One makes one's preparations well in advance against a single emergency.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 36; see also qiān rì kǎnchái and xiánshí zhìxia above.]

Topics EMERGENCIES JW MILITARY PREPARATION TIME

Y14

[Y14]

Yǎngbìng rú yǎng hǔ.

养病如养虎。

養病如養虎。

Lit Letting [one's] illness go [is as risky] as keeping [a] tiger.

Fig Illness not timely treated is as dangerous as raising a tiger.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 8; note: yǎngbìng here means leaving one's illness untreated.]

Topics HEALTH ILLNESS Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì TIMING TREATMENT

Y15

[Y15]

Yǎng bù jiào, fù zhī guò; jiào bù yán, shī zhī duò.

养不教父之过, 教不严师之惰。

養不教父之過, 教不嚴師之惰。

Lit [If one] raises [children but does] not discipline [them properly, it is the] father's fault; [if the] training is not strict, [it is the] teacher's laziness.

Fig It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to educate children properly. “Spare the rod, and spoil the child.”

Note [These are the original lines are from Sān Zì Jīng (The Three Character Classic); note: jiàoyǎng, “raise, train, educate”; see also fùxiōng shījiào above and yǎng zǐ bù jiào below.]

Topics CHILDREN DISCIPLINE EDUCATION FATHERS LAZINESS Sān Zì Jīng TEACHERS Three_Character_Classic

Y16

[Y16]

Yáng dǐng jiǎo, láng dé shí.

羊顶角, 狼得食。

羊頂角, 狼得食。

Lit [When the] rams lock horns, the wolf gets fed.

Fig When people in a group fight among themselves, outsiders profit.

Note [See also yù bàng xiāng zhēng below.]

Topics COOPERATION GROUPS

Y17

[Y17]

Yǎng ér fáng lǎo; jī gǔ fáng jī.*

养儿防老, 积谷防饥。

養兒防老, 積穀防飢。

Lit [One] raises sons to provide against old [age], [just as one] stores up grain to provide against famine.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 22.]

Topics AGE FAMINE Jǐngshì Tōngyán OLD AGE PREPARATION SAVING SONS

Y18

[Y18]

Yǎng ér fāng zhī fùmǔ ēn (/fù cí).

养儿方知父母恩(/父慈)。

養兒方知父母恩(/父慈)。

Lit Not until [one] raises [one's own] children [does one] appreciate [one's] parents'/father's kindness.

Note [See also bù dāngjiā, bù zhī above.]

Topics CHILDREN PARENTS

Y19

[Y19]

Yǎng ér, yǎng nǚ wàng shàng zhǎng.

养儿养女望上长。

養兒養女望上長。

Lit [Parents] raise [their] sons and daughters [hoping] to rise upwards [in social position].

Fig Parents hope their children will do even better in life than they did.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 26; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 39.]

Topics CHILDREN Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HOPES JPM PARENTS SOCIAL_CLASS

Y20

[Y20]

Yánggēng suī měi, zhòng kǒu nán tiáo.

羊羹虽美, 众口难调。

羊羹雖美, 眾口難調。

Lit Although mutton soup [may be] tasty, [it is] difficult to satisfy everybody's taste.

Fig It's hard to please everyone.

Note [Note: zhòngkǒu-nántiáo is used as a set phrase meaning: “It's hard to please everyone.”]

Topics PLEASING SATISFACTION zhòngkǒu-nántiáo

Y21

[Y21]

Yāng hǎo, yībàn gǔ.

秧好一半谷。

秧好一半穀。

Lit Fine seedlings [are] one-half [of the] harvest.

Fig A good beginning is half the battle. “Well begun is half done.”

Topics BEGINNING

Y22

[Y22]

Yǎng hǔ zì yíhuàn.

养虎自遗患。

養虎自遺患。

Lit To raise a tiger [is to] bring trouble [upon] oneself [eventually].

Fig One should consider the future consequences of one's present actions. Appeasement can bring disaster.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Xiàng Yú Běn Jì; as a chengyu: yānghǔ-yíhuàn.]

Topics ACTIONS chengyu CONSEQUENCES Shǐ Jì TIGERS Xiàng Yú Běn Jì yānghǔ-yíhuàn

Y23

[Y23]

Yángmáo chū zài yáng shēn shàng.*

羊毛出在羊身上。

Lit Sheep's wool comes from off a sheep's body.

Fig Just as sheep's wool comes out from a sheep's own body, so any benefits actually cost oneself (although they may seem to come from elsewhere). “There's no such thing as a free lunch.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 1.]

Topics BENEFITS COSTS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Y24

[Y24]

Yáng qún chū luòtuo.

羊群出骆驼。

羊群出駱駝。

Lit A camel [may] run out of a flock of sheep.

Fig Talented person(s) [may] appear out of the common crowd; one may find “a giant among dwarves.”

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 88; see also shēnshān chū jùn niǎo above.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE DRC TALENT

Y25

[Y25]

Yáng qún lǐ diū le, yáng qún lǐ zhǎo.

羊群里丢了, 羊群里找。

羊群裡丟了, 羊群裡找。

Lit [If you] lose [something] in a flock of sheep, look for it among the sheep.

Fig Look for things you've lost where you last saw them.

Topics LOSING SEARCHING

Y26

[Y26]

Yáng qún zǒulù, kàn tóuyáng.

羊群走路, 看头羊。

羊群走路, 看頭羊。

Lit [When a] flock of sheep move, [they] watch the lead sheep.

Fig People need a leader to tell them which way to go.

Note [See also yàn fēi qiān lǐ above; note: tóuyáng, (lit) “lead sheep”; (fig) “bellwether.”]

Topics GROUPS LEADERSHIP

Y27

[Y27]

Yáng tāng zhǐ fèi bùrú fǔ dǐ chōu xīn.

扬汤止沸不如釜底抽薪。

揚湯止沸不如釜底抽薪。

Lit “Scooping up the soup [and pouring it back] to stop the boiling” is not as effective as “removing the firewood from under the cauldron.”

Fig A temporary solution is not as effective as removing the root cause.

Note [Note: yángtāng-zhǐfèi, referring to an ineffective remedy, and fǔdǐ-chōuxīn “take drastic measures to deal with a situation,” are both chengyu; cf. yáng tāng zhǐ fèi mò rú qù xīn in Hòu Hàn Shū: Dǒng Zuò Zhuàn, and R3K, chap. 3.]

Topics CAUSE chengyu chengyu Dǒng Zuò Zhuàn fǔdǐ-chōuxīn fǔdǐ-chōuxīn Hòu Hàn Shū PROBLEMS R3K SOLUTIONS yángtāng-zhǐfèi

Y28

[Y28]

Yán gù xíng; xíng gù yán.

言顾行, 行顾言。

言顧行, 行顧言。

Lit [One's] words must match [one's] actions, and vice-versa.

Topics ACTIONS CONDUCT WORDS

Y29

[Y29]

Yàn gū yī shí; yàn gū yīshì.

燕孤一时, 雁孤一世。

燕孤一時, 雁孤一世。

Lit [When a] swallow is alone [it's only for] a [short] time [because it can find another mate, but when a] wild goose is alone [it is lost for] a lifetime, [because wild geese are said to mate for life].

Note [This refers to the pain one suffers when one has lost one's spouse.]

Topics DEATH SORROW SPOUSE

Y30

[Y30]

Yàngyàng jīngtōng, yàngyàng xīsōng.

样样精通, 样样稀松。

樣樣精通, 樣樣稀鬆。

Lit [To] know something [of] everything [is to be] good at nothing.

Note [Rhyme; vs. yī shì quán zhī below; see also shí shì bàn tōng above.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE SPECIALIZATION

Y31

[Y31]

Yǎng zǐ bù jiào, fù zhī guò; xùn dào bù yán, shī zhī duò.*

养子不教父之过, 训道不严师之惰。

養子不教父之過, 訓道不嚴師之惰。

Note [This is a variation of yǎng bù jiào, fù zhī guò above.]

Topics CHILDREN DISCIPLINE EDUCATION FATHERS LAZINESS TEACHERS

Y32

[Y32]

Yānhóu shēn sì hǎi.

咽喉深似海。

Lit [One's] throat [is as] deep as the sea.

Fig If one just sits idle and eats, without working, one's entire fortune will be exhausted. If one does not work, one will soon “eat oneself out of house and home.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 33; see also zuò chī shān kōng below.]

Topics IDLENESS WEALTH WORKING Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y33

[Y33]

Yǎn jiàn fāng wéi shì; chuányán wèibì zhēn.

眼见方为是, 传言未必真。

眼見方為是, 傳言未必真。

Lit Only [what one's] eyes see is fact; hearsay is not necessarily true.

Fig Seeing is believing, but hearing is not reliable.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 7; yǎnjiànshìshí, “[What one's] eyes see is fact,” is used as a set phrase; vs. yǎn jiàn wèi wéi zhēn below; see also bǎiwén bùrú above.]

Topics HEARING RELIABILITY SEEING Xǐngshì Héngyán yǎnjiànshìshí

Y34

[Y34]

Yǎn jiàn qiān biàn bùrú shǒu guò yī biàn.

眼见千遍不如手过一遍。

眼見千遍不如手過一遍。

Lit [For one's] eyes to see a thousand times is not as [good as one's] hand experiencing [something] once.

Fig It is far better to do something once oneself than to see it done a thousand times.

Note [See also tīng qiān biàn above.]

Topics ACTION EXPERIENCE SEEING SELF

Y35

[Y35]

Yǎn jiàn wèi wéi zhēn.

眼见未为真。

眼見未為真。

Lit [What one's] eyes see is not [always] true.

Fig Seeing is not always believing.

Note [Vs. yǎn jiàn fāng wéi shì above.]

Topics BELIEVING RELIABILITY SEEING TRUTH

Y36

[Y36]

Yán jǐn, hǎo mài; zéi jǐn, hǎo tōu.

盐紧好卖, 贼紧好偷。

鹽緊好賣, 賊緊好偷。

Lit [When the trading of] salt is strict[ly controlled, it's] easier to sell [because it's scarce]; [when] burglar[y is] strict[ly suppressed, it's] easier to steal [because people slacken their vigilance].

Topics BUSINESS CRIME SCARCITY SELLING THEFT VIGILANCE

Y37

[Y37]

Yánluówáng miànqián xū méi fànghuí de guǐ.

阎罗王面前须没放回的鬼。

閻羅王面前須沒放回的鬼。

Lit No ghosts who come before the King of the Underworld can be released.

Fig Officials (in traditional China) would never return any bribes.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 21.]

Topics BRIBERY King of Hell OFFICIALS WM

Y38

[Y38]

Yàn pà lí qún; rén pà diàoduì.

雁怕离群, 人怕掉队。

雁怕離群, 人怕掉隊。

Lit [What] worries wild geese [most is to be] separated [from the] group; [what] worries people [most is] to lag behind.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics GROUPS INDIVIDUALS

Y39

[Y39]

Yàn pà lí qún; rén pà gūdān.

雁怕离群, 人怕孤单。

雁怕離群, 人怕孤單。

Lit [What] worries wild geese [most is to be] separated [from the] group, [and what] worries people [most is to be socially] alone.

Fig People fear being without friends and relatives.

Topics GROUPS INDIVIDUALS LONELINESS RELATIVES

Y40

[Y40]

Yǎn qiǎo hé xū yàngzi bǐ？

眼巧何须样子比？

眼巧何須樣子比？

Lit [A] skilled eye [has] what need [of a] model [for] comparison?

Fig A skilled person can size things up at a glance without having to investigate every detail.

Note [See also hángjiā shēnshen shǒu above.]

Topics DETAILS EXPERIENCE EYES SKILL

Y41

[Y41]

Yán qīng, xiū quàn rén; lì xiǎo, xiū lājià.

言轻休劝人, 力小休拉架。

言輕休勸人, 力小休拉架。

Lit [A person whose] words [carry] no weight [should] not [try to] exhort parties [in a quarrel, just as a] physically weak [person should] not [try to] pull fighting [parties apart].

Topics EXHORTATION FIGHTING FORCE QUARRELING

Y42

[Y42]

Yànquè ān zhī hónghúzhīzhì.？

燕雀安知鸿鹄之志？

燕雀安知鴻鵠之志？

Lit How [can] swallows and sparrows understand the ambitions of wild swans?

Fig How can a common, ordinary person understand the mind of a great one?

Note [Originally from Hàn Shū (31): Chén Shèng Zhuàn; cf. R3K, chap. 4; note: hónghúzhīzhì is a fused noun phrase metaphor for high aspirations.]

Topics Chén Shèng Zhuàn COMMON PEOPLE GREAT MINDS Hàn Shū hónghúzhīzhì LIMITATIONS MINDS R3K UNDERSTANDING

Y43

[Y43]

Yánshī chū gāotú.

严师出高徒。

嚴師出高徒。

Lit A strict teacher produces talented students.

Note [See also míngshī chū gāotú above.]

Topics STRICTNESS STUDENTS TALENT TEACHERS

Y44

[Y44]

Yánshuāng piān dǎ kū gēn cǎo.

严霜偏打枯根草。

嚴霜偏打枯根草。

Lit Severe frost is inclined to strike grass with withered roots.

Fig Disaster usually befalls the unlucky. “Misfortunes never come singly.” One disaster follows another.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 11; see also nóng shuāng piān dǎ above.]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì DISASTERS FROST LUCK MISFORTUNE REPETITION

Y45

[Y45]

Yánwang bù zài, xiǎoguǐ fāntiān.

阎王不在, 小鬼翻天。

閻王不在, 小鬼翻天。

Lit [When the] King of the Underworld is absent, ghosts [can] overturn the heavens.

Fig “When the cat's away, the mice will play.”

Note [See also shān zhōng wú lǎohǔ above.]

Topics ABSENCE King of Hell POWER USURPATION

Y46

[Y46]

Yánwang hǎo jiàn; xiǎoguǐ nándāng.*

阎王好见, 小鬼难当。

閻王好見, 小鬼難當。

Lit The King of the Underworld is easy to deal with, [but] minor devils are hard to deal with.

Fig “Better to deal with the master than his servant.” It's easier to go straight to the top than to deal with subordinates.

Note [Also said ... xiǎoguǐ nánchán.]

Topics King of Hell OFFICIALS SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS Yánwang

Y47

[Y47]

Yánwangyé bù xián guǐ shòu.

阎王爷不嫌鬼瘦。

閻王爺不嫌鬼瘦。

Lit The King of the Underworld does not mind [that] ghosts are thin.

Fig Cruel rulers do not care about the poverty of the people they exploit.

Topics CRUELTY EXPLOITATION RULERS

Y48

[Y48]

Yánwang yě pà pīnmìng guǐ.*

阎王也怕拼命鬼。

閻王也怕拼命鬼。

Lit Even the King of the Underworld is afraid of a desperate ghost.

Fig Even the fiercest person is afraid of someone who is desperate.

Topics DESPERATION FEAR

Y49

[Y49]

Yánwang zhùdìng sāngēng sǐ; duàn bù liú rén dào wǔgēng.

阎王注定三更死, 断不留人到五更。

閻王註定三更死, 斷不留人到五更。

Lit [If the] King of the Underworld determines that [someone will] die at midnight, [one] absolutely [can]not hold off until dawn.

Fig When the Grim Reaper of Death calls, that's it.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 76; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 62; DRC, chap. 16; note: zhùdìng,“be doomed/destined”; sāngēng refers to one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was divided in traditional China; sāngēng bànyè, “in the middle of the night”; see also sān gè wǔgēng above.]

Topics DEATH DRC gēng INEVITABILITY JPM JW LIFE sāngēng sāngēng bànyè TIMING wǔgēng

Y50

[Y50]

Yányán zhě miè; lónglóng zhě jué.

炎炎者灭, 隆隆者绝。

炎炎者滅, 隆隆者絕。

Lit Those who blaze [will be] extinguished, [and] those who are prosperous [will be] finished.

Fig The renowned and powerful will sooner or later come to ruin.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Hàn Shū: Yáng Xióng Zhuàn; note: mièjué, “to extinguish.”]

Topics DECLINE EVENTUALITY FAME Hàn Shū mièjué POSITION POWER rhyme RUIN WEALTH Yáng_Xióng_Zhuàn

Y51

[Y51]

Yǎn yì néng yǔ.

眼亦能语。

眼亦能語。

Lit Eyes also can speak.

Fig One can often read things in other people's eyes.

Topics EYES UNDERSTANDING

Y52

[Y52]

Yányǔ chuánqíng bùrú shǒu.

言语传情不如手。

言語傳情不如手。

Lit Language, [for] conveying feelings, is not as good as hands.

Note [Said, e.g., of music, art, and embroidery.]

Topics ART EMBROIDERY FEELINGS LANGUAGE MUSIC

Y53

[Y53]

Yán zhě wúxīn; tīngzhě yǒuyì.

言者无心, 听者有意。

言者無心, 聽者有意。

Lit [Although] the speaker [had] no definite purpose, the listener [listened] with a definite purpose [in mind].

Fig One should be careful about loose talk.

Note [See also shuōzhě wúyì and wúxīn rén shuōhuà above.]

Topics CAUTION LISTENING MOTIVES SPEECH TALK

Y54

[Y54]

Yán zhě wúzuì; wén zhě zú jiè.

言者无罪, 闻者足戒。

言者無罪, 聞者足戒。

Lit The speaker is guiltless, [but] the hearer should take heed.

Fig Don't blame the speaker, but rather heed what you hear.

Note [Cf. Shījīng (Poetry Classic): Dà Xù; often used by Mao Zedong when speaking of accepting criticism; see also chéngqián-bìhòu above.]

Topics BLAME CRITICISM Dà Xù HEARER Mao Zedong Poetry Classic Shījīng SPEAKER

Y55

[Y55]

Yán zhī tài gān, qí xīn bì kǔ.

言之太甘, 其心必苦。

Lit [One who] speaks too sweetly [in] his heart must [harbor] evil [intentions].

Note [Cf. Guó Yǔ: Jìn Yǔ.]

Topics EVIL Guó Yǔ INTENTIONS Jìn_Yǔ

Y56

[Y56]

Yànzi xián ní, kōng fèilì; zhǎngdà máo yī, gèzì fēi.

燕子衔泥空费力, 长大毛衣各自飞。

燕子銜泥空費力, 長大毛衣各自飛。

Lit The swallow carrying [bits of] mud in [her] beak [to build a nest is] wasting [her] effort, [for when the little swallows] grow a coat of feathers, each [will] fly [off on its] own.

Fig When raising children, remember that the day will inevitably come when they will “leave the nest” and go off to lead their own lives.

Note [The second half is also said ... zhǎngdà máo gān, gèzì fēi; see also the following entry.]

Topics CHILDREN EFFORT INDEPENDENCE PARENTS SEPARATION

Y57

[Y57]

Yànzi xián ní, lěi dà wō.

燕子衔泥垒大窝。

燕子銜泥壘大窩。

Lit Swallows, [by] carrying [little bits of] mud in their bills, build big nests.

Fig “Many a little makes a mickle.”

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics ACCUMULATION QUANTITY

Y58

[Y58]

Yào bǔ bùrú shí bǔ.*

药补不如食补。

藥補不如食補。

Lit Medicinal supplements are not as good as good food.

Fig A healthy diet is better than any medicine.

Topics COMPARISONS FOOD HEALTH MEDICINE

Y59

[Y59]

Yào bù (néng) zhì jiǎ bìng; jiǔ bù (néng) jiě zhēn chóu.

药不(能)治假病; 酒不(能)解真愁。

藥不(能)治假病; 酒不(能)解真愁。

Lit [Just as] medicine (can)not cure a feigned illness, [so] liquor (can)not resolve real worries.

Fig Liquor can't solve one's problems.

Note [See also chōu dāo duàn shuǐ and jiǔ bù jiě zhēn chóu above; vs. yī zuì jiě qiān chóu below.]

Topics LIQUOR PROBLEMS SADNESS SORROW WORRIES

Y60

[Y60]

Yào bù qīng mài; bìng bù tǎo yī.*

药不轻卖, 病不讨医。

藥不輕賣, 病不討醫。

Lit Medicine [should] not be sold casually, nor medical advice offered without its being sought.

Fig Don't offer advice casually or lightly, or you may be sorry later.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 68.]

Topics ADVICE CAUTION JW MEDICINE

Y61

[Y61]

Yào chī làn ròu, bié nǎozhe huǒtóu.

要吃烂肉, 别恼着火头。

要吃爛肉, 別惱著火頭。

Lit [If you] want to eat well-done meat, don't anger the cook.

Fig Never offend anyone from whom you might someday need a favor.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 81; note: huǒtóu is a colloquial term for a cook.]

Topics CAUTION FAVORS huǒtóu huǒtóu OFFENDING Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Y62

[Y62]

Yào dǎ dāngmiàn gǔ; mò qiāo bèihòu luó.

要打当面鼓, 莫敲背后锣。

要打當面鼓, 莫敲背後鑼。

Lit Beat the drum in front of [people's] faces; never beat the gong behind [people's] backs.

Fig Say what you think to others' faces; never speak about others behind their backs.

Note [Note: dǎ dāngmiàn gǔ may be used alone as a colloquial expression meaning “to say something to someone's face.”]

Topics dǎ dāngmiàn gǔ FRANKNESS GOSSIP

Y63

[Y63]

Yào dǎ, kàn niáng miàn.

要打, 看娘面。

Lit [Never] hit [a child until you first] think about [its] mother's reactions.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 78; note: qíngmiàn, “feelings”; see also dǎ gǒu zhīqián above.]

Topics CAUTION CHILDREN JPM MOTHERS PUNISHMENT SELF-RESTRAINT

Y64

[Y64]

Yào dé fù, xiǎn shàng zuò.

要得富, 险上做。

要得富, 險上做。

Lit [If you] want to get riches, [you have to] take some risk.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 14; see also kǎn bù dǎo dà shù above.]

Topics INVESTMENT JPM RISK WEALTH

Y65

[Y65]

Yào dé shì hélǐ, ná rén bǐ zìjǐ.

要得事合理, 拿人比自己。

Lit [If one] wants to be fair [in doing] things, [one should] place oneself in the other person['s position].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FAIRNESS OTHERS rhyme

Y66

[Y66]

Yào diào dà yú, xū fàng cháng xiàn.*

要钓大鱼, 须放长线。

要釣大魚, 須放長線。

Lit [If you] want to catch big fish, [you] must let out a long line.

Fig If one wishes to make a big profit, one must invest more capital, effort or risk.

Note [See also xiàn cháng, hǎo fàng above and note the colloquial suyu expression: fàng cháng xiàn, diào dà yǔ, (lit) “letting out a long line to catch a big fish”; (fig) “investing more in the hopes of a greater gain.”]

Topics CAPITAL EFFORT INVESTMENT PROFIT RISK suyu

Y67

[Y67]

Yào guò ǎi mén, jiù děi wānyāo.

要过矮门, 就得弯腰。

要過矮門, 就得彎腰。

Lit [If one] wants to get through a low door, [one] has to bend [at the] waist.

Fig One has to make compromises in order to get along in life.

Note [See also (jì) zài ǎi yán xià above.]

Topics COMPROMISE CONCESSIONS YIELDING

Y68

[Y68]

Yāo jiān yǒu huò, bù chóu qióng.

腰间有货, 不愁穷。

腰間有貨, 不愁窮。

Lit [If one] has goods about [one's] person, [one is] not afraid of being poor.

Fig If one has some property at hand, one need have no financial worries.

Topics CAPITAL FINANCES PROPERTY WORRIES

Y69

[Y69]

Yào kǔ zhìbìng; tián yán wù rén.

药苦治病, 甜言误人。

藥苦治病, 甜言誤人。

Lit Bitter medicine cures illnesses, [but] sweet words mislead people.

Fig Frank advice may be a “bitter pill” to swallow, but it is often more valuable than what one wants to hear.

Note [See also liángyào kǔkǒu above.]

Topics ADVICE FRANKNESS MEDICINE VALUE

Y70

[Y70]

Yào lóng, yào hǔ, bùrú yào tǔ.

要龙要虎, 不如要土。

要龍要虎, 不如要土。

Lit Wanting dragons or tigers is not as good as wanting land.

Fig Owning land is most important [in traditional China].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LAND rhyme traditional_China

Y71

[Y71]

Yào nuǎn, cūbù yī; yào hǎo, zìxiǎo qī.

要暖粗布衣, 要好自小妻。

Lit [If you] seek warmth, clothes [made of] coarse cloth [are best]; [if you] want [a] good [one], take a wife [you've known] since childhood.

Note [Note the chengyu: qīngméi-zhūmǎ, “male and female childhood playmates.”]

Topics chengyu CHILDHOOD CLOTHING MARRIAGE qīngméi-zhūmǎ WIVES

Y72

[Y72]

Yào pò Dōng Wú bīng, hái děi Dōng Wú rén.

要破东吴兵, 还得东吴人。

要破東吳兵, 還得東吳人。

Lit [If you] want to smash the army of [the kingdom of] Eastern Wu, [you] have to [use] people from that kingdom.

Fig If you want to get things done, seek an insider's help. “Set a thief to catch a thief.”

Note [The kingdom of Eastern Wu was one of the three contending states in the Six Dynasties period, portrayed in R3K; see also yuán yàoshi kāi yuán suǒ below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT Eastern Wu HELP INSIDERS R3K Six Dynasties SUCCESS

Y73

[Y73]

Yàoqiú shēnghuó jì, nán xī liǎnpí xiū.

要求生活计, 难惜脸皮羞。

要求生活計, 難惜臉皮羞。

Lit [If one] wants to make a living, [one can] hardly be concerned about the shame of losing face.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 37.]

Topics FACE HELPING SHAME Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y74

[Y74]

Yǎo rén gǒu bù lòu chǐ.

咬人狗不露齿。

咬人狗不露齒。

Lit A biting dog does not show its teeth.

Fig A vicious person doesn't reveal his true nature.

Note [See also chī rén de and ègǒu yǎo rén above.]

Topics APPEARANCES CHARACTER DOGS VICIOUSNESS

Y75

[Y75]

Yào rén zhī, zhòng qínxué; pà rén zhī, shì mò zuò.

要人知重勤学, 怕人知事莫做。

要人知重勤學, 怕人知事莫做。

Lit [If you] want to be [well] known, be diligent in studying; [if you] don't want to be known, never do anything bad.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 33; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 12; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also ruò yào rén bù zhī above.]

Topics ACTIONS CONDUCT DILIGENCE EVIL FAME Jǐngshì Tōngyán JPM STUDYING Wǔ_Sōng

Y76

[Y76]

Yào xiǎng chī mì, bùpà fēng dīng.

要想吃蜜, 不怕蜂叮。

Lit [If one] wants to eat honey, [one can]not be afraid of bee stings.

Fig “No pain, no gain.”

Note [See also yào xiǎng zhāi méigui below and the following entry.]

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT RISK

Y77

[Y77]

Yào xiǎng chī yú, jiù bù néng pà xīng.*

要想吃鱼, 就不能怕腥。

要想吃魚, 就不能怕腥。

Lit [If one] wants to eat fish, then [one] cannot be put off by [its] stink.

Fig If one wishes to attain some benefit, one must put up with some inconvenience or risk.

Topics BENEFITS CONDITIONS RISK

Y78

[Y78]

Yào xiǎng guò hé, xiān dāqiáo.

要想过河, 先搭桥。

要想過河, 先搭橋。

Lit [If you] want to cross the river, first build a bridge.

Fig If you want to succeed, you must first make adequate preparations or connections.

Note [Note: dāqiáo, (lit) “to build a bridge,” can also mean “to act as a go-between.”]

Topics PREPARATION SUCCESS

Y79

[Y79]

Yào xiǎng zhāi méigui, jiù děi bùpà cì.

要想摘玫瑰, 就得不怕刺。

Lit [If one] wants to pick roses, [one] should not be afraid of thorns.

Note [See also yào xiǎng chī mì above.]

Topics FEAR SUCCESS

Y80

[Y80]

Yào xué tiānxià qí nánzǐ; xū lì rénjiān wèi yǒugōng.

要学天下奇男子, 须立人间未有功。

要學天下奇男子, 須立人間未有功。

Lit [If one] wants to learn to be a distinguished man, [one] must accomplish [something which has] never [been done] before in the world.

Fig If you want to be famous, “build a better mouse trap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”

Topics FAME SUCCESS

Y81

[Y81]

Yáoyán tuǐ duǎn; lǐkuī zuǐ duǎn.

谣言腿短, 理亏嘴短。

謠言腿短, 理虧嘴短。

Lit Rumors [have] short legs; unreasonableness [has a] short mouth.

Fig Rumors won't spread far and unreasonable behavior can't be justified.

Topics GOSSIP REASON RUMORS TALK

Y82

[Y82]

Yáoyáo zhě yì zhé; jiǎojiǎo zhě yì wū.

峣峣者易折, 皎皎者易污。

嶢嶢者易折, 皎皎者易污。

Lit Things tall [and] pointed [are] easily broken; things glistening white [are] easily soiled.

Fig Upright and honest people are easily slandered and attacked.

Note [See also jiē guǒ de shù and rén pà chūmíng and shù dà zhāofēng above.]

Topics HONESTY RECTITUDE SLANDER

Y83

[Y83]

Yào yī bù sǐ bìng; sǐ bìng wú yào yī.

药医不死病, 死病无药医。

藥醫不死病, 死病無藥醫。

Lit Medicine [can] cure [one who is] not mortally ill, [but for one who is] mortally ill, there is no medicine [to cure].

Note [See also yīshēng yī bìng below.]

Topics DEATH HEALTH MEDICINE

Y84

[Y84]

Yào zhī cháo zhōng shì, cūnyě wèn xiǎo mín.

要知朝中事, 村野问小民。

要知朝中事, 村野問小民。

Lit [If you] want to know [how] things [are going] at the emperor's court, [go and] ask the common people [in the] rural villages.

Fig Public opinion is a good gauge of the political situation in a country.

Topics POLITICS PUBLIC_OPINION

Y85

[Y85]

Yào zhī hé shēnqiǎn, xū wèn guò hé rén.

要知河深浅, 须问过河人。

要知河深淺, 須問過河人。

Lit [If you] want to know the depth of the river, best ask someone who has crossed through it.

Fig He knows the water best who has waded through it. Seek the advice of experienced people.

Note [See also bù zhī shuǐ shēnqiǎn above and yào zhī shān xià lù below.]

Topics ADVICE EXPERIENCE

Y86

[Y86]

Yào zhī shān xià lù, xū wèn guòláirén.

要知山下路, 须问过来人。

要知山下路, 須問過來人。

Lit [If you] want to know [about the] road at the foot of the mountain, [you] should ask one who has traveled it.

Fig If you want to learn about something, ask someone who has experienced it.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 21; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 25; see also yào zhī hé shēnqiǎn above; note: guòláirén, “someone who has had a particular experience.”]

Topics ADVICE EXPERIENCE guòláirén

Y87

[Y87]

Yào zhī xīnfùshì, dàn tīng kǒu zhōng yán.*

要知心腹事, 但听口中言。

要知心腹事, 但聽口中言。

Lit [If you] want to know what [is in someone's] heart, just listen to the words in [his] mouth.

Fig “Words are the mirror of the mind.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 13; note: xīnfùshì, “secret(s) deep in someone's heart”; vs. kàn rén, kàn xīn and luó-gǔ tīng yīn above.]

Topics LISTENING MINDS UNDERSTANDING WORDS xīnfùshì Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y88

[Y88]

Yào zuò hǎorén, xū xún hǎo yǒu.

要做好人, 须寻好友。

要做好人, 須尋好友。

Lit [If you] want to be a good person, [you] must seek good [people as] friends.

Note [See also bù zhī qí rén above.]

Topics COMPANIONS CONDUCT FRIENDS GOODNESS

Y89

[Y89]

Yào zuò xiānsheng, bìxū xiān zuò xuésheng.

要做先生, 必须先做学生。

要做先生, 必須先做學生。

Lit [If you] want to be a teacher, [you] must first be a student.

Note [See also xiān zuò xuésheng above.]

Topics CONDITIONS EXPERIENCE STUDENTS TEACHERS

Y90

[Y90]

Yè bù guān mén, qióng zhuàngdǎn.

夜不关门, 穷壮胆。

夜不關門, 窮壯膽。

Lit [At] night not shutting the door [is] poor [(people's)] courage.

Fig Poor people do not shut their doors at night because they have nothing to lose.

Topics COURAGE POVERTY

Y91

[Y91]

Yè cháng, mèng duō.*

夜长梦多。

夜長夢多。

Lit The longer the night, the more dreams [one has].

Fig Long delays cause many hitches. The longer one delays, the more problems one will have.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 23; this is also used as a chengyu; see also luó-gǔ chángle and rì cháng, shì duō above.]

Topics chengyu DELAY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn PROBLEMS TIMING yècháng-mèngduō

Y92

[Y92]

Yèfàn shǎo jìn kǒu, huó dào jiǔshíjiǔ.

夜饭少进口, 活到九十九。

夜飯少進口, 活到九十九。

Lit Put less in [your] mouth for supper [and you will] live to [age] ninety-nine.

Fig Don't eat too much food in the evening and you'll live longer.

Note [See also zǎofàn chī de bǎo below.]

Topics AGE EATING FOOD HEALTH OLD_AGE

Y93

[Y93]

Yěhuǒ shāo bùjìn; chūnfēng chuī yòu shēng.*

野火烧不尽, 春风吹又生。

野火燒不盡, 春風吹又生。

Lit [Even] a prairie fire [can]not completely destroy the grass; [when the] spring breeze blows, [it] grows again.

Note [A line from a Tang dynasty poem by Bai Juyi, entitled “Fù Dé Gǔ Yuán Cáo Sòng Bié,” also used to describe the indomitable revolutionary spirit of communism.]

Topics Bai Zhuyi communism Fù Dé Gǔ Yuán INDOMINABILITY SPIRIT SPRING Tang_dynasty

Y94

[Y94]

Yèmāozi bù hēitiān, bù jìn zhái; huángshǔláng bù shēnyè, bù diāo jī.

夜猫子不黑天不进宅, 黄鼠狼不深夜不叼鸡。

夜貓子不黑天不進宅, 黃鼠狼不深夜不叼雞。

Lit An owl, unless it's night, never enters a house, [and] a weasel, until the dark of night, never steals chickens.

Fig Evil doers wait for an opportune time to commit their evil deeds.

Topics ACTIONS CRIME EVIL TIMING

Y95

[Y95]

Yěróng huìyín; màn cáng huìdào.

冶容诲淫, 漫藏诲盗。

冶容誨淫, 漫藏誨盜。

Lit A seductive appearance invites lust, [just as] carelessly stored [treasure] invites theft.

Note [Said of women; compare Proverbs 11:32, “As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”]

Topics APPEARANCES LUST MODESTY SEDUCTION

Y96

[Y96]

Yèxíng, mò tà bái.

夜行莫踏白。

Lit [When] walking at night, never step onto [anything] white [or you might either fall into the water or bump into a stone].

Note [A piece of literal advice.]

Topics CAUTION NIGHTS WALKING

Y97

[Y97]

Yèxíng qiān lǐ, nánmiǎn shījiǎo.

夜行千里, 难免失脚。

夜行千里, 難免失腳。

Lit [If one] walks a thousand leagues at night, [it's] hard to avoid stumbling.

Fig If one engages in a certain activity for a long time, sooner or later one will inevitably make some mistakes.

Topics MISTAKES

Y98

[Y98]

Yé yǒu, niáng yǒu, yě yào kāikǒu.

爷有, 娘有, 也要开口。

爺有, 娘有, 也要開口。

Lit [Even if your own] father and mother have [what you want], [you] still have to open [your] mouth [to ask for it].

Fig If you need something, it's better to own it yourself. “(Mama may have, Papa may have, but) God bless the child that's got his own.”

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CUNNING INDEPENDENCE rhyme

Y99

[Y99]

Yībàn rénqíng, yībàn lǐwù.

一半人情, 一半礼物。

一半人情, 一半禮物。

Lit [To get things done in life], half [depends on one's] relationships [with other people, and] half [on giving] gifts.

Fig Both gifts and connections are necessary to get things done.

Note [Cf. Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 50.]

Topics CONNECTIONS GIFTS RELATIONSHIPS Rúlín Wàishǐ SUCCESS

Y100

[Y100]

(Yī bān shù shàng liǎng bān huā,) wǔbǎi nián qián shì yījiā.

(一般树上两般花,) 五百年前是一家。

(一般樹上兩般花,) 五百年前是一家。

Lit ([Like] two flowers grown from one tree,) [people of the same surname came from] the same family five hundred years ago.

Note [This rhymed couplet is a polite formula often said by people sharing the same surname upon first meeting; the first half is usually omitted; see also tóngxìng shì yījiā above.]

Topics couplet FAMILIES rhyme SURNAMES

Y101

[Y101]

Yī bào huán yī bào.*

一报还一报。

一報還一報。

Lit Every deed will be repaid in kind.

Fig Good is returned for good, and evil for evil. No one can escape retribution.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 19; see also shàn yǒu shànbào above.]

Topics DRC EVIL GOODNESS RECIPROCATION RETRIBUTION

Y102

[Y102]

Yī bǎ yàoshi kāi yī bǎ suǒ.*

一把钥匙开一把锁。

一把鑰匙開一把鎖。

Lit Different locks [must be] opened with different keys.

Fig Each problem or person should be dealt with by using a different method.

Topics APPROPRIATENESS DIFFERENCES PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

Y103

[Y103]

Yī bēi zài shǒu, wànshì quán diū.

一杯在手, 万事全丢。

一杯在手, 萬事全丟。

Lit [With] a cup of wine in hand, all one's troubles vanish.

Note [Rhyme; see also jiǔ xiāo bǎi chóu above and yī zhǎn néng xiāo and yī zuì jiě qiān chóu below.]

Topics LIQUOR rhyme SOLUTIONS SORROW TROUBLE

Y104

[Y104]

(Yī bīng bù néng chéng jiàng;) dú mù bù néng chéng lín.

(一兵不能成将,) 独木不能成林。

(一兵不能成將,) 獨木不能成林。

Lit (A single soldier does not make a general, [just as]) a single tree does not make a forest.

Fig One person alone cannot accomplish anything of any great significance.

Note [The second part is commonly used alone; see also yī gēn zhúzi below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS LIMITATIONS

Y105

[Y105]

Yī, bù dǔ lì; èr, bù dǔ shí.

一不赌力, 二不赌食。

一不賭力, 二不賭食。

Lit Never bet on [your physical] strength, nor on [how much you can] eat.

Fig Never overexert yourself or harm your health.

Topics HEALTH MODERATION STRENGTH

Y106

[Y106]

Yī bù gǎn bu shàng, bù bù dǎ jí huāng.

一步赶不上, 步步打急慌。

一步趕不上, 步步打急慌。

Lit Once [one] lags (even) one step behind, every step taken [will be] hurried.

Topics TARDINESS TIMELINESS

Y107

[Y107]

Yī bù gǎn bu shàng; bù bù gǎn bu shàng.

一步赶不上, 步步赶不上。

一步趕不上, 步步趕不上。

Lit Miss one step, [you will] always be one step behind.

Topics MISSING MISTAKES STEPS TARDINESS

Y108

[Y108]

Yī, bù jī cái; èr, bù jīyuàn; shuì yě ānrán; zǒu yě fāngbiàn.

一不积财, 二不积怨; 睡也安然, 走也方便。

一不積財, 二不積怨; 睡也安然, 走也方便。

Lit [If one] accumulates neither wealth nor rancor, [one can] sleep soundly [and go] anywhere one likes without difficulty.

Note [Cf. the Ming dynasty work by Lv Kun, Xù Xiǎo Ér Yǔ.]

Topics CAUTION DIFFICULTIES ENEMIES Lv Kun SLEEP TRAVEL WEALTH Xù_Xiǎo_Ér_Yǔ

Y109

[Y109]

Yī bù niù zhòng.

一不拗众。

一不拗眾。

Lit One cannot change the minds of the many. One has to conform with the group.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 23; see sān bù niù liù and sì bù niù liù above.]

Topics CONFLICT CONFORMITY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GROUPS MINDS

Y110

[Y110]

Yī bù sān shì; bù fú qí yào.

医不三世, 不服其药。

醫不三世, 不服其藥。

Lit Doctors can't [hand down their skill for] three [successive] generations; [so] don't take their [(i.e., third generation doctors') prescriptions for] medicine.

Fig Be careful in choosing a doctor.

Note [Note: fúyào, “to take medicine.”]

Topics CAUTION DOCTORS fúyào MEDICINE

Y111

[Y111]

Yī bù wèi wěn, xiū kuà èr bù.

一步未稳, 休跨二步。

一步未穩, 休跨二步。

Lit Don't take your second step until you're sure of the first.

Topics CAUTION CERTAINTY PLANNING STEPS

Y112

[Y112]

Yì bù yā shēn.

艺不压身。

藝不壓身。

Lit A skill is never a burden.

Fig The more skills one has, the better.

Note [See also rén duō yī jì above and yī zhāo xiān below.]

Topics SKILL

Y113

[Y113]

Yī bù zǒu cuò; bùbù zǒu cuò.*

一步走错, 步步走错。

一步走錯, 步步走錯。

Lit [Take] one wrong step [and you will] walk in the wrong direction [forever].

Note [Cf. Cao Yu's modern play Léi Yǔ (Thunderstorm), act 3; see also yī shì chà below.]

Topics Cao Yu Léi Yǔ MISTAKES

Y114

[Y114]

Yī, bù zuò; èr, bù xiū.

一不做, 二不休。

Lit Do not do [it in the] first [place], [and] second, do not stop.

Fig Once some [bad] thing has been started, carry it through to the end; “in for a penny, in for a pound.”

Note [Said by desperate doers; see also yī chútou yě shì below.]

Topics BEGINNING COMPLETION DESPERATION THOROUGHNESS

Y115

[Y115]

Yī cài nán hé bǎi rén wèi.

一菜难合百人味。

一菜難合百人味。

Lit A single dish cannot satisfy the tastes of a hundred people.

Fig One person cannot satisfy everyone.

Note [See also yī rén nán chèn above.]

Topics INDIVIDUALS LIMITATIONS SATISFACTION TASTES

Y116

[Y116]

Yī chǎng guānsi, yī chǎng huǒ; rèn nǐ hǎohàn méi chù duǒ.

一场官司一场火, 任你好汉没处躲。

一場官司一場火, 任你好漢沒處躲。

Lit A lawsuit [is like a] fire; even a hero can't withstand either.

Fig No matter how good one is, one will be as bankrupted by a lawsuit as by a natural disaster.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics BANKRUPTCY LAWSUITS

Y117

[Y117]

Yī cháo tiānzǐ, yī cháo chén.*

一朝天子一朝臣。

Lit Every new sovereign [brings in] his own ministers.

Fig A new leader brings in new aides.

Note [Cf. Tang Xiansu's Mǔdān Tíng.]

Topics CHANGE LEADERS Mǔdān Tíng SUBORDINATES Tang_Xiansu

Y118

[Y118]

Yī chén bù shì èr zhǔ.

一臣不事二主。

Lit A minister cannot serve two masters.

Fig “A man cannot serve two masters.”

Note [See also zhōngchén bù shì below.]

Topics LOYALTY SERVICE SUBORDINATES

Y119

[Y119]

Yī chútou yě shì dòngtǔ; liǎng chútou yě shì dòngtǔ.

一锄头也是动土, 两锄头也是动土。

一鋤頭也是動土, 兩鋤頭也是動土。

Lit [Whether] hoeing one [row] or two, it still disturbs the soil.

Fig Once you start, go all out. “Hanged for a sheep, hanged for a lamb.”

Note [Usually said of some bad undertaking; see also yī, bù zuò; èr, bù xiū, above.]

Topics ACTION BEGINNING COMMITMENT THOROUGHNESS

Y120

[Y120]

Yī cùn guāngyīn, yī cùn jīn; (cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāngyīn).*

一寸光阴一寸金, (寸金难买寸光阴)。

一寸光陰一寸金, (寸金難買寸光陰)。

Lit An inch of time [is an] inch of gold; (an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time).

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 11; see also bù guì chǐ zhī bì above.]

Topics GOLD MONEY TIME Xīyáng_Jì

Y121

[Y121]

Yīdài bùrú yīdài.

一代不如一代。

Lit Each generation is worse than the last.

Topics DECLINE GENERATIONS

Y122

[Y122]

Yī dǎ sānfēn dī.

一打三分低。

Lit One blow lowers [the striker] three grades.

Fig Raising one's fist automatically puts one in the wrong.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 3; see also jūnzǐ dòng kǒu above.]

Topics FIGHTING RECTITUDE

Y123

[Y123]

Yī dēng lóngmén, shēnjià shíbèi.

一登龙门, 身价十倍。

一登龍門, 身價十倍。

Lit Once a fish climbs over the Dragon Gate, its value increases ten fold.

Fig Once one has become an official, one's prestige increases ten fold.

Note [Note: dēng lóngmén, (lit) “jumping over the dragon gate,” referred to passing the imperial examinations and becoming an official in traditional China.]

Topics dēng lóngmén OFFICIALS PRESTIGE PROMOTION SUCCESS

Y124

[Y124]

Yī dòng bùrú yī jìng.

一动不如一静。

一動不如一靜。

Lit Moving isn't as good as standing pat.

Fig Better be safe than stir.

Note [Said when questioning the necessity of a move; cf. DRC, chap. 57.]

Topics ACTION CAUTION DRC MOVING

Y125

[Y125]

Yì dòng jūnzǐ; lì dòng xiǎorén.

义动君子, 利动小人。

義動君子, 利動小人。

Lit A gentleman is moved by humanity and justice, [while] a petty person is motivated only by self-interest.

Note [See also jūnzǐ yù yú yì and jūnzǐ huái xíng above.]

Topics GENTLEMEN HUMANITY JUSTICE PETTINESS SELF-INTEREST

Y126

[Y126]

Yī dǒu mǐ yǎng gè ēnrén; yī dàn mǐ yǎng gè chóurén.

一斗米养个恩人, 一石米养个仇人。

一斗米養個恩人, 一石米養個仇人。

Lit A peck of grain wins [one] a friend; a bushel of grain makes [one] a foe.

Fig Carrying one's kindness too far invites trouble.

Note [Cf. Rǔ Lín Wài Shǐ, chap. 22; both dǒu and dàn are Chinese units of dry measure for grain; one dàn ( = one hectoliter) is equal to ten dǒu ( = one deciliter).]

Topics FRIENDSHIP KINDNESS SELF-RESTRAINT TROUBLE

Y127

[Y127]

Yī fēn gēngyún, yī fēn shōuhuò.

一分耕耘, 一分收获。

一分耕耘, 一分收穫。

Lit [For every] one [per]cent [of] plowing/weeding, [one will get] one [per]cent of harvest.

Fig How much one reaps depends on how much one cultivates. The more effort you make, the better results you'll obtain.

Topics EFFORT INVESTMENT RESULTS

Y128

[Y128]

Yī fēn hángqíng, yī fēn huò.

一分行情一分货。

一分行情一分貨。

Lit [For every] one cent of market price, [one gets] one cent['s worth of] goods.

Fig The higher the market price, the better the goods.

Note [Cf. the Qing dynasty novel, Èrshí Nián Mùdǔ Zhī Guài Xiànzhuàng, chap. 75; also said yī fēn qián, yī fēn huò.]

Topics BUSINESS Èrshí Nián Mùdǔ GOODS MARKETS PRICE Qing_dynasty

Y129

[Y129]

Yī fēn jiàqian, yī fēn huò.

一分价钱, 一分货。

一分價錢, 一分貨。

Lit [For every] one penny [of] price, [you get] one cent['s worth of] goods.

Fig “You get what you pay for.”

Note [See also guì de bù guì and hǎo wù bù jiàn above.]

Topics GOODS PRICE QUALITY

Y130

[Y130]

Yī fēn qián mǎi yī fēn qíng.*

一分钱买一分情。

一分錢買一分情。

Lit One penny [more] buys one [more] penny['s worth of] friendship.

Fig The better the gift you offer, the better the response you get.

Note [Usually referring to bribery.]

Topics BRIBERY FRIENDSHIP GIFTS

Y131

[Y131]

Yīfēn zuìjiǔ; shífēn zuì dé.

一分醉酒, 十分醉德。

Lit Drinking a little is tipsiness; drinking ten times [more] inebriates [one's] virtue.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 17.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō LIQUOR VIRTUE

Y132

[Y132]

Yī fū dāngguān, wàn fū mò kāi.*

一夫当关,万夫莫开。

一夫當關,萬夫莫開。

Lit [With] one man guarding [a mountain] pass, ten thousand men cannot break through.

Fig If one occupies a strategically superior position, it will be difficult for others to attack.

Note [A line from the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai's poem, “Shǔ Dào Nán.”]

Topics ADVANTAGE ATTACKS Li Bai SELF-PROTECTION Shǔ Dào Nán STRATEGY Tang_dynasty

Y133

[Y133]

Yī fù dúyào, yī fù jiě yào.

一付毒药, 一付解药。

一付毒藥, 一付解藥。

Lit [Where there is] a dose of poison, [there is] an antidote.

Fig Different problems must be dealt with by different means.

Topics DIFFERENCES POISON PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

Y134

[Y134]

Yīfu shì xīn de hǎo; péngyou shì jiù de hǎo.

衣服是新的好; 朋友是旧的好。

衣服是新的好; 朋友是舊的好。

Lit [As for] clothes, new ones are better; [(but) as for] friends, old ones are better.

Fig Old friends are better.

Note [See also rén wéi qiú jiù; wù wéi qiú xīn above.]

Topics CLOTHING FRIENDSHIP

Y135

[Y135]

Yī fú yā bǎi huò.

一福压百祸。

一福壓百禍。

Lit One instance of good luck will drive away a hundred of ill luck.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 72.]

Topics COMPENSATION FORTUNE JPM LUCK

Y136

[Y136]

Yì gāo, rén dǎndà.*

艺高人胆大。

藝高人膽大。

Lit [When one's] skill is high, one is bold [i.e., not afraid to show it].

Topics SKILL

Y137

[Y137]

Yī gè bāzhang pāibuxiǎng.*

一个巴掌拍不响。

一個巴掌拍不響。

Lit One hand alone cannot clap.

Fig It takes two to make a quarrel.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 58; see also yī zhī wǎn below.]

Topics CONFLICT DRC FIGHTING SELF-RESTRAINT

Y138

[Y138]

Yī gè cáo shàng shuān bù xià liǎ jiàolǘ.

一个槽上拴不下俩叫驴。

一個槽上拴不下倆叫驢。

Lit Two [braying] donkeys cannot be tied to the same trough.

Fig Two powerful people cannot coexist in the same place. “When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war.”

Note [See also wù mò néng above and yī gè shāntóu below.]

Topics COEXISTENCE EQUALITY FORCE OPPOSITION

Y139

[Y139]

Yī gè fùnǚ, yī miàn luó; sān gè fùnǚ, bàn tái xì.*

一个妇女一面锣, 三个妇女半台戏。

一個婦女一面鑼, 三個婦女半臺戲。

Lit One woman [sounds like] a gong, [while] three women [can stage] half [a Chinese] opera.

Fig Women chatter loudly when they get together.

Note [Traditional Chinese operas are accompanied by gongs and cymbals.]

Topics GOSSIP OPERA TALK WOMEN

Y140

[Y140]

Yī gè gèzao dǐngbuqǐ bèiwō.

一个虼蚤顶不起被窝。

一個虼蚤頂不起被窩。

Lit A flea is incapable of propping up a bed quilt.

Fig One person [acting] alone is incapable of great things.

Note [See also yī gēn mùtou and yī gēn zhúzi below.]

Topics ABILITY INDIVIDUALS LIMITS

Y141

[Y141]

Yī gè háma, sì liǎng lì.

一个蛤蟆四两力。

一個蛤蟆四兩力。

Lit [Even] a toad [has] four ounces of strength.

Fig One may be insignificant, but (s)he can accomplish something.

Note [See also kùn lóng yì yǒu above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT INSIGNIFICANCE TOADS

Y142

[Y142]

Yī gè jiāngjūn, yī gè lìng; yī gè héshang, yī běn jīng.

一个将军一个令, 一个和尚一本经。

一個將軍一個令, 一個和尚一本經。

Lit A new general [issues] new orders [and] a new monk [chants] new scriptures.

Fig Each person has his or her own way of doing things.

Note [Rhyme; see yī gè shīfu below.]

Topics DIFFERENCES INDIVIDUALS rhyme WORK_STYLE

Y143

[Y143]

Yī gè líba (yào dǎ) sān gè zhuāng; yī gè hǎohàn (yào yǒu) sān gè bāng.*

一个篱笆(要打)三个桩, 一个好汉(要有)三个帮。

一個籬笆(要打)三個樁, 一個好漢(要有)三個幫。

Lit [Just as] a fence needs the support of three stakes, [so] one able fellow needs the help of three others.

Note [A rhyme often used by Mao Zedong, e.g., in his Lectures to the All China Congress of the Chinese Communist party; usually abbreviated as yī gè hǎo hàn, sānge bāng, etc.; see also mǔdan suī hǎo above.]

Topics ABILITY COOPERATION HELP Mao Zedong rhyme

Y144

[Y144]

Yī gēn kuàizi juē de duàn; yī bǎ kuàizi juē bù duàn.

一根筷子撅得断, 一把筷子撅不断。

一根筷子撅得斷, 一把筷子撅不斷。

Lit One chopstick can [easily] be broken, [but] a bundle of chopsticks cannot.

Fig In unity there is strength.

Note [Based on a popular folk tale about a dying man's instructions to his sons; see also the following entry.]

Topics COOPERATION STRENGTH UNITY

Y145

[Y145]

Yī gēn mùtou zhī bùliǎo tiān.

一根木头支不了天。

一根木頭支不了天。

Lit One single log cannot prop up the sky.

Fig One person alone cannot accomplish anything important.

Note [See also yī gè gèzao above and the following entry.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS LIMITATIONS

Y146

[Y146]

Yī gēn zhúzi bù chéng pái.

一根竹子不成排。

Lit One bamboo does not make a raft.

Fig One person alone cannot accomplish anything.

Note [See also yī bīng bù néng above and the preceding entry.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS LIMITATIONS STRENGTH

Y147

[Y147]

Yī gè péngyou, yī tiáo lù; yī gè yuānjia, yī dǔ qiáng.

一个朋友一条路, 一个冤家一堵墙。

一個朋友一條路, 一個冤家一堵牆。

Lit [Making] a friend [opens up] one [more] avenue [for you, while making] an enemy [builds] a wall [blocking your way].

Fig One should make friends, not enemies.

Topics ENEMIES FRIENDS

Y148

[Y148]

Yī gè rén shì sǐ de; liǎng gè rén shì huó de.

一个人是死的, 两个人是活的。

一個人是死的, 兩個人是活的。

Lit One person alone is [like a] dead [person, while] two [together] are alive.

Fig Two persons united are more powerful than two people separated.

Note [Cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 74.]

Topics COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS SEPARATION STRENGTH UNITY Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

Y149

[Y149]

Yī gè shāntóu, yī zhī hǔ.

一个山头, 一只虎。

一個山頭, 一隻虎。

Lit One mountain [allows only] one tiger.

Fig Only one powerful leader can exist in each place.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 12; see also yī shān bù néng below.]

Topics COEXISTENCE EQUALITY OPPOSITION PLACE POWER Suí_Táng_Yǎnyì

Y150

[Y150]

Yī gè shīfu, yī gè chuánshòu.

一个师傅, 一个传授。

一個師傅, 一個傳授。

Lit Each master has his [unique] way of teaching.

Fig Everyone has his or her own way of doing things.

Note [See also yī gè jiāngjūn above.]

Topics BEHAVIOR INDIVIDUALS TEACHING WORK_STYLE

Y151

[Y151]

Yī gè xiānglú, yī gè qìng; yī gè rén, yī gè xìng.

一个香炉一个磬, 一个人一个性。

一個香爐一個磬, 一個人一個性。

Lit [Just as] an incense burner [differs from] an inverted bell [in shape, so] each person [has] his own personality.

Note [Rhyme; an inverted bell is a Buddhist percussion instrument.]

Topics DIFFERENCES INDIVIDUALITY PERSONALITY

Y152

[Y152]

Yī gè xiǎo jī bù hǎo, dài huài yī lóng.

一个小鸡不好, 带坏一笼。

一個小雞不好, 帶壞一籠。

Lit One bad chicken spoils the whole coop.

Fig “One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.”

Note [See also yī kuài chòu ròu below.]

Topics CONTAMINATION EVIL SPOILING

Y153

[Y153]

Yī gè zhuāng bù néng kòu liǎng gè niú.

一个桩不能扣两个牛。

一個樁不能扣兩個牛。

Lit [You] can't tie two oxen [onto] one stake.

Fig Rivals can't co-exist in one place.

Note [See also yī guó bùróng below.]

Topics COEXISTENCE RIVALS

Y154

[Y154]

Yī guì, yī jiàn, jiāoqing nǎi jiàn.

一贵一贱, 交情乃见。

一貴一賤, 交情乃見。

Lit [When] one [person becomes] rich [and the other] one [becomes] poor, then [their] friendship [will be] tested.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics FRIENDSHIP Jǐngshì Tōngyán POVERTY WEALTH

Y155

[Y155]

Yī guó bùróng èr zhǔ.

一国不容二主。

一國不容二主。

Lit One kingdom does not permit two rulers.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 60; see also tiān wú èr rì above and yī shān bù néng below.]

Topics COUNTRY GOVERNMENT LEADERS R3K RULERS

Y156

[Y156]

Yī hào téngzi jiē yī hào guā.

一号藤子结一号瓜。

一號藤子結一號瓜。

Lit [As] the vine, [so] the melon.

Fig Each plant yields its own kind of fruit. Like begets like. “Like father, like son.”

Topics CHILDREN FATHERS INHERITANCE PARENTS SIMILARITIES SONS

Y157

[Y157]

Yī huā dú fàng, bù shì chūn.

一花独放, 不是春。

一花獨放, 不是春。

Lit A single flower blooming does not make a spring.

Fig One instance doesn't make a rule. “One sparrow does not make a spring.”

Topics EXAMPLE EXCEPTIONS INDIVIDUALS PRECEDENTS RULES

Y158

[Y158]

Yī jiā bǎonuǎn, qiān jiā yuàn.

一家饱暖, 千家怨。

一家飽暖, 千家怨。

Lit One better-off family [is] envied [by a] thousand others.

Note [Cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 15; note: bǎonuǎn, (lit) “amply fed and clothed.”]

Topics bǎonuǎn ENVY Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí FAMILIES WEALTH

Y159

[Y159]

Yī jiā bù zhī yī jiā; (héshang bù zhī Dàojiā).

一家不知一家, (和尚不知道家)。

Lit One family knows nothing of [the troubles of] another, ([just as Buddhist] monks know nothing about Taoists).

Note [Rhyme; see also the following entry.]

Topics FAMILIES TROUBLE

Y160

[Y160]

Yī jiā bù zhī yī jiā kǔ.

一家不知一家苦。

Lit One family doesn't know the difficulties an[other] family [has].

Note [See also jiājiā dōu yǒu above and the preceding entry.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES FAMILIES TROUBLE

Y161

[Y161]

Yī jiā fù nán gù sān jiā qióng.

一家富难顾三家穷。

一家富難顧三家窮。

Lit One rich family [would be] hard put to support three poor families.

Fig There are limits to one's resources or to what one (family) can do.

Topics HELP LIMITATIONS RESOURCES WEALTH

Y162

[Y162]

Yī jiàng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū.

一将功成万骨枯。

一將功成萬骨枯。

Lit A general builds his success on ten thousand bleaching bones.

Fig It's the blood of the rank and file that wins a general's promotion. “What millions died that Caesar might be great.”

Topics COSTS LEADERS MILITARY SUBORDINATES

Y163

[Y163]

Yí jiāng shèng yǒng zhuī qióngkòu.

宜将剩勇追穷寇。

宜將剩勇追窮寇。

Lit [One] should [use one's] remaining strength to pursue a hard-pressed enemy.

Fig Once the tide has turned and the enemy has started to retreat, one should rally one's forces and continue to pursue them to destruction.

Note [This is a line from Mao Zedong's qīlǜ style poem, “Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Zhànlǐng Nánjīng” (“The Peoples Liberation Army Occupies Nanjing”), which contradicts the traditional strategy of not pursuing a defeated enemy (qióngkòu mò zhuī) expressed in Sūnzǐ's Bīngfǎ (The Art of War); see also guī shī wù yǎn above.]

Topics ATTACKS ENEMIES EXTERMINATION Mao Zedong qīlǜ qióngkòu mò zhuī Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn STRATEGY Sūnzǐ

Y164

[Y164]

Yī jiàng wú móu, lèisǐ qiān jūn.

一将无谋, 累死千军。

一將無謀, 累死千軍。

Lit If a general is unresourceful, a thousand soldiers will suffer and die.

Note [Said of any leader; see also bīng hútu yī gè above.]

Topics CONSEQUENCES LEADERSHIP MILITARY

Y165

[Y165]

Yī jiā qì qiáng, liǎng jiā yòng.

一家砌墙, 两家用。

一家砌牆, 兩家用。

Lit [If] one family builds a wall, both families use [it].

Fig One party's action can benefit two parties.

Note [See also yīmiàn dǎ qiáng above.]

Topics ACTIONS BENEFITS COOPERATION FAMILIES RECIPROCITY

Y166

[Y166]

Yī jiā rén bù shuō liǎng jiā huà.

一家人不说两家话。

一家人不說兩家話。

Lit People of one family [or group should] not speak [as though they were] from different families [or groups].

Fig People in the same family or group should stand united as one.

Note [Cf. the colloquial suyu expression: yī jiā wú èr, “one family should have no divisions”; see also yī zhāng chuáng shàng above.]

Topics FAMILIES suyu UNITY

Y167

[Y167]

Yī jiā tóngxīn, fèntǔ chéng jīn.

一家同心, 粪土成金。

一家同心, 糞土成金。

Lit [When] a family is of the same mind, dung may be turned into gold.

Fig When all members of a family are of one mind, all things are possible.

Note [This rhyme is an exhortation to family unity; see also sān rén yītiáoxīn above.]

Topics COOPERATION FAMILIES MINDS rhyme SUCCESS UNITY

Y168

[Y168]

Yī jiā yǒu nǚ, bǎijiā qiú.

一家有女百家求。

Lit A family with a [marriageable] daughter [will be] sought out by a hundred others.

Topics DAUGHTERS FAMILIES MARRIAGE

Y169

[Y169]

Yī jiā yǒushì, bǎijiā máng.

一家有事, 百家忙。

Lit [When] something [good or bad] happens [in] one household, a hundred families [i.e., their neighbors] [will be] busy helping [them; e.g., a marriage celebration].

Topics COOPERATION HELPING NEIGHBORS

Y170

[Y170]

Yī jiā yǒu yī zhǔ.

一家有一主。

Lit Each family has a head, [to whom you must talk if you hope to solve any problem].

Note [Cf. the píngshū story Wǔ Sōng, chap. 5.]

Topics FAMILIES LEADERS píngshū PROBLEMS Wǔ_Sōng

Y171

[Y171]

Yǐ jǐ zhī xīn, dù rén zhī xīn.

以己之心, 度人之心。

Lit Take [your] own heart [as the] measure of [other] people['s] hearts.

Fig Do unto others only what you would have them do unto you.

Topics FAIRNESS HEARTS

Y172

[Y172]

Yī jùn zhē bǎi chǒu.*

一俊遮百丑。

一俊遮百醜。

Lit One good (or beautiful) point overshadows many defects and deficiencies.

Fig For one merit, a hundred shortcomings may be overlooked.

Topics BEAUTY COMPENSATION DEFECTS DEFICIENCIES GOODNESS SHORTCOMINGS

Y173

[Y173]

Yī jù yànyǔ, qiān céng yì.

一句谚语, 千层意。

一句諺語, 千層意。

Lit One proverb [has a] thousand levels of meaning.

Topics PROVERBS

Y174

[Y174]

Yī kè bù fán èr zhǔ.

一客不烦二主。

一客不煩二主。

Lit A guest should not trouble two hosts.

Fig One should not impose on two patrons at the same time.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 3.]

Topics GUESTS HOSTS IMPOSITION JW PATRONS

Y175

[Y175]

Yīkǒu bù néng chā liǎng chí.

一口不能插两匙。

一口不能插兩匙。

Lit One mouth cannot hold two spoons.

Fig One cannot do many things at the same time.

Note [See also yīshēn zuòbude below.]

Topics ABILITY LIMITATIONS TIME

Y176

[Y176]

Yīkǒu chī bù chéng gè pàngzi.*

一口吃不成个胖子。

一口吃不成個胖子。

Lit One cannot become fat on one mouthful.

Fig Nothing can be accomplished in one single effort; a person doesn't get to be a certain way overnight; it takes time.

Note [Also said bù néng yīkǒu chī gè pàngzi: see also pàngzi bù shì above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT CHANGES LIMITATIONS TIME

Y177

[Y177]

Yī kuài chòu ròu huàile yī guō tāng.*

一块臭肉坏了一锅汤。

一塊臭肉壞了一鍋湯。

Lit One piece of stinking pork spoils the whole pot of broth.

Fig One bad person can spoil the whole affair. “One rotten apple can spoil a whole barrel.”

Note [See also yī gè xiǎo jī above and yī tiáo yú mǎn below.]

Topics EVIL INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCE SPOILING

Y178

[Y178]

Yǐ láng mùyáng, hé néng chángjiǔ？

以狼牧羊, 何能长久？

以狼牧羊, 何能長久？

Lit If you let a wolf look after the sheep, how can [they] last long?

Fig One should not trust an evil person in doing anything; don't “set a fox to guard a hen house.”

Topics EVIL TRUST

Y179

[Y179]

Yī liǎng jīnzi; sì liǎng fú.

一两金子, 四两福。

一兩金子, 四兩福。

Lit One ounce [of] gold [requires] four ounces [of] blessings [so that it can be kept and enjoyed].

Fig One who has wealth must also have blessings in order to be able to enjoy it. Without good fate, all the money in the world is useless. “Money can't buy happiness.”

Topics BLESSINGS HAPPINESS MONEY WEALTH

Y180

[Y180]

Yī liǎng sī néng dé jǐ shí luò/lè.

一两丝能得几时络/乐。

一兩絲能得幾時絡/樂。

Lit One ounce of silk cannot be spun out [into a long thread].

Fig Pleasure cannot last forever.

Note [Cf. Guó Shǐ Yí Zuǎn, quoted in Tài Píng Guǎng Jì, vol. 188; in literary Chinese, luò, “thread,” is a loose pun on lè, “happiness”; liǎng is a Chinese unit of weight now equal to 50 grams.]

Topics HAPPINESS LIMITS PLEASURE TIME

Y181

[Y181]

Yī liǎo, bǎi dàng.

一了百当。

一了百當。

Lit [One who is capable of] completing one [thing is capable of] handling many [things].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 16; note: tuǒdàng, “properly done.”]

Topics ABILITY COMPLETION SUCCESS tuǒdàng Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Y182

[Y182]

Yī liǎo, bǎi liǎo.*

一了百了。

Lit [When the] one [thing] ends, [then] everything ends.

Fig Death ends all one's troubles. All one's worries end when one dies.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 19; as a chengyu: yīliǎo-bǎiliǎo.]

Topics DEATH DIFFICULTIES Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn LIFE WORRIES yīliǎo-bǎiliǎo

Y183

[Y183]

Yī lǐ tōng/jīng, bǎi lǐ tōng.

一理通/精, 百理通。

Lit [By knowing] one theory completely, [you will] know all others [by analogy].

Note [Note the chengyu: chùlèi-pángtōng, “to comprehend by analogy.”]

Topics ANALOGY chengyu chùlèi-pángtōng KNOWLEDGE THEORY

Y184

[Y184]

Yǐ lì xiāngjiāo, lì jìn ér shū.

以利相交, 利尽而疏。

以利相交, 利盡而疏。

Lit A friendship [which is] based [only] on benefits [will become more] distant [when the] benefits run out.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 32.]

Topics BENEFITS FRIENDSHIP Jǐngshì Tōngyán SELF-INTEREST

Y185

[Y185]

Yìlǐ zhī yǒng bùkě wú, xuèqì zhī yǒng bùkě yǒu.

义理之勇不可无; 血气之勇不可有。

義理之勇不可無; 血氣之勇不可有。

Lit One should have the boldness to argue for justice, not [simply] the vigor to show off [one's] strength.

Topics COURAGE FOOLISHNESS JUSTICE STRENGTH

Y186

[Y186]

Yī lóng, jiǔ zhǒng; zhǒngzhǒng gèbié.

一龙九种, 种种各别。

一龍九種, 種種各別。

Lit One dragon [may have] nine offspring, each one different.

Fig One family may produce both good and bad children.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 9.]

Topics

Topics CHILDREN FAMILIES INHERITANCE

Y187

[Y187]

Yī lóng, sānfēn chī.

一聋, 三分痴。

一聾, 三分痴。

Lit Once [one becomes (partially)] deaf, [one becomes] thirty percent [mentally] slower.

Topics

Topics DEAFNESS

Y188

[Y188]

Yī mǎ bù kuà shuāng ān.

一马不跨双鞍。

一馬不跨雙鞍。

Lit A horse wears no more than one saddle.

Fig A woman cannot be betrothed or married twice.

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, vol. 5. sec. 3; also Yuán Shǐ: Liè Nǚ Zhuàn; see also yī nǚ bù chī below.]

Topics

Topics BETROTHAL Liè Nǚ Zhuàn MARRIAGE WIDOWS WOMEN Yuán_Shǐ

Y189

[Y189]

Yī mǎ bù xíng, bǎi mǎ yōu.

一马不行, 百马忧。

一馬不行, 百馬憂。

Lit [When] a horse halts, [a] hundred [will] worry.

Fig One person's action can influence an entire group or situation.

Note [See also yī mǎ yǒu bìng below.]

Topics ACTIONS GROUPS INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCE

Y190

[Y190]

Yī mài bùhé, zhōushēn bùshì.

一脉不和, 周身不适。

一脈不和, 周身不適。

Lit [If] one artery (or vein) is in disharmony, [one's] entire body [feels] unwell.

Fig When one part goes wrong, the whole situation will be affected.

Topics CAUSALITY CONDITIONS HARMONY

Y191

[Y191]

Yī máng yǐn zhòng máng, xiāng jiāng rù shuǐkēng.

一盲引众盲, 相将入水坑。

一盲引眾盲, 相將入水坑。

Lit [If] one blind [person] leads a crowd [of] blind [people], all will [fall] into [a] pit.

Fig “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Topics BLINDNESS IGNORANCE LEADERSHIP

Y192

[Y192]

Yī mǎ yǒu bìng, bǎi mǎ yōu.

一马有病, 百马忧。

一馬有病, 百馬憂。

Lit [If] one horse falls ill, [a] hundred [will] be worried.

Fig One person's actions can influence a whole group or situation.

Note [See also yī mǎ bù xíng above.]

Topics ACTIONS INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCE WORRIES

Y193

[Y193]

Yī mén bù dào, yī mén hēi.

一门不到一门黑。

一門不到一門黑。

Lit [If one has] not entered a trade, [one is completely in the] dark [about] that trade.

Fig A person in one trade is completely in the dark about the tricks of others.

Note [See also géháng rú géshān above.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE PROFESSIONS TRADES TRICKS

Y194

[Y194]

Yīmiàn dǎ qiáng, liǎngmiàn guāng.

一面打墙, 两面光。

一面打牆, 兩面光。

Lit A wall built by one side benefits both sides.

Fig One party's act can benefit both parties.

Note [Cf. the Qing dynasty writer Wang Zhuang's Wú Yàn Shī Chāo; note: liǎngmiànguāng as an idiom also refers to a person who always pleases both sides/parties; see also yī jiā qì qiáng below.]

Topics ACTIONS BENEFITS COOPERATION liǎngmiànguāng RECIPROCITY

Y195

[Y195]

Yī míng héshang tiāo shuǐ chī; liǎng míng héshang tái shuǐ chī; sān míng héshang méi shuǐ chī.*

一名和尚挑水吃, 两名和尚抬水吃, 三名和尚没水吃。

一名和尚挑水吃, 兩名和尚抬水吃, 三名和尚沒水吃。

Lit A single monk brings his own bucket of water to consume, two monks carry their bucket of water jointly, [but when there are] three monks, there is no water to consume at all.

Fig “Everybody's business is nobody's business.”

Note [Cf. Lu Xun's essay in Lǔ Xùn Shū Xìn Jí: “Zhì Cǎo Jù Rén”; now more commonly said yī gè héshang, etc.]

Topics COOPERATION INTERFERENCE Lu Xun Lǔ Xùn Shū Xìn Jí PUBLIC Zhì_Cǎo_Jù_Rén

Y196

[Y196]

Yī mòrú xīn; rén mò rúgù.

衣莫如新, 人莫如故。

Lit [With] clothes, [there is] nothing better than new [ones]; [with] people, there is nothing [better] than old [friends].

Note [Cf. Yànzǐ Chūnqiū: Nèi Piān Zá Shàng; see also yī shì xīn de hǎo below.]

Topics CLOTHING FRIENDS Nèi Piān Zá Shàng Yànzǐ_Chūnqiū

Y197

[Y197]

Yīn dì hǎo bùrú xīndì hǎo.

阴地好不如心地好。

陰地好不如心地好。

Lit Having a good gravesite is not as good as a good character.

Fig It is better to have a good moral nature while one is alive than to have an auspicious location for one's grave after one is dead.

Note [Note: In traditional China, choosing an auspicious gravesite according to the principles of fēngshuǐ or geomancy was believed to bring blessings to the living descendants of the deceased.]

Topics fēngshuǐ geomancy GOODNESS GRAVESITES LIVING LOCATION PLACE

Y198

[Y198]

Yǐ néng cè shuǐ; mǎ kě shí tú.

蚁能测水, 马可识途。

蟻能測水, 馬可識途。

Lit Ants can foretell rainfall, [and] horses know the way [(back)].

Fig Only experienced people can solve problems.

Note [See also lǎo mǎ shí tú above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE PREDICTIONS PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

Y199

[Y199]

Yīn fēng chuī huǒ; yòng lì bù duō.

因风吹火, 用力不多。

因風吹火, 用力不多。

Lit [If you] blow [on a] fire with the wind, [you] won't [have to] exert much effort.

Fig Do things in accordance with (their) nature. It is best to go with the current.

Note [A rhymed suggestion; cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 28.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS COOPERATION EFFORT Jǐngshì Tōngyán NATURE SUGGESTION

Y200

[Y200]

Yīng lì rú shuì; hǔ xíng shì bìng.

鹰立如睡, 虎行似病。

鷹立如睡, 虎行似病。

Lit [An] eagle standing [looks] like [it's] sleeping, [and a] tiger walking looks like [it's] sick.

Fig Sometimes the strong appear weak. Do not be deceived by appearances.

Topics APPEARANCES STRENGTH WEAKNESS

Y201

[Y201]

Yīngxióng chū shàonián.

英雄出少年。

Lit Heroes come from the young.

Topics HEROES YOUTH

Y202

[Y202]

Yīngxióng nánguò měirén guān.*

英雄难过美人关。

英雄難過美人關。

Lit [A] hero is hard put to get through a pass [controlled by a female] beauty.

Fig (Even) strong men have difficulty dealing with beautiful women. “Beauty tames the beast”; “Samson and Delilah.”

Topics BEAUTY Beauty & Beast HEROES Samson & Delilah STRENGTH WOMEN

Y203

[Y203]

Yīngxióng shí yīngxióng.*

英雄识英雄。

英雄識英雄。

Lit Heroes recognize heroes.

Fig “Like knows like.”

Note [See also hǎohàn shí hǎohàn and xīngxing xī xīngxing above.]

Topics APPRECIATION HEROES JUDGMENT SIMILARITIES

Y204

[Y204]

Yīngxióng suǒ jiàn lüètóng.*

英雄所见略同。

英雄所見略同。

Lit All great men's views are alike.

Fig “(All) great minds think alike.”

Note [Usually said humorously to one who holds views similar to one's own; cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 2; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 16.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GREAT MEN GREAT MINDS Hé Diǎn MINDS PERSPECTIVE SIMILARITIES THINKING

Y205

[Y205]

Yīngxióng xī yīngxióng.*

英雄惜英雄。

Lit Heroes cherish heroes.

Fig Great people can sympathize with and respect the feelings of others of their kind.

Note [See also xīngxing xī xīngxing above.]

Topics FEELINGS GREAT MEN HEROES RESPECT SIMILARITIES

Y206

[Y206]

Yīngxióng zào shíshì.*

英雄造时势。

英雄造時勢。

Lit Heroes create situations.

Fig Great men decide the course of history.

Note [Cf. Liang Qichao's Zìyóu Shū; vs. shíshì zào yīngxióng above.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES GREAT MEN HEROES HISTORY Liang Qichao Zìyóu_Shū

Y207

[Y207]

Yī niáng shēng jiǔ zǐ, jiǔ zǐ lián niáng shí tiáo xīn.*

一娘生九子, 九子连娘十条心。

一娘生九子, 九子連娘十條心。

Lit [If] a woman bears nine sons, the children plus their mother [altogether are] of ten minds.

Fig No matter how closely they are related, every individual in a group has his or her own way of thinking.

Topics CHILDREN DIFFERENCES GROUPS INDIVIDUALS MINDS MOTHERS THINKING

Y208

[Y208]

Yī nián shù gǔ; shí nián shù mù.

一年树谷, 十年树木。

一年樹穀, 十年樹木。

Lit [It takes] one year to plant [and harvest] grain, [and] ten years to plant [and grow a] tree.

Fig (1) It takes time, effort, and patience to reap benefits. (2) Different life situations require different long and short term planning.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Guǎnzi: Quán Xiū; see also shí nián shù mù above.]

Topics EFFORT Guǎnzi INVESTMENT PATIENCE PLANNING Quán Xiū TIME

Y209

[Y209]

Yī niàn zhī chā, zhōngshēn zhī lèi.

一念之差, 终身之累。

一念之差, 終身之纍。

Lit One wrong decision [can] trouble [one's] entire life.

Note [See niàntóu, “idea”; note: yīniànzhīchā is used as an idiom meaning “a momentary slip with serious consequences.”]

Topics chengyu CONSEQUENCES DECISIONS idiom MISTAKES niàntóu yīniànzhīchā

Y210

[Y210]

Yī nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn.*

一年之计在于春。

一年之計在於春。

Lit The [whole] year's work depends on [a good start in] spring.

Fig Success depends on a good beginning. “Well begun is half-done.”

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics BEGINNING SPRING SUCCESS WORK

Y211

[Y211]

Yī nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn; yī rì zhī jì zàiyú chén.

一年之计在于春, 一日之计在于晨。

一年之計在於春, 一日之計在於晨。

Lit Make your whole year's plan in spring, [and] your day's plans early in the morning.

Fig Spring is the best season to do the year's work, and morning is the best time to do the day's work.

Note [See also zǎoqǐ sān zhāo below and the preceding entry.]

Topics BEGINNING MORNINGS PLANNING SPRING WORK

Y212

[Y212]

Yǐn jí nán yī.

隐疾难医。

隱疾難醫。

Lit [If you] hide [the true symptoms of your] illness [from the doctor, he will be] hard [put to] cure [you].

Fig It's hard to correct one's mistakes if one tries to cover them up.

Topics CORRECTION DOCTORS HONESTY ILLNESS MISTAKES

Y213

[Y213]

Yǐnshuǐ bù wàng jué jǐng rén.*

饮水不忘掘井人。

飲水不忘掘井人。

Lit [When you] drink water, don't forget the people who dug the well.

Fig One should not forget one's past benefactors or supporters, nor those who produce the food one eats.

Note [Quoted by Zhou Enlai in reference to those who made possible the resumption of diplomatic relations with Japan; see also the following entry.]

Topics BENEFACTORS FOOD HELP Japan MEMORY SUPPORT WATER Zhōu_Enlai

Y214

[Y214]

Yǐnshuǐ sī yuán;* (yuán mù sī běn).

饮水思源, (缘木思本)。

飲水思源, (緣木思本)。

Lit [When] drinking water, think of [its] source; ([when] climbing a tree, think of [its] root).

Fig One should not forget one's origins or past benefactors.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 13; the first half originally a line from a poem by Sou Xin of the Northern Zhou dynasty, is used as an idiom yǐnshuǐ-sīyuán, meaning “never forget one's origins”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics BENEFACTORS chengyu Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HELP idiom MEMORY Northern Zhou dynasty SOURCES Sou Xin WATER yǐnshuǐ-sīyuán

Y215

[Y215]

Yī nǚ bù chī liǎng jiā chá.

一女不吃两家茶。

一女不吃兩家茶。

Lit A girl cannot drink the tea of two families.

Fig A girl cannot accept betrothal presents from two families. A woman cannot be betrothed to two men.

Note [Cf. Xǐng Shì Héng Yán, chap. 5; note: chá lǐ, “betrothal presents”; also yī mǎ bú kuà above.]

Topics BETROTHAL chá lǐ GIRLS MARRIAGE WOMEN Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y216

[Y216]

Yī nǚ huò chǒng, quánjiā fùguì.

一女获宠, 全家富贵。

一女獲寵, 全家富貴。

Lit [When] one girl becomes a favorite [imperial concubine], [then her] whole family [naturally becomes] wealthy [and] rises in status.

Note [Said, e.g., of the daughter Yuan Chun in DRC; see also yī rén dé dào and yī zǐ guīyī below.]

Topics CONCUBINES CONNECTIONS RELATIVES STATUS SUCCESS WEALTH Yuan_Chun

Y217

[Y217]

Yīnyáng bù kěxìn, xìn le yī dù mēn.

阴阳不可信, 信了一肚闷。

陰陽不可信, 信了一肚悶。

Lit Fortunetelling is not to be believed; if [you] do, [you'll always have] a bellyful of worries.

Note [Note: here yīnyáng, (lit) “yin [and] yang,” refers to the predictions of fortunetellers; note also the colloquial expression xìn yīnyáng, “to believe in fortunetellers”; see also ruò xìn bǔ above.]

Topics colloquial expression FORTUNETELLING WORRIES xīn yīnyáng yīnyáng

Y218

[Y218]

Yīnyuán běn shì qiánshēng dìng; bù xǔ jīn rén zuò zhǔzhāng.

姻缘本是前生定, 不许今人作主张。

姻緣本是前生定, 不許今人作主張。

Lit The happy fate that brings lovers together was originally decided in a previous life [i.e., predestined], [and is] not decided by people now on earth.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 27; note: yīnyuán and yuánfèn, are Buddhist terms meaning the lot or luck by which people are brought together; qiánshēng is a Buddhist term for a previous existence; see also gèrén yǒu gèrén above and yǒuyuán qiān lǐ below and the following entry.]

Topics FATE LOVE LOVE PREDESTINATION qiánshēng Xǐngshì Héngyán yīnyuán yuánfèn

Y219

[Y219]

Yīnyuán, wǔbǎi nián qián dìng.

姻缘五百年前定。

姻緣五百年前定。

Lit The fate which brings marriage partners together [was] predestined five hundred years ago.

Fig “A marriage made in Heaven.”

Note [Note: yīnyuán; “the destiny that brings lovers together”; see also the following entry.]

Topics FATE MARRIAGE TIME yīnyuán

Y220

[Y220]

Yīnyuán, yīnyuán; shì fēi ǒurán.

姻缘姻缘, 事非偶然。

姻緣姻緣, 事非偶然。

Lit The fate which brings marriage partners together is not [a matter of] chance.

Note [See also qiān lǐ yīnyuán below and the preceding entry.]

Topics CHANCE FATE MARRIAGE yīnyuán

Y221

[Y221]

Yī píngzi bù xiǎng; bàn píngzi huàngdang.

一瓶子不响, 半瓶子晃荡。

一瓶子不響, 半瓶子晃蕩。

Lit A [full] bottle makes no sound [and a] half [full] bottle makes the most sound.

Fig The dabbler chatters away, while the wise remain silent. One who knows least boasts most. “Empty vessels make the greatest sound.”

Note [Rhyme; a line from a Tang dynasty poem by Cao Song entitled “Jǐ Hài Suì.”]

Topics BRAGGING Cao Song Jǐ Hài Suì KNOWLEDGE SILENCE TALK Tang dynasty WISDOM

Y222

[Y222]

Yī qián bù luò xūkōng dì.

一钱不落虚空地。

一錢不落虛空地。

Lit Not one coin falls into an empty place.

Fig Gifts or bribes are never wasted in the long run.

Topics BRIBERY GIFTS INVESTMENT MONEY

Y223

[Y223]

Yī qián zhē bǎi chǒu.

一钱遮百丑。

一錢遮百醜。

Lit Money hides a thousand defects.

Topics DEFECTS MONEY SECRETS

Y224

[Y224]

Yī qiǎo shèng bǎi lì.

一巧胜百力。

一巧勝百力。

Lit One clever [technique] is superior to a hundred labor[er]s.

Topics CLEVERNESS SKILL TECHNIQUE

Y225

[Y225]

Yī qiào tōng, bǎi qiào tōng.

一窍通, 百窍通。

一竅通, 百竅通。

Lit [In] knowing one skill, [you] know them all.

Note [Said of a clever person or a “quick study,” e.g., the Monkey King Sun Wukong in JW, chap. 2; as a chengyu: yītōng-bǎitōng.]

Topics chengyu CLEVERNESS JW Monkey King SKILL Sun Wukong yītōng-bǎitōng

Y226

[Y226]

Yī qīng, yī huáng shì yī nián; yī hēi, yī bái shì yī tiān.

一青一黄是一年, 一黑一白是一天。

一青一黃是一年, 一黑一白是一天。

Lit One green [spring and] one yellow [autumn make up] a year; one black [night and] one white [day make up] a day.

Fig Time flies and things change.

Topics CHANGES TIME TRANSIENCE

Y227

[Y227]

Yī quǎn fèi xíng, bǎi quǎn fèi shēng.

一犬吠形, 百犬吠声。

一犬吠形, 百犬吠聲。

Lit [When] one dog barks at a shadow, a hundred bark at the sound.

Fig One person can start everyone talking or guessing, slavishly echoing others. Many people mindlessly repeat whatever they hear.

Note [Cf. the Han dynasty author Wang Fu's Quǎn Fū Lùn: Xián Nán.]

Topics Han dynasty IMITATION OTHERS Quǎn Fū Lùn RUMORS TALK Wang Fu Xián_Nán

Y228

[Y228]

Yī rén bùdí èr rén zhì.

一人不敌二人智。

一人不敵二人智。

Lit One person is no match for two in wisdom.

Fig “Two heads are better than one.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 84; see also yī rén jì duǎn below.]

Topics COOPERATION WISDOM Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Y229

[Y229]

Yī rén cáng, shí rén zhǎo.

一人藏, 十人找。

Lit [What] one person has put away [for safekeeping], it takes ten people to find.

Fig Often when you put something away for safekeeping, it takes you a long time to find later.

Topics FORGETTING MEMORY SAFEKEEPING

Y230

[Y230]

Yī rén chīzhāi, shí rén niàn-Fó.

一人吃斋, 十人念佛。

一人吃齋, 十人念佛。

Lit When one becomes a vegetarian [as a Buddhist practice], many begin to pray to Buddha.

Fig Where one leads, many will follow.

Note [Cf. Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 7.]

Topics FOLLOWERS LEADERS Píng_Yāo_Zhuàn

Y231

[Y231]

Yī rén chuán xū, wàn rén chuán shí.

一人传虚, 万人传实。

一人傳虛, 萬人傳實。

Lit [When] one person tells an idle story, ten thousand repeat [it as] true.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Dèng Huì Yuán, chap. 11.]

Topics EXAGGERATION GOSSIP Wǔ_Dèng_Huì_Yuán

Y232

[Y232]

Yī rén dé dào, jī quǎn shēng tiān.*

一人得道, 鸡犬升天。

一人得道, 雞犬升天。

Lit When a person attains the Tao [i.e., enlightenment and immortality], even his pets ascend to heaven.

Fig When one man is promoted, all those connected with him benefit.

Note [Cf. the Han dynasty materialist philosopher Wáng Chōng's Lùn Héng: Dào Xū; jīquǎn-shēngtiān, has become an idiom for “unabashed nepotism”; see also yī rén yǒu fú and yī rén zàicháo below.]

Topics BENEFITS CONNECTIONS Dào Xū Han dynasty idiom INDIVIDUALS jīquǎn-shēngtiān Lùn Héng PROMOTION Taoism Wáng_Chōng

Y233

[Y233]

Yī rén fànzuì, zhū lián jiǔzú.

一人犯罪, 诛连九族。

一人犯罪, 誅連九族。

Lit [If] one person commits a crime, [all] nine generations [of his family will be] killed.

Note [Also said yī rén zāo fàn, jiǔ zú qián zū; cf. WM, chap. 62; note: jiǔzú refers to the nine degrees of kinship in the Chinese extended family system; see also xiǎo'ér fànzuì above; vs. jiā wú quán fàn above and yī rén zuò zuì below.]

Topics CRIME FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS PUNISHMENT RESPONSIBILITY WM

Y234

[Y234]

Yī rén jì duǎn; èr rén jì cháng; sān rén jì tuǒdang.

一人计短, 二人计长, 三人计妥当。

一人計短, 二人計長, 三人計妥當。

Lit One person['s head] is poor, two people['s heads] are better, [and] three people['s heads] are best.

Fig “Three heads are better than one.”

Note [See also xīng duō, tiānkōng liàng and yī rén bùdí above.]

Topics COOPERATION

Y235

[Y235]

Yī rén jì duǎn; liǎng rén jì cháng.

一人计短, 两人计长。

一人計短, 兩人計長。

Lit One man's plan is limited; the plan of two is better.

Fig Two heads are better than one.

Note [See also yī rén bùdí above.]

Topics COOPERATION INDIVIDUALS LIMITATIONS PLANNING

Y236

[Y236]

Yī rén lìzhì, wàn fū mò duó.

一人立志, 万夫莫夺。

一人立志, 萬夫莫奪。

Lit One person's determined will cannot be shaken by ten thousand others.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, vol. 5.]

Topics DETERMINATION INDOMINABILITY WILL Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y237

[Y237]

Yí rén, mò yòng; yòng rén, mò yí.

疑人莫用, 用人莫疑。

Lit [If you] suspect someone, don't employ him; [if you] employ someone, don't suspect [him].

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 3.]

Topics EMPLOYMENT Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn SUSPICION TRUST

Y238

[Y238]

Yī rén nán chèn bǎi rén xīn.

一人难称百人心。

一人難稱百人心。

Lit One person can hardly satisfy the wishes of a hundred.

Fig It is difficult to please everyone.

Topics DIFFICULTIES INDIVIDUALS PLEASING SATISFACTION

Y239

[Y239]

Yī rén pīnmìng, wàn fū mò dàng.

一人拼命, 万夫莫当。

一人拼命, 萬夫莫當。

Lit When one person fights in desperation, ten thousand cannot defeat [him.]

Note [Cf. Yīng Lièzhuàn, chap. 28; DRC, chap. 103; note: wànfūmòdāng is used as an idiom meaning “mightier than a thousand.”]

Topics DESPERATION DRC idiom INDIVIDUALS STRENGTH wànfūmòdāng Yīng_Lièzhuàn

Y240

[Y240]

Yī rén qīng zhèng fǔ; shíwàn xuěhuā yín.

一任清正府, 十万雪花银。

一任清正府, 十萬雪花銀。

Lit [In] one term [of office], [even a] clean and honest official [will get one] hundred thousand [ounces of] snow white silver.

Note [See also guān jiǔ, zì fù above.]

Topics CORRUPTION OFFICIALS

Y241

[Y241]

Yī rén wéi sī, liù yǎn wéi gōng.

一人为私, 六眼为公。

一人為私, 六眼為公。

Lit [What] one person [says] is [taken as his] own [opinion, but what] six eyes [(i.e., three people) see] is [taken as] true.

Topics INDIVIDUALS OPINIONS RELIABILITY TRUTH

Y242

[Y242]

Yī rén xiàngyú, mǎn zuò bù lè.

一人向隅, 满坐/座不乐。

一人向隅, 滿坐/座不樂。

Lit [When] one person faces the corner [of the room], everyone [else] sitting [at the table] is unhappy.

Fig One unhappy person makes everyone (else) feel unhappy.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 2; note: xiàngyú, (lit) “facing the corner,” is a literary expression meaning “disappointed; feel(ing) left out.”]

Topics DEPRESSION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FEELINGS GROUPS HAPPINESS SADNESS xiàngyú

Y243

[Y243]

Yī rén xiūlù, wàn rén ān bù.

一人修路, 万人安步。

一人修路, 萬人安步。

Lit One person fixes the road, [and] ten thousand walk [on it] safely.

Fig When one person does some good, everyone benefits.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics GOODNESS INDIVIDUALS

Y244

[Y244]

Yī rén, yī xiàng.

一人一相。

Lit Everyone has a look of his own [which cannot be changed].

Fig “A leopard cannot change his spots.”

Note [Cf. Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 13; see also gǒu chī shǐ and jiāngshān yì gǎi and shé zuān de kūdòng and tōu shí (de) māo above.]

Topics APPEARANCES CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN NATURE Píng_Yāo_Zhuàn

Y245

[Y245]

Yī rén yī zāo, tiāngōng-dìdào.

一人一遭, 天公地道。

Lit Each person has a turn, [because] Heaven acts fairly.

Fig Everyone has both good and bad luck. “What goes around, comes around.” [Also sometimes used to mean:] “Turn about is fair play.”

Note [Rhyme; note: the chengyu: tiāngōng-dìdào, “absolutely fair”; see also wú píng, bù bēi above.]

Topics CHANGES COMPENSATION FORTUNE JUSTICE LUCK rhyme

Y246

[Y246]

Yī rén yǒu fú, dàiqiè yī wū.

一人有福, 带挈一屋。

一人有福, 帶挈一屋。

Lit [If] one person has good luck, [it will] lead [his or her] whole family [to riches].

Note [See also yī rén dé dào above and the following entry.]

Topics FAMILY INDIVIDUALS LUCK WEALTH

Y247

[Y247]

Yī rén zàicháo; bǎi rén huǎn dài.

一人在朝, 百人缓带。

一人在朝, 百人緩帶。

Lit [If] one person [in a family gets] into the [imperial] court, [then one] hundred [of his relatives will] loosen [their] belts.

Fig One family member in the (imperial) civil service can support and assist all his relatives to get rich.

Note [See also yī rén dé dào above and the preceding entry.]

Topics CIVIL SERVICE FAMILY FAVORITISM HELP OFFICIALS RELATIVES WEALTH

Y248

[Y248]

Yī rén zhī jiǎn, yījiā fù.

一人知俭, 一家富。

一人知儉, 一家富。

Lit [If] one person [(i.e., the head of the family) plans their living] thriftily, the whole family will prosper.

Note [Note: qǐngjiàn, “budget.”]

Topics ECONOMY FAMILIES qǐngjiàn THRIFT

Y249

[Y249]

Yī rén zuòshì, yī rén dāng.

一人做事, 一人当。

一人做事, 一人當。

Lit A person must be responsible for his (or her) actions.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 12; see also ér zuò de ér dāng above and yī rén zuò zuì below.]

Topics ACTIONS Fēngshén Yǎnyì INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY

Y250

[Y250]

Yī rén zuò zuì, yī rén dāng.*

一人作罪, 一人当。

一人作罪, 一人當。

Lit If a person does wrong, (s)he alone must take the blame.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 55; vs. xiǎo'ér fànzuì above; see also yī rén zuòshì above.]

Topics ACTIONS BLAME DRC Fēngshén Yǎnyì INDIVIDUALS

Y251

[Y251]

Yī rì bùjiàn rú gé sānqiū.*

一日不见如隔三秋。

一日不見如隔三秋。

Lit One day not seeing [a dear one seems] like three autumns.

Fig A day's separation seems as long as three years. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

Topics ABSENCE SEPARATION TIME

Y252

[Y252]

Yī rì bù shíxiū, sān rì bù rěn è.

一日不识羞, 三日不忍饿。

一日不識羞, 三日不忍餓。

Lit Don't feel ashamed [to labor for] one day, [and you] won't know hunger for three days.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 22.]

Topics Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HUNGER SHAME WORK

Y253

[Y253]

Yī rì bù shū, bǎi shì huāngwú.

一日不书, 百事荒芜。

一日不書, 百事荒蕪。

Lit One day without keeping records will undermine many a feat.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Wèi Shū: Lǐ Biāo Zhuàn.]

Topics ACCOUNTING CAUTION Lǐ Biāo Zhuàn RECORDS Wèi_Shū

Y254

[Y254]

Yī rì bù zuò, yī rì bù shí.

一日不作, 一日不食。

Lit A day of no work; a day of no food.

Fig One should earn one's bread every day of one's life.

Note [Cf. the Song dynasty monk (Shi) Puji's Wǔ Dèng Huì Yuán, chap. 8; also the Qing dynasty author Cui Jin's Tōng Sú Biān: Xíng Shì.]

Topics EARNING FOOD WORK

Y255

[Y255]

Yī rì/yè fūqī, bǎi rì/yè ēn.*

一日/夜夫妻, 百日/夜恩。

Lit One day/night [together] as husband and wife [means] affection for a hundred [more].

Topics AFFECTION COUPLES HUSBANDS LOVE MARRIAGE WIVES

Y256

[Y256]

Yī rì gāngē dòng, shí nián bù tàipíng.

一日干戈动, 十年不太平。

一日干戈動, 十年不太平。

Lit One day of war [means] no peace for ten years.

Fig Once the spears start flying, there will be no peace for ten years.

Note [An injunction against war; note dòng gāngē, “take up arms; to go to war.”]

Topics gāngē PEACE WAR

Y257

[Y257]

Yī rì guānshì, shí rì dǎ.

一日官事, 十日打。

Lit A lawsuit [which could have been settled in] one day [usually] takes ten days.

Fig Lawsuits take time.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 83; in comtemporary colloquial Mandarin this would be guānsi, “lawsuit.”]

Topics LAWSUITS TIME

Y258

[Y258]

Yī rì jiào niáng, zhōngshēn shì mǔ.

一日叫娘, 终身是母。

一日叫娘, 終身是母。

Lit Call her Mom for one day [and she] is [your] mother for life.

Fig Once she has become your mother, you should remain filial to her all your life.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 58.]

Topics DRC FILIAL PIETY MOTHERS OBEDIENCE RESPECT

Y259

[Y259]

Yī rì liàn, yī rì gōng; yī rì bù liàn, shí rì kōng.

一日练, 一日功; 一日不练, 十日空。

一日練, 一日功; 一日不練, 十日空。

Lit [If you] practice [your skill for] one day, [you will] perfect it [a little]; [if you] stop practicing one day, [it will] cancel out ten day['s practice].

Note [Rhyme; see also bùpà liàn bù chéng above.]

Topics PRACTICE rhyme SKILL

Y260

[Y260]

Yī rì mài de sān dàn jiǎ; sān rì màibude yī dàn zhēn.

一日卖得三担假, 三日卖不得一担真。

一日賣得三擔假, 三日賣不得一擔真。

Lit [One] can sell three hundred weight of false goods in one day, [but] not one hundred weight of genuine goods in three days.

Fig Resorting to deceit is effective, while telling the truth will get you nowhere.

Note [Cf. Xīhú Èr Jí, vol. 20; a dàn is a Chinese unit of weight equal to fifty kilograms.]

Topics BUSINESS DECEIT FALSITY GOODS SUCCESS

Y261

[Y261]

Yī rì nán zài chén.

一日难再晨。

一日難再晨。

Lit One day [can] hardly [have] another morning.

Fig Time is most valuable.

Note [A line from a poem “Zá Shī” by the Jin dynasty poet Tao Qian.]

Topics Jin dynasty POETRY Tao Qian TIME Zá_Shī

Y262

[Y262]

Yī rì wéi guān, qiángsì qiānzǎi wéi mín.

一日为官, 强似千载为民。

一日為官, 強似千載為民。

Lit One day as an official is better than a thousand years as a commoner.

Topics COMMON PEOPLE COMPARISON OFFICIALS

Y263

[Y263]

Yī rì wéi shī, zhōngshēn wéi fù.*

一日为师, 终身为父。

一日為師, 終身為父。

Lit A teacher for a day [is] a father for a lifetime.

Fig He who teaches me for one day deserves my respect and obedience for life.

Note [Originally a line from a Yuán qǔ play by Guan Hanqing entitled Yù Jìng Tái, Act 2; JW, chaps. 72, 81; Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 35.]

Topics OBEDIENCE RESPECT TEACHERS

Y264

[Y264]

Yī rì zòng dí, shù shì zhī huàn.

一日纵敌, 数世之患。

一日縱敵, 數世之患。

Lit [If] one day [you let your] enemy escape, [you will suffer] several generations of trouble.

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Xī Gōng 33 Nián; also R3K, chap. 21; see also fànghǔ-guīshān above.]

Topics ENEMIES ESCAPE R3K TROUBLE Xī Gōng 33 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

Y265

[Y265]

Yī shān bù néng cún èr hǔ.

一山不能存二虎。

Lit Two tigers cannot live on one mountain.

Fig Two strong personalities cannot share the same place. “When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war.”

Note [See also wù mò néng and yī gè cáo shàng and yī gè shāntóu above.]

Topics COEXISTENCE EQUALITY FORCE OPPOSITION

Y266

[Y266]

Yǐ shàn guī rén rú zèng gǎnlǎn.

以善规人如赠橄榄。

以善規人如贈橄欖。

Lit Advising others to [do] good [is] like giving [them] olives [to eat; (i.e., although they seem bitter at first, in the end they are good)].

Note [Cf. Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì, chap. 6.]

Topics ADVICE CRITICISM Liáo_Zhāi_Zhì_Yì

Y267

[Y267]

Yī shàn zúyǐ xiāo bǎi è.

一善足以消百恶。

一善足以消百惡。

Lit One good deed is sufficient to compensate for a hundred ill deeds.

Note [Cf. Xī Hú Èr Jì, chap. 10; see yī zhèng dí qiān xié and yī zhèng yā bǎi xié below.]

Topics COMPENSATION EVIL GOODNESS

Y268

[Y268]

Yīshēng bùchūmén, zhōngjiū shì xiǎorén.

一生不出门, 终究是小人。

一生不出門, 終究是小人。

Lit [One who] never travels all [his/her] life remains a narrow person [i.e., unambitious and narrow-minded].

Note [Cf. the Mongolian novel Yī Céng Lóu, chap. 10; vs. xiùcai bùchūmén above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE TRAVEL

Y269

[Y269]

Yīshēng yī bìng, bù néng yī mìng.*

医生医病, 不能医命。

醫生醫病, 不能醫命。

Lit A doctor [can] cure an illness [but he] cannot cure fate.

Note [A rhyme said when the patient is sure to die; see also yào yī bù sǐ bìng above.]

Topics DEATH FATE ILLNESS rhyme

Y270

[Y270]

Yīshēn zuòbude liǎng jiàn shì; yī shí diūbude liǎng tiáo xīn.

一身做不得两件事, 一时丢不得两条心。

一身做不得兩件事, 一時丟不得兩條心。

Lit One cannot perform two tasks at once, nor can one set one's mind to two tasks at once.

Note [See also yīxīn bù néng below.]

Topics ABILITY LIMITATIONS MINDS TIME WORKING

Y271

[Y271]

Yīshí bǐbude yīshí.*

一时比不得一时。

一時比不得一時。

Lit One time cannot be compared with another time.

Fig Times change; one cannot always keep following the same old ways or rules.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 72.]

Topics CHANGE DRC RULES TIME

Y272

[Y272]

Yī shì chà, bǎi shì cuò.

一事差, 百事错。

一事差, 百事錯。

Lit Do one thing wrong [and] everything will go wrong.

Fig Make one mistake and many more will follow.

Note [See also yī bù zǒu cuò above.]

Topics ACTIONS MISTAKES

Y273

[Y273]

Yī shì chéng, shìshì chéng.

一事成, 事事成。

Lit [If] one thing succeeds, everything will succeed. “Nothing succeeds like success.”

Note [See also yī shì tōng below.]

Topics SUCCESS

Y274

[Y274]

Yī shì dào guān, shí shì qiān chán; yī rén rùyù, yī jiā jìn kū.

一事到官十室牵缠, 一人入狱一家尽哭。

一事到官十室牽纏, 一人入獄一家盡哭。

Lit [Once] a lawsuit is started, [it will] involve ten households; [when] one person is sent too prison, [it will] set the whole family crying.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COURTS CRIME GROUPS LAWSUITS PUNISHMENT RESPONSIBILITY

Y275

[Y275]

Yī shì jīng, bǎi shì jīng; yī wúchéng, bǎi wúchéng.

一事精百事精, 一无成百无成。

一事精百事精, 一無成百無成。

Lit Skillful at one thing, skillful at many; if you cannot succeed at [even] one thing, you cannot accomplish anything.

Note [Cf. Xīxiāng Jì, Act 2, Scene 2.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT COMMITMENT COMPLETION SKILLS Xīxiāng_Jì

Y276

[Y276]

Yī shì quán zhī shèngyú wànshì zhī.

一事全知胜于万事知。

一事全知勝於萬事知。

Lit To know one thing thoroughly is better than to know [something of] ten thousand.

Note [Vs. yàngyàng jīngtōng above.]

Topics EXPERTISE KNOWLEDGE SPECIALIZATION

Y277

[Y277]

Yī shì rén zhī wēi; qián shì rén zhī dǎn.*

衣是人之威, 钱是人之胆。

衣是人之威, 錢是人之膽。

Lit Clothes make people important; money makes people bold.

Topics BOLDNESS CLOTHING MONEY

Y278

[Y278]

Yī shì tōng, bǎi shì sōng.

一事通, 百事松。

一事通, 百事鬆。

Lit Success in one thing makes (success in) other things easier.

Note [See also yī shì chéng above.]

Topics SUCCESS

Y279

[Y279]

Yī shì wù, èr shì gù.

一是误, 二是故。

一是誤, 二是故。

Lit The first [mistake] is accidental; the second is intentional [negligence].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics INTENTIONALITY INTENTIONS MISTAKES MOTIVES NEGLIGENCE rhyme

Y280

[Y280]

Yī shì xīn de hǎo; rén shì jiù de hǎo.

衣是新的好, 人是旧的好。

衣是新的好, 人是舊的好。

Lit [With] clothes new is best; [with] people old [friends] are best.

Note [See also yī mòrú xīn above.]

Topics CLOTHING FRIENDS

Y281

[Y281]

Yī shì zhēn, bǎi shì zhēn.

一事真, 百事真。

Lit [If] one thing is [shown to be] true, all of it must be true.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 16; vs. yī yán bù shí below.]

Topics TRUTH Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y282

[Y282]

Yī shí zhī shèng zàiyú lì; qiāngǔ zhī shèng zàiyú lǐ.

一时之胜在于力, 千古之胜在于理。

一時之勝在於力, 千古之勝在於理。

Lit Power wins [one only] a temporary victory, [while] reason wins an everlasting one.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics POWER REASON rhyme SUCCESS VICTORY

Y283

[Y283]

Yī shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn;* (zài huítóu shì bǎinián shēn).

一失足成千古恨, (再回头是百年身)。

一失足成千古恨, (再回頭是百年身)。

Lit One single slip may cause everlasting sorrow; (to go back [and correct it, one would have to be a] hundred year [old] body).

Fig One false step can bring everlasting grief. A moment's error can bring a lifetime of regret.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 65; see also yīzhāo shīzú below; note: bǎinián zhī hòu, “after someone's death.”]

Topics bǎinián zhī hòu MISTAKES REGRET rhyme Suí_Táng_Yǎnyì

Y284

[Y284]

Yīshí zú érhòu zhī lǐ yì.

衣食足而后知礼义。

衣食足而後知禮義。

Lit [Only] after [being well] dressed [and well] fed [does one] know courtesy.

Fig Material well-being enables people to be courteous. Only when a certain basic level of material sufficiency has been attained can one expect people to observe the rules of politeness. “Well fed, well bred.”

Note [Compare bǎonuǎn shēng xiánshì above; see also the following entry.]

Topics CLOTHING CONDITIONS COURTESY FOOD

Y285

[Y285]

Yīshí zú fāng zhī róngrǔ.

衣食足方知荣辱。

衣食足方知榮辱。

Lit Only if [one is well] dressed [and well] fed [does one] know [the meaning of] honor or disgrace.

Note [Rhyme; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CLOTHING DISGRACE FOOD HONOR rhyme

Y286

[Y286]

Yī shǒu bù néng yǎn/zhē tiānxià mù.*

一手不能掩/遮天下目。

Lit One hand cannot cover everyone's eyes.

Fig It's impossible for one to hoodwink the public.

Note [Cf. Qīng Shǐ Yǎnyì, chap. 87; see the colloquial súyǔ expression: yīshǒu-zhētiān, “to (try to) hoodwink everyone”; note: yīshǒu, (lit) “one hand,” in addition to meaning “single-handed(ly); alone,” can also mean “proficiency; skill” or “one trick; one move”; see also nán jiāng yī rén shǒu above and zhī shǒu nán zhē below.]

Topics colloquial expression DECEIT PUBLIC Qīng Shǐ Yǎnyì suyu TRICKERY yīshǒu-zhētiān

Y287

[Y287]

Yī shù zhī guǒ, yǒu suān, yǒu tián; yī mǔ zhī zǐ, yǒu yú, yǒu xián.

一树之果有酸有甜, 一母之子有愚有贤。

一樹之果有酸有甜, 一母之子有愚有賢。

Lit [Just as] a tree may bear both sour and sweet fruit, [so] a mother may have both stupid and able sons.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 4.]

Topics Fēngshén Yǎnyì FOOLISHNESS INHERITANCE INTELLIGENCE MOTHERS SONS WISDOM

Y288

[Y288]

Yī sī wéi dìng, qiānjīn bù yì.

一丝为定, 千金不易。

一絲為定, 千金不易。

Lit An agreement [bound] by a thread cannot be changed for a thousand ounces of gold.

Fig A betrothal sealed with even an insignificant gift cannot be broken off. Once betrothed is forever betrothed.

Note [Note: qiānjīn, (lit) “[a] thousand [ounces of] gold,” is a metaphor for “a lot of money.”]

Topics BETROTHAL GIFTS MARRIAGE qiānjīn_gold_

Y289

[Y289]

Yī sǐ yī shēng, nǎi zhī jiāoqing; yī guì yī jiàn, jiāoqing nǎi jiàn.

一死一生乃知交情, 一贵一贱, 交情乃见。

一死一生乃知交情, 一貴一賤, 交情乃見。

Lit True friendship is never known until [critical moments of] life and death or wealth and poverty.

Fig “A friend in need is a friend in deed.”

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Jí Zhèng Lièzhuàn.]

Topics DEATH FRIENDSHIP Jí Zhèng Lièzhuàn LIFE POVERTY Shǐ Jì TESTING WEALTH

Y290

[Y290]

Yī suì zhǔ, bǎisuì nú.

一岁主, 百岁奴。

一歲主, 百歲奴。

Lit [A master is] a master [though only] one year old, [and a servant is] a servant [though a] hundred years old.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 22.]

Topics AGE Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HIERARCHY INFERIORS MASTERS SENIORITY SERVANTS SUPERIORS

Y291

[Y291]

Yī sǔn, jù sǔn; yī róng, jù róng.*

一损俱损, 一荣俱荣。

一損俱損, 一榮俱榮。

Lit Injure one [and] all are injured; honor one [and] all are honored.

Fig When one loses, all lose; when one gains, all gain. When people are bound together for good or evil, their fortunes are intertwined.

Note [Used to describe the families in DRC, chap. 4.]

Topics DRC FORTUNE GAINS HARM HONOR INJURY LOSSES

Y292

[Y292]

Yī tiáo yú mǎn guō xīng.*

一条鱼满锅腥。

一條魚滿鍋腥。

Lit One fish makes the whole pot fishy.

Fig “One rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel.”

Note [See also yī gè xiǎo jī and yī kuài chòu ròu above.]

Topics EVIL INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCE SPOILING

Y293

[Y293]

Yī tóu rénqíng, liǎng miàn guāng.

一头人情两面光。

一頭人情兩面光。

Lit Performing [one] act of kindness [is] satisfying to both parties.

Note [Cf. Chen Canyun's novel Xiāng Piāo Sìjì, chap. 20.]

Topics KINDNESS liǎngmiànguāng RECIPROCITY

Y294

[Y294]

Yī wǎn shuǐ duān píng.*

一碗水端平。

Lit A cup of water [must be] carried level.

Fig (One should) treat everyone equally.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 26; see also shuǐ píng bù liú above.]

Topics EQUALITY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FAIRNESS JUSTICE

Y295

[Y295]

Yī wén qián nán dǎo yīngxióng hàn.

一文钱难倒英雄汉。

一文錢難倒英雄漢。

Lit [The lack of] one penny [can] defeat a hero.

Fig Even a hero can be defeated by the lack of money.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 19.]

Topics DEFEAT Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HEROES MONEY STRENGTH

Y296

[Y296]

Yī wèn sān bù zhī, shénxian méifǎ zhì.*

一问三不知, 神仙没法治。

一問三不知, 神仙沒法治。

Lit [If to] every question [you reply: “I] don't know,” [even] the gods can do nothing [against you].

Fig If you claim compete ignorance, no one can do anything to you.

Note [Rhyme; see also bù gān jǐ shì and sān gè bù kāikǒu above.]

Topics IGNORANCE PRUDENCE SELF-RESTRAINT SPEECH

Y297

[Y297]

Yī wō húli bù xián sāo.

一窝狐狸不嫌臊。

一窩狐狸不嫌臊。

Lit Foxes from the same den aren't disgusted by [each other's] foul smell.

Fig People of the same (bad) ilk get along with each other.

Topics COMPANIONS EVIL FOXES SIMILARITIES

Y298

[Y298]

Yī wù bù chéng, liǎng wù xiàn zài.

一物不成, 两物现在。

一物不成, 兩物現在。

Lit [If two people] cannot conclude a deal, both things [i.e., your money and my goods] are still there.

Fig No one loses anything. No harm done.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 12.]

Topics BUSINESS CONCLUDING GOODS HARM LOSS MONEY WM

Y299

[Y299]

Yì wú dé, bù lì.

艺无德不立。

藝無德不立。

Lit [If one's] skills have no morality, [one will] not [be able to] establish [one's self].

Fig Even though one might have superb skills, if one has no morals, one won't establish oneself in society.

Topics MORALITY SKILLS

Y300

[Y300]

Yī wù xiáng yī wù.

一物降一物。

Lit One thing vanquishes one [other] thing.

Fig There is always one thing to conquer another. There's always somebody bigger and stronger.

Note [See also mùjiang pà qījiang and néngrén zhīwài and qiáng zhōng háiyǒu and rén wài yǒu rén and shān wài yǒu shān and shé tūn shǔ below; see also the following entry.]

Topics DEFECTS LIMITATIONS OVERCOMING

Y301

[Y301]

Yī wù xiáng yī wù;* (lǔshuǐ diǎn dòufu).

一物降一物, (卤水点豆腐)。

一物降一物, (鹵水點豆腐)。

Lit One thing always succumbs to another, ([just as] brine curds soybean juice).

Fig There is always one thing to overcome another. Everything has its vanquisher.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 31; the first part is commonly used alone (q.v.); the second part is merely added as a rhyme; see the preceding entry.]

Topics ABILITY COMPETITION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn LIMITATIONS STRENGTH

Y302

[Y302]

Yì wú zhǐ jìng.

艺无止境。

藝無止境。

Lit Skills [or knowledge] have no limits.

Fig One should never cease perfecting one's skill or knowledge.

Note [Note: yìwúzhǐjìng is also used as a set phrase to mean “(possessing) skill that knows no limits.”]

Topics KNOWLEDGE PERFECTION PRACTICE SKILLS yìwúzhǐjìng

Y303

[Y303]

Yī wù zìyǒu yī zhǔ.

一物自有一主。

Lit Each thing will (come to) have its own master.

Fig Everything will eventually find its proper place, owner, or best use.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 47 and Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 45; see also wù yǒu suǒ guī above.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS EVENTUALITY Fēngshén Yǎnyì JPM OWNERS PLACE USE

Y304

[Y304]

Yī xiào jiě bǎi chóu.*

一笑解百愁。

Lit One laugh scatters a hundred sorrows.

Topics LAUGHTER SMILES SORROW

Y305

[Y305]

Yǐ xiǎorén zhī xīn dù jūnzǐ zhī fù.

以小人之心度君子之腹。

Lit [One should not] use a petty person's heart to [attempt to] gauge a gentleman's feelings.

Fig Small minds can't comprehend the thoughts or noble motives of gentlefolk or their noblesse oblige.

Topics GENTLEMEN NOBILITY NOBLESSE OBLIGE PETTINESS

Y306

[Y306]

Yī xiě dàng shí dú.

一写当十读。

一寫當十讀。

Lit [A piece of writing is] better learned [by] copying [it] once than [by] reading [it] ten [times].

Topics COPYING LEARNING READING WRITING

Y307

[Y307]

Yī xí huán yī xí.

一席还一席。

一席還一席。

Lit [Attending] one feast demands [giving] another [in return].

Fig Courtesy demands reciprocity.

Topics COURTESY RECIPROCITY

Y308

[Y308]

Yīxīn bù néng èr yòng.*

一心不能二用。

Lit One mind cannot [be put to] two uses.

Fig One cannot do two things at once.

Note [See also yīkǒu bù néng and yīshēn zuòbude above.]

Topics ACTION MINDS

Y309

[Y309]

Yí xíng wúchéng; yí shì wú gōng.

疑行无成, 疑事无功。

疑行無成, 疑事無功。

Lit [If one] hesitates [in taking] actions [or in] doing things there [can] be no success.

Fig “He who hesitates is lost.”

Topics ACTION HESITATION SUCCESS

Y310

[Y310]

Yíxīn shēng àn guǐ.*

疑心生暗鬼。

Lit A doubting heart/mind gives rise to dark devils.

Fig Suspicion creates imaginary fears.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 32; note: yíxīn, “doubt; suspicion.”]

Topics DOUBTS FEAR IMAGINATION JW SUSPICION yíxīn

Y311

[Y311]

Yī yán bù shí, bǎi shì jiē xū.

一言不实, 百事皆虚。

一言不實, 百事皆虛。

Lit Utter one falsehood [and] everything [you say] will be [taken as] lies.

Note [Vs. yī shì zhēn above.]

Topics FALSEHOODS LYING

Y312

[Y312]

Yī yàng mǐ yǎng bǎi yàng rén.

一样米养百样人。

一樣米養百樣人。

Lit One type of rice nourishes a hundred types of people.

Fig There are all sorts of people in the world.

Note [See also bǎi yàng mǐ above.]

Topics CATEGORIES DIFFERENCES PEOPLE

Y313

[Y313]

Yī yán jì chū, sìmǎ nán zhuī.*

一言既出, 驷马难追。

一言既出, 駟馬難追。

Lit Once a word [has been] said, [even] a team of four horses cannot overtake it.

Fig What has been said cannot be unsaid.

Note [Cf. the Song dynasty author Ouyang Xiu's Bǐ Shuō; JW, chap. 83; see also jūnzǐ yī yán above; note: sìmǎ-nánzhuī is used alone as a set phrase meaning “What has been said cannot be unsaid.”]

Topics Bǐ Shuō CAUTION COMMITMENT JW Ouyang Xiu PROMISES sìmǎ-nánzhuī TALK WORDS

Y314

[Y314]

Yǐ yán jǔ rén ruò yǐ máo xiàng mǎ.

以言举人若以毛相马。

以言舉人若以毛相馬。

Lit Choosing a person based on [his] words is like judging a horse by [its] hair [i.e., it's not a good idea].

Note [Cf. The Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Wèi Líng Gōng 15.]

Topics Confucian Analects Lúnyǔ PROMISES TRUST Wèi_Líng_Gōng

Y315

[Y315]

Yī yán qǐ zhìzhě.

一言启智者。

一言啟智者。

Lit One word alerts a clever person.

Fig “A word to the wise is sufficient.”

Note [See also kuàimǎ yī biān and míngrén bùyòng above.]

Topics CLEVERNESS WORDS

Y316

[Y316]

Yī yán wéi dìng.*

一言为定。

一言為定。

Lit One word settles the matter.

Fig One's word is one's bond.

Note [Cf. Fēng Shén Yǎnyì, chap. 56; note: yīyán-wéidìng is also used as an idiom meaning “the matter is settled.”]

Topics COMMITMENT Fēngshén Yǎnyì idiom PROMISES WORDS yīyán-wéidìng

Y317

[Y317]

Yī yè luò zhī tiānxià qiū.

一叶落知天下秋。

一葉落知天下秋。

Lit [From] the falling of one leaf [one may] know the coming of autumn.

Fig A small signifier can indicate a great trend.

Note [Cf. the Tang dynasty author Tang Yan's Wén Lù; note also the chengyu: yī yè shī qiū, “one leaf heralds autumn”; see also cǎo yǎn zhī fēngxiàng above.]

Topics chengyu FUTURE PREDICTIONS

Y318

[Y318]

Yī yè wǔgēng, dāngbude yī gè zǎochén.

一夜五更, 当不得一个早晨。

一夜五更, 當不得一個早晨。

Lit A whole night's sleep [of ten hours] is not the equal of one [good] morning's [sleep].

Note [Said by those who like to sleep in late in the morning; wǔgēng here refers to five of the two-hour time periods into which the night was traditionally divided; see also wǔgēng qǐchuáng above.]

Topics EARLINESS gēng MORNINGS RESTING SLEEP wǔgēng

Y319

[Y319]

Yī yì dǐng sān gōng.

一艺顶三工。

一藝頂三工。

Lit One skilled [worker] is worth [i.e., earns as much as] three [common] workers.

Topics EARNING PAYMENT SKILL WAGES WORK

Y320

[Y320]

Yī yī, ē ē; zuò de guān duō.

依依阿阿, 做得官多。

Lit [Always] follow [orders and] flatter [your] superiors [i.e., be a “yes-man,” and you will] get more [appointments] as [a government] official.

Note [Note: yīcóng, “to follow obediently.”]

Topics HIERARCHY OBEDIENCE OFFICIALS yīcóng

Y321

[Y321]

Yī yǐn, yī zhuó; mòfēi qián dìng.

一饮一啄, 莫非前定。

一飲一啄, 莫非前定。

Lit Every drink [and] every bite, there is none [which is] not foreordained.

Fig One cannot get what is denied him by destiny, no matter how hard he tries.

Note [Cf. Xǐng Shì Héng Yán, chap. 29; see also mìng lǐ yǒu shí above.]

Topics FATE INEVITABILITY

Y322

[Y322]

Yī yǔ bù chéng, qiān yán wúyì.

一语不成, 千言无益。

一語不成, 千言無益。

Lit If one word does not succeed, ten thousand are of no avail.

Topics LIMITATIONS SUCCESS WORDS

Y323

[Y323]

Yī yǔ shì fēngxiàng; yī cǎo shì shuǐliú.

一羽示风向, 一草示水流。

一羽示風向, 一草示水流。

Lit One feather is [enough to] indicate the direction [of the] wind, [and] one [piece of] straw [to] show the direction [the] water [flows].

Fig Signs of seemingly little significance can indicate general trends to come.

Note [See also cǎo yǎn zhī fēngxiàng above.]

Topics FORECASTING PREDICTIONS SIGNS TRENDS

Y324

[Y324]

Yī yǔ wéizhòng, bǎi jīn qīng.

一语为重, 百金轻。

一語為重, 百金輕。

Lit One word is heavy [in comparison to which a] hundred catties of gold is light.

Fig One must keep one's promises at all costs.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Shāng Jūn Lièzhuàn; note: wéizhòng, “to attach (most) importance to”; one jīn or “catty” equals one-half kilogram; see also hǎi yuè shàng kě qīng and xǔ rén yī wù above.]

Topics jīn PROMISES Shǐ_Jì

Y325

[Y325]

Yī zāo guàn; èr zāo fàn.

一遭惯, 二遭犯。

一遭慣, 二遭犯。

Lit [If one is] forgiven [for a mistake] one time, [(s)he will make the same] mistake [a] second time.

Note [Note: guàn, “to spoil”; see also ǒurán fàncuò above.]

Topics FORGIVENESS guàn INDULGENCE MISTAKES

Y326

[Y326]

Yī zāo qíng; liǎng zāo lì.

一遭情, 两遭例。

一遭情, 兩遭例。

Lit The first gift is [regarded with] affection; the second is taken for granted.

Note [Implying that it is not a good idea to give gifts too frequently.]

Topics GIFTS

Y327

[Y327]

Yī zhāng chuáng shàng shuō bù chū liǎngyàng huà.

一张床上说不出两样话。

一張床上說不出兩樣話。

Lit [A couple] sharing one bed won't speak two different languages.

Fig Husband and wife (should) always present a “united front” to those outside the family.

Note [See also yī jiā rén bù shuō below.]

Topics COUPLES HUSBANDS UNITY WIVES

Y328

[Y328]

Yì zhǎng yì tuì, shān kēng shuǐ; yì fǎn yì fù, xiǎorén xīn.

易涨易退山坑水, 易反易复小人心。

易漲易退山坑水, 易反易復小人心。

Lit [Just as] streams in the hills rise and fall irregularly, [so] petty persons are capricious [in not keeping their promises].

Note [Note: the chengyu: fǎnfù-wúcháng, “changeable; fickle; capricious”; the second part of the first half is also said ... shān kēngshuǐ, etc.]

Topics chengyu fǎnfù-wúcháng PETTINESS PROMISES

Y329

[Y329]

Yī zhǎn néng xiāo wàngǔ chóu.

一盏能消万古愁。

一盞能消萬古愁。

Lit One cup of wine can dispel a thousand years of sorrow.

Note [See also jiǔ xiāo bǎi chóu and yī bēi zài shǒu above and yī zuì jiě qiān chóu below.]

Topics LIQUOR SORROW

Y330

[Y330]

Yī zhàn, zǒu sān lǐ; yī xiē, zǒu sān cūn.

一站, 走三里; 一歇, 走三村。

Lit [When traveling on foot,] one [rest while] standing [up will set you back the time you could] walk three [more] li, [and] one rest [will set you back the time you could have] walked [past] three [more] villages.

Note [Note: one lǐ now equals one-half kilometer.]

Topics lǐ PERSEVERANCE RESTING TIME TRAVEL WALKING

Y331

[Y331]

Yīzhāo bèi shé yǎo, sān nián pà jǐng shéng.

一朝被蛇咬, 三年怕井绳。

一朝被蛇咬, 三年怕井繩。

Lit Once bitten by a snake, [one] fears [coiled] well rope [for the next] three years.

Fig “Once bitten, twice shy.” “A burnt child fears the fire.”

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 1; also said ... sān nián pà cǎo suǒ, “... one fears hemp rope for three years.”]

Topics Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì EXPERIENCE FEAR SNAKES

Y332

[Y332]

Yī zhāo bùshèn, mǎnpán jiē shū.

一着不慎, 满盘皆输。

一著不慎, 滿盤皆輸。

Lit One incautious move spoils the whole [chess] game.

Fig One careless move and you lose the whole game.

Note [Used, e.g., by Mao Zedong in his Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War; see also bùpà qiān zhāo and qí cuò yī zhāo above.]

Topics CARELESSNESS CAUTION CHESS Mao Zedong MISTAKES Problems of Strategy STRATEGY

Y333

[Y333]

Yīzhāo qíngyì dàn, yàngyàng bù shùnyǎn.

一朝情意淡, 样样不顺眼。

一朝情意淡, 樣樣不順眼。

Lit Once affection thins, everything displeases the eyes.

Fig “Faults are thick where love is thin.”

Topics AFFECTION CHANGES DISPLEASURE LOVE

Y334

[Y334]

Yīzhāo quán zài shǒu, biàn bǎ lìng lái xíng.

一朝权在手, 便把令来行。

一朝權在手, 便把令來行。

Lit [One who has only had] power in [his] hands [for] one morning [will] begin to issue orders right and left [to promote his or her own power].

Note [Cf. Xī Hú Èr Jì, chap. 5; see also xiǎorén dézhì above.]

Topics LEADERS POWER SELF-PROMOTION

Y335

[Y335]

Yīzhāo rén luòbó, àiqíng shēng yì fēi.

一朝人落泊, 爱情生翼飞。

一朝人落泊, 愛情生翼飛。

Lit Once a person is in dire [economic] straits, love sprouts wings [and] flies away.

Fig “When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out the window.” “Nobody loves you when you're down and out.”

Topics ECONOMICS FRIENDSHIP LOVE POVERTY

Y336

[Y336]

Yīzhāo shīzú, bǎishì mò shú.

一朝失足, 百世莫赎。

一朝失足, 百世莫贖。

Lit Once [you make] a blunder, a hundred lifetimes cannot redeem [it].

Note [See also yī shīzú chéng above.]

Topics MISTAKES

Y337

[Y337]

Yī zhāo xiān, chī biàn tiān.

一招鲜, 吃遍天。

一招鮮, 吃遍天。

Lit [If one has] a specialized skill, [one can] eat [i.e., earn one's living] anywhere.

Note [Said, e.g., of carpenters; see also rén duō yī jì above and yì bù yà shēn below and the following entry.]

Topics EARNING LIVING PLACE PROFESSIONS SKILLS

Y338

[Y338]

Yī zhāo xiān, zǒubiàn tiān.

一招鲜, 走遍天。

一招鮮, 走遍天。

Lit [If one develops] a specialized skill, [one can] go anywhere.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics PLACE SKILLS TRAVEL

Y339

[Y339]

Yī zhèng dí qiān xié.

一正敌千邪。

一正敵千邪。

Lit One [bit of] uprightness [can] defeat a thousand evils.

Note [See also yī shàn zúyǐ above and yī zhèng yā bǎi xié below.]

Topics COMPENSATION EVIL GOODNESS RECTITUDE

Y340

[Y340]

Yī zhēng, liǎng chǒu; yī ràng, liǎng yǒu.

一争两丑, 一让两有。

一爭兩醜, 一讓兩有。

Lit By scrambling for something, both parties look bad; by giving up something, both parties win.

Note [Rhyme; cf. the Ming dynasty writer Xu Desheng's Xiǎo Èr Yǔ.]

Topics ACCOMMODATION APPEARANCES COMPETITION COMPROMISE FIGHTING SUCCESS Xiǎo_Èr_Yǔ

Y341

[Y341]

Yī zhèng, wúbù zhèng; yī xié, wúbù xié.

一正无不正, 一邪无不邪。

一正無不正, 一邪無不邪。

Lit Once upright, [one is] invariably upright; once crooked, [one is] invariably crooked.

Fig [If] honest and upright in one matter, [one is] a decent person in all matters; [if] dishonest in one matter, [one is] an evil person in all matters.

Note [Cf. the píngshū story Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2.]

Topics DISHONESTY EVIL FAULTS HONESTY píngshū RECTITUDE Wǔ_Sōng

Y342

[Y342]

Yī zhèng yā bǎi xié.

一正压百邪。

一正壓百邪。

Lit One good can overcome a hundred evils.

Note [See also yī shàn zúyǐ and yī zhèng dí qiān xié.]

Topics COMPENSATION EVIL GOODNESS RECTITUDE

Y343

[Y343]

Yī zhī wǎn bù xiǎng; liǎng zhī wǎn dīngdāng.

一只碗不响, 两只碗叮当。

一隻碗不響, 兩隻碗叮當。

Lit One bowl is quiet, two bowls make a racket.

Fig It takes two to make a quarrel.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 30; see also yī gè bāzhang above.]

Topics CONFLICT Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì SELF-RESTRAINT

Y344

[Y344]

Yī zhōu, yī fàn; dāng sī láizhī-bùyì.

一粥一饭, 当思来之不易。

一粥一飯, 當思來之不易。

Lit [In taking a mouthful of] congee or rice, bear in mind that its production is not easy.

Fig Be economical with food.

Note [After the Qing dynasty writer Zhu Bolu's Zhì Jiā Géyán (Family Maxims); note: láizhī-bùyì is a set literary phrase meaning “hard-earned.”]

Topics chengyu Family Maxims FOOD FRUGALITY láizhī-bùyì PRODUCTION Qing dynasty SOURCES Zhì Jiā Géyán Zhu_Bolu

Y345

[Y345]

Yī zhōu yī fàn, lái chù bùyì.

一粥一饭, 来处不易。

一粥一飯, 來處不易。

Lit One [bowl of] porridge [or] rice is not easy to come by.

Fig Don't waste food.

Note [Advice to children; see the Song dynasty author Zhu Xi's book on educating children: Zhū Zǐ Jiā Xùn.]

Topics ADVICE CHILDREN EDUCATION FOOD Song dynasty WASTE Zhu Xi Zhū_Zǐ_Jiā_Xùn

Y346

[Y346]

Yī zǐ guīyī, jiǔ zǔ shēngtiān.

一子皈依, 九祖升天。

Lit [Having] one son [who has become a true Buddhist] believer [will allow] nine [sinful] ancestors to ascend to Heaven [on his coat tails].

Note [See also yī nǚ huò chǒng, and yī rén dé dào and yī rén zàicháo above.]

Topics CONNECTIONS HEAVEN RELATIVES SUCCESS

Y347

[Y347]

Yí zǐ huángjīn mǎn yíng, bùrú yī jīng.

遗子黄金满籯不如一经。

遺子黃金滿籯不如一經。

Lit Leaving [one's] son a basket full of gold is not as [good as having him read] one [of the Confucian] classics.

Fig It is more important to give one's children a good (moral) education than to leave them wealth.

Note [Cf. Hàn Shū: Wèi Xián Zhuàn.]

Topics Confucian classics EDUCATION Hàn Shū MORALS WEALTH Wèi_Xián_Zhuàn

Y348

[Y348]

Yī zì rù gōngmén, jiǔ niú bá bù chū.

一字入公门, 九牛拔不出。

一字入公門, 九牛拔不出。

Lit [Once] one word [has been] recorded in a lawsuit, nine oxen cannot pull it out.

Fig Once you instigate a lawsuit, there is no going back.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 46.]

Topics LAWSUITS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Y349

[Y349]

Yī zuì bùkě liǎng zhì.

一罪不可两治。

一罪不可兩治。

Lit One crime [should] not be punished twice.

Note [Compare: “double jeopardy.”]

Topics CRIME DOUBLE JEOPARDY PUNISHMENT

Y350

[Y350]

Yī zuì jiě qiān chóu.

一醉解千愁。

Lit Once drunk, one forgets all one's worries.

Note [Cf. Lao She's modern play Cháguǎn [Tea House], Act 2; see also yī bēi zài shǒu and yī zhǎn néng xiāo above.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS FORGETTING LIQUOR WORRIES

Y351

[Y351]

Yòng rén cháo qián; bù yòng rén cháo hòu.

用人朝前; 不用人朝后。

用人朝前; 不用人朝後。

Lit [People who want to] ask [for your] help face [you]; [people who] don't want [your] help, turn [their] backs.

Y352

[Y352]

Yòng rén róngyì; shí rén nán.

用人容易, 识人难。

用人容易, 識人難。

Lit It's easy to direct people, [but] difficult to know them [as people].

Note [Said by those in authority; see also shàngmíng bù zhī xià àn above.]

Topics AUTHORITY LEADERSHIP ORDERS UNDERSTANDING

Y353

[Y353]

Yōngyī shārén, bùyòng dāo.

庸医杀人不用刀。

庸醫殺人不用刀。

Lit [When a] charlatan kills [he] doesn't use a knife.

Fig Quack doctors are dangerous (even if not intentionally so).

Note [See also yǒu bìng bù zhì below.]

Topics CHARLATANS DEATH DOCTORS MEDICINE

Y354

[Y354]

Yǒu bèi, cái néng wú huàn; wú bèi, bìdìng chīkuī.

有备才能无患, 无备必定吃亏。

有備才能無患, 無備必定吃虧。

Lit Only [if one] is prepared can [one] be safe; [if one is] not prepared, [one] surely [will] suffer.

Fig Preparedness ensures safety; unpreparedness invites disaster.

Note [This is an expansion of the chengyu: yǒu bèi, wú huàn; see the following entry.]

Topics chengyu DISASTER PREPARATION

Y355

[Y355]

Yǒu bèi, wú huàn.*

有备无患。

有備無患。

Lit [If] there are preparations, there [will] be no perils.

Fig Preparedness prevents peril. Always be prepared, just in case.

Note [This is also treated as a chengyu: yǒubèi-wúhuàn; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics chengyu DANGER PREPARATION yǒubèi-wúhuàn

Y356

[Y356]

Yǒu bìng bù zhì, cháng dé zhōngyī.

有病不治, 常得中医。

有病不治, 常得中醫。

Lit When [one is] ill, not getting treatment [and just letting the illness run its course] is often [just as good as] getting [treated by] a doctor of mediocre skill.

Note [Cf. Hàn Shū: Yì Wén Zhì; see also yōngyī shārén above.]

Topics DOCTORS Hàn Shū ILLNESS SKILL Yì_Wén_Zhì

Y357

[Y357]

Yǒu chē jiù yǒu zhé; yǒu shù jiù yǒu yǐng.

有车就有辙, 有树就有影。

有車就有轍, 有樹就有影。

Lit [If] there is a cart, then there are tracks [and if] there is a tree, then there is a shadow.

Fig Whatever one does leaves a trace behind.

Note [Usually said of bad activities; see also máquè fēiguò and měngchóng fēiguò above.]

Topics CAUTION CRIME CRIMINALS EVIDENCE TRUTH

Y358

[Y358]

Yǒu chǐ shuǐ, xíng chǐ chuán.

有尺水, 行尺船。

Lit [If] there's a foot of water, sail a one-foot boat.

Fig Steer your ship according to the depth of water. It is best to act in accordance with the current conditions. Make the best of what's available.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 65; see also kàn cài chīfàn above and yǒu duōdà de jiǎo below.]

Topics ADAPTING APPROPRIATENESS CIRCUMSTANCES CONDITIONS Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Y359

[Y359]

Yǒu chóu bù bào, fēi jūnzǐ; yǒu yuān bù shēn, wǎng wéirén.

有仇不报非君子, 有冤不伸枉为人。

有仇不報非君子, 有冤不伸枉為人。

Lit [One who does] not avenge an injustice is not a gentleman, [and one who does] not seek redress [of a wrong] is not a man.

Topics HONOR INJUSTICE REDRESS VENGENCE

Y360

[Y360]

Yǒu chóu jiē kǔhǎi; wú bìng jí shénxiān.

有愁皆苦海, 无病即神仙。

有愁皆苦海, 無病即神仙。

Lit A troubled [mind] makes a sea of bitterness [and] a healthy body makes [one] a god.

Note [Note: kǔhǎi is a Buddhist term referring to the bitterness of earthly life; see kǔhǎi wúbiān above.]

Topics Buddhism HEALTH kǔhǎi MINDS TROUBLE

Y361

[Y361]

Yǒu cuò, gǎicuò, bù suàn cuò.

有错改错, 不算错。

有錯改錯, 不算錯。

Lit [If, as soon as one] makes an error, [one] corrects the error, [it] is not an error.

Note [See also zhī cuò, gǎicuò below.]

Topics CORRECTION MISTAKES

Y362

[Y362]

Yǒu de bù zhī wú de kǔ.

有的不知无的苦。

有的不知無的苦。

Lit The “haves” don't know the sufferings of the “have-nots.”

Fig The rich do not understand the sufferings of the poor.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 10; see also bǎo hàn bù zhī above.]

Topics Hé Diǎn POVERTY RICH SORROW SUFFERING WEALTH

Y363

[Y363]

Yǒu duōdà běnqian, zuò duōdà shēngyi.

有多大本钱, 做多大生意。

有多大本錢, 做多大生意。

Lit The size of the business one does [depends on] the amount of capital one has.

Fig One should not take on tasks beyond one's abilities.

Topics ABILITY BUSINESS CAPITAL LIMITATIONS SELF-KNOWLEDGE SELF-RESTRAINT

Y364

[Y364]

Yǒu duōdà de jiǎo, zuò duōdà de xié.

有多大的脚, 做多大的鞋。

有多大的腳, 做多大的鞋。

Lit Have your shoes made according to the size of your feet.

Fig Act according to the actual circumstances.

Note [See also kàn cài chīfàn and yǒu chǐ shuǐ above.]

Topics ADAPTING APPROPRIATENESS CIRCUMSTANCES

Y365

[Y365]

Yǒu ēn, bào'ēn; yǒu chóu, bàochóu.*

有恩报恩, 有仇报仇。

有恩報恩, 有仇報仇。

Lit A debt of gratitude must be repaid, [and] an injustice must be avenged.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 51; see also yī bào huán yī bào above.]

Topics DEBT GRATITUDE INJUSTICE JPM REVENGE VENGENCE

Y366

[Y366]

Yǒu ēn bù bào, fēi jūnzǐ*

有恩不报, 非君子。

有恩不報, 非君子。

Lit [One who does] not repay a debt of gratitude is no gentleman.

Topics DEBT GRATITUDE

Y367

[Y367]

Yǒu fēng bùkě shǐ jìn.

有风不可驶尽。

有風不可駛盡。

Lit [When you sail] with the wind, don't go full sail.

Fig When you're in a position of power, take it easy and don't ride roughshod over others.

Topics OTHERS POSITION POWER

Y368

[Y368]

Yǒu fēng fāng qǐ làng; wú cháoshuǐ zì píng.

有风方起浪, 无潮水自平。

有風方起浪, 無潮水自平。

Lit Only when there's a wind are there waves; [only when] there is no current [will the] water be calm.

Fig Everything has a cause. “Where there's smoke, there's fire.”

Note [See also mù yǒu běn and shuǐ lái hé zhǎng and wú fēng bù qǐ above.]

Topics CAUSE RESULTS WATER WINDS

Y369

[Y369]

Yǒu fú bùyòng máng; méi fú pǎo duàn cháng.

有福不用忙, 没福跑断肠。

有福不用忙, 沒福跑斷腸。

Lit The fortunate do not have to busy [themselves, while] the less fortunate [have to] run their guts out [(lit) “until their guts break”] [in order to make a living].

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FORTUNE LUCK pǎo duàn tuí rhyme WORKING

Y370

[Y370]

Yǒu fǔ, kǎndedǎo shù; yǒu lǐ, shuōdefú rén.

有斧砍得倒树, 有理说得服人。

有斧砍得倒樹, 有理說得服人。

Lit [Just as] with an axe you can cut down a tree, [so] with reason you can persuade people.

Topics PERSUASION REASON

Y371

[Y371]

Yǒu fú zhī rén bù luò wú fú zhī dì.

有福之人不落无福之地。

有福之人不落無福之地。

Lit Fortunate people don't land in unfortunate places.

Note [In present day mainland China this is commonly used of job assignments.]

Topics FORTUNE JOBS LUCK PLACE

Y372

[Y372]

Yǒu fú zhī rén, rén fúshi; wú fú zhī rén, fúshi rén.

有福之人人伏侍; 无福之人伏侍人。

有福之人人伏侍; 無福之人伏侍人。

Lit Fortunate people, others serve, [while] the unfortunate serve others.

Topics FORTUNE INFERIORS LUCK SERVICE SUPERIORS

Y373

[Y373]

Yǒu gāng shǐ zài dāo rèn shàng.

有钢使在刀刃上。

有鋼使在刀刃上。

Lit Use the [best] steel on the [cutting] edge of the knife.

Fig Concentrate your efforts on the key problem.

Note [See also qián (yào) yòng zài dāokǒu shàng above.]

Topics CONCENTRATION EFFORT PROBLEMS

Y374

[Y374]

Yǒugōng bì shǎng; yǒuzuì bì fá.

有功必赏, 有罪必罚。

有功必賞, 有罪必罰。

Lit For [one's] outstanding service, [one] should be rewarded, [and] for [one's] crimes, [one] should be punished.

Topics CRIME PUNISHMENT REWARDS SERVICE

Y375

[Y375]

Yǒu guān, bù chóu zàolì.

有官, 不愁皂隶。

有官, 不愁皂隸。

Lit [If one] has [accepted an] official [position, one need] not worry about [there being] helpers.

Fig When you assume a position of power, there will be no shortage of people flocking to help and seek favors from you.

Note [Note: zàolì refers to “runners” or “go-fers” working for the yámen or local magistrate's office in traditional China; see also guān qīng, yámen shòu and dāngchāi de above.]

Topics FAVORS MAGISTRATES OFFICIALS POWER yámen zàolì

Y376

[Y376]

Yǒu huà shuō gěi zhījǐ rén.

有话说给知己人。

有話說給知己人。

Lit [If you] have anything [confidential] to say, tell it [only] to people who understand you.

Fig Limit your confidences to intimate friends only.

Topics CAUTION CONFIDENCES FRIENDS LIMITS SECRETS

Y377

[Y377]

Yóu jiǎn rù shē yì; yóu shē rù jiǎn nán.

由俭入奢易, 由奢入俭难。

由儉入奢易, 由奢入儉難。

Lit It's easy to change from a frugal life to a luxurious one, [but] it's difficult to change the other way round.

Note [See also nìngkě pín hòu and nìngkě wúle yǒu above.]

Topics CHANGE FRUGALITY WEALTH

Y378

[Y378]

Yǒu jiè, yǒu huán, zài jiè bù nán.*

有借有还, 再借不难。

有借有還, 再借不難。

Lit One who borrows and then returns, when borrowing again will not be spurned.

Note [A popular rhyme.]

Topics BORROWING RETURNING rhyme

Y379

[Y379]

Yǒu jī, tiān yě liàng; méi jī tiān yě míng.

有鸡天也亮, 没鸡天也明。

有雞天也亮, 沒雞天也明。

Lit Day breaks whether there are cocks crowing or not.

Fig No one is indispensable; One individual doesn't matter a bit.

Note [See also sǐle Zhāng túfū above.]

Topics INDISPENSABILITY INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATION

Y380

[Y380]

Yǒu le lǎopo, bù chóu hái; yǒu le mùjiàng, bù chóu chái.

有了老婆不愁孩, 有了木匠不愁柴。

Lit [If you've] got a wife, don't worry about [not having] children; [if you've] got a carpenter [working for you], don't worry about [not having enough] firewood.

Fig If you have made the proper preparations, things will work out properly.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CHILDREN PREPARATION RESULTS rhyme WIVES WORRIES

Y381

[Y381]

Yǒule mǎnfù cái, bùpà yùn bù lái.

有了满腹才, 不怕运不来。

有了滿腹才, 不怕運不來。

Lit [If you] are full of learning, [you need] not fear that fortune will not visit [you].

Note [Rhyme; note: mǎnfù jīnglun, “widely read in the (Confucian) classics.”]

Topics Confucian classics EDUCATION FORTUNE LEARNING mǎnfù jīnglun rhyme

Y382

[Y382]

Yǒule qián, wànshì yuán.

有了钱, 万事圆。

有了錢, 萬事圓。

Lit [If one] has money, everything [can be] accomplished.

Note [Rhyme; see also the following entry.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT MONEY rhyme

Y383

[Y383]

Yǒule yuán lǐ fāng, bǎi shì hǎo shāngliang.

有了圆里方, 百事好商量。

有了圓裡方, 百事好商量。

Lit [If one] has money, everything [can be] easily negotiated.

Note [Rhyme; note: “yuán lǐ fāng,” (lit) “a square (hole) in a round,” is a colloquial name for old fashioned round copper “cash” coins with a square hole in the middle for stringing purposes, also known as “kǒng fāng xiōng,” “Brother Square Hole”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics CASH kǒng fāng xiōng MONEY yuán_lǐ_fāng

Y384

[Y384]

Yǒu lì bù xīng; wú lì bù miè.

有例不兴, 无例不灭。

有例不興, 無例不滅。

Lit [As] there exist conventions [to be observed], [there is] no [need to] propose [new ones]; [if] conventions did not exist, [there would be] no [need to] abolish them.

Fig Given that certain conventions of behavior exist, it is best to observe them, and not worry about abolishing them or proposing new ones.

Note [Cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 41; the second half is an empty rhetorical flourish.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CHANGE CONVENTIONS Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì RULES

Y385

[Y385]

Yǒu lǐ bù zài shēng gāo.

有理不在声高。

有理不在聲高。

Lit Being right does not reside in [having] a loud voice.

Note [Cf. Xīyáng Jì, chap. 10; vs. rén yuàn, yǔ shēng gāo above.]

Topics LOUDNESS RIGHT VOICE Xīyáng_Jì

Y386

[Y386]

Yǒu lǐ jiǎng de jūnwáng dǎo; bùpà jūnwáng zuò de gāo.

有理讲得君王倒, 不怕君王坐得高。

有理講得君王倒, 不怕君王坐得高。

Lit With right [on one's side] one can talk a monarch down [off his throne], no matter how high he sits.

Fig Before the truth, everyone is equal.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EQUALITY REASON rhyme RIGHT RULERS TRUTH

Y387

[Y387]

Yǒu lǐ, sān biǎndan; wú lǐ, biǎndan sān.

有理三扁担, 无理扁担三。

有理三扁擔, 無理扁擔三。

Lit [If one] is in the right, [one gets hit] three [times with a] pole; [and if one is] not in the right, [one gets the] pole three [strokes].

Fig One is punished all the same whether one is right or wrong.

Note [A rhyme originally referring to law cases in traditional China in which the poor could never win a lawsuit; now referring to the settlement of any case in this manner.]

Topics COURTS LAWSUITS PUNISHMENT rhyme RIGHT WRONG

Y388

[Y388]

Yǒu lǐ, yán zì zhuàng; fùqū, shēng bì gāo.

有理言自壮, 负屈声必高。

有理言自壯, 負屈聲必高。

Lit With right on one's side, one naturally speaks boldly and straightforwardly; [when one is] wronged, [one] naturally [speaks in] a loud voice.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 15; see also rén yuàn, yǔ shēng gāo above.]

Topics COMPLAINTS COURAGE INJUSTICE Jǐngshì Tōngyán LOUDNESS RIGHT SPEECH STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS VOICE

Y389

[Y389]

Yǒu lǐ, zǒubiàn tiānxià; wú lǐ, cùn bù nán xíng.*

有理走遍天下, 无理寸步难行。

有理走遍天下, 無理寸步難行。

Lit With right [on one's side, one can] go anywhere; without right, [one] can hardly step one inch.

Note [Note: cùnbù-nánxíng is used as a chengyu meaning: “unable to do anything.”]

Topics chengyu cùnbù-nánxíng REASON RIGHT WRONG

Y390

[Y390]

Yǒu māo, bù zhī māo gōngláo; wú māo, cái zhī lǎoshǔ duō.

有猫不知猫功劳, 无猫才知老鼠多。

有貓不知貓功勞, 無貓才知老鼠多。

Lit [While the] cat is there, [one does] not notice its meritorious service; only when the cat is gone, [does one] realize [that the number of] mice has increased.

Fig One never truly appreciates (the services rendered by) others until they are gone.

Note [See also chuān wà bù zhī above and jǐng gān cái zhī below.]

Topics APPRECIATION RECOGNITION SERVICE

Y391

[Y391]

Yòunián xué de, hǎobǐ shí shàng kè de.

幼年学的, 好比石上刻的。

幼年學的, 好比石上刻的。

Lit [Things] learned in childhood are like things inscribed in stone.

Note [See also yǒuqián, nán mǎi above.]

Topics CHILDHOOD HABITS LEARNING TRAINING

Y392

[Y392]

Yǒuqián, bù mǎi bànnián xián.

有钱不买半年闲。

有錢不買半年閑。

Lit [Even if you] have money, don't buy [anything which will lie around] idle for half a year.

Fig Do not buy anything for which you have no immediate use.

Note [Traditional advice, especially to the poor.]

Topics FRUGALITY MONEY

Y393

[Y393]

Yǒuqián cháng jì wú qián rì; mò dài wú qián sī yǒu shí.

有钱常记无钱日, 莫待无钱思有时。

有錢常記無錢日, 莫待無錢思有時。

Lit [When you] are rich, always remember the days [when you were] poor, so that there won't be poor times when you have to recall the days when you were rich.

Topics MEMORY POVERTY PRECAUTIONS REMEMBERING WEALTH

Y394

[Y394]

Yǒuqián, dé shēng; wú qián, dé sǐ.

有钱得生, 无钱得死。

有錢得生, 無錢得死。

Lit With money [one can] obtain [one's] life, [and] without money [one will] obtain one's death.

Note [Referring to the necessity of bribing judicial officials in traditional China; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 3; see also yǒuqián jiùshì tiāntáng lù below.]

Topics BRIBERY COURTS DEATH LIFE MONEY OFFICIALS Wǔ_Sōng

Y395

[Y395]

Yǒuqián de wángba dà sān bèi.

有钱的王八大三辈。

有錢的王八大三輩。

Lit With money [even] a bastard gains seniority.

Note [Note: bèifèn, “seniority in the family hierarchy”; see also yǒuqián gāo sān bèi below.]

Topics BASTARDS bèifèn FAMILIES HIERARCHY MONEY SENIORITY STATUS

Y396

[Y396]

Yǒuqián de yào dǎng; méi qián de mìng kàng.

有钱的药挡, 没钱的命抗。

有錢的藥擋, 沒錢的命抗。

Lit [When ill] the rich have medicine to [help them] resist; the poor [have to] rely on fate.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FATE HEALTH ILLNESS MEDICINE POVERTY rhyme WEALTH

Y397

[Y397]

Yǒuqián gāo sān bèi; wú qián gōng biàn sūn.

有钱高三辈, 无钱公变孙。

有錢高三輩, 無錢公變孫。

Lit [If one] has money, [one can be] promoted three generations [in the family hierarchy], [but if one] has no money, a grandfather becomes a grandson.

Fig The rich gain in seniority [and] the poor are demeaned.

Note [See also yǒuqián de wángba above.]

Topics FAMILIES HIERARCHY MONEY POVERTY SENIORITY STATUS

Y398

[Y398]

Yǒuqián jiùshì tiāntáng lù; wú qián jiùshì dìyù mén.

有钱就是天堂路, 无钱就是地狱门。

有錢就是天堂路, 無錢就是地獄門。

Lit With money it's the road to Heaven; [but] without money it's the gates of Hell.

Note [Referring to the necessity of having money in traditional China; see also yǒuqián, dé shēng above.]

Topics HEAVEN HELL MONEY POVERTY

Y399

[Y399]

Yǒuqián, nán mǎi bù mài huò.

有钱难买不卖货。

有錢難買不賣貨。

Lit [Even] with money [it's] hard to buy what [others] won't sell.

Topics BUSINESS BUYING GOODS MONEY SELLING

Y400

[Y400]

Yǒuqián, nán mǎi hòuhuǐ yào.*

有钱难买后悔药。

有錢難買後悔藥。

Lit Money cannot buy medicine for repentance [i.e., to cure one's mistakes].

Fig Be careful; being sorry later won't help.

Topics REGRET REPENTANCE

Y401

[Y401]

Yǒuqián, nán mǎi shàonián shí.*

有钱难买少年时。

有錢難買少年時。

Lit No money can buy [back] childhood [once it's past].

Fig Childhood is the best time for learning, so study hard.

Note [Traditional advice to children; see also yòunián xué de above.]

Topics CHILDHOOD CHILDREN LEARNING STUDYING

Y402

[Y402]

Yǒuqián, nán mǎi zì zhǔzhāng.

有钱难买自主张。

有錢難買自主張。

Lit [Even if one] has money, one can hardly buy one's independence [i.e., the freedom to hold one's own opinions or make one's own decisions].

Topics DECISIONS INDEPENDENCE MONEY OPINIONS

Y403

[Y403]

Yǒuqián, nánzǐhàn; wú qián, hànzǐ nán.

有钱男子汉, 无钱汉子难。

有錢男子漢, 無錢漢子難。

Lit [He who] has money [is] a “real man,” [and he who] has no money [is] hard [put to be] a man.

Note [Pun: a play on word order and the homophony of nán, “male” and nán “difficult”; note: nánzǐhàn, “a real man (in the he-mannish sense).”]

Topics MEN MONEY nánzǐhàn pun SELF-RESPECT

Y404

[Y404]

Yǒuqián néng shǐ guǐ tuīmò.*

有钱能使鬼推磨。

有錢能使鬼推磨。

Lit [If one] has money [one can even] make the devil turn [one's] millstone.

Fig “Money makes the mare go.”

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 21; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 14; see also qián kě tōng shén above.]

Topics BRIBERY Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō INFLUENCE MONEY

Y405

[Y405]

Yǒu qiān nián chǎn; méi qiān nián zhǔ.

有千年产, 没千年主。

有千年產, 沒千年主。

Lit Property may last for a thousand years, [but] not its owners.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 37; see also tián shì zhǔrén above.]

Topics CHANGE OWNERS PROPERTY Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y406

[Y406]

Yǒuqián, shén yě pà; wú qián, guǐ yì qī.

有钱神也怕, 无钱鬼亦欺。

有錢神也怕, 無錢鬼亦欺。

Lit Gods fear you if [you're] rich, [and even] devils will bully [you if you're] poor.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 15.]

Topics BULLYING Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì RESPECT STATUS WEALTH WEALTH

Y407

[Y407]

Yǒuqián shǐde guǐ dòng; wú qián huànbude rén lái.

有钱使得鬼动, 无钱唤不得人来。

有錢使得鬼動, 無錢喚不得人來。

Lit With money devils can be mobilized to serve [one, but] without money no one will come to help.

Note [See also qián jù rúxiōng and yǒuqián néng shǐ above.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER HELP MONEY

Y408

[Y408]

Yǒuqián, sìshí chēng niánlǎo; wú qián, liùshí chěng yīngxióng.

有钱四十称年老, 无钱六十逞英雄。

有錢四十稱年老, 無錢六十逞英雄。

Lit A rich person calls [himself] old at forty [and retires from working, while] a poor person poses [himself] a hero at sixty [for still working at that age].

Fig A rich person can retire from working and enjoy life in middle age, while a poor person has to continue to work for a living until (s)he's really old.

Topics AGE MIDDLE AGE POOR RETIREMENT RICH WORK

Y409

[Y409]

Yǒuqián yǒu jiǔ, duō xiōngdì; jínán, hécéng jiàn yī rén？

有钱有酒多兄弟, 急难何曾见一人？

有錢有酒多兄弟, 急難何曾見一人？

Lit [When one] has money and wine, [one has] many friends, [but when one is (in need of help)] in misfortune, have you ever seen [even] one [of them]?

Fig Fair-weather friends flock around one in good times, but nobody wants to know you when you're down and out.

Note [Note: jiǔròu-péngyou, “fair-weather friends”; see also qián jù rúxiōng above.]

Topics FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDS jiǔròu-péngyou POVERTY WEALTH

Y410

[Y410]

Yǒuqián, zhū shì bàn.

有钱诸事办。

有錢諸事辦。

Lit With money everything can be done.

Topics MONEY SUCCESS

Y411

[Y411]

Yǒu qí fù, bì yǒu qí zǐ.*

有其父必有其子。

Lit [As] is the father, [so] must be the son.

Fig “Like father, like son.”

Topics FATHERS INHERITANCE SIMILARITIES SONS

Y412

[Y412]

Yǒuqíng, hé pà gé nián qī？

有情何怕隔年期？

Lit [If one is truly] in love, why fear [waiting] another year's time?

Fig True love can wait (forever).

Note [Cf. Xī Hú Èr Jí, chap. 14; said by Zhang Dan in the classical novel Zhāng Yú Zhǔ Hǎi.]

Topics LOVE PATIENCE TIME Zhang Dan Zhāng_Yú_Zhǔ_Hǎi

Y413

[Y413]

Yǒu qīnniáng, yǒu hòu yé; wú qīnniáng, wú téng rè.

有亲娘有后爷, 无亲娘无疼热。

有親娘有後爺, 無親娘無疼熱。

Lit [If you] have [your] own mother, [you'll] have a step-father [to take care of you, but if your] mother isn't [around anymore, you'll] get no affection [from either your step-mother, nor from your father, who will focus on his new wife and his children by her].

Note [A common occurrence in traditional China; see also gé chóng dùpí above.]

Topics FATHERS LOVE MOTHERS STEPMOTHERS traditional_China

Y414

[Y414]

Yǒu qí yín zhě, bì yǒu qí huò.

有奇淫者, 必有奇祸。

有奇淫者, 必有奇禍。

Lit One who is extremely lewd is destined to invite the greatest disaster.

Note [Cf. Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL), chap. 15; see also wàn'è, yín wéishǒu above.]

Topics CONDUCT DISASTER Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) LEWDNESS

Y415

[Y415]

Yǒu qí zhǔ, bì yǒu qí pú.

有其主必有其仆。

有其主必有其僕。

Lit [As] is the master, [so] is the servant.

Fig The servant imitates or resembles his or her master. “Like master, like man” (or “like servant”).

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 74; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 6; note: púrén, “servant.”]

Topics DRC IMITATION MASTERS púrén SERVANTS SIMILARITIES Wǔ_Sōng

Y416

[Y416]

Yǒuquán bù yòng, guòqī zuòfèi.

有权不用, 过期作废。

有權不用, 過期作廢。

Lit [If you] have power [and do] not use [it for personal benefit], later [when you are out of office] it will be useless [i.e., you won't be able to get anything, so use it while you can].

Fig “Make hay while the sun shines.”

Note [A new saying since the 1980s, supposedly used by (corrupt) officials; see also dāngmiàn bù qǔ above.]

Topics BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY POWER SELF-INTEREST

Y417

[Y417]

Yǒu shè zìrán xiāng, hébì dāng fēng lì？

有麝自然香, 何必当风立？

有麝自然香, 何必當風立？

Lit [As long as] there's musk, it will naturally be fragrant, [so there's] no need to stand in the wind [to show it off].

Fig A talented person will be known by others even if (s)he doesn't try to show him or herself off.

Topics FAME OTHERS SELF-PROMOTION TALENT

Y418

[Y418]

Yǒushì, nán mán sìlín.

有事, 难瞒四邻。

有事, 難瞞四鄰。

Lit [If] anything happens [in one's family, it is] hard to hide [it] from [one's] neighbors.

Note [See also dàshì, mán bu liǎo above.]

Topics FAMILIES NEIGHBORS

Y419

[Y419]

Yǒushuō-yǒuxiào, bù fēn lǎoshào.

有说有笑, 不分老少。

有說有笑, 不分老少。

Lit [When there's] chatting and laughing, young and old are all equal.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics AGE EQUALITY LAUGHTER rhyme SENIORITY yǒushuō-yǒuxiào YOUTH

Y420

[Y420]

Yǒuxīn bùpà chí.

有心不怕迟。

有心不怕遲。

Lit [If you are] determined to do something, don't worry [about starting] late (i.e., there's no need for haste).

Note [Cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 69; see also yǒuxīn bù zài máng and yǒu xīn shāoxiāng below.]

Topics DETERMINATION HASTE TARDINESS TIMING WILL Zàishēng_Yuán

Y421

[Y421]

Yǒuxīn bù zài máng.

有心不在忙。

Lit Determination does not lie in haste.

Fig If one is determined to accomplish something, there is no need for haste.

Note [Cf. Sān Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 23; see also yǒuxīn bùpà chí above and yǒu xīn shāoxiāng below.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DETERMINATION HASTE Sān Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí WILL

Y422

[Y422]

Yǒuxīn dǎ shí, shí chéng zhuān; wúxīn dǎ shí, shí yuán yuán.

有心打石, 石成砖; 无心打石, 石原原。

有心打石, 石成磚; 無心打石, 石原原。

Lit [Only if you] strike the stone wholeheartedly will it become building blocks; if not, it will remain [just stone] as before.

Fig If one wants to succeed, one must put all of one's efforts into a task.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics DETERMINATION EFFORT rhyme SUCCESS WILL

Y423

[Y423]

Yǒu xīng jiē gǒng běi; wú shuǐ bù cháo dōng.

有星皆拱北, 无水不朝东。

有星皆拱北, 無水不朝東。

Lit All stars surround the North [Star, just as] there are no rivers [in north central China which do] not flow eastward.

Fig The people will naturally turn their hearts toward their rulers.

Topics COMMON PEOPLE HEARTS RIVERS RULERS STARS

Y424

[Y424]

Yǒu xīn shāoxiāng, bùlùn zǎo-wǎn.

有心烧香, 不论早晚。

有心燒香, 不論早晚。

Lit [If one is] sincere in burning incense [to the Buddha, it] doesn't matter [whether one is] early [or] late.

Fig As long as one is sincere, it doesn't matter if it's early or late; it is acceptable to be late (with respects, presents, etc.).

Topics EARLINESS SINCERITY TARDINESS TIMING

Y425

[Y425]

Yòu yào mǎ hǎo, yòu yào mǎ bù chī cǎo.*

又要马好, 又要马不吃草。

又要馬好, 又要馬不吃草。

Lit [One cannot] both want his horse to run fast, [and] yet [be] unwilling to let it graze.

Fig It is impossible to get anything without paying the price.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COSTS DESIRE PRICE rhyme

Y426

[Y426]

Yǒu yī lì, bì yǒu yī bì.*

有一利, 必有一弊。

Lit Advantages are inevitably accompanied by disadvantages.

Note [Cf. Lu Xun's essay: “Guānyu Zhōngguó de Liǎng-Sān Jiàn Shì.”]

Topics ADVANTAGE COMPENSATION DISADVANTAGE Lu_Xun

Y427

[Y427]

Yǒu yín, yòng yín; wú yín, yònglì.

有银用银, 无银用力。

有銀用銀, 無銀用力。

Lit [Those] with money can [contribute] money [and those] without money can [contribute] labor.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 10.]

Topics CONTRIBUTIONS LABOR MONEY

Y428

[Y428]

Yǒuyì zhònghuā, huā bù fā; wúxīn chā liǔ, liǔ chéng yīn.*

有意种花花不发; 无心插柳柳成荫。

有意種花花不發; 無心插柳柳成蔭。

Lit [If you] deliberately plant a flower it may not blossom, [but] a willow slip casually stuck in [the ground] may grow to [give] shade.

Fig While the best laid plans of mankind often go awry, sometimes unplanned items can unexpectedly turn out successfully. “Follow love, and it will flee; flee love, and it will pursue you.”

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; see also kě yù ér bù kě qiú above.]

Topics CHANCE LOVE PLANNING SUCCESS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Y429

[Y429]

Yǒuyuán, qiān lǐ lái xiānghuì; wúyuán, duìmiàn bù xiāngféng.*

有缘千里来相会, 无缘对面不相逢。

有緣千里來相會, 無緣對面不相逢。

Lit If fated, [to do so], people will come together [though a] thousand leagues apart; if not so fated, they will miss each other [though they come] face to face.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 35; JW, chap. 81; note: yuánfèn, “lot or luck by which people are brought together”; one lǐ equals one-half kilometer; see also gèrén yǒu gèrén de yuánfǎ and jì zài Fó huì xià above.]

Topics FATE JW LUCK MEETING WM yuánfèn

Y430

[Y430]

Yǒu zhì bù zài nián gāo; (wú móu kōng yán bǎisuì).

有智不在年高, (无谋空言百岁)。

有智不在年高, (無謀空言百歲)。

Lit Having wisdom lies not in advanced years; ([with one who] has no resourcefulness, it's pointless to talk [even if (s)he lives to be one] hundred years old).

Note [Note: kōng yán, “to speak in vain”; cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 23; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 2; compare the following entry.]

Topics AGE Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí Fēngshén Yǎnyì kōng yán STUPIDITY WISDOM

Y431

[Y431]

Yǒu zhì bù zài nián gāo; wú zhì kōng huó bǎisuì.

有志不在年高, 无志空活百岁。

有志不在年高, 無志空活百歲。

Lit [As long as one] has ambition, it doesn't matter [whether one is] old or young, ([but a person] without any determination lives an empty life though (s)he's a hundred years old).

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 85; Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 38; note: zhìqì, “ambition”; the first half is often used alone with the meaning: “Success goes to the determined regardless of age”; compare the preceding entry.]

Topics AGE AMBITION DETERMINATION Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì LIFE Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì WILL zhìqì

Y432

[Y432]

Yǒu zhì dēng shāndǐng, wú zhì zhàn shānjiǎo.

有志登山顶, 无志站山脚。

有志登山頂, 無志站山腳。

Lit [One who] has the will [can] climb to the top of the mountain, [while one who] has no will [will] remain at the foot.

Fig Those who have the will to succeed can accomplish great things, and those who do not will never accomplish anything of any significance.

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DETERMINATION SUCCESS WILL

Y433

[Y433]

Yǒu zhì fùrén, shèngrú nánzǐ.

有志妇人, 胜如男子。

有志婦人, 勝如男子。

Lit A woman with determination is superior to a man.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31.]

Topics AMBITION DETERMINATION Jǐngshì Tōngyán MEN WILL WOMEN

Y434

[Y434]

Yǒu zhì yíng; wú zhì shū.

有智赢, 无智输。

有智贏, 無智輸。

Lit With wisdom [one will] win [and] without wisdom [one will] fail.

Topics FAILURE SUCCESS WISDOM

Y435

[Y435]

Yǒuzhìzhě, shì jìng chéng.*

有志者事竟成。

Lit [If] one has ambition, things will be accomplished.

Fig Nothing is impossible to a willing mind. “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

Note [Cf. Hòu Hàn Shū: Gěng Yǎn Zhuàn; note: zhìqì, “ambition”; see also tiānxià wú nánshì above.]

Topics AMBITION DETERMINATION DIFFICULTIES Gěng Yǎn Zhuàn Hòu Hàn Shū MINDS SUCCESS WILL zhìqì

Y436

[Y436]

Yuàn fèi qīn, nù fèi lǐ.

怨废亲, 怒废礼。

怨廢親, 怒廢禮。

Lit [When one is] discontented, [(s)he will] ignore [his] relatives; [when one is] angry, [(s)he will] ignore [the] proper courtesies.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 2.]

Topics ANGER COURTESY DISCONTENT Jǐngshì Tōngyán RELATIVES

Y437

[Y437]

Yuǎn guān bùrú jìn dǔ.

远观不如近睹。

遠觀不如近睹。

Lit It is better to see things close at hand than at a distance.

Topics DISTANCE SEEING

Y438

[Y438]

Yuānjia lù zhǎi.

冤家路窄。

Lit [For] enemies, the way is narrow.

Fig Enemies or rivals often meet whether they want to or not.

Note [See also bù shì yuānjia and gēng lǐ bù zháo above.]

Topics ENEMIES FATE RIVALS yuānjiā-lùzhǎi

Y439

[Y439]

Yuānjiā yí jiě, bùyí jié.*

冤家宜解不宜结。

冤家宜解不宜結。

Lit [The knot of] enmity [should be] untied, not tightened.

Fig It is always better to resolve one's differences with someone than to make an enemy.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 20; WM, chap. 33; Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 38; Mao Dun's “Zǐyè” (Midnight).]

Topics DIFFERENCES ENEMIES Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō HATRED Mao Dun Midnight RESOLUTIONS Xǐngshì Héngyán Zǐyè

Y440

[Y440]

Yuānjia zhài, huán bù chè.

冤家债还不彻。

冤家債還不徹。

Lit Love accounts can never be settled in full.

Fig Love sickness can't be cured. One cannot stop yearning for one's lover.

Note [Note: here yuānjia is a colloquial term for “beloved; darling.”]

Topics LOVE LOVERS YEARNING yuānjia

Y441

[Y441]

Yuǎn jìng yīshang, jìn jìng rén.

远敬衣裳, 近敬人。

遠敬衣裳, 近敬人。

Lit [When you are] far [from home] [i.e., if people don't know you, you are] respected [for your] clothes; [if you are] close [to home] [i.e., if people know you, you are] respected [as a] person [i.e., for who you are].

Topics APPEARANCES CLOTHING REPUTATION RESPECT STRANGERS

Y442

[Y442]

Yuǎn lái de héshang huì niànjīng.*

远来的和尚会念经。

遠來的和尚會念經。

Lit Monks who come from afar [are considered to be] better at reading scriptures.

Fig People who come from afar are more valued than local talent. “A prophet is not without honor save in his own country.”

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 72; see also běndì jiāng bù là above.]

Topics COMPARISONS DISTANCE JW LOCAL MONKS TALENT VALUE

Y443

[Y443]

Yuǎnlù méi qīng dàn.*

远路没轻担。

遠路沒輕擔。

Lit [On a] long road there are no light burdens.

Fig Light burdens, when carried for a long time, grow heavy.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 80; also said bǎi bù wú qīng dān in Hě Diǎn, chap. 5; see also lù yuǎn méi qīng zài above.]

Topics BURDENS CARRYING DISTANCE Hé Diǎn JW TIME

Y444

[Y444]

Yuǎnqīn bùrú jìnlín.*

远亲不如近邻。

遠親不如近鄰。

Lit A nearby neighbor is better than a far-off relative.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 24; see also jīn xiānglín and línjū hǎo above and yuǎnqīn, jìnlín below.]

Topics COMPARISONS DISTANCE NEIGHBORS RELATIVES WM

Y445

[Y445]

Yuàn qīn, bù yuàn shū.

怨亲不怨疏。

怨親不怨疏。

Lit Blame oneself; do not blame outsiders.

Fig When anything happens, it is oneself that is to blame, not anyone else.

Topics BLAME OTHERS RESPONSIBILITY SELF

Y446

[Y446]

Yuǎnqīn, jìnlín bùrú duìmén.

远亲近邻不如对门。

遠親近鄰不如對門。

Lit [Neither] a far-off relative [nor] a nearby neighbor are as good as [one's] next door neighbor.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also yuǎnqīn bùrú above.]

Topics COMPARISONS DISTANCE NEIGHBORS RELATIVES Wǔ_Sōng

Y447

[Y447]

Yuǎn shuǐ bù jiě jìn kě.*

远水不解近渴。

遠水不解近渴。

Lit Far off water cannot satisfy a present thirst.

Fig Distant, slow, or long-term measures cannot solve an immediate problem.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 15; see also the following entry.]

Topics DISTANCE DRC PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS THIRST TIMING WATER

Y448

[Y448]

Yuǎn shuǐ bù jiù jìn huǒ.*

远水不救近火。

遠水不救近火。

Lit Distant water cannot extinguish a nearby fire.

Fig Distant, slow or long-term measures will not solve a present emergency.

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Shuō Lín Shàng; Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 3; see also è dùzi děngbude above and the preceding entry.]

Topics DISTANCE DRC EMERGENCIES Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí FIRES Hán Fēizǐ Shuō Lín Shàng SPEED TIMING WATER

Y449

[Y449]

Yuǎnxíng wú jí bù.

远行无急步。

遠行無急步。

Lit [When] traveling [a] long distance, there is no [need to] make haste [and become tired to no purpose].

Note [Cf. Hòu Xīyóu Jì, chap. 10.]

Topics DISTANCE HASTE Hòu Xīyóu Jì SPEED TRAVEL

Y450

[Y450]

Yuán yàoshi kāi yuán suǒ.

原钥匙开原锁。

原鑰匙開原鎖。

Lit [Only the] original key [can] open the original lock.

Fig Only one who knows the (inside) details of a problem can solve it.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 10; see also yào pò Dōng Wú bīng above.]

Topics DETAILS PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS Wǔ_Sōng

Y451

[Y451]

Yuān yǒu tóu; zhài yǒuzhǔ.*

冤有头, 债有主。

冤有頭, 債有主。

Lit [Every] wrong has [its] source, [and every] debt has [its] incurrer.

Fig The culprit must pay for his wrong, and the debtor for his debt. One should complain to or take one's revenge on the person who caused the trouble in the first place.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 26; Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 87.]

Topics DEBT JPM JUSTICE REPAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY REVENGE TROUBLE WM WRONG

Y452

[Y452]

Yuǎn zài érsūn, jìn zài shēn.

远在儿孙近在身。

遠在兒孫近在身。

Lit [Wickedness will be punished] sooner upon oneself [or] later upon one's descendants.

Fig One's wrongdoing will catch up with one sooner or later.

Note [See also shàn yǒu shànbào above.]

Topics CHILDREN EVIL JUSTICE PUNISHMENT TIME

Y453

[Y453]

Yuǎn zéi bì yǒu jìn jiǎo.

远贼必有近脚。

遠賊必有近腳。

Lit A thief from afar must have “someone on the inside” [in order to succeed].

Note [See also jiā zéi nán fáng above and zéi wú lì dǐ below.]

Topics BETRAYAL STEALING THIEVES

Y454

[Y454]

Yú bāng shuǐ; shuǐ bāng yú.

鱼帮水, 水帮鱼。

魚幫水, 水幫魚。

Lit Fish help water [and] water helps fish.

Fig People are mutually interdependent; people (must) help each other.

Note [Often used to mean that the (Chinese) Communist party and the (Chinese) people are mutually interdependent; see also yú líbukāi shuǐ below.]

Topics Communist party HELP INTERDEPENDENCE PEOPLE

Y455

[Y455]

Yù bàng xiāng zhēng, yú rén dé lì.

鹬蚌相争, 鱼人得利。

鷸蚌相爭, 魚人得利。

Lit [When a] snipe [and a] clam quarrel, [it is the] fisherman [who] benefits.

Fig When two parties quarrel over something, a third may profit or run off with it.

Note [Based on Zhànguó Cè: Yàn Cè Èr; cf. Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí, chap. 10.]

Topics CONFLICT Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí QUARRELING Yàn Cè Èr Zhànguó_Cè

Y456

[Y456]

Yù bù zhuó, bù chéng qì.*

玉不琢不成器。

Lit If jade is not cut and polished, it cannot be made into anything.

Fig One cannot become useful without being trained/educated/disciplined. “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Note [Cf. Lǐjì: Xué Jì; Shuō Yuè Quán Zhuàn, chap. 4; note: bùchéngqì is also an idiom for “good-for-nothing; worthless.”]

Topics Book of Rites bùchéngqì DISCIPLINE EDUCATION Lǐjì Shuō Yuè Quán Zhuàn TRAINING Xué_Jì

Y457

[Y457]

(Yuè guò shíwǔ, guāngmíng shǎo;) rén dào zhōngnián, wànshì xiū.

(月过十五光明少;) 人到中年万事休。

(月過十五光明少;) 人到中年萬事休。

Lit (After the fifteenth [of the lunar month, when the moon is full] the moon [becomes less and] less bright;) [when] people get to middle age, everything comes to a halt.

Fig After middle age, nothing great can be accomplished.

Note [Cf. Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 33; the second part is more commonly used alone (q.v.).]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT AGE Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō MIDDLE_AGE

Y458

[Y458]

Yuè lǐ Cháng'é ài shàonián.

月里嫦娥爱少年。

月裡嫦娥愛少年。

Lit [The goddess] Cháng'é in the moon loves youths.

Fig Young girls love young men; young girls won't fall in love with old men.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 46; note: Cháng'é refers to the legendary fairy princess on the moon in a popular folk story; also said zìgǔ Cháng'é ài shàonián, (q.v.).]

Topics AGE Cháng'é DRC LOVE MEN OLD AGE YOUTH

Y459

[Y459]

Yuè yǒu, yuè yǒu; yuè méiyǒu, yuè méiyǒu.

越有越有, 越没有越没有。

越有越有, 越沒有越沒有。

Lit Those who have get even more, and those who have not, have even less.

Fig “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”

Topics POOR POVERTY RICH WEALTH

Y460

[Y460]

Yù guìrén, chībǎo fàn.

遇贵人吃饱饭。

遇貴人吃飽飯。

Lit [Whoever] meets a noble person [will] have his fill to eat.

Fig One will benefit from meeting a generous person.

Topics BENEFITS GENEROSITY

Y461

[Y461]

Yú guò qiān céng wǎng; wǎngwǎng háiyǒu yú.

鱼过千层网, 网网还有鱼。

魚過千層網, 網網還有魚。

Lit [Even though] fish pass through a thousand nets, there are still fish in every net; [i.e., some fish are always caught].

Fig There must be some slips even in the most well organized plan; some are always bound to slip through.

Topics MISTAKES PLANNING

Y462

[Y462]

Yù jiā zhī zuì, hé huàn wú cí？

欲加之罪, 何患无辞？

欲加之罪, 何患無辭？

Lit [If one] desires to frame [someone]'s guilt, why worry [about] not having a case?

Fig If one is out to falsely accuse somebody, it is easy to trump up a charge.

Note [This is a paraphrase of Zǒu Zhuàn: Xí Gōng 10 Nián, originally “... , qí wú cí hū”; see also gǒu yǎo rén and ruǎndāozi shārén above.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS FALSITY

Y463

[Y463]

Yǔ jūn yī xí huà, shèng dú shí nián shū.*

与君一夕话, 胜读十年书。

與君一夕話, 勝讀十年書。

Lit One evening's conversation with a gentleman is worth more than ten years of study.

Note [Cf. Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 9; note: here jūn is an honorific term, often used flatteringly to others.]

Topics CONVERSATION EDUCATION FLATTERY jūn Lǎo_Cán_Yóujì

Y464

[Y464]

Yù kě suì ér bùkě gǎi qí bái; zhú kě fén ér bùkě huǐ qí jié.

玉可碎而不可改其白, 竹可焚而不可毁其节。

玉可碎而不可改其白, 竹可焚而不可毀其節。

Lit Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness remains unchanged; bamboo may be burned, but its joints remain indestructible.

Fig One must maintain one's integrity even under difficult circumstances.

Note [Cf. R3K, chap. 76.]

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES DIFFICULTIES INTEGRITY R3K

Y465

[Y465]

Yú líbukāi shuǐ; guā líbukāi yāng.*

鱼离不开水, 瓜离不开秧。

魚離不開水, 瓜離不開秧。

Lit Fish cannot leave the water, nor can melons leave the vine.

Fig The [Chinese] people cannot be separated from the Communist party.

Note [A line in a Communist song popular during the Cultural Revolution: Dà Hǎi Hángxíng Kào Duòshǒu (Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman).]

Topics Communist party Cultural Revolution Dà Hǎi Hángxíng Kào Duòshǒu DEPENDENCE Helmsman PEOPLE

Y466

[Y466]

Yùn dào shí lái, tiěshù huā kāi.

运到时来, 铁树花开。

運到時來, 鐵樹花開。

Lit When luck befalls [one], [even] the iron tree will blossom.

Fig When luck is going one's way, all kinds of rare events can come to pass.

Note [Rhyme; note: the “iron tree” (sago cycas or Cycas revoluta) blooms only once every several years; see also shí dào, huā jiù kāi above.]

Topics FORTUNE iron tree LUCK rhyme

Y467

[Y467]

Yún lǐ, qiān tiáo lù; yún wài, lù qiān tiáo.

云里千条路, 云外路千条。

雲裡千條路, 雲外路千條。

Lit [There] are thousands of roads in the clouds [and] roads by the thousands beyond the clouds.

Fig There are many ways to do the job. “There's more than one way to skin a cat.”

Topics METHODS ROADS SUCCESS

Y468

[Y468]

Yùn qù, huángjīn shīsè; shí lái, tiě yě shēng guāng.

运去黄金失色, 时来铁也生光。

運去黃金失色, 時來鐵也生光。

Lit [When one's] luck [has] gone, gold loses [its] splendor; [when one's lucky] time comes, even iron shines bright.

Fig When one's luck runs out, everything seems to go wrong; when luck is running one's way, everything seems wonderful.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 31; Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 1; see also rén dǎoméi and shí lái, wán tiě above.]

Topics CHANGE Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì FORTUNE IRON Jǐngshì Tōngyán LUCK TIMING

Y469

[Y469]

Yùnyòng zhī miào, zàihu yī xīn.

运用之妙在乎一心。

運用之妙在乎一心。

Lit Ingenuity in applying [tactics] lies in the mind.

Fig Ingenuity in application of tactics depends on utilizing one's cleverness of mind, and not just in a rote application of the rules. Tactics depend on how ingeniously they are applied in any one situation.

Note [Originally “... cún yú yī xīn” in Sòng Shǐ 365: Yuè Fēi Zhuàn; now more commonly “... zàihu yī xīn,” e.g., in Rúlín Wàishǐ, chap. 43.]

Topics APPLICATION CLEVERNESS INGENUITY Rúlín Wàishǐ Sòng Shǐ STRATEGY TACTICS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn

Y470

[Y470]

Yù qióng qiān lǐ mù, gèng shàng yī céng lóu.

欲穷千里目, 更上一层楼。

欲窮千里目, 更上一層樓。

Lit [If one] desires [to see] as far as [one's] eye [can for a] thousand leagues, [one must] ascend even one story [higher].

Fig If one wants to know more, one must exert even more effort.

Note [A line from a poem entitled “Dèng Guàn Què Lóu” by the Tang dynasty poet Wang Zhihuan.]

Topics Dèng Què Lóu EFFORT KNOWLEDGE LEARNING Tang dynasty Wang_Zhihuan

Y471

[Y471]

Yǔqí shòu rén liánmǐn, bùrú bèi rén dùjì.*

与其受人怜悯, 不如被人妒忌。

與其受人憐憫, 不如被人妒忌。

Lit It is better to be envied by others than to be pitied by others.

Note [See also bèi rén jìdu above.]

Topics ENVY PITY

Y472

[Y472]

Yǔ rén fāngbiàn; zìjǐ fāngbiàn.*

与人方便, 自己方便。

與人方便, 自己方便。

Lit A good turn to someone else is a good turn to oneself.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 30; also said yǔ rén fāngbiàn; yǔ jǐ fāngbiàn; yǔrén-fāngbiàn is used as an idiom meaning “to make things easy for others”; note the chengyu: zhùrén-wéilè, “to find pleasure in helping others”; see also qīng rén hái zì qīng above.]

Topics chengyu GOODNESS JW OTHERS SELF yǔrén-fāngbiàn zhùrén-wéilè

Y473

[Y473]

Yúrén guān shuǐshì, lièrén wàng niǎo fēi.

渔人观水势, 猎人望鸟飞。

漁人觀水勢, 獵人望鳥飛。

Lit Fishermen observe the movement of the water, [and] hunters watch the flight of birds.

Fig Professionals are interested in studying their own trade.

Topics PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONS STUDYING

Y474

[Y474]

Yù rén wù wén, mòruò wù yán.

欲人勿闻, 莫若勿言。

欲人勿聞, 莫若勿言。

Lit [If you do] not want others to hear [what you say], better not to say it.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Shuō Wǎn: Cóng Tán by Liu Xiang in the Han dynasty.]

Topics CAUTION Cóng Tán Han dynasty Liu Xiang RESTRAINT Shuō Wǎn SILENCE SPEECH

Y475

[Y475]

Yù shí qí rén, xiān shí qí yǒu.

欲识其人, 先识其友。

欲識其人, 先識其友。

Lit [If you] want to know this person, first [get to] know his friends.

Fig “A man is known by the company he keeps.”

Note [See also bù zhī qí rén above.]

Topics COMPANIONS FRIENDS

Y476

[Y476]

Yùshì xiángqíng, fāng suàn míngrén.

遇事详情, 方算明人。

遇事詳情, 方算明人。

Lit Only [one who, when (s)he] encounters a situation, [inquires] in detail [may be] reckoned a discerning person.

Topics CIRCUMSTANCES CURIOSITY DETAILS INTELLIGENCE

Y477

[Y477]

Yù sù zé bù dá.

欲速则不达。

欲速則不達。

Lit Desiring [more] speed but not attaining [one's goal].

Fig “The more haste, the less speed.” “Haste makes waste.”

Note [See also jí xíng wú shàn jì and jí zhōng yǒu shī and jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù and tān kuài chū chācuò above.]

Topics CAUTION HASTE SPEED

Y478

[Y478]

Yú zhǎo yú; xiā zhǎo xiā; wángbā jié le gè biē qīnjiā.

鱼找鱼, 虾找虾, 王八结了个鳖亲家。

魚找魚, 蝦找蝦, 王八結了個鱉親家。

Lit Fish seek fish [and] shrimp seek shrimp; a tortoise takes a soft-shelled turtle in marriage.

Fig “Like attracts like.” “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics COMPANIONS KINDS rhyme SIMILARITIES

Y479

[Y479]

Yú zhě àn yú chéngshì; zhìzhě jiàn yú wèi méng.

愚者闇于成事, 智者见于未萌。

愚者闇於成事, 智者見於未萌。

Lit [A] foolish person [remains in the] dark about what [has already] happened, [while an] intelligent person [can] predict what will happen before something happens.

Fig A fool is always in the dark, while a clever person can see things coming.

Note [Note: wèi méng, (lit) “not yet budded out,” (fig) “things to come.”]

Topics CLEVERNESS FOOLS FUTURE INTELLIGENCE PREDICTIONS wèi_méng

Y480

[Y480]

Yú zhě qiān lǜ, bì yǒu yī dé.

愚者千虑, 必有一得。

愚者千慮, 必有一得。

Lit [If a] fool [makes] a thousand calculations, there must be one [accidentally] correct.

Fig Even a fool occasionally hits on a good idea.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn; often used self-deprecatingly; this often occurs together with zhìzhě qiān lǜ (q.v.) below; note the chengyu: qiānlǜ-yīdé, “one good idea out of a thousand”; see also cōngming yīshì above.]

Topics CALCULATIONS chengyu FOOLS Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn PLANNING qiānlǜ-yīdé Shǐ_Jì

【L1】Z Z1

[Z1]

Zàijiā bù huì yíng bīnkè; chūmén fāng zhī shǎo gùrén.

在家不会迎宾客, 出门方知少故人。

在家不會迎賓客, 出門方知少故人。

Lit [If one] doesn't invite guests [when one is] at home, [one will] find out how few friends [one has when one] goes out.

Topics FRIENDS GUESTS HOME INVITATIONS RECIPROCITY

Z2

[Z2]

Zàijiā bù shì pín; lù pín, pín shā rén.

在家不是贫, 路贫贫杀人。

在家不是貧, 路貧貧殺人。

Note [See jiā pín, bù shì pín above.]

Z3

[Z3]

Zàijiā jìng fùmǔ; hé yòng yuǎn shāoxiāng？

在家敬父母, 何用远烧香？

在家敬父母, 何用遠燒香？

Lit [If one] respects [one's] parents at home, what need [is there to go] afar to burn incense [in temples]?

Fig One's first and highest duty is toward one's parents.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 24; note the traditional Chinese belief that the greater the distance one goes on one's pilgrimage, the more efficacious it will be.]

Topics DUTY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FILIAL PIETY PARENTS PILGRIMAGES RESPECT

Z4

[Z4]

Zàijiā kào fùmǔ; chūwài kào péngyou.*

在家靠父母, 出外靠朋友。

Lit At home one relies on one's parents [but] outside one [has to] rely on one's friends.

Note [See also zàijiā, tóu yéniáng above.]

Topics FRIENDS HELP HOME PARENTS

Z5

[Z5]

Zàijiā qiān rì hǎo; chūmén yīshí nán.*

在家千日好, 出门一时难。

在家千日好, 出門一時難。

Lit It's good to stay at home for a thousand days, [and] it's hard to leave home for a short time.

Fig “There's no place like home”; the world is a dangerous place.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 10; see also chū de mén duō and chūwài yī lǐ above.]

Topics DANGER HOME SEPARATION Suí Táng Yǎnyì TRAVEL

Z6

[Z6]

Zàijiā, tóu yéniáng; chūjiā, tóu zhǔrén.

在家投爷娘, 出家投主人。

在家投爺娘, 出家投主人。

Lit At home one relies on one's parents, [but when one] leaves home one [has to] rely on one's superior(s) [for support].

Note [Often said when looking for a job; also said zàijiā tóu diēniáng; chūmén tóu zhǔrén; cf. Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn, chap. 27; see also zàijiā kào fùmǔ above.]

Topics HELP HOME PARENTS SUPERIORS WORK Xǐngshì_Yīnyuán_Zhuàn

Z7

[Z7]

Zài rén ǎi yán xià, zěn gǎn bù dītóu？

在人矮檐下, 怎敢不低头？

在人矮檐下, 怎敢不低頭？

Note [See (jì) zài ǎi yán xià above.]

Z8

[Z8]

Zài shēng yī rì, shèng sǐ qiān nián.

在生一日, 胜死千年。

在生一日, 勝死千年。

Lit One day of life is worth more than a thousand years of death.

Note [Usually said by cowards; see also hǎo sǐ bùrú above.]

Topics COMPARISON COWARDS DEATH LIFE

Z9

[Z9]

Zǎixiàng jiā rén qī pǐn guān.

宰相家人七品官。

Lit A servant in a prime minister's family [is as powerful as a] county magistrate.

Note [Note: qī pǐn guān referred to the lowest level magistrate in the county government in the traditional imperial bureaucracy, often colloquially referred to as qī pīn zhíma guān, “a county magistrate as small as a sesame seed.”]

Topics COUNTY GOVERNMENT HIERARCHY MAGISTRATES POWER qī pǐn guān traditional_China

Z10

[Z10]

Zài yī fāng, chī yī fāng.

在一方, 吃一方。

Lit [If you're] in a place, eat [off] that place.

Fig Wherever you find yourself, make your living there.

Note [See also féngzhe hǎochù above.]

Topics HOME PLACE WORKING

Z11

[Z11]

Zāngguān bù dǎ sònglǐ rén.

赃官不打送礼人。

贓官不打送禮人。

Lit A corrupt official won't punish one who sends gifts, [so one can safely offer him a bribe].

Note [More commonly said guānfǔ bù dǎ sònglǐ de (q.v.).]

Topics BRIBERY CORRUPTION GIFTS OFFICIALS PUNISHMENT

Z12

[Z12]

Zǎnqián hǎobǐ zhēn tiāo tǔ; bài jiā yóurú shuǐ tuī shā.

攒钱好比针挑土, 败家犹如水推沙。

攢錢好比針挑土, 敗家猶如水推沙。

Lit Accumulation of money is [as slow] as picking up soil with a needle, [while the] ruination of a family is just as [fast as] water washing away the sands.

Fig It takes years of painstaking effort to build up a family's fortune, but it can all be lost overnight.

Note [Note: the first word can be pronounced either zǎnqián “to save money,” or cuánqián, “to piece together small sums of money”; see also chénglì zhī nán above.]

Topics CAUTION cuánqián MONEY RUIN TIME WEALTH zǎnqián

Z13

[Z13]

Zāo bízi bù hējiǔ, wǎng dān xūmíng.

糟鼻子不喝酒, 枉担虚名。

糟鼻子不喝酒, 枉擔虛名。

Lit [A] red-nosed [man may] not drink liquor, [but he will always] carry the false name [of drunkard].

Fig People commonly judge others by appearances only.

Topics APPEARANCES DRUNKENNESS JUDGMENTS LIQUOR

Z14

[Z14]

Zǎochén zāi xià shù, dào wǎn yào chéngliáng.

早晨栽下树, 到晚要乘凉。

早晨栽下樹, 到晚要乘涼。

Lit [If you] plant a tree in the morning, [it is unrealistic to expect to] sit in the cool [of it's shade] by the evening.

Fig One should be realistic in one's expectations.

Topics EXPECTATIONS PLANNING REALITY TIME

Z15

[Z15]

Zǎofàn chī de bǎo; zhōngfàn chī de hǎo; wǎnfàn chī de shǎo.

早饭吃得饱, 中饭吃得好, 晚饭吃得少。

早飯吃得飽, 中飯吃得好, 晚飯吃得少。

Lit Eat a full breakfast, [and] eat a good lunch, [but only] eat a small supper.

Note [Advice for good health; see also yèfàn shǎo jìn kǒu above.]

Topics BREAKFAST DINNER EATING FOOD HEALTH LUNCH

Z16

[Z16]

Zào fǎ róngyì; zhífǎ nán.

造法容易, 执法难。

造法容易, 執法難。

Lit To make a law is easy; to carry it out is difficult.

Topics LAW

Z17

[Z17]

Zǎoqǐ sān zhāo dāng yī gōng.

早起三朝当一工。

早起三朝當一工。

Lit Getting up early for three mornings is equal to one [day of] work.

Note [See also sān gè wǔgēng and yī nián zhī jì above.]

Topics EARLINESS MORNINGS TIMING WORK

Z18

[Z18]

Zào zhú qiú míng; dúshū qiú lǐ.

造烛求明, 读书求理。

造燭求明, 讀書求理。

Lit [Just as one] makes candles [in order to] get light, [so one] reads books [in order to] seek truth.

Topics BOOKS LEARNING READING STUDYING TRUTH

Z19

[Z19]

Zéi bèi gǒu yǎo, àn mèn kǔ.

贼被狗咬, 暗闷苦。

賊被狗咬, 暗悶苦。

Lit A thief bitten by a dog cannot tell his grief to others.

Fig Wrong doers must suffer in silence.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 6.]

Topics GUILT Hé Diǎn THIEVES

Z20

[Z20]

Zéi hàn, ruǎn rú mián.

贼汉软如绵。

賊漢軟如綿。

Lit A thief [when caught will pretend to be as] soft as silk.

Topics PRETENDING THIEVES

Z21

[Z21]

Zéi kǒu chū shèngzhǐ.

贼口出圣旨。

賊口出聖旨。

Lit [What] comes out of a thief's mouth [is always believed as if it were an] imperial edict.

Fig People will generally believe a thief when he accuses someone of being his accomplice; the accused can't avoid the blame.

Note [See also zéi yǎo yīkǒu below.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS BELIEF BLAME THIEVES

Z22

[Z22]

Zéi méi zhǒng, zhǐpà hǒng.

贼没种, 只怕哄。

賊沒種, 只怕哄。

Lit Thieves are not bred, [but are] just misled.

Fig Criminals are not born, but are led into a life of crime.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics CRIMINALS rhyme THIEVES

Z23

[Z23]

Zéi nán yuān; shǐ nánchī.

贼难冤, 屎难吃。

賊難冤, 屎難吃。

Lit Thievery [is as] hard to falsely accuse [someone of as] excrement is hard to eat.

Fig It is difficult to falsely charge someone with theft.

Note [Cf. Hé Diǎn, chap. 8; vs. zéi yǎo yīkǒu below.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS FALSITY Hé Diǎn THEFT

Z24

[Z24]

Zéirén ān de zéi xīncháng; lǎoshǔ zhǎo de mǐ liángcāng.*

贼人安的贼心肠, 老鼠找的米粮仓。

賊人安的賊心腸, 老鼠找的米糧倉。

Lit Thieves [always] harbor evil designs [just as] mice [are always] looking for a grain storehouse.

Fig Evildoers always harbor evil intentions and are not likely to change their characters.

Note [Rhyme; see also húli zuòmèng above.]

Topics CHARACTER EVIL INCORRIGIBILITY rhyme THIEVES

Z25

[Z25]

Zéi shì mùshū; bīng shì zhú bì.

贼是木梳, 兵是竹篦。

賊是木梳, 兵是竹篦。

Lit Thieves are [like a] wooden comb, [but] soldiers are [like a] sieve.

Fig Thieves just steal a little, but [in traditional China] soldiers take everything.

Note [Cf. Qi Jiguang's Liàn Bīng Shí Jì, chap. 9.]

Topics Liàn Bīng Shí Jì MILITARY Qi Jiguang SOLDIERS THIEVES traditional_China

Z26

[Z26]

Zéi shì xiǎorén; zhì guò jūnzǐ.

贼是小人, 智过君子。

賊是小人, 智過君子。

Lit A thief is a mean person, [but he is] smarter than a gentleman, [so beware]!

Topics CAUTION GENTLEMEN THIEVES

Z27

[Z27]

Zéi wú jiǎo, tōu bù zháo.

贼无脚, 偷不着。

賊無腳, 偷不著。

Lit Without a planted agent [i.e., someone “on the inside”], a thief cannot steal anything.

Note [See also yuǎn zéi bì yǒu jìn jiǎo above and zéi wú lì dǐ below; see also the following two entries.]

Topics BETRAYAL STEALING THIEVES

Z28

[Z28]

Zéi wú lì dǐ, zhōng dào huí.

贼无历底, 中道回。

賊無歷底, 中道回。

Lit A thief who has no agent inside [to help him will] turn back half way.

Fig A thief will give up his evil intention if he cannot find an inside agent.

Note [See also jiā zéi nán fáng and méi(yǒu) jiā zéi and yuǎn zéi bì yǒu above.]

Topics EVIL OUTSIDERS THIEVES

Z29

[Z29]

Zéi wú shú jiǎo, cùnbù nán yí.

贼无熟脚, 寸步难移。

賊無熟腳, 寸步難移。

Lit Without a planted agent, a thief can hardly move a tiny step.

Note [See also the preceding two entries.]

Topics BETRAYAL STEALING THIEVES

Z30

[Z30]

Zéi wú zāng, yìng sì gāng.

贼无赃, 硬似钢。

賊無贓, 硬似鋼。

Lit A thief without loot [will be as] hard as steel.

Fig Unless caught red-handed with the stolen goods, a thief will deny everything resolutely.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics EVIDENCE PROOF THIEVES

Z31

[Z31]

Zéi yǎo yīkǒu, rù gǔ sānfēn.

贼咬一口, 入骨三分。

賊咬一口, 入骨三分。

Lit One bite by a thief [is as deep as] three inches into the bone.

Fig One is hard put to prove oneself innocent if falsely charged by a thief.

Note [See also zéi kǒu chū shèngzhǐ above; vs. zéi nán yuān above.]

Topics ACCUSATIONS FALSITY THIEVES

Z32

[Z32]

Zhǎn cǎo bù chúgēn, chūnfēng chuī yòu shēng.*

斩草不除根, 春风吹又生。

斬草不除根, 春風吹又生。

Lit [When] cutting weeds, [if one does] not dig up the roots, [when] spring comes, [the weeds will] sprout again.

Fig Stamp out the source of trouble completely or you will be sorry later.

Note [Also said zhǎn cǎo bù chūgēn, fēng chūn fāqīng yòu shēng; see also the following entry.]

Topics ERADICATION REGRET THOROUGHNESS TROUBLE

Z33

[Z33]

Zhǎn cǎo chú gēn, méngyá bù fā.*

斩草除根, 萌芽不发。

斬草除根, 萌芽不發。

Lit [When] cutting weeds, remove the roots [so that they will] not germinate sprouts [again].

Fig Stamp out the source of trouble completely or you will be sorry later.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 49; Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 5; zhǎncǎo-chúgēn is used as an idiom meaning “to destroy root and branch”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics chengyu ERADICATION idiom Lǎo Cán Yóujì REGRET THOROUGHNESS TROUBLE WM zhǎncǎo-chúgēn

Z34

[Z34]

Zhàn de gāo, kàn de yuǎn.*

站的高, 看的远。

站的高, 看的遠。

Lit [One who] stands higher can see farther.

Fig One who is educated or in a position of authority has a broader perspective.

Note [Said of one who has a wider perspective or greater vision than others.]

Topics AUTHORITY EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE

Z35

[Z35]

Zhǎng de qiào, cái shì qiào, dǎbàn qiāo, rě rén xiào.

长得俏才是俏, 打扮俏惹人笑。

長得俏才是俏, 打扮俏惹人笑。

Lit Only [she who is] born a beauty is [a true] beauty; [she who] makes [herself] up as a beauty is a laughing stock.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics APPEARANCES BEAUTY MODESTY rhyme WOMEN

Z36

[Z36]

Zhǎngduò de (xīn) bù huāng, chéngchuán de (cái) wěndang.

掌舵的(心)不慌, 乘船的(才)稳当。

掌舵的(心)不慌, 乘船的(才)穩當。

Lit (Only) if [the] helmsman [is] not nervous, [will the] passengers feel secure.

Fig If a leader appears confident, his followers will feel secure.

Note [Also said bǎduò de bù huāng, chèngchuán de wěndang (q.v.).]

Topics APPEARANCES CONFIDENCE LEADERSHIP

Z37

[Z37]

Zhàngfu yǒu lèi bù qīng tán; zhǐ yīn wèi dào shāngxīn chù.

丈夫有泪不轻弹, 只因未到伤心处。

丈夫有淚不輕彈, 只因未到傷心處。

Lit [Real] men only weep when deeply hurt.

Fig Real men should not shed tears easily. One should save one's tears for serious hurts.

Note [See also hǎohàn liúxuè above.]

Topics CRYING FEELINGS MEN

Z38

[Z38]

Zhāng Sān yǒuqián, bù huì shǐ; Lǐ Sì huì shǐ què wú qián.

张三有钱不会使, 李四会使却无钱。

張三有錢不會使, 李四會使卻無錢。

Lit “Third Brother Zhang” is wealthy, [but] doesn't know how to [make the best] use [of it], while “Fourth Brother Li” [who does] know, has no money.

Fig That's how life is: those who have the money don't know how to use it, and those who know how don't have any.

Note [Note: Zhāng Sān Lǐ Sì, (lit) “Third Brother Zhang and Fourth Brother Li,” is an idiom equivalent to “Tom and Jack,” meaning “this one and that one.”]

Topics LIFE MONEY Zhāng_Sān_Lǐ_Sì

Z39

[Z39]

Zhǎng shàn ér jiù qí shī.

长善而救其失。

長善而救其失。

Lit [To bring into full play one's] strong points [can] make up for [one's] shortcomings.

Note [Cf. Lǐjì: Xué Jì.]

Topics ABILITY Book of Rites COMPENSATION Lǐjì SHORTCOMINGS Xué_Jì

Z40

[Z40]

Zhǎngxiōng wéi fù; (zhǎng sǎo wéi niáng).*

长兄为父, (长嫂为娘)。

長兄為父, (長嫂為娘)。

Lit [In the family] the eldest brother (and his wife) are [regarded] as father (and mother) [in the absence of the parents].

Note [A traditional Chinese view; cf. WM, chap. 24.]

Topics ELDEST BROTHER FAMILIES PARENTS PARENTS WM

Z41

[Z41]

Zhàn xiǎopiányi, chī dà kuī.

占小便宜, 吃大亏。

占小便宜, 吃大虧。

Lit [If one seeks] petty benefits, [one may] suffer great losses.

Fig “Gain a penny (only to) lose a pound.”

Note [Note: during the Cultural Revolution Liu Shaoqi was criticized for recommending chī xiǎo kuī, zhàn dà piányi (“suffer a little to gain a lot”) as a strategy for joining the Chinese Communist party; see also chī xiǎo kuī and xiǎoqián bù qù above.]

Topics BENEFITS Cultural Revolution Liu Shaoqi LOSSES PETTINESS STRATEGY

Z42

[Z42]

Zhāoxiá zhǔ yǔ; wǎnxiá zhǔ qíng.

朝霞主雨, 晚霞主晴。

Lit Rosy morning clouds indicate rain; sunset clouds mean clear weather.

Fig “Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in the morning, sailor, take warning.”

Note [Sometimes said: zǎoxiá ... ; “early morning rosy clouds”; this is an example of a qìxiàng yànyǔ or “weather proverb.”]

Topics PREDICTIONS qìxiàng yànyǔ WEATHER weather_proverb

Z43

[Z43]

Zhà rù lúwéi, bù zhī shēnqiǎn.

乍入芦圩, 不知深浅。

乍入蘆圩, 不知深淺。

Lit [When one] first enters reed marshes, [one does] not know [where are] the deeps and shallows.

Fig When one first comes into a new situation, one doesn't know how things stand (and therefore may behave tactlessly).

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 32; note: bùzhī-shēnqiǎn is a colloquial expression meaning “not know(ing) how things stand; behave tactlessly”; see also xīn lái, wǎn dào below.]

Topics BEGINNING bùzhī-shēnqiǎn CIRCUMSTANCES colloquial expression idiom UNDERSTANDING

Z44

[Z44]

Zhěn biān gàozhuàng; yīshuō biàn zhǔn.*

枕边告状, 一说便准。

枕邊告狀, 一說便準。

Lit A complaint lodged by the pillow [by a wife to her husband in bed] is taken as gospel as soon as [it is] uttered.

Fig Husbands tend to believe their wives.

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 20; see also nǚrén shì above and tīng bù tīng below.]

Topics BELIEF Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì COMPLAINTS HUSBANDS WIVES

Z45

[Z45]

Zhēn bù zhēn, kàn biàn zhī.

真不真, 看便知。

Lit [Whether it's] true or false, [one can] tell just by looking [oneself].

Topics FALSITY TRUTH

Z46

[Z46]

Zhēn dāo gè yòng.

砧刀各用。

Lit Chopping block [and] knife, each [has its own] use.

Fig Each (person or thing) has its own use.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 37.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn INDIVIDUALS USE

Z47

[Z47]

Zhēn de, jiǎ bùliǎo; jiǎ de, zhēn bùliǎo.*

真的假不了, 假的真不了。

Lit Truth won't turn into falsehood, nor vice-versa.

Note [See also shì zhēn, nán jiǎ and shì zhēn, nán miè and zhēn shì zhēn above.]

Topics CHANGE FALSITY TRUTH

Z48

[Z48]

Zhèng bùróng xié.

正不容邪。

Lit The upright cannot tolerate evil.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 2.]

Topics EVIL RECTITUDE

Z49

[Z49]

Zhèng guō pèi hǎo zào; wāi guō pèi bié zào.

正锅配好灶, 歪锅配蹩灶。

正鍋配好灶, 歪鍋配蹩灶。

Lit A good pot for a good stove [and] a bad pot for a bad stove.

Fig People usually find appropriate partners [especially in social status for marriage]. “There's no pot so ugly it can't find a lid.”

Note [See also huā duì huā and làn guō zìyǒu above.]

Topics APPROPRIATENESS COUPLES MARRIAGE PARTNERS

Z50

[Z50]

Zhěng píng bù yáo, bàn píng yáo.

整瓶不摇半瓶摇。

整瓶不搖半瓶搖。

Lit Full bottles don't shake, [while] half full ones do.

Fig The learned are modest, while those of little learning brag and boast.

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 23; see also kōng guànzi and shuǐ shēn bù xiǎng above.]

Topics BRAGGING IGNORANCE Jìnghuā Yuán LEARNING MODESTY

Z51

[Z51]

Zhèng rén xiān zhèng jǐ. / Zhèng rén xiān lǜjǐ.

正人先正己。 / 正人先律己。

Lit The upright person first disciplines himself.

Fig One who cannot discipline himself is not fit to discipline others.

Note [Cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Wàn Zhāng Shàng; see also wèi liáng tārén above.]

Topics DISCIPLINE Mencius OTHERS SELF-RESTRAINT Wàn_Zhāng_Shàng

Z52

[Z52]

Zhèng rú bīngshuāng, jiānguǐ xiāowáng; wēi rú léitíng, kòuzéi bù shēng.

政如冰霜奸宄消亡, 威如雷霆寇贼不生。

政如冰霜奸宄消亡, 威如雷霆寇賊不生。

Lit [If the] government [is as severe as] ice [and] frost, evildoers [will] disappear; [if] authority [is as powerful as a] thunder bolt, bandits and rebels [will] not appear.

Topics AUTHORITY CRIME EVIL GOVERNMENT POWER THIEVES

Z53

[Z53]

Zhēnhuà hǎoshuō; huǎnghuà nán biān.

真话好说, 谎话难编。

真話好說, 謊話難編。

Lit It's easier to tell truth [than to] fabricate lies.

Topics FALSITY LIES TRUTH

Z54

[Z54]

Zhēnjiān dà de kūlong; dǒu dà de fēng.

针尖大的窟窿, 斗大的风。

針尖大的窟窿, 斗大的風。

Lit A wind as big as a bushel [can get through a] hole as small as the point of a needle.

Fig Small oversights can result in pecks of trouble.

Note [See also xiǎo dòng bù bǔ above.]

Topics CAUTION MISTAKES RESULTS TROUBLE

Z55

[Z55]

Zhēn jīn bì fàngguāng; cuìyù bì yào cǎi.

真金必放光, 翠玉必耀彩。

Lit True gold always glitters [and] jade always sparkles.

Fig Persons of ability will show their remarkable character and wisdom wherever they may be.

Topics ABILITY TALENT WISDOM

Z56

[Z56]

Zhēn jīn bù néng zhōng xiàn.

真金不能终陷。

真金不能終陷。

Lit True gold cannot be buried [forever].

Fig A talented person will not remain unemployed (or in obscurity) forever.

Topics GOLD RECOGNITION TALENT

Z57

[Z57]

Zhēn jīn bùpà huǒ (liàn).*

真金不怕火(炼)。

真金不怕火(煉)。

Lit True gold fears no fire.

Fig A person's true worth is revealed under difficult conditions. An honest person can withstand the severest testing.

Note [See also lièhuǒ jiàn zhēnjīn above.]

Topics CHARACTER CONDITIONS GOLD PEOPLE TESTING

Z58

[Z58]

Zhēn Púsà shāo ge shénme jiǎ xiāng？

真菩萨烧个什么假香？

真菩薩燒個什麼假香？

Lit Why is false incense being burned before a real Buddha?

Fig Never burn false incense before true Buddhas. Don't tell lies indiscriminately before a discriminating person.

Note [See also zhēnrén miànqián above.]

Topics CAUTION FALSITY LIES

Z59

[Z59]

Zhēnrén bù lòuxiàng; lòuxiàng bù zhēnrén.*

真人不露相, 露相不真人。

Lit One who has attained the Way doesn't show [it]; [one who] makes a show [of it has] not attained the Way.

Fig One who is really capable doesn't show off, and those who show off aren't really capable.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 117; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 15; note: zhēnrén is a Taoist term referring to one who has attained enlightenment.]

Topics ABILITY BRAGGING DRC Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn MODESTY Taoism zhēnrén

Z60

[Z60]

Zhēnrén miànqián shuōbude jiǎhuà.*

真人面前说不得假话。

真人面前說不得假話。

Lit Before one who [knows] the truth [one] cannot tell lies.

Note [Cf. Jǐngshì Tōngyán, chap. 14; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 8; see also zhēn púsa shāo ge shénme below.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FALSITY Jǐngshì Tōngyán LIES TRUTH

Z61

[Z61]

Zhēn shì zhēn; jiǎ shì jiǎ.

真是真, 假是假。

Lit Truth is truth; falsehood is falsehood.

Fig Truth cannot be confused with falsehood.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 104; see also zhēn de, jiǎ bùliǎo above.]

Topics DRC FALSITY TRUTH

Z62

[Z62]

Zhēn wǎng nǎlǐ zuān; xiàn wǎng nǎlǐ chuān.

针往哪里钻, 线往哪里穿。

針往哪裡鑽, 線往哪裡穿。

Lit Wherever the needle goes through, the thread follows along.

Fig People follow their leaders.

Topics FOLLOWERS LEADERS

Z63

[Z63]

Zhēnxiū bǎi wèi, yī bǎo biàn xiū.

珍馐百味, 一饱便休。

珍饈百味, 一飽便休。

Lit [Even though there are many] dainty meats [and] fine dishes, once [one is really] full [one has to] stop [eating].

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 96.]

Topics EXCESS FOOD JW SATISFACTION

Z64

[Z64]

Zhēn yínzi bù xiǎng; zhēn cáizhu bù yáng.

真银子不响, 真财主不扬。

真銀子不響, 真財主不揚。

Lit [Just as] silver [should] not [be] jingle[d], [so] a truly wealthy person [should] not show off [his wealth to others].

Fig It is not wise for the wealthy to show off their wealth to others.

Note [Rhyme; see also jīn-yín bù lòubái and qiáncái bù lòu above.]

Topics CAUTION rhyme WEALTH

Z65

[Z65]

Zhè shān wàngjiàn nà shān gāo.

这山望见那山高。

這山望見那山高。

Lit [Standing on] this hill, [one] finds another hill higher.

Fig One's desire is never satisfied. “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

Note [See also rénxīn bùzú above.]

Topics DESIRE SATISFACTION

Z66

[Z66]

Zhǐ bàng mòrú zìxiū.

止谤莫如自修。

止謗莫如自修。

Lit [To] stop slander there is no [better way] than self-cultivation.

Note [Cf. Sān Guó Zhì: Wèi Shū: Wáng Chǎng Zhuàn; note: fěibàng, “slander.”]

Topics fěibàng Sān Guó Zhì SELF-CULTIVATION SLANDER Wáng Chǎng Zhuàn Wèi_Shū

Z67

[Z67]

Zhǐ bāo bu zhù huǒ.

纸包不住火。

紙包不住火。

Lit Paper cannot wrap fire.

Fig The truth cannot be hidden. The truth will come out in the end.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also bèitóu lǐ zuòshì and chái duī lǐ cáng and xuě lǐ mái bu zhù above.]

Topics EVENTUALITY SECRETS TRUTH Wǔ_Sōng

Z68

[Z68]

Zhìbìng bùrú fángbìng.

治病不如防病。

Lit Curing an illness is not as good as preventing an illness.

Fig “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Topics CURING ILLNESS PREVENTION

Z69

[Z69]

Zhī bùzú zhě hàoxué; chǐ xiàwèn zhě zìmǎn.

知不足者好学; 耻下问者自满。

知不足者好學; 恥下問者自滿。

Lit One [who is] not satisfied is good at learning; one [who is] ashamed to ask subordinates is conceited.

Note [Cf. Shěng Xīn Luò by the Northern Song dynasty poet Lin Bu; note: bù chǐ xiàwèn, “not above asking one's juniors” (if one doesn't know).]

Topics bù chǐ xià wèn CONCEIT LEARNING Lin Bu Shěng Xīn Luò SUBORDINATES

Z70

[Z70]

Zhìchéng shí shàng shēng qīngcǎo.

至诚石上生青草。

至誠石上生青草。

Lit Sincerity [makes] grass grow on a stone.

Fig Sincerity makes anything possible.

Topics SINCERITY

Z71

[Z71]

Zhìchéng (suǒ zhì), jīn shí wéi kāi.*

至诚(所至), 金石为开。

至誠(所至), 金石為開。

Lit (Whenever [there is]) sincerity, [even] metals [and] stones [can] be opened up.

Fig No difficulty is insurmountable if one is sincere.

Note [Note: jīnshí, (lit) “metal and stone,” is a literary expression symbolizing hardness; jīnshí-wéikāi, “sincerity can make metal and stone crack,” is used alone as a set phrase; see also jīngchéng suǒ zhì above.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES jīnshí-wéikāi literary expression SINCERITY

Z72

[Z72]

Zhǐ chóu bù yǎng; bù chóu bù zhǎng.

只愁不养, 不愁不长。

只愁不養, 不愁不長。

Lit [People] only worry about not [having a child born to them to] raise, not about [whether it will] grow up.

Fig Just be glad you've got a child born at all, and don't worry about its growing up, which will just happen naturally.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 27.]

Topics CHILDREN LIFE WORRIES Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Z73

[Z73]

Zhī cuò, gǎicuò, bù suàn cuò.

知错改错不算错。

知錯改錯不算錯。

Lit A mistake recognized and corrected is not a mistake.

Note [See also yǒu cuò, gǎicuò above.]

Topics CORRECTION MISTAKES

Z74

[Z74]

Zhīdǐ mò guò dāng xiāngrén.

知底莫过当乡人。

知底莫過當鄉人。

Lit No one knows a person better than his fellow natives.

Note [See also línjū yǎnjing above and zuòfàn mán bu liǎo below.]

Topics HOME KNOWING PLACE

Z75

[Z75]

Zhì dí qiān jūn; lì dí yī rén.

智敌千军, 力敌一人。

智敵千軍, 力敵一人。

Lit [With] knowledge [one can] fight [any] army [of a] thousand, [but with physical] force [one can only] fight one person.

Note [See also kào lìliang néng jǔ and the following entry.]

Topics FORCE KNOWLEDGE

Z76

[Z76]

Zhī ēn bù bào fēi jūnzǐ.

知恩不报非君子。

知恩不報非君子。

Lit [To] know kindness [and] not repay [it] is not to be a gentleman.

Fig It is ungentlemanly to forget a generous act.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 27.]

Topics FAVORS GENEROSITY GENTLEMEN JW KINDNESS REPAYMENT

Z77

[Z77]

Zhǐ ér, bù yǎnglǎo; zhǐ dì, bù dǎliáng.

指儿不养老, 指地不打粮。

指兒不養老, 指地不打糧。

Lit Don't count on your sons to support you when you're old, [just as you] don't count on the land for harvests.

Fig Don't count on others to help you. If you pin too much hope on others, you will be disappointed.

Note [See also zhǐ qīn bù fù below.]

Topics HELP HOPE PARENTS SONS SUPPORT

Z78

[Z78]

Zhí gōu diào bùliǎo yú.

直钩钓不了鱼。

直鉤釣不了魚。

Lit [A] straight fishhook can catch no fish.

Fig A straightforward person often offends people with his frankness.

Note [See also shénguǐ pà léng rén above.]

Topics FRANKNESS HONESTY STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS

Z79

[Z79]

Zhī guò bì gǎi, biànshì shèngxián.

知过必改便是圣贤。

知過必改便是聖賢。

Lit To change [after] realizing [one's own] faults is [to be a] sage.

Topics CHANGE MISTAKES SELF-KNOWLEDGE WISDOM

Z80

[Z80]

Zhījǐ dàolái, yán bùjìn.

知己到来言不尽。

知己到來言不盡。

Lit [When a] good friend comes there'll be endless talks.

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 11; see also jiǔ féng zhījǐ above.]

Topics Fēngshén Yǎnyì FRIENDS MEETING TALK

Z81

[Z81]

Zhījǐ, zhī bǐ; bǎi zhàn, bǎi shèng.*

知己知彼, 百战百胜。

知己知彼, 百戰百勝。

Lit [If you] know [your]self [and] know them, [in one] hundred battles [you'll have one] hundred victories.

Fig If you know your enemy and know yourself, you'll always be victorious.

Note [This is a colloquial phrasing of the following entry; note: zhījǐ-zhībǐ, is used as an idiom meaning “to know one's self and know the enemy,” and bǎizhàn-bǎishèng is used as an idiom meaning “(be) ever victorious”; see also the following entry.]

Topics bǎizhàn-bǎishèng CONFLICT ENEMIES FIGHTING KNOWING SELF-KNOWLEDGE STRATEGY SUCCESS zhījǐ-zhībǐ

Z82

[Z82]

Zhījǐ, zhī bǐ; bǎi zhàn bù dài.

知己知彼, 百战不殆。

知己知彼, 百戰不殆。

Lit [If you] know [your]self [and] know them, [in one] hundred battles [you'll] not [be in] danger.

Fig If you know your opposition and know yourself, you'll never be defeated.

Note [This is the original in Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ: Móu Gōng and in R3K, chap. 5 of the preceding entry; note: bǎizhàn-bùdài is used as an idiom meaning “to win battle after battle”; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Bīngfǎ CONFLICT ENEMIES FIGHTING Móu Gāng R3K SELF-KNOWLEDGE STRATEGY SUCCESS Sūnzǐ UNDERSTANDING

Z83

[Z83]

Zhì le bìng, zhì bùliǎo mìng.*

治了病, 治不了命。

Lit [One's] illness can be cured, [but one's] fate cannot.

Note [Rhyme; cf. DRC, chap. 11; see also yīshēng yī bìng above.]

Topics CURING FATE ILLNESS

Z84

[Z84]

Zhī lǐ bù guài rén; guài rén bù zhī lǐ.

知理不怪人, 怪人不知理。

Lit [Those who] understand reason(s) won't blame others [and those who] blame others don't understand reason(s).

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 4; note: zhī lǐ means “to understand reason or (the reasons) why things are the way they are.” The two halves are also used in the reverse order (q.v.).]

Topics BLAME REASON UNDERSTANDING Wǔ Sōng zhī_lǐ

Z85

[Z85]

Zhínǚ xiàng gūmā.

侄女像姑妈。

侄女像姑媽。

Lit Nieces often [behave] like [i.e., take after] [their paternal] aunts.

Note [See also wàisheng duō sì jiù above.]

Topics AUNTS BEHAVIOR NIECES RELATIVES

Z86

[Z86]

Zhǐpà bù zuò, bù pà bù pò.

只怕不做, 不怕不破。

Lit Just worry about not doing [wrong things in the first place]; don't [just] worry about being exposed.

Fig Whatever one does will become known sooner or later, so don't engage in anything you don't want known.

Note [See also ruò yào rén bù zhī and tiānxià de huàishì above.]

Topics CAUTION CONDUCT EXPOSURE RESTRAINT

Z87

[Z87]

Zhǐpà qiú ér méiyǒu; nǎpà yǒu ér nán qiú.

只怕求而没有, 哪怕有而难求。

只怕求而沒有, 哪怕有而難求。

Lit Just worry about seeking [for things that do] not exist; why worry about having difficulties getting [things] which do exist?

Fig If something actually exists, one can get it if one persists.

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 32.]

Topics PERSISTENCE Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Z88

[Z88]

Zhǐ qīn bù fù; kàn zuǐ bù bǎo.

指亲不富, 看嘴不饱。

指親不富, 看嘴不飽。

Lit [You] won't get rich by counting on [your] relatives [for help, just as you will] never get full by looking at [others] eating.

Fig Don't count on others for help.

Note [See also zhǐ ér, bù yǎnglǎo above.]

Topics HELP OTHERS SUPPORT

Z89

[Z89]

Zhīqíng bù jǔ, zuì jiā yī děng.*

知情不举, 罪加一等。

知情不舉, 罪加一等。

Lit [If one] knows [the details of a criminal] activity [but does] not report [it to the authorities, one's] punishment [should be even] one degree more [severe than the culprit's].

Note [Cf. the Qing dynasty novel Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 81; see jiǎnjǔ, “report an offense to the authorities.”]

Topics CRIME jiǎnjǔ PUNISHMENT Sān_Xiá_Wǔ_Yì

Z90

[Z90]

Zhìqīn wú wén.

至亲无文。

至親無文。

Lit Among close [relatives and friends], there is no [need to stand on] ceremony.

Note [Cf. the Confucian Lǐjì: Lǐ Qì; note: xūwén, “empty forms of courtesy.”]

Topics Book of Rites COURTESY FORMALITY FRIENDS Lǐjì Lǐ Qì RELATIVES xūwén

Z91

[Z91]

Zhǐ rènde zhēngyǎn Jīngāng; rènbude bì yǎnjing Fó.

只认得睁眼金刚, 认不得闭眼睛佛。

只認得睜眼金剛, 認不得閉眼睛佛。

Lit [One can] only recognize the guardian warriors [of the Buddha] with their eyes [glaring] wide open, [but] one does not recognize the Buddha with his eyes closed.

Fig One is usually on guard against frightening-looking people, but one should be even more wary of the wickedness of quiet people.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 9; see also bùpà hóngliǎn Guān Yé and míng qiāng yì duǒ above.]

Topics CAUTION DECEIT EVIL QUIET TRICKERY Wǔ_Sōng

Z92

[Z92]

Zhī rén zhě zhì, zìzhī zhě míng.

知人者智, 自知者明。

Lit [One who] knows others [is] intelligent; [one who] knows himself is wise.

Note [Cf. Lǎozǐ (Dào Dé Jīng), chap. 33; also said zhī rén zhě zhì; zhījǐ zhě míng.]

Topics Dào Dé Jīng INTELLIGENCE KNOWING Lǎozǐ OTHERS SELF-KNOWLEDGE WISDOM

Z93

[Z93]

Zhī rén, zhī miàn; bù zhī xīn.*

知人知面不知心。

Lit [To] know people [is to] know [their] faces, [but] not [to] know [their] hearts.

Fig It is easy to know people's faces, but not to know what is in their minds.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 51; DRC, chap. 94; also said zhī rén, zhī miàn; zén zhī qí xīn; see also hǎi kū zhōng jiàn and huà lóng, huà hǔ and suī yǒu qīn fù above.]

Topics KNOWING MINDS TRUST

Z94

[Z94]

Zhī shǒu nán zhē tiānxià mù.

只手难遮天下目。

隻手難遮天下目。

Lit [A] single hand cannot cover the eyes of all the people under heaven.

Fig “You can't fool all the people all the time.”

Note [Note: zhēyǎn, zhēgài, “to hide; to cover up”; see also nán jiāng yī rén shǒu and yī shǒu bù néng above.]

Topics DECEPTION LIMITATIONS

Z95

[Z95]

Zhì sǐ, wú dàshì.

至死无大事。

至死無大事。

Lit [To one who is] near to death, nothing is dreadful.

Topics DEATH DETERMINATION FEAR

Z96

[Z96]

Zhì wù bù qióng; mài wù bù fù.

置物不穷, 卖物不富。

置物不窮, 賣物不富。

Lit Buying [ordinary household] things [will] not [make one] poor, nor [will] selling them make [one] rich.

Fig Whether one is rich or poor does not depend on one's occasional expenditures or incidental income, but rather on one's regular source of income, so live within your budget.

Topics BUDGETING ECONOMY POVERTY WEALTH

Z97

[Z97]

Zhī wú bù yán, yán wú bùjìn; (yán zhě wúzuì, wén zhě zú jiè).*

知无不言, 言无不尽; (言者无罪, 闻者足戒)。

知無不言, 言無不盡; (言者無罪, 聞者足戒)。

Lit [Of what you] know there [should] be nothing [which] is not said, [and in what is] said there [should] be no holding back; (the speaker [will] be guiltless [and the] hearer [will] learn a lesson).

Fig Say all you know and say it without reserve; (you will not be blamed, and your hearers will learn from it).

Note [The first part is from Jìn Shū: Liú Cōng Zài Jì; the second part is from Shījīng (Poetry Classic): Dà Xù; often quoted together by Mao Zedong; see also chéngqián-bìhòu above.]

Topics BLAME Dà Xù EXAMPLE Jìn Shū KNOWING Liú Cōng Zài Jì Mao Zedong Poetry Classic SELF-RESTRAINT Shījīng SPEECH

Z98

[Z98]

Zhí xiàng gǎn gǒu, huítóu yīkǒu.

直巷赶狗, 回头一口。

直巷趕狗, 回頭一口。

Lit [A] dog [being] driven [in a] straight lane [i.e., with no outlets] [will] turn around [and] bite.

Fig Don't press people too hard. “Even a worm will turn.”

Note [Rhyme; see also gǒu jí tiào qiáng and hàozi jíle and tùzi jíle above.]

Topics DESPERATION RESTRAINT rhyme

Z99

[Z99]

Zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fànghuǒ; bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng.

只许州官放火, 不许百姓点灯。

只許州官放火, 不許百姓點燈。

Lit Only the officials are permitted to set fires, [but] the common people are not [even] permitted to light lanterns.

Fig Great folks may set the town on fire, but the common people can't even light lanterns. “One may steal a horse while another may not look over a hedge.”

Note [This yanyu refers to a prefectural governor named Tian Deng who is said to have tabooed the use of any words homophonous with any part of his name. Thus he declared that the traditional displaying of lanterns at the Lantern Festival could not be referred to as fàng dēng, “displaying lanterns,” but only as fànghuǒ, “setting fires,” and the common people were forbidden to refer to diǎn dēng, “lighting lanterns.” See Gǔ-Jīn Tán Gài (chap. 1) by Féng Mèng Lóng. Note: (lǎo)bǎixìng, (lit) “(old) hundred surnames,” is a traditional term for the common people.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE Féng Mèng Lóng Gǔ-Jīn Tán Gài INFERIORS Lantern Festival lǎobǎixìng PRIVILEGES SOCIAL CLASS SUPERIORS Tian_Deng

Z100

[Z100]

Zhì yǎng qiān kǒu; lì yǎng yī rén.

智养千口, 力养一人。

智養千口, 力養一人。

Lit Knowledge [can] support [a] thousand people, [but physical] strength [can only] support one person.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics FORCE KNOWLEDGE STRENGTH

Z101

[Z101]

(Zhǐyào gōngfu shēn,) tiěchǔ móchéng zhēn.*

(只要工夫深,) 铁杵磨成针。

(只要工夫深,) 鐵杵磨成針。

Lit (With enough hard work,) an iron rod can be ground [down] into a needle.

Fig Persistence and hard work can accomplish great feats; “many strokes fell great oaks.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. Sun Jinbiao's Tōng Sú Cháng Yán Sū Zhèng, vol. 3; Píng Yāo Zhuàn, chap. 10. This saying is also the basis of a popular story about the famous Tang dynasty poet Li Bo as a child. The second half is often used alone as an idiomatic phrase. See also gōng dào, zìrán chéng and tiědǎ fángliáng above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT DILIGENCE idiom Li Bo Li Bo PERSISTENCE Píng Yāo Zhuàn SUCCESS Tang dynasty Tōng Sú Cháng Yán Sū Zhèng WORK

Z102

[Z102]

Zhǐyào jiǎng huā qí, bùpà lànghuā jí.

只要桨花齐, 不怕浪花急。

只要槳花齊, 不怕浪花急。

Lit As long as [everyone] rows in unison, [there is] no [need to] fear rough waves.

Fig As long as everyone “pulls together,” difficult situations can always be surmounted.

Note [Rhyme; see also bùpà fēnglàng dà above.]

Topics COOPERATION DIFFICULTIES rhyme SUCCESS

Z103

[Z103]

Zhǐyào rénshǒu duō, páilóu tái guò hé.

只要人手多, 牌楼抬过河。

只要人手多, 牌樓抬過河。

Lit As long as there are enough people's hands, a memorial arch can be carried across the river.

Fig Any difficulty can be overcome so long as there is enough manpower.

Note [Cf. Dàng Kòu Zhì, chap. 77; note: rénshǒu, (lit) “human hands,” means “manpower”; see also zhòng qíng yì jǔ below.]

Topics COOPERATION Dàng Kòu Zhì DIFFICULTIES PEOPLE rénshǒu SOLUTIONS

Z104

[Z104]

Zhǐyào xiān shàng chuán, zìrán xiān dào àn.

只要先上船, 自然先到岸。

Lit Just be the first on board [the ship, and you'll] naturally be the first on shore.

Fig Act sooner and you'll achieve your goal sooner.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 30; see also xiān xià mǐ and xiān xiàshǒu above and zhōngyuán zhú lù below.]

Topics ACTION EARLINESS Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn STRATEGY SUCCESS

Z105

[Z105]

Zhǐyǒu bù kuài de fǔ; méiyǒu pībukāi de chái.

只有不快的斧, 没有劈不开的柴。

只有不快的斧, 沒有劈不開的柴。

Lit There are only blunt axes, [but] no firewood that cannot be split.

Fig There are incapable people, but no difficulties that cannot be surmounted.

Topics ABILITY DIFFICULTIES PERSISTENCE

Z106

[Z106]

Zhǐyǒu cuò zhuō; méiyǒu cuò fàng.

只有错捉, 没有错放。

只有錯捉, 沒有錯放。

Lit There may be [cases of] wrongful arrest, [but] there [should] never be [cases of criminals] wrongly set free.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 97.]

Topics ARREST COURTS CRIMINALS JUDGMENT JW

Z107

[Z107]

Zhǐyǒu dòngsǐ de cāngying; méiyǒu lèisǐ de mìfēng.

只有冻死的苍蝇, 没有累死的蜜蜂。

只有凍死的蒼蠅, 沒有累死的蜜蜂。

Lit There are flies that freeze to death, but no bees that die of fatigue.

Fig There are lazy people who die of cold, but there are no hard-working people who die of diligence.

Topics DEATH DILIGENCE EFFORT LAZINESS

Z108

[Z108]

Zhǐyǒu jǐnshàng-tiānhuā; nǎ dé xuězhōng-sòngtàn？

只有锦上添花, 哪得雪中送炭？

只有錦上添花, 哪得雪中送炭？

Lit There are [people who] “add flowers onto brocade,” [but] when did [anyone ever] “send charcoal in snowy weather.”

Fig There will always be people who come to flatter you when you are successful, but no one will come to help you when you are in need; the world is full of “fair weather friends,” but “nobody knows you when you're down and out.”

Note [Cf. Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 20; also said jǐnshàng-tiānhuā ... (q.v.). Note: jǐnshàng-tiānhuā and xuězhōng-sòngtàn are both chengyu; see also jǐnshàng-tiānhuā and xuězhōng-sòngtàn above.]

Topics chengyu Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì FAIR-WEATHER FLATTERY FRIENDSHIP HELP HELPING jǐnshàng-tiānhuā MONEY NEED SINCERITY SUCCESS xuězhōng-sòngtàn

Z109

[Z109]

Zhǐyǒu qiān rì zuò zéi; nǎ yǒu qiān rì fáng zéi？

只有千日做贼, 哪有千日防贼？

只有千日做賊, 哪有千日防賊？

Lit One may be a thief for a thousand days, but one cannot be on guard against thieves for an equally long time.

Fig It's easy to be a thief, but difficult to be on guard against thieves; one's vigilance is always bound to slacken.

Note [Cf. Suí Táng Yǎnyì, chap. 33.]

Topics CAUTION Suí Táng Yǎnyì THIEVES VIGILANCE

Z110

[Z110]

Zhǐyǒu shèng zhōu, shèngfàn; méiyǒu shèng ér, shèng nǚ.

只有剩粥剩饭, 没有剩儿剩女。

只有剩粥剩飯, 沒有剩兒剩女。

Lit There may be porridge or rice left over, [but] there are no leftover sons or daughters [who cannot find a match in marriage].

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 4.]

Topics COUPLES LEFTOVERS MARRIAGE Wǔ_Sōng

Z111

[Z111]

Zhìzhě guì yú chéng shí.

智者贵于乘时。

智者貴於乘時。

Lit A wise person values an opportune time.

Fig A wise person seizes the chance when he can; “carpe diem.”

Note [Cf. R3K.]

Topics carpe diem OPPORTUNITY R3K TIMING WISDOM

Z112

[Z112]

Zhìzhě kàn huǒ; yú zhě kàn guō.

智者看火, 愚者看锅。

智者看火, 愚者看鍋。

Lit An intelligent person watches the fire [while] a foolish person watches the pot.

Fig A clever person pays attention to the crucial points of a problem, while a foolish person only observes superficial phenomena.

Note [See also cǎo bù mí yīng yǎn above.]

Topics ATTENTION CLEVERNESS FOOLS INTELLIGENCE KEY_POINTS

Z113

[Z113]

Zhìzhě lè shuǐ; rén zhě lè shān.

智者乐水, 仁者乐山。

智者樂水, 仁者樂山。

Lit Wise people are fond of water [and] kindhearted ones like mountains.

Fig People of different characters have different interests. “Different strokes for different folks.”

Note [Cf. the Confucian Analects: Lúnyǔ: Yōng Yě.]

Topics CHARACTER Confucian Analects DIFFERENCES INDIVIDUALS INTERESTS Lúnyǔ Yōng_Yě

Z114

[Z114]

Zhìzhě qiān lǜ, bì yǒu yī shī; (yú zhě qiān lǜ, bì yǒu dé).

智者千虑必有一失, (愚者千虑必有得)。

智者千慮必有一失, (愚者千慮必有得)。

Lit [Even though a] wise person [may] consider [issues a] thousand [times, nevertheless] there must be [at least] one error; (a fool [may] consider [issues a] thousand [times, and] there must be one [time (s)he] gets [it right]).

Fig Even the wise are not always free from error, (and sometimes even a fool can get lucky). “Even Homer sometimes nods.”

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn; the two halves are often used independently or in reversed order. The second part may be omitted. Note the chengyu: qiānlǜ-yīshī, “one miss in a thousand”; see also cōngming yīshì and shèngrén yě yǒu above.]

Topics CALCULATIONS chengyu FOOLS Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn INTELLIGENCE LUCK MISTAKES PLANNING qiānlǜ-yīshī Shǐ_Jì

Z115

[Z115]

Zhī zhǐ cháng zhǐ, zhōngshēn bù chǐ.

知止常止, 终身不耻。

知止常止, 終身不恥。

Lit [One who] knows [when] to stop [and] always does [is] never humiliated.

Note [Rhyme; see chǐrǔ, “humiliation.”]

Topics chǐrǔ HUMILIATION RESTRAINT rhyme

Z116

[Z116]

Zhǐ zhī wǒ wàimiàn xíngzhuàng; nǎ zhī wǒ dù nèi wénzhāng？

只知我外面形状, 哪知我肚内文章？

只知我外面形狀, 哪知我肚內文章？

Lit One may know [someone's] appearance, [but] how can one know what's in [someone's] mind?

Fig One can never truly know what is in others' hearts or minds.

Note [Rhyme; see also rén dào nánchù and sān nián shí mǎ xìng above.]

Topics APPEARANCES HEARTS LIMITATIONS MINDS rhyme UNDERSTANDING

Z117

[Z117]

Zhīzú bù rǔ; zhī zhǐ bù dài.

知足不辱, 知止不殆。

Lit [One who] knows how [to be] content [will] not be disgraced; [one who] knows [when to] stop [will] not be in danger.

Note [Cf. Lǎozi (Dào Dé Jīng), chap. 44.]

Topics CAUTION CONTENTMENT Dào Dé Jīng DISGRACE SELF-RESTRAINT

Z118

[Z118]

Zhīzú, shēn cháng lè; néng rěn, xīn zì ān.

知足身常乐, 能忍心自安。

知足身常樂, 能忍心自安。

Lit Being content with what one has brings happiness; [one who] can exercise forbearance [will be] peaceful at heart.

Note [Also said zhīzúzhě cháng lè ... and zhīzú, xīn cháng lè ... ; as a chengyu: zhīzú-chánglè; see also rú bù zhīzú above.]

Topics chengyu CONTENTMENT DESIRE FORBEARANCE HAPPINESS PEACE zhīzú-chánglè

Z119

[Z119]

Zhōng bù dǎ, bù xiǎng; huà bù shuō, bùmíng.*

钟不打不响, 话不说不明。

鐘不打不響, 話不說不明。

Lit [Just as a] bell not struck won't make sounds, [so if] explanations are not made, [matters will] not be understood.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 5; see also huà bù shuō, bùmíng above.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EXPLANATIONS UNDERSTANDING

Z120

[Z120]

Zhōngchén bù shì èr jūn; zhēnnǚ bù jià èr fū.

忠臣不事二君, 贞女不嫁二夫。

忠臣不事二君, 貞女不嫁二夫。

Lit [Just as a] loyal minister does not serve two rulers, [so a] faithful woman won't marry two husbands.

Fig A widowed woman will not re-marry.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Tiān Dān Lièzhuàn; note: zhēnnǚ, “faithful widow”; see also yī chén bù shì and yī mǎ bù kuà above.]

Topics MARRIAGE Shǐ Jì Tiān Dān Lièzhuàn WIDOWS WOMEN zhēnnǚ

Z121

[Z121]

Zhòng guā, dé guā; zhòng dòu, dé dòu.

种瓜得瓜, 种豆得豆。

種瓜得瓜, 種豆得豆。

Lit [If one] plants melons, [one will] get melons; [if one] plants beans, [one will] get beans.

Fig “As one sows, so shall one reap.”

Note [See also ná fǔ de dé above.]

Topics HARVEST INVESTMENT RETURNING

Z122

[Z122]

Zhònghuā yī nián; kàn huā shí rì.*

种花一年, 看花十日。

種花一年, 看花十日。

Lit [Those who] look at flowers [for] ten days [can't appreciate the labors of those who] tended the flowers [for] one year.

Fig Those who enjoy the fruits of other people's labors don't know, or ought to consider, the hard work of those who produced them.

Note [See also kàn rén tiāodàn above.]

Topics OTHERS PRODUCTION WORK

Z123

[Z123]

Zhōngjiān méi rén, shì nán chéng.

中间没人事难成。

中間沒人事難成。

Lit Nothing can be accomplished without go-betweens.

Note [See also tiānshàng wú yún above.]

Topics ACCOMPLISHMENT GO-BETWEENS

Z124

[Z124]

Zhòng kǒu nán tiáo.

众口难调。

眾口難調。

Lit [All] people's tastes [are] difficult to cater to.

Fig It's hard to please everyone.

Note [Note: zhòngkǒu-nántiáo is used as a set phrase.]

Topics DIFFICULTIES TASTES zhòngkǒu-nántiáo

Z125

[Z125]

Zhòng kǒu shuò jīn.

众口铄金。

眾口鑠金。

Lit The masses' mouths [can] melt metals.

Fig Popular opinion can confound right and wrong. If enough mud is thrown, some of it will stick.

Note [Note: zhòngkǒu-shuòjīn is sometimes treated as a set phrase.]

Topics JUDGMENTS MASSES MISTAKES PUBLIC OPINION REPUTATION zhòngkǒu-shuòjīn

Z126

[Z126]

Zhòng nù nán fàn.

众怒难犯。

眾怒難犯。

Lit It is dangerous to incur public wrath.

Note [Note: zhòngnù-nánfàn is sometimes treated as a set phrase; see also the following entry.]

Topics ANGER DANGER PUBLIC OPINION zhòngnù-nánfàn

Z127

[Z127]

Zhòngnù rú shuǐhuǒ.

众怒如水火。

眾怒如水火。

Lit The people's indignation is as [fierce as] flood [and] fire.

Note [Cf. Zuǒ Zhuàn: Zhāo Gōng 13 Nián and Shǐ Jì: Chù Shì Jiā; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Chù Shì Jiā INDIGNATION PUBLIC OPINION Shǐ Jì Zhāo Gōng 13 Nián Zuǒ_Zhuàn

Z128

[Z128]

Zhòng qíng yì jǔ.

众擎易举。

眾擎易舉。

Lit [When there are a] multitude lifting, [it's] easy to lift [a load].

Fig “Many hands make light work.”

Note [Note: zhòngqíng-yìjǔ is sometimes treated as a set phrase.]

Topics COOPERATION WORK zhòngqíng-yìjǔ

Z129

[Z129]

Zhòngrén de zhìhuì; yī rén de cáihuá.

众人的智慧, 一人的才华。

眾人的智慧, 一人的才華。

Lit [A proverb is the] wisdom of many people, [and the] talent of one person.

Topics PROVERBS WISDOM

Z130

[Z130]

Zhòngrén shíchái, huǒyàn gāo.*

众人拾柴火焰高。

眾人拾柴火焰高。

Lit [When there are] many people [to] gather firewood, the fire burns high.

Fig “Many hands make light work.”

Note [Quoted by Mao Zedong in opposition to a policy for population control proposed by Ma Yanchu in the 1950s; see also rén duō, lìliàng dà above.]

Topics COOPERATION FIRES Mao Zedong Ma Yanchu PEOPLE POPULATION WORK

Z131

[Z131]

Zhòngrén shì shèngrén.

众人是圣人。

眾人是聖人。

Lit A group of people is [equal to one] sage.

Fig “Many heads are better than one.”

Note [See also sān gè chòu píjiàng above.]

Topics COOPERATION GROUPS WISDOM

Z132

[Z132]

Zhòngrén (yǎnjing) shì gǎnchèng; jīnliǎng chēng fēnmíng.

众人(眼睛)是杆秤, 斤两称分明。

眾人(眼睛)是桿秤, 斤兩稱分明。

Lit (The eyes of) the masses are [like] a steelyard [scales on which] catties [and] ounces are weighed accurately.

Fig Public opinion is objective.

Note [Note the Communist slogan: zhòng mù zhāozhāng, “the masses are sharp-eyed”; note: jīnliǎng, (lit) “catties [and] ounces,” means “weight”; see also lùshang xíngrén and rén yǎn shì and tiānxià qiányǎnr and zhīdǐ mò guò above.]

Topics COMMON PEOPLE Communist slogan jīnliǎng JUDGMENTS MASSES PUBLIC OPINION SCALES zhòngmù_zhāozhāng

Z133

[Z133]

Zhòngrén yīxīn, fèntǔ biàn jīn.

众人一心, 粪土变金。

眾人一心, 糞土變金。

Lit [If] many people [are of] one mind, dung [and] dirt [can be] turned into gold.

Note [Rhyme: see also sān rén yītiáoxīn and xiélì shān chéng yù and yī jiā tóngxīn above.]

Topics COOPERATION SUCCESS

Z134

[Z134]

Zhòngshǎng zhīxià, bì yǒu yǒng fū.*

重赏之下必有勇夫。

重賞之下必有勇夫。

Lit Under [the influence of a] weighty reward, there must be someone brave [enough to take on any difficult task].

Note [Cf. Fēngshén Yǎnyì, chap. 87; see also gǔlái fāng ěr above.]

Topics CHALLENGES COURAGE DIFFICULTIES Fēngshén Yǎnyì REWARDS

Z135

[Z135]

Zhōngshēn rànglù, bù wǎng bǎi bù.

终身让路, 不枉百步。

終身讓路, 不枉百步。

Lit [If] all [one's] life [one] yields [the right of] way to others, [it will] not cost [you a] hundred steps.

Fig It costs one nothing to be modest and polite.

Note [Rhyme; see yuānwang, “in vain.”]

Topics CONCESSIONS MODESTY POVERTY YIELDING yuānwang

Z136

[Z136]

Zhòngtián bù shú bùrú huāng; yǎng ér bùxiào bùrú wú.

种田不熟不如荒, 养儿不孝不如无。

種田不熟不如荒, 養兒不孝不如無。

Lit [Just as] tilling the land [and] not [getting a] harvest is not as good as [just leaving it lie] fallow, [so] raising a son [who is] not filial is not as good as having no [son at all].

Note [Cf. Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 17.]

Topics FILIAL PIETY HARVEST LAND SONS Xǐngshì_Héngyán

Z137

[Z137]

Zhòngtián fú/bù lí tiántóu; dúshū fú/bù lí àntóu.

种田弗/不离田头, 读书弗/不离案头。

種田弗/不離田頭, 讀書弗/不離案頭。

Lit A farmer never leaves [his] fields, nor a scholar his desk.

Fig One has to be diligent and persistent in one's work.

Note [From the Qing dynasty proverb collection Yuè Yàn, vol. 1 by Fan Yan.]

Topics DILIGENCE Fan Yan FARMERS PERSISTENCE Qing dynasty SCHOLARS Yuè_Yàn

Z138

[Z138]

Zhōngyán nì'ěr (lìyú xíng).

忠言逆耳(利于行)。

忠言逆耳(利於行)。

Lit Honest advice [although it] is unpleasant to the ear (induces good conduct).

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Liú Hòu Shì Jiā; the first part, often used alone as a chengyu: zhōngyán nì'ěr meaning: “the truth hurts,” or like the first part of a xiehouyu, paraphrases Hán Fēizǐ: Wài Chǔ Shuō Zuǒ Shàng; see also liángyào kǔkǒu above.]

Topics ADVICE chengyu CONDUCT Hán Fēizǐ HONESTY Liú Hòu Shì Jiā Shǐ Jì Wài Chǔ Shuō Zuǒ Shàng xiehouyu zhōngyán_nì_ěr

Z139

[Z139]

Zhōngyuán zhú lù, jié zú xiān dé.

中原逐鹿, 捷足先得。

Lit [When] chasing deer [on the] plains, [the one who] runs faster [will] achieve [his goal] first.

Fig When there are many rivals competing, the one who strikes first will win.

Note [Note the chengyu: zhúlù-zhōngyuán, “to fight among rivals for the throne”; see also xiān xià mǐ and xiān xiàshǒu and zhǐyào xiān shàng chuán above.]

Topics chengyu COMPETITION RIVALS STRATEGY SUCCESS zhúlù-zhōngyuán

Z140

[Z140]

Zhōng zài sì lǐ, shēng zài wàibiān.

钟在寺里, 声在外边。

鐘在寺裡, 聲在外邊。

Lit [Although the] bell is housed in the temple, [its] sound [spreads] outside.

Fig No secret can be hidden forever.

Note [Cf. Niè Hǎi Huā, chap. 16.]

Topics Niè Hǎi Huā SECRETS

Z141

[Z141]

Zhōng zài sìyuàn, yīn zàiwài.

钟在寺院, 音在外。

鐘在寺院, 音在外。

Lit [The] bell is [in the] temple, [but its] sound is outside.

Fig What happens inside will become known outside. It's impossible to keep secrets for long.

Note [See also gǔ zhōng yú gōng above.]

Topics EXPOSURE SECRETS

Z142

[Z142]

Zhòng zhì chéng chéng.

众志成城。

眾志成城。

Lit [The united] will of the masses becomes [like a] fortress.

Fig In unity there is strength.

Note [Cf. Guó Yǔ: Zhōu Yǔ, Xià; note: zhòngzhì-chéngchéng is treated as a set phrase.]

Topics COOPERATION Guó Yǔ MASSES STRENGTH UNITY WILL zhòngzhì-chéngchéng Zhōu_Yǔ_Xià

Z143

[Z143]

Zhǒngzǐ gé nián liú; zǎi nǚ qián shì xiū.

种子隔年留, 崽女前世修。

種子隔年留, 崽女前世修。

Lit [Just as] good seeds are kept [and passed on] from one year to the next, [so good] sons [and] daughters [are born because in a] previous life [their parents were] virtuous.

Note [Rhyme: a popular superstition in traditional China.]

Topics BIRTH CHILDREN PARENTS REINCARNATION VIRTUE

Z144

[Z144]

Zhōu fù nǎi jiàn shàn yóu.

舟覆乃见善游。

舟覆乃見善游。

Lit [When the] boat turns over, then [it will be] seen [who is the] best swimmer.

Note [Cf. Huái Nán Zǐ: Shuō Lín Xùn.]

Topics DIFFICULTY EXPERIENCE Huái Nán Zǐ Shuō_Lín_Xùn

Z145

[Z145]

Zhóulǐ duōle, shìfēi duō; xiǎogū duōle, máfan duō.

妯娌多了是非多, 小姑多了麻烦多。

妯娌多了是非多, 小姑多了麻煩多。

Lit The more brothers' wives [there are], the more disputes [there will be]; the more [unmarried] husbands' sisters [there are], the more trouble [there will be].

Fig The more women, either married in or not yet married off, that there are in a family, the more quarrels and disputes there will be.

Note [Said of large extended families in traditional China.]

Topics EXTENDED FAMILIES FAMILIES QUARRELING SISTERS-IN-LAW TROUBLE WOMEN

Z146

[Z146]

Zhuāngjiarén kàn tiān, dǎyú rén kàn chǎo.

庄稼人看天, 打鱼人看潮。

莊稼人看天, 打魚人看潮。

Lit Farmers [always] watch the sky [and] fishermen watch the tides.

Fig People in different specialties must be concerned with different things.

Note [See also the following entry.]

Topics DIFFERENCES PROFESSIONS SPECIALITIES

Z147

[Z147]

Zhuāngjiarén shí bù wán gǔ; dǎyǔ rén shí bù wán yú.

庄稼人识不完谷, 打鱼人识不完鱼。

莊稼人識不完穀, 打魚人識不完魚。

Lit [A] farmer doesn't know all [kinds of] grain; nor [does a] fisherman know all [kinds of] fish.

Fig Even a specialist doesn't (necessarily) know everything.

Note [See also the preceding entry.]

Topics KNOWLEDGE LIMITATIONS SPECIALITIES

Z148

[Z148]

Zhǔ bù chī, kè bù yǐn.

主不吃, 客不饮。

主不吃, 客不飲。

Lit [At a dinner if] the host hasn't [invited the guests to] eat, the guests [should] not [even take a] drink.

Fig Guests should wait for their host(ess) to invite them to begin eating.

Note [Cf. Jìnghuā Yuán, chap. 37.]

Topics COURTESY FOOD GUESTS HOSTS Jìnghuā_Yuán

Z149

[Z149]

Zhǔ bù qī bīn.

主不欺宾。

主不欺賓。

Lit A host should not bully his guests.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 15.]

Topics BULLYING Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn GUESTS HOSTS

Z150

[Z150]

Zhū duō, ròu jiàn.*

猪多肉贱。

豬多肉賤。

Lit The more pigs [there are], the cheaper the [price of] pork.

Fig The more common things are, the less they are valued.

Topics ORDINARINESS VALUE

Z151

[Z151]

Zhǔ gùn, yào zhǔ cháng de; jiēbàn yào jiē qiáng de.

拄棍要拄长的, 结伴要结强的。

拄棍要拄長的, 結伴要結強的。

Lit [When] leaning on a walking stick, lean on a long one; [when] making friends, choose powerful ones.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics FRIENDS POWER POWER STRENGTH

Z152

[Z152]

Zhū kùn, zhǎng ròu; rén kùn, mài wū.

猪睏长肉, 人困卖屋。

豬睏長肉, 人睏賣屋。

Lit [Just as a] lazy pig gains weight, [so a] lazy person sells [his] house.

Fig Laziness can ruin a family.

Topics FAMILIES LAZINESS

Z153

[Z153]

Zhū mà wūyā hēi.

猪骂乌鸦黑。

豬罵烏鴉黑。

Lit The pig scolds the crow [for being] black.

Fig One should not criticize faults in others which one has oneself. “The pot calling the kettle black.”

Note [See also wūguī mò xiào biē and tiě guàn mò shuō above.]

Topics CRITICISM FAULTS

Z154

[Z154]

Zhūmén jiǔròu chòu, lù yǒu dòngsǐ gǔ.

朱门酒肉臭, 路有冻死骨。

朱門酒肉臭, 路有凍死骨。

Lit The vermilion gates [of the rich] reek of [leftover] wine [and] meat, [while by the] roadside lie the bones [of those who have] frozen to death.

Note [A line from a poem paraphrasing Mencius by the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu entitled: “Zì Jīng Fù Féngxiān Yǒnghuái Wǔ Bǎi Zì”; note: zhūmén refers to the red-lacquered doors of wealthy homes.]

Topics COMPARISON DEATH Du Fu FOOD Mencius POVERTY SOCIAL CLASS Tang dynasty WEALTH zhūmén Zì_Jīng_Fù_Féngxiān

Z155

[Z155]

Zhūmén shēng èpiǎo, bái wū chū gōngqīng.

朱门生饿殍, 白屋出公卿。

朱門生餓殍, 白屋出公卿。

Lit Descendants from the vermilion gates [of the rich may] starve to death, [and] the thatched houses of the poor [may] produce high officials.

Note [Cf. Liàn Bīng Shí Jì: chap. 9, by the Ming dynasty patriot Qi Jiguang; Xǐngshì Héngyán, chap. 2; note: zhūmén refers to the red-lacquered doors of wealthy homes.]

Topics CHANGE Liàn Bīng Shí Jì Ming dynasty OFFICIALS POVERTY Qi Jiguang WEALTH Xǐngshì Héngyán zhūmén

Z156

[Z156]

Zhuó fù mòrú qīngpín.

浊富莫如清贫。

濁富莫如清貧。

Lit Filthy riches are not as good as honest poverty.

Topics COMPARISON POVERTY WEALTH

Z157

[Z157]

Zhuōjiān jiàn shuāng; zhuō zéi jiàn zāng; shārén jiàn shāng.

捉奸见双, 捉贼见脏, 杀人见伤。

捉奸見雙, 捉賊見臟, 殺人見傷。

Lit To catch adulterers, find [the adulterous] pair; to catch a thief, find the loot; [to prove] murder, show the injuries.

Fig In order to prove that a crime has been committed, evidence must be presented.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 26; Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō, chap. 38; Lǎo Cán Yóujì, chap. 19.]

Topics ADULTERY CRIME EVIDENCE Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō Lǎo Cán Yóujì MURDER PROOF THEFT WM

Z158

[Z158]

Zhuōzhù Púsà, bùpà Jīngāng bùfú.

捉住菩萨, 不怕金刚不服。

捉住菩薩, 不怕金剛不服。

Lit [When one] catches a Buddha, never fear [that his] guardians [will] not submit.

Fig When a leader is caught, his subordinates will also (have to) surrender.

Topics LEADERS SUBORDINATES

Z159

[Z159]

Zhǔ yǎ, kè lái qín.

主雅客来勤。

主雅客來勤。

Lit [When] the host is refined, guests [will] come frequently.

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 32.]

Topics DRC GUESTS HOSTS REFINEMENT

Z160

[Z160]

Zhù zài yī xiāng, dǎ zài yī bāng.

住在一乡, 打在一帮。

住在一鄉, 打在一幫。

Lit [When you] settle down in a locality, [it's best to] hit [it off] with the [local] gang.

Fig When you move somewhere, it's best to integrate yourself with the local people.

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics LIVING LOCALITIES PLACE rhyme

Z161

[Z161]

Zhū zhuǎ zhǔ qiān gǔn, zǒngshì cháo lǐ wān.

猪爪煮千滚, 总是朝里弯。

豬爪煮千滾, 總是朝裡彎。

Lit Pigs' feet [even if] boiled a thousand times [will] always bend inwards.

Fig One is always inclined to be partial to members of one's own group.

Note [See also gēbo zǒngshì above.]

Topics GROUPS PARTIALITY SELF

Z162

[Z162]

Zìgǔ Cháng'é ài shàonián.*

自古嫦娥爱少年。

自古嫦娥愛少年。

Note [See yuè lǐ Cháng'é ài shàonián above.]

Z163

[Z163]

Zìgǔ hóngyán duō bómìng.*

自古红颜多薄命。

自古紅顏多薄命。

Lit Since ancient [times] beauties [have] mostly [had] ill luck.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 70; also said hóngyán bómìng in Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì, chap. 23; note: hóngyán, (lit) “red color(ed),” is a literary expression for beautiful women.]

Topics BEAUTY Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì hóngyán JW LUCK WOMEN

Z164

[Z164]

(Zìjiā) yǒu bìng, zìjiā zhī.

(自家)有病, 自家知。

Lit One knows one's (own) illness best.

Fig Only oneself really knows the true nature of one's problem.

Note [Often said of xiāngsī bìng, “lovesickness”; zìjiā is colloquial for zìjǐ, “oneself.”]

Topics HEALTH ILLNESS LOVE SELF zìjiā

Z165

[Z165]

Zìjǐ de mèng, zìjǐ yuán.*

自己的梦自己圆。

自己的夢自己圓。

Lit [From one's] own dreams [one has to] predict [good or ill luck] oneself.

Fig One has to realize and correct one's own shortcomings or mistakes.

Note [Note: yuánmèng, “to interpret dreams.”]

Topics DREAMS LUCK MISTAKES SELF-CRITICISM yuánmèng

Z166

[Z166]

Zì jīng sān xiě, “wū” yān chéng “mǎ”.

字经三写,“乌”焉成“马”。

字經三寫,“烏”焉成“馬”。

”

Lit [When a] character has been copied thrice, “bird” becomes “horse”.

Fig There are bound to be copying mistakes.

Note [See also shū sān xiě above, now more commonly used.]

Topics Chinese characters COPYING MISTAKES

Z167

[Z167]

Zìjǐ tānbēi, xī zuì rén.

自己贪杯惜醉人。

自己貪杯惜醉人。

Lit [One who] himself is fond of drinking sympathizes with one who is drunk.

Fig One is sympathetic to those with problems similar to one's own.

Note [Note the chengyu: tóngbìng-xiānglián, “those who have the same illnesses sympathize with each other”; see also tóng jí xiāng lián above.]

Topics chengyu PROBLEMS RECIPROCITY SIMILARITIES SYMPATHY tóngbìng-xiānglián

Z168

[Z168]

Zì shuō zìhǎo, làn dàocǎo.

自说自好烂稻草。

自說自好爛稻草。

Lit Talking [about how] good one is [is like] rotten rice stalks.

Fig Boasting of oneself is useless.

Topics BRAGGING

Z169

[Z169]

Zì tuī, zì diē, zì shāng jiē.

自推, 自跌, 自伤嗟。

自推, 自跌, 自傷嗟。

Lit [If one] pushes oneself [and] stumbles, [one has to] lament alone.

Fig If you suffer setbacks which you have brought upon yourself, you have no one else to blame.

Note [A rhyme; note: bēishāng, “sad; sorrowful”; jiē or juē is an exclamation in ancient Chinese.]

Topics bēishāng BLAME MISTAKES SELF SELF-CRITICISM

Z170

[Z170]

Zǐ yòng fù qián, xīn bù tòng

子用父钱, 心不痛。

子用父錢, 心不痛。

Lit Sons spend their fathers' money [with] carefree hearts.

Topics FATHERS IRRESPONSIBILITY MONEY SONS

Z171

[Z171]

Zòng yǒu dàshà qiān jiān, bùguò shēn mián qī chǐ.

纵有大厦千间, 不过身眠七尺。

縱有大廈千間, 不過身眠七尺。

Lit Even if [one] has houses by the thousands, [all one needs] to sleep in [is] only seven feet [long].

Fig It is not necessary to have a spacious and luxurious building to live in.

Note [Cf. Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì, chap. 42.]

Topics HOUSES LIVING LUXURY Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì SIMPLICITY

Z172

[Z172]

Zǒu píng lù, fáng shuāijiāo; shùnshuǐ chuán, fáng ànjiāo.

走平路防摔跤, 顺水船防暗礁。

走平路防摔跤, 順水船防暗礁。

Lit [Even when] walking [on a] level road, [one should be careful and] guard against tripping [and] falling; [even when] sailing [with the current], [one should] guard against submerged reefs.

Fig One should always be careful.

Note [See also qiǎn shuǐ yānsǐ and quàn jūn mò dǎ above.]

Topics CAUTION DANGER

Z173

[Z173]

Zǒu sān jiā bùrú zuò yījiā.

走三家不如坐一家。

Lit [When seeking help it's] better to sit at one family than to go to three families.

Fig When seeking help it's better to go to one person persistently than to run here and there to a number of different people.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 50; see also qiú, biàn qiú Zhāng Liáng above.]

Topics HELP JW PERSISTENCE

Z174

[Z174]

Zú hán shāng xīn; mín hán shāng guó.

足寒伤心, 民寒伤国。

足寒傷心, 民寒傷國。

Lit [Just as if one's] feet are [exposed to the] cold, [it will] harm [one's] heart, [so if] the [common] people [suffer from] cold, [it will] harm the country.

Note [Cf. Shí Guó Chūnqiū: Chù Tuō Bǎ Héng Zhuàn; see also tóu duì fēng above.]

Topics Chù Tuō Bǎ Héng Zhuàn GOVERNMENT Shí_Guó_Chūnqiū

Z175

[Z175]

Zuǐ bù ráorén, pí chīkǔ.*

嘴不饶人, 皮吃苦。

嘴不饒人, 皮吃苦。

Lit [If one's] mouth [does] not pardon others, [one's] skin will suffer.

Fig One will suffer physically if one is too severe in one's speech.

Note [Note: píròu zhī tòng, “pain from a beating.”]

Topics RESTRAINT

Z176

[Z176]

Zuǐ dǐxià jiùshì lù.

嘴底下就是路。

Lit Just under one's mouth lies the way.

Fig All you have to do is keep asking for directions and you'll find your way.

Note [See also dàlù shēng and lù zài zuǐ biān above.]

Topics ASKING DIRECTIONS

Z177

[Z177]

Zuǐ qiáng de zhēng yī bù.

嘴强的争一步。

嘴強的爭一步。

Lit Those [who have a] glib tongue [can] gain petty advantages.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 43.]

Topics ADVANTAGE GLIBNESS JPM PETTINESS TALK

Z178

[Z178]

Zuǐ shàng wú máo, bànshì bù láo.*

嘴上无毛, 办事不牢。

嘴上無毛, 辦事不牢。

Lit [If] there is no hair on [one's] face, [one can]not handle affairs securely.

Fig Young people cannot be entrusted with important tasks because they lack experience. “Downy lips make thoughtless slips.”

Note [Rhyme; cf. Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì, chap. 15.]

Topics EXPERIENCE Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì INEXPERIENCE YOUTH

Z179

[Z179]

Zuì shì xǐng shí yán.

醉是醒时言。

醉是醒時言。

Lit [In] drunkenness [there] are the words of sobriety.

Fig One speaks one's true mind when drunk; in vino veritas.

Note [Cf. WM, chap. 45; see also jiǔ dào zhēnxìng above.]

Topics DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR SPEECH TRUTH WM

Z180

[Z180]

Zuìwēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ.*

醉翁之意不在酒。

Lit The drunken old man's [true] motivation lies not in liquor.

Fig One's true motivation is (often) not the ostensible one.

Note [Cf. the Song dynasty essayist Ouyang Xiu's popular essay entitled: “Zuìwēng Tíng Jì” (“Notes on the Drunken Old Man Pavilion”).]

Topics DRUNKENNESS LIQUOR MOTIVATION Ouyang Xiu Song dynasty Zuìwēng_Tíng_Jì

Z181

[Z181]

Zuò chī shān kōng,* (lì chī dì xiàn).

坐吃山空, (立吃地陷)。

Lit [If one] sits [idle, one will] eat away a mountain [of wealth], ([and if one] stands [idle, one will] eat [a hole] into the ground).

Fig If one does not work, one will eat up one's capital.

Note [The first half is used alone as a chengyu: zuòchī-shānkōng, meaning “to fritter away a great fortune”; see also yānhóu shēn sì hǎi above.]

Topics chengyu IDLENESS LAZINESS WEALTH zuòchī-shānkōng

Z182

[Z182]

Zuò dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo.*

做到老, 学到老。

做到老, 學到老。

Lit [If one] works to an old age, [one should continue] studying to an old age.

Fig One is never too old to learn. It's never too late to learn.

Note [Rhyme; see also huó dào lǎo above.]

Topics AGE LEARNING OLD AGE rhyme STUDYING TIME

Z183

[Z183]

Zuò de chuántóu wěn, bùpà làng lái diān.

坐得船头稳, 不怕浪来颠。

坐得船頭穩, 不怕浪來顛。

Lit Sit steady at the head of a boat, [and you] need not fear the rocking of the waves.

Fig If one's conduct is respectable, one need not fear being defamed.

Topics CONDUCT RECTITUDE SLANDER

Z184

[Z184]

Zuò de zhèng, xíng de zhèng; nǎpà tóng héshang hé bǎndèng？

坐得正, 行得正, 哪怕同和尚合板凳？

Lit [If a woman] sits straight and walks upright, there's no need [for her] to fear sharing a bench with a [Buddhist] monk.

Fig If a woman bears herself respectably, she need not fear any gossip or slander.

Note [Rhyme; cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; see also the preceding entry.]

Topics Buddhist monks CONDUCT GOSSIP RECTITUDE rhyme SLANDER WOMEN Wǔ_Sōng

Z185

[Z185]

Zuǒ dòu zhě shāng.

佐斗者伤。

佐鬥者傷。

Lit Those who help [others] fight [will be] injured, [so mind your own business]!

Note [Also said as zhù dòu dé shāng.]

Topics CAUTION CONFLICT FIGHTING HARM HELP

Z186

[Z186]

Zuòfàn mán bu liǎo guōtái; tiāo shuǐ mán bu liǎo jǐngtái.

做饭瞒不了锅台, 挑水瞒不了井台。

做飯瞞不了鍋臺, 挑水瞞不了井臺。

Lit Cooking can't be hidden from the stove top, [and] water carrying can't be concealed from the well.

Fig Whatever one does can't be concealed from one's neighbors.

Note [Rhyme; see also zhīdǐ mò guò and zhòngrén yǎnjing above.]

Topics ACTIONS NEIGHBORS SECRETS

Z187

[Z187]

Zuò hǎo, qiān rì bùzú; zuò huài, yīzhāo yǒu yú.

作好千日不足, 作坏一朝有余。

作好千日不足, 作壞一朝有餘。

Lit To do good [deeds for] a thousand days is not enough; to do evil [even for] one day is too much.

Topics EVIL GOODNESS

Z188

[Z188]

Zuò jīng, bài dào; gè yǒu yī hào.

坐经拜道, 各有一好。

坐經拜道, 各有一好。

Lit Sit [and chant Buddhist] sutras [or] worship the Tao; each [person] has [his or her] preferences.

Fig Everyone has his or her own preferences (in anything).

Note [Rhyme.]

Topics Buddhism INDIVIDUALS PREFERENCES rhyme Taoism

Z189

[Z189]

Zuǒjiǔ, dé cháng.

佐酒得尝。

佐酒得嘗。

Lit [One who] accompanies [others in] drinking [will] be rewarded.

Fig One who helps others will be rewarded in the end.

Note [Note: formerly zuǒjiǔ referred to those who kept others company while drinking.]

Topics HELP OTHERS REWARDS zuǒjiǔ

Z190

[Z190]

Zuò shè dào biān, sān nián bù chéng.

作舍道边, 三年不成。

作舍道邊, 三年不成。

Lit [If one is to] build a house by the side of the road, [it will] not be completed in three years [because each passerby will have a different opinion as to how things should be done].

Fig Too many opinions will come to nothing. “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

Note [See also rén duō, shǒu zá above.]

Topics COMPLETION DIFFERENCES HOUSES OPINIONS

Z191

[Z191]

Zuòshì guò chí, bùrú bù wéi.

做事过迟, 不如不为。

做事過遲, 不如不為。

Lit Doing things too late is not as [good as] not doing [them at all].

Fig Either do things at the right time or not at all. Better never than late.

Note [Vs. dān chí, bù dān cuò above.]

Topics PROCRASTINATION PUNCTUALITY TARDINESS

Z192

[Z192]

Zuò shì yào wěn; gǎicuò yào hěn.

做事要稳, 改错要狠。

做事要穩, 改錯要狠。

Lit [In] doing things [one] should be prudent, [and in] correcting [one's] mistakes [one] should be resolute.

Note [Rhyme; note: wěnzhòng, “steady; circumspect; prudent.”]

Topics ACTIONS MISTAKES PRUDENCE rhyme STRENGTH wěnzhòng

Z193

[Z193]

Zuò yǐn jiāxiāng shuǐ yě tián.

坐饮家乡水也甜。

坐飲家鄉水也甜。

Lit [Even when just] sitting [and] drinking the water [in one's] native place, [the water] tastes sweeter.

Fig “There's no place like home.”

Note [See also měi bù měi, xiāng zhōng shuǐ above.]

Topics HOME PLACE WATER

Z194

[Z194]

Zuò zéi sān nián, bù dǎ zì zhāo.

做贼三年, 不打自招。

做賊三年, 不打自招。

Lit [If one] has been a thief for three years, [even if] not caught [by others], [he will] expose himself [sooner or later].

Fig If one has been doing something evil for a long time, one will expose oneself sooner or later, even if not caught and punished first.

Note [Note: bùdǎ-zìzhāo is an idiom meaning “to make an unforced confession.”]

Topics bùdǎ-zìzhāo EVIL SECRETS THIEVES

Z195

[Z195]

Zuò zhě bù bì; bì zhě bù zuò.

做者不避, 避者不做。

Lit [If you] do [something], don't hide [it from others]; [if it is something that ought to be] hidden, don't do [it].

Note [See also ruò yào rén bù zhī above.]

Topics ACTIONS CONDUCT SECRETS

Z196

[Z196]

Zuò zhě bù jū; jū zhě bù zuò.

作者不居, 居者不作。

Lit Those who build [houses] don't live [in them, and] those who live [in them] don't build [them].

Fig The laboring classes don't get to enjoy the fruits of their labor, and the rich don't have to work for what they have.

Note [Cf. Liǎng Jiù Yǎnyì, chap. 92.]

Topics HOUSES Liǎng Jiù Yǎnyì LIVING RICH SOCIAL CLASS WEALTH WORKING

【L0】Bibliography Bibliography

In this bibliography of works of and about yànyǔ and related topics, the authors are listed alphabetically by their surnames as written in Hànyǔ Pīnyīn unless the author and/or work in question uses another system of romanization. Similarly all authors' names and titles are printed either in simplified characters or in “old style” complex characters (fántǐzì) as they appear in the work listed.

Anonymous. “Cíhuìxué 词汇学.” Cí Hǎi (Xiūdìng Běn) 辞海(修订本) pp. 15--16. Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Císhū Chūbǎnshè 上海: 上海辞书出版社, 1978.

———. Gǔyǔ Jīnghuá 古语精华. Nánchāng: Jiāngxī Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 南昌: 江西人民出版社, 1983.

———. Hànyǔ Yànyǔ Xiēhòuyǔ Súyǔ Fēnlèi Dà Cídiǎn 汉语谚语歇后语俗语分类大词典. Hūhéhàotè: Nèiměnggǔ Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 呼和浩特: 内蒙古人民出版社, 1987.

———. Jīn Píng Méi Lǐyǔ Súyǔ 金瓶梅俚语俗语. Běijīng: Bǎo Wén Táng Shūdiàn 北京: 宝文堂书店, 1988.

———. Mín Yàn Shí Cuì 民谚拾粹. Xī'ān: Shaǎnxī Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 西安: 陕西人民出版社, 1983.

———. Pín-Xiàzhōngnóng Pīpàn Fǎndòng Yànyǔ Wǔshí Lì 贫下中农批判反动谚语五十例. Běijīng: Nóngyè Chūbǎnshè 北京: 农业出版社, 1975.

———. Táiwān Lǐ Yàn Jí Lǎn 臺灣俚諺集覽. Táiběi: Táiwān Zǒngdū Fǔ 臺北: 臺灣總督府, 1942.

———. Xīnbiān Xuéshēng Yànyǔ Zàojù Shǒucè 新編學生諺語造句手冊. Hong Kong: Míng Huá Chūbǎn Gōngsī 香港: 明華出版公司, 1990.

———. Yǔlín Jíjǐn 语林集锦. Xiàmén: Xiàmén Yīzhōng Yǔwén Jiāoyánzǔ 厦门: 厦门一中语文教研组, 1979.

———. Zhōngguó Nóngyàn 中国农谚. Běijīng: Nóngyè Chūbǎnshè 北京: 农业出版社, 1980.

———. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Zǒnghuì: Hànyǔ Juàn: Súyǔ 中国谚语总汇: 汉语卷: 俗语. Běijīng: Zhōngguó Mínjiān Wényì Chūbǎnshè 北京: 中国民间文艺出版社, 1983.

Arkush, R. David. “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy in Twentieth-Century Chinese Peasant Proverbs.” Orthodoxy in Late Imperial China, ed. by Kuang-Ching Liu, pp. 311--331. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1990.

Běijīng Wàiyǔ Xuéyuàn 北京外语学院. Hàn-Yīng Chéngyǔ Cídiǎn 汉英成语词典. Běijīng: Shāngwù Yìnshūguǎn 北京: 商务印书馆, 1982.

———. Hàn-Yīng Cídiǎn: A Chinese-English Dictionary 汉英词典. Běijīng: Shāngwù Yìnshūguǎn 北京: 商务印书馆, 1978.

Brown, Brian, ed. Wisdom of the Chinese: Their philosophy in sayings and proverbs. New York: Brentano's, 1920.

Bueller, William M. Chinese Sayings. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle, 1972.

Cáo Cōngsūn 曹聪孙. Zhōngguó Súyǔdiǎn 中国俗语典. Chéngdū: Sìchuān Jiàoyù Chūbǎnshè 成都: 四川教育出版社, 1991.

———. Zhōngguó Súyǔ Xuǎn Shì 中国俗语选释. Chéngdū: Sìchuān Jiàoyù Chūbǎnshè 成都: 四川教育出版社, 1985.

Char Tin-yuke, trans. 谢廷玉. Chinese Proverbs. San Francisco: Jade Mountain Press, 1970.

Cheah Toon-hoon 謝敦倫. Chien Ju Hun and Sam Ju Keng 昔時賢文. Rangoon: American Baptist Mission Press, 1890.

Chén, John T. S. 陳佐舜. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Xuǎnjí---1001 Chinese Sayings 中國諺語選集. Hong Kong: Xiānggǎng Zhōngwén Dàxué Cǒngjī Xuéyuàn 香港: 香港中文大學崇基學院, 1973.

Chén Wàngdào 陈望道. Xiūcíxué Fāfán 修辞学发凡. Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Wényì Chūbǎnshè 上海: 上海文艺出版社, 1962.

Chén Xīnwàng 陈欣望. A Collection of Chinese Idioms, Proverbs and Phrases with English Translation 汉语成语, 谚语, 常用词语汇编. Běijīng: Zhīshi Chūbǎnshè 北京: 知识出版社, 1984.

Chéng Fúpíng and Chéng Shànqīng 成扶平, 成善卿. Gǔ Jīn Xiēhòuyǔ Shíyí Jiān Zhù 古今歇后语拾遗兼注. Běijīng: Nóngcūn Dúwù Chūbǎnshè 北京: 农村读物出版社, 1984.

Ch'eng Yu K'ao. Manual of Chinese Quotations. Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh, Ltd., 1893.

Chéngdū Shì Qúnzhòng Yìshùguǎn 成都市群众艺术馆. Sìchuān Chéngyǔ, Yànyǔ, Xiēhòuyǔ Yùnběn 四川成语, 谚语, 歇后语韵本. Chéngdū: Sìchuān Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 成都: 四川人民出版社, 1980.

Chiang Ker Chiu 蔣克秋. Chinese Proverbs 中國格言. Táiběi: Jīn Shān Túshū Chūbǎn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī 臺北: 金山圖書出版有限公司, n.d.

Chinnery, John D. and Cuī Míngqiū 秦乃瑞, 崔鸣秋. Yīng Hàn Lǐyàn Hébì 英汉俚谚合璧. Běijīng: New World Press 北京: 新世界出版社, 1984.

Chu Chieh-fan 朱介凡. Pìyù Yànyǔ Jí 譬喻諺語集. Táiběi: Tiānyī Chūbǎnshè 臺北:天一出版社, 1974.

———. Shāndōng Yànyǔ Jí 山東諺語集. Táiběi: Tiānyī Chūbǎnshè 臺北:天一出版社, 1974.

———. Tīng Rén Quàn 聽人勸. Táiběi: Tiānyī Chūbǎnshè 臺北:天一出版社, 1974.

———. Yànyǔ de Yuánliú, Gōngnéng 諺語的源流, 功能 (亞洲民俗, 社會生活專刊, 第五集). Táiběi: Orient Cultural Service (Asian Folklore and Social Life Monographs, vol. 5.) 臺北: 東方文化供應社, 1970.

———. Yànyǔ Jiǎ Biān 諺語甲編. Táiběi: Tiānyī Chūbǎnshè 臺北:天一出版社, 1974.

———. Zhōngguó Fēngtǔ Yànyǔ Shì Shuō 中國風土諺語釋說. Táiběi: Xīnxīng Shūjú 臺北: 新興書局, 1962.

———. Zhōngguó Nóng Yàn 中國農諺. Táiběi: Tiānyī Chūbǎnshè 臺北: 天一出版社, 1974.

———. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Lùn 中國諺語論. Táiběi: Xīnxīng Shūjú 臺北: 新興書局, 1965.

———. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Zhì (vols. 1--11) 中國諺語志 (全十一册). Táiběi: Táiwān Shāngwù Yìnshūguǎn 臺北:台湾商务印錧, 1989.

Dawson-Grone, Herman. Ming Hsien Chi, being a collection of proverbs and maxims in the Chinese language. Shanghai: Kelly and Walsh, 1911.

Diàoyú Wēng (pseud.), ed. 釣魚翁. Miào Yǔ Rú Zhū 妙語如珠. Táiběi: Nánjīng Chūbǎn Gōngsī 臺北: 南京出版公司, 1977.

Eberhard, Wolfgang. “Some Notes on the Use of Proverbs in Chinese Novels.” Proverbium (15) pp. 201--209, 1967.

———. “Proverbs in Selected Chinese Novels.” Proverbium (2) pp. 21--57, 1985.

Edmonson, Monro E. Love: An Introduction to the Science of Folklore and Literature. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1971.

Fán Rén 樊仁. Zhōngguó Gè Zú Yànyǔ huìcuì 中国各族谚语荟萃. Fúzhōu: Fújiàn Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 福州: 福建人民出版社, 1986.

Fèi Jiéxīn 費潔心. Zhōngguó Nóngyàn 中國農諺. Zhōnghuá Shūjú 中華書局, 1937.

Féng Péngnián 馮鵬年. Měi Rì Yī Yàn 每日一諺. Táiběi: Lián Jīng Chūbǎnshè 臺北: 聯經出版社, 1983.

Gài Rǎng 盖壤. Zhōngguó Súyǔ Gùshi Jí 中国俗语故事集. Shěnyáng: Liáoníng Dàxué Chūbǎnshè 沈阳: 辽宁大学出版社, 1990.

Gěng Wénhuī 耿文辉. Zhōnghuá Yànyǔ Dà Cídiǎn 中国谚语大辞典. Shěnyáng: Liáoníng Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 沈阳: 辽宁人民出版社, 1991.

Giles, Herbert A. A History of Chinese Literature. New York: Appleton Century, 1901, 1935.

Giles, Lionel. “Introduction to the Proverbs of China.” Racial Proverbs: A Selection of the World's Proverbs arranged Linguistically pp. xl--xlii, 349--384. George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1938.

Goody, Jack. The Interface of the Written and the Oral. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987.

Guāng Wén; Dé Gēn; and Kuí Yuán 光文, 德根, 魁元. Zhìhuì de Huāduǒ 智慧的花朵. Nánníng: Guǎngxī Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 南宁: 广西人民出版社, 1978.

Guǎng Lù 广路. “Gòngchǎnzhǔyì de `Yōulíng' Shì Zěnme Yóudàng Dào Zhōngguó Lái de 共产主意的《幽灵》是怎么游荡到中国来的.” Shū Lín (1) 书林 (1) pp. 40--41, 1979.

Guitorman, Arthur. Chips of Jade. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1920.

Gunn, Edward. Rewriting Chinese: Style and Innovation in Twentieth-Century Chinese Prose. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1991.

Hā Jīngxióng 哈經雄. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Jíchéng 中國諺語集成. Hong Kong: Zhōngyāng Mínzú Dàxué Chūbǎnshè 香港: 中央民族大學出版社, n.d.

Hànyǔ Pīnyīn Cíhuì Biānxiězǔ 汉语拼音词汇编写组. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn Cíhuì 汉语拼音词汇. Běijīng: Yǔwén Chūbǎnshè 北京: 语文出版社, 1991.

Hart, Henry H. Seven Hundred Chinese Proverbs. Stanford University Press, 1937.

Hé Xuéwēi 何学威. Zhōngguó Fēngtǔ Yáo Yàn Shì 中国风土谣谚释. Chángshā: Húnán Měishù Chūbǎnshè 长沙: 湖南美术出版社, 1986.

———. Zhōngguó Gǔdài Yànyǔ Cídiǎn 中国古代谚语词典. Chángshā: Húnán Chūbǎnshè 长沙: 湖南出版社, 1991.

Heng Xiaojun and Zheng Xuezhi. A Chinese-English Dictionary of Idioms and Proverbs (Lexicographia: Series maior: 24). Tubengin: Niemeyer, 1988.

Hóng Jiāhuì 洪嘉惠. Wǒ Bú Zài Yòngcuò Yànyǔ 我不再用錯諺語. Hong Kong: Xīn Fēng Chūbǎnshè 香港: 新風出版社, n.d.

Huang, Huanyou. Chinese Proverbs, Quotations, and Fables. Felinfach/Wales: Llanerch, 1998.

Jí Tiánlóng 吉田隆. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Jí Xiēhòuyǔ 中國諺語及歇後語. Táinán: Hàn Fēng Chūbǎnshè 臺南: 漢風出版社, 1990.

———. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Xuǎn. 2 vols. 中国谚语选. Lánzhōu: Gānsù Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 兰州: 甘肃人民出版社, 1981.

Jì Chéngjiā, et al. 季成家, 等. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ Xuǎn 中国谚语选 (上/下). Lánzhōu: Gānsù Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 兰州: 甘肃人民出版社, 1981.

Jiāng Fēng and Wáng Cí 江枫, 王慈. Zhōngguó Hànzú Yànyǔ Xuǎn 中国汉族谚语选. Chángshā: Húnán Wényì Chūbǎnshè 长沙: 湖南文艺出版社, 1987.

Jīn Lù and Xú Yùmíng 金路, 徐玉明. Zhōngguó Yànyǔ 中国谚语. Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Wényì Chūbǎnshè 上海: 上海文艺出版社, 1989.

Jǐng Lóng 景龙. Shǎoshùmínzú Yànyǔ Huìcuì 少数民族谚语荟萃. Héféi: Ānhuī Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 合肥: 安徽人民出版社, 1984.

Kordas, Bronislawa. Le Proverbe en Chinois Moderne. Taibei: Editions Ouyu, 1987.

———. “The Poetic Function and the Oral Transmission of Chinese Proverbs.” Chinoperl Papers (15) pp. 85--94, 1990.

Kui, Lilian Lin 桂林. A Comparative Study of Proverbialism 中西諺語之比較研究. Táiběi: National Táiwān University 臺北: 臺灣國立大學, 1965.

Lai T'ian-ch'ang. More Chinese Sayings. Hong Kong: Swindon Book Co., 1972.

———. Selected Chinese Sayings. Hong Kong: Swindon Book Co., 1972.

Lai T'ian-ch'ang and Y. T. Kuong. Chinese Proverbs. Hong Kong: Swindon Book Co., 1978.

Lau, Theodora. Best-Loved Chinese Proverbs. New York: Harper Collins, 1995.

Lee, Davis L. C. Chinese Proverbs: A Pragmatic and Sociolingustic Approach, Ph.D. thesis. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University, 1978.

Lǐ Dàoyī 李道一. “Shìlùn Pì Jiě Yǔ Jí Qí Yǔ Xiēhòuyǔ, Chéngyǔ, Yànyǔ de Qūbié 试论譬解语及其与歇后语, 成语, 谚语的区别.” Zhèjiāng Shīfàn Xuéyuàn Xuébào (1) 浙江师范学院学报 (1) pp. 67--76. Hángzhōu: Zhèjiāng Shīfàn Xuéyuàn 杭州: 浙江师范学院, 1981.

Lǐ Gēngxīn 李更新. Gǔyàn Diǎn Yīngyì 古諺典英譯. Táizhōng: Guāng Qǐ Chūbǎnshè 臺中:光啟出版社, 1979.

———. Tái Yàn Jíjǐn 臺諺集錦. Táizhōng, Táiwān 台湾, 臺中, 1979.

———. Zhōnghuá Mínsú Yànyǔ 中華民俗諺語. Táizhōng: Hóngdá Měishù Yìnshuāchǎng 臺中: 弘達美術印刷廠, 1982.

Lǐ Jìxián 李繼賢. Lù Gǎng Yànyǔ Shì Shuō 鹿港諺語釋說. Lù Gǎng Zhèn: Lù Gǎng Wénjiào Jījīnhuì 鹿港鎮: 鹿港文教基金會, 1986.

Lǐ Mèngběi 李孟北. Yànyǔ Xiēhòuyǔ Qiǎn Zhù 谚语歇后语浅注. Yúnnán: Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 云南人民出版社, 1980.

Lǐ Yùchuān 李玉川. Shúyǔ Qù Huà 熟语趣话. Běijīng: Shìjiè Zhīshi Chūbǎnshè 北京: 世界知识出版社, 1990.

Lin, Marjorie and Leonard Schalk. Dictionary of 1000 Chinese Proverbs (Hippocrene Bilingual Proverbs). New York: Hippocrene Books, 1998.

Lister, Alfred. “Chinese Proverbs and their Lessons.” The China Review (3) pp. 129--138, 1874--1875. Reprinted in Meider, W. & A. Dundes, eds. pp. 242--256, 1981.

Liú Dàiwén, Hú Zhìwěi and Wú Jùnhé 刘代文, 胡志伟, 吴俊和. Qúnzhòng Yǔhuì Xuǎnbiān 群众语汇选编. Tàiyuán: Shānxī Rénmín Chūbǎnshè 太原: 山西人民出版社, 1983.

Liú Yùnyǔ 劉運宇. Zhōngguó Súyǔ Dà Diǎn 中國俗語大典 (上/下). Táiběi: Xīngguāng Chūbǎnshè 臺北: 星光出版社, 1986.

Mǎ Juéwēng and Tián Huónóng 馬矍翁, 田活农. Huáběi Nóngyàn 华北农諺. Běijīng: Cáizhèng Jīngjì Chūbǎnshè 北京: 財政經济出版社, 1957.

Mateo, Fernando. “Linguistic and Literary Structure of the Chinese Proverbs.” Tamkang Review (2--3) pp. 453--466, 1971--1972.

McCunn, Ruthanne Lum. Chinese Proverbs. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1991.

Mèng Shǒujiè, et al. 孟守介, 等. Hànyǔ Yànyǔ Cídiǎn 汉语谚语词典. Běijīng: Běijīng Dàxué Chūbǎnshè 北京: 北京大学出版社, 1990.

Mieder, Wolfgang. International Proverb Scholarship: An Annotated Bibliography. New York: Garland Publishing Co., 1982.

Mieder, Wolfgang and Alan Dundes, eds. The Wisdom of Many: Essays on the Proverb. New York: Garland Publishing Co., 1981.

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【L0】 Index Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 【L1】A A

ABILITY B195 C2 D162 F65 F68 G6 G7 G19 G32 G33 H6 H54 H60 H108 H183 H230 K47 K48 L40 L46 L75 L100 L174 M68 M75 M76 N21 N32 N33 N35 N91 N106 N107 P30 P35 Q9 Q19 Q29 Q45 Q79 Q102 Q180 R35 R91 R249 S91 S92 S95 S101 S126 S143 S150 S183 S199 S223 S353 S362 S415 T46 T48 T130 W78 X22 X91 Y140 Y143 Y175 Y181 Y270 Y301 Y363 Z39 Z55 Z59 Z105
ABSENCE S101 Y45 Y251
ABSTINENCE Q195
ACCENT G56
ACCEPTANCE J129
ACCOMMODATION C49 D132 G5 R6 R268 S62 Y340
ACCOMPLISHMENT B176 C65 C67 C75 C164 C167 C194 D93 D107 D113 D168 H24 H27 H76 H77 H235 J58 J113 J130 J131 L71 M30 M52 M58 M64 M65 M71 M123 N88 P2 Q76 R151 S37 S308 S414 T31 T37 T42 T44 T56 T83 W99 X90 X125 X137 X139 Y72 Y104 Y141 Y145 Y146 Y176 Y275 Y382 Y421 Y432 Y457 Z101 Z123
ACCOUNTING G68 H65 Q153 R169 X164 Y253
ACCOUNTS Q149 R217 S430
ACCUMULATION J185 J237 Y57
ACCUSATIONS G17 G101 J75 R265 S176 X158 Y462 Z21 Z23 Z31
ACHIEVEMENT D109 H27 J30 J196 J244 L13 L115 M59 S123
ACQUAINTANCES B23 T132 X21
ACTION B120 B121 D154 D222 F42 G193 J54 J121 J160 K1 L48 L64 L167 M16 M32 M124 M128 Q104 R161 R255 S155 S169 S185 S201 S237 S275 S328 S376 S382 T81 T91 T110 W79 X3 X54 X100 X123 X132 Y34 Y119 Y124 Y308 Y309 Z104
ACTIONS D166 H174 L62 L124 M39 M131 P6 Q66 Q78 Q196 R94 S152 S273 S285 T57 T76 T79 W15 W19 W100 Y5 Y22 Y28 Y75 Y94 Y165 Y189 Y192 Y194 Y249 Y250 Y272 Z186 Z192 Z195
ACTIVITY L131 T81
ADAPTING K6 K18 S78 Y358 Y364
ADEQUACY L150
ADMIRATION S163 T12
ADOPTION T72
A Dou S410
ADULTERY L164 M130 Z157
ADULTS R285 X90
ADVANTAGE B90 D26 D137 F17 H33 H168 H179 R74 S74 S220 S295 X34 X191 Y1 Y132 Y426 Z177
ADVERSITY D204 M54 S192
ADVICE B22 B130 B173 B200 B203 B212 D5 D46 D104 J101 J134 L92 L135 N38 Q62 Q192 Q193 Q195 Q197 R277 S4 S20 S21 S142 T92 Y60 Y69 Y85 Y86 Y266 Y345 Z138
AFFECTATION C148
AFFECTION C36 E18 H151 N66 Q137 R129 R130 R131 R233 Y255 Y333
AGE B21 B168 B170 B172 C54 C109 C111 C200 F3 G13 G60 G188 H102 J38 J47 J101 J197 L35 L36 L37 L38 L39 L40 L47 L50 L52 L53 L56 L59 L60 L104 M18 M90 N23 N24 N37 Q34 Q106 Q120 R23 R35 R38 R39 R70 R89 R90 R91 R93 R105 R109 R110 R111 R113 R148 R149 R151 R152 R154 R158 R183 R191 R277 S47 S100 S104 S111 S112 S115 S149 S203 S292 S359 S360 S361 S362 S363 S364 T32 W25 W85 X33 X60 X78 X80 X97 X183 Y17 Y92 Y290 Y408 Y419 Y430 Y431 Y457 Y458 Z182
AGING R39 R91 R92 R93
AGREEMENT H135 J214
AGRICULTURE C202 J178 Q177 R49 S13
àiwū-jíwū A4
Āi Yǐng H247
Albania H3
ALERTNESS L42
ALLIANCES H203
All Men Are Brothers (Water Margin) See WM
ALLOTMENT B47 B48
ALOOFNESS R248
ALTERNATIVES C185 C186 C187
AMBIGUITY S378
AMBITION B161 B169 C80 D146 E27 F29 H246 L104 M80 Q208 R121 R149 W97 X85 X85 X151 Y431 Y433 Y435
AMIABILITY H48 H113
Amida Buddha R270
Āmítuófó J164 R270
AMNESTY Q182 R275
Analects R38
ANALOGY Y183
ANCESTORS Q64 Q67 Q68
ANGER B152 B172 H195 J133 J187 J200 L78 N108 P20 Q131 R236 S22 S153 X77 X168 Y436 Z126
Anhui province D116
ANNOTATIONS X197
ANTS M53
aphorisms S437
APOLOGIES J285
APPEARANCES A2 B1 B52 B70 B82 C14 C80 C121 C180 C181 D35 F56 G167 H103 H127 H152 H184 H207 J118 L152 M20 M93 P42 Q63 R21 R84 R98 R120 R164 R194 R199 R210 R231 R269 S12 S144 S151 S168 Y74 Y95 Y200 Y244 Y340 Y441 Z13 Z35 Z36 Z116
APPETITE H164 S207
APPLICATION Y469
APPRECIATION H40 H229 J137 Q21 S175 Y203 Y390
APPRENTICES S218
APPROPRIATENESS A19 B87 D43 D199 G135 G145 G207 H195 H205 J128 J242 K30 M65 M100 N99 Q12 Q126 Q138 S58 S79 S81 S147 S340 W44 X7 Y102 Y199 Y303 Y358 Y364 Z49
A Q Zhēn Zhuàn J262
ARGUMENTS H89 J135 J255 T77
AROUSAL M128 Q131 Q191 R238 R239 X132
ARREST Z106
ARROGANCE A23 D147 L45 N28 P17 X86
ART B197 T26 Y52
artemisca K28
ARTIFICE G55
ARTISTIC CREATION D205
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION D144
ARTISTS S23
Art of War B100 B105 B106
ASKING D45 L172 S82 W34 W35 W44 X199 Z176
ASPIRATIONS B169 C64 F29 H100 L104 M80 P35 R66 R83 R149 R201 R238
ASSERTIVENESS H127
ASSETS Q74
ASSISTANCE B73
ASSOCIATION R267 S50
astrology R160
ATTACKS H184 M105 P30 Q157 S126 S177 S395 Y132 Y163
ATTENTION L42 L103 Z112
ATTITUDE X73
ATTRACTION M87 T102
AUNTS Z85
AUTHORITY D149 Q10 S101 S173 Y352 Z34 Z52
AUTHORS S23
AUTUMN C200
AVAILABILITY B111
AVARICE D182 G189 H114 J232 L66 R28 R150 R180 R200 T9 T10
AVOIDANCE Q100 S43
AWARDS S69 S86
AWARENESS D114 【L1】B B

BABIES N75 W22
BACHELORS J100
BAD NEWS H74 L78
bàijiāzǐ B29
báijū-guòxì R155
Bai Juyi X15
bǎiliàn-chénggāng B8 Q9
Bái Máo Nǚ F55 H178
bǎinián-shùrén S252
bǎinián zhī hòu Y283
Bái Qǐ Wáng C138
BAIT G189
bǎixìng B15 J247
bǎizhàn-bǎishèng Z81
Bai Zhuyi Y93
BALANCE G74 L157 M117 R259 R262 S45
bǎn dàng J126
BANDITS C18 C82 Q157 R275
BANKRUPTCY C81 Y116
Bān mén nòng fú L150
Bān Zhào Zhuàn B174
bǎonuǎn Y158
Bào Rén Ān Shū R71
Bào Rén Shàoqin R71
Bao Yu S133
BASTARDS Y395
BEATING C37 S20 S21
BEAUTY C151 G94 H87 H154 H180 L41 L110 M20 N19 N111 P39 Q38 S166 S190 S272 S405 W51 Y172 Y202 Z35 Z163
Beauty & Beast Y202
BEDS F18
BEGGARS L17 T11
BEGGING C203 L17 N11 Q61
BEGINNING L70 N18 N39 Q50 Q86 Q174 Q179 S242 T58 T110 T119 T122 W16 W19 W32 W71 W72 W85 X130 X148 Y21 Y114 Y119 Y210 Y211 Z43
BEHAVIOR B22 C148 D4 D74 D97 D125 D163 D228 F44 G25 G34 G167 G176 H28 H30 H47 H59 H145 J24 J40 J45 J51 J121 J143 J164 J184 J189 J204 J207 J262 J266 L24 L59 L74 L92 L101 L134 L165 L166 M39 M78 M81 M114 M127 N71 N85 N90 P5 P20 Q66 Q137 R31 R252 R276 R279 R280 S73 S162 S176 S178 S294 S435 T79 T123 T124 T137 W6 Y150 Y384 Z85
BEHEADING S59
bèifèn Y395
Beijing opera D144
Běi Qí Shū N68
bēishāng Z169
BELIEF J172 N65 R216 Z21 Z44
BELIEVING B25 B148 Y35
BENEFACTORS R22 Y213 Y214
BENEFITS D33 F35 G78 G154 J142 K20 M88 P10 R8 S128 S169 S184 S308 T92 X8 X64 X83 X122 X123 X134 Y23 Y77 Y165 Y184 Y194 Y232 Y416 Y460 Z41
BENEVOLENCE C161 D67 L88 Q4 R237
běnshi R175
Bēn Yuè T121
Bethune, Norman R71
BETRAYAL M73 Y453 Z27 Z29
BETROTHAL D32 Y188 Y215 Y288
bì C91
Bian He J140
biàn xì G55
Biǎo Jì J281
Bīngfǎ B100 B105 B106 T107 Z82
Bīng Lüè Xùn H183
bíngqìng J24
BIRDS F30 N29 N40 N42 N48
BIRTH L35 P29 Z143
Bǐ Shuō Y313
bitter fleabane C235 K28
BITTERNESS C97 C98 C103 L66 S228 T22
bitter sea K52
black cat, white cat B11 B129
BLAME B128 B132 B177 C77 G109 G117 H161 L74 L78 L101 Q204 R14 Y54 Y250 Y445 Z21 Z84 Z97 Z169
BLESSINGS F79 F86 Q167 Q168 S2 S217 S238 Y179
BLINDNESS Y191
BLOOD L13 L145 P15 R132 S257 X201
BOASTING A7 D186 G19 H117 K34
BOLDNESS C78 D12 D74 S254 W69 X95 X150 Y277
Bólè M3
BOOKKEEPING H189
Book of Changes L65 P14 Q172
Book of Rites A22 C59 G133 J84 L5 R102 R219 R268 S57 T62 X194 Y456 Z39 Z90
BOOKS D193 J172 S357 S366 S400 W11 X108 X172 X174 X197 Z18
BOREDOM B40 H67 H177
BORROWING D170 H53 J118 J123 J124 J125 L43 S210 S367 Y378
BOTH WAYS G14
bourgeoisie S401 T131
BOXING D112 H66
Bō Yí Lièzhuàn T98
BRAGGING A6 D38 D211 G187 G202 H35 H60 H117 L64 L148 L173 M7 M9 M15 N63 N97 R143 S213 S336 S352 S389 T19 Y221 Z50 Z59 Z168
BRAVERY F75 H35 H82 H85
BREAKFAST Z15
BRIBERY C119 C122 D20 G125 H225 Q30 Q43 Q77 R166 S60 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y37 Y130 Y222 Y394 Y404 Z11
BROTHERHOOD S411
BROTHERS F53 W26 X163
BROTHERS-IN-LAW W26
bùchéngcái K37 S316
bùchéngqì H157 Q136 Y456
bù chǐ xià wèn Z69
bùdǎ-zìzhāo Z194
Buddha C185 J220 N73 R84
BUDDHAS F55 F56
Buddhism B4 B37 B124 C115 C140 C182 C183 D67 F57 G52 G66 G75 H198 J155 J156 J184 J239 K7 K52 Q114 Q195 R209 R270 R281 S173 S218 Y360 Z188
Buddhist monks B115 B143 J164 Z184
Buddhist scriptures Q204
BUDGETING C93 C101 C156 D118 H189 J95 J97 K33 Q135 R253 S307 T30 W6 X80 Z96
bù'èrjià K38
bùgòngdàitiān F70 S57
bǔguà S71
BUILDING Q173 W19
BUILDINGS Q187
bùkě-yīshì X86
BULLYING D6 D7 D119 H156 H169 H210 J1 J139 J147 K25 L88 L147 M18 P38 P43 Q18 Q52 R9 R123 R138 R142 R239 S191 S297 Y406 Z149
bùniàn-jiù'è J257
bùqiú-zìlái Q184
BURDENS C75 L170 Y443
BUREAUCRACY D124 D222 M99 S139 W31
BUREAUCRATS D218
Burns, Robert L152
bùshi T64
BUSINESS B9 B43 B64 B153 C44 C66 C116 C155 C174 C190 D166 H222 H227 H228 H229 H234 H238 H240 J6 J73 J89 J174 J178 K25 K38 L79 L85 L132 M4 M6 M7 M9 M11 M12 M13 M14 M36 M63 M97 N62 P11 P44 Q24 Q51 R194 R217 S74 S158 S169 S179 S251 S416 S430 X26 X40 X47 X55 X123 Y4 Y36 Y128 Y260 Y298 Y363 Y399
BUSINESSMEN G113
BUYING B43 M36 X40 Y399
bùzhī-shēnqiǎn Z43
bùzhōng R139
BYGONES C77
BYSTANDERS C72 L142 【L1】C C

CADRES C122
cāi quán J211
cái qù rén ān C7
Cài Zé Zhuàn G74
cáizhǔ H112
CALCULATIONS Y480 Z114
CALENDAR L130
CALLIGRAPHY C22 N34 Q36 R116 S93 S396 T127 X173
CALM X57 X143
cānghǎi-sāngtián S18
cāngtiān C11
Cáo Cāo L104 N71 S374
cǎokǒu C18
Cao Song Y221
Cao Yu J206 Y113
CAPABILITY T139
CAPITAL B64 K5 Y66 Y68 Y363
CAPITAL CITY C175
Capitalist Roaders S126
CAPTURE F65 G15
CAREER C71 H27
CAREFREENESS C75
CAREFULNESS C32
CARELESSNESS C59 D112 M51 S98 Y332
CARING W83
carpe diem G165 J106 J177 Z111
CARPENTERS S112
CARRYING L170 Y443
carrying pole B67
CASH D166 D206 J99 P41 Q56 Q57 Q58 S263 T59 T67 X45 Y383
CATEGORIES Q93 W93 Y312
catty C28 C80 N75 Q31 Q32
CAUSALITY Y190
CAUSATION F37 F38 F41
CAUSE B59 B199 F37 G172 H121 J65 L8 L19 M131 M135 M137 P29 P32 P34 S200 S283 S327 S339 T95 W55 W73 Y27 Y368
CAUTION B22 B42 B79 B80 B85 B113 B138 B152 B158 B163 B165 B171 B173 B175 B187 B210 B212 B213 C1 C28 C29 C59 C69 C71 C73 C102 C107 C145 C182 C213 C234 D18 D19 D42 D49 D101 D102 D156 D208 D209 D218 D222 D230 F1 F7 F10 F11 F12 F27 F29 F31 F48 F65 G45 G46 G129 H4 H140 H143 H219 H220 H224 J14 J121 J171 J175 J210 J234 J237 J265 K56 L79 L86 L88 L110 L153 L161 L168 M14 M25 M33 M39 M48 M51 M57 M67 M79 M91 M126 M135 N60 N65 N87 P4 Q16 Q28 Q47 Q75 Q103 Q105 Q130 Q144 Q193 Q205 R137 R156 R185 R187 R225 R263 R283 S9 S22 S38 S46 S70 S83 S85 S89 S98 S103 S142 S155 S184 S197 S213 S254 S263 S277 S289 S306 S365 S377 S436 T4 T28 T113 T128 T133 W1 W15 W24 W36 X65 X66 X94 X168 X179 X190 Y53 Y60 Y61 Y63 Y96 Y108 Y110 Y111 Y124 Y253 Y313 Y332 Y357 Y376 Y474 Y477 Z12 Z26 Z54 Z58 Z64 Z86 Z91 Z109 Z117 Z172 Z185
caveat emptor C190
CERTAINTY Y111
Cháguǎn H82
chá lǐ Y215
CHALLENGES K42 L122 Q131 R238 R239 R249 Z134
Chan J120
CHANCE D23 G198 J44 Q5 X17 Y220 Y428
Chang'an C30 C175
chángchong H150
CHANGE C223 D91 G38 G84 G88 G103 G131 G139 G186 H58 J24 J159 J199 L25 M134 N4 N5 N64 N91 Q53 Q120 R157 R159 R198 R226 R233 S62 S145 S146 S152 S178 S192 S193 S224 S267 T20 T54 T74 T75 T82 T123 X73 Y117 Y244 Y271 Y377 Y384 Y405 Y468 Z47 Z79 Z155
Cháng'é Y458
CHANGES C196 D157 F42 H125 N61 N104 P5 Q172 S39 W92 W95 X152 Y176 Y226 Y245 Y333
Cháng Gē Xíng S115
CHANTING J164
CHAOS N77
cháoshān de C55
cháotíng G192
CHARACTER B8 B27 B151 C181 D148 D153 D225 G34 G84 G151 G152 H207 H209 J24 J126 L25 L96 L102 L169 N4 N5 N91 R31 R37 R142 S145 S178 S222 S224 S225 S353 T123 W26 W29 W42 Y74 Y244 Z24 Z57 Z113
CHARGES R265
CHARITY E13 E14 F35 H92 J164 J220 J225 J283 N52 S109 X127
CHARLATANS S389 Y353
CHASTITY S302
CHEAPNESS B187 G177 H86 T6
CHEATING D188 J10 M14 M108 T112
CHEMISTRY X189 X191
chéngcái K37 S316
chéngjiā W57
Chén Gōng 10 Nián B94
chéngqì H157
chéngrénzhīměi J260 J261
chéngsè J154
chéngshì-bùshuō C77
chéngxiàng R144
Chéng Xiàng Q6
chengyu B8 B68 B94 C7 C74 C85 C105 C148 C199 D1 D12 D32 D126 D148 D152 D192 D198 D204 E27 F10 F11 F31 G18 G64 G72 G89 G105 G137 G138 G162 H1 H129 H156 J16 J32 J37 J37 J51 J70 J71 J72 J99 J103 J108 J134 J136 J138 J149 J162 J165 J185 J233 J237 J238 J264 J277 K6 K49 K52 L14 L24 L50 L65 L65 L66 L82 L86 L92 L115 L118 L135 L150 M19 M24 N14 N29 N35 N69 N78 N89 P14 Q6 Q9 Q10 Q13 Q46 Q110 Q172 Q183 Q184 R27 R33 R59 R71 R78 R82 R86 R99 R101 R104 R146 R150 R155 R161 R220 R242 R250 R266 R282 S18 S79 S119 S150 S193 S295 S298 S309 S315 S322 S323 S326 S331 S343 S344 S349 S357 S437 T21 T21 T37 T49 T55 T61 T62 T93 T94 T96 T102 T107 T135 T135 W12 W61 W62 W83 W93 W93 X58 X86 X95 X104 X116 X132 X161 X169 X180 X195 X196 X202 X203 Y22 Y27 Y27 Y71 Y91 Y183 Y209 Y214 Y225 Y317 Y328 Y344 Y354 Y355 Y389 Y472 Y480 Z33 Z108 Z114 Z118 Z138 Z139 Z167 Z181
chènrè-dǎtiě C85 C86
Chén Shèng Zhuàn Y42
Chén Tāng Zhuàn J246
CHESS B14 G147 Q105 Q109 R130 R131 Y332
chǐ D82 X105
Chiang Kaishek H203
CHICKENS S250
chīkǔ B191
CHILDHOOD S105 Y71 Y391 Y401
CHILD REARING A14 F81 G34 G35 N36
CHILDREN B17 B38 B71 B198 C19 C36 C70 C142 C160 C222 C232 D8 D57 D65 D106 D194 D231 E19 E20 E28 E30 E33 F78 F81 F82 F83 G3 G35 G57 G108 G164 G174 H26 H115 H212 H213 H221 H244 J5 J60 J72 J77 J88 J191 J285 L24 L35 L41 L56 L62 N6 N36 N53 N81 P15 P39 Q11 Q145 Q192 R102 R285 S57 S223 S290 S316 S398 T64 T69 T72 W10 X67 X72 X73 X74 X78 X92 Y15 Y18 Y19 Y31 Y56 Y63 Y156 Y186 Y207 Y345 Y380 Y401 Y452 Z72 Z143
chīliáng S392
chīmí N22
Chinese characters B55 G163 Q88 R116 R245 T10 Y2 Z166
Chinese chess B165 C94 Q104 Q178 R5
Chinese goldthread H162
Chinese opera S11
Chinese parasol tree D16
Chinese pistache H161
Chinese toon X13
chǐrǔ Z115
CHOICES G106 J68 J108 L81 L86 L160 M23 Q56 Q58 S404
chòu píjiàng S16
chuānzhuó S3
Chù Cí H247
Chǔ Guāngxì H197
chuīniúpí N97
chuī zhěn biān fēng N109
chūjiā C182 C183 Q114
chùjǐng-shēngqíng J37
Chū Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqì B6 B31 B38 B76 C127 D82 D137 G23 G36 J13 J87 J162 L35 L125 M112 N11 N64 N65 N102 P3 R22 R101 S114 S117 S191 S238 S319 S419 W47 X116 Y44 Y331 Y406 Y468 Z44 Z108 Z163
Chu kingdom J176
chùlèi-pángtōng Y183
Chūn Cán Jí E30 Q181
chūnhán L47
Chūn Wàng J82
chúnwáng-chǐhán C199
Chūn Yè C201
chū shì Q195
Chù Shì Jiā Z127
chūtóuniǎo Q16
Chù Tuō Bǎ Héng Zhuàn Z174
cí B74
cǐlù-bùtōng C221
CIRCUMSTANCES C49 C173 D123 F51 H136 J129 K6 K18 M65 P13 Q126 Q135 Q207 R31 R131 S78 S191 S192 S266 S268 S332 S340 T108 T129 X33 X143 X147 Y206 Y358 Y364 Y464 Y476 Z43
CITIES X35 X36 X81
CITIZENSHIP G197
CITY DWELLERS X35
CIVILITY J63 L101 M11 M12
CIVIL SERVANTS G69 G70
CIVIL SERVICE Y247
CIVIL WARS C82
CLARITY H134
classical opera E16
class struggle S401
CLEANLINESS C99 Y6
CLEVERNESS C10 C29 C226 C227 C228 C229 C233 D219 E2 G128 G129 G130 G132 H40 H133 H208 J52 J53 J70 K21 K46 M107 M109 M110 Q91 Q101 S414 X57 X92 X131 Y224 Y225 Y315 Y469 Y479 Z112
CLOTHING A1 B145 C139 C169 C181 C200 D171 D172 D176 D217 F56 F73 G99 H69 J118 J279 M17 M57 N19 Q40 Q79 R84 R164 S3 S151 X80 X105 X154 X171 Y71 Y134 Y196 Y277 Y280 Y284 Y285 Y441
COAXING L56
COEXISTENCE B98 B99 L90 W77 Y138 Y149 Y153 Y265
COINCIDENCE M60 Q103 Q184 S282 S374 S387 T13 W81 X17
COLD D171 F18 L67 L69 L72 R137 T113
Cold Dew R110
COLDS D217
Collected Works J33 M49
colloquial H14
colloquial expression B62 C51 D161 D177 H16 J18 J62 J280 K11 L52 N109 P21 Q16 Q27 Q164 R81 R135 R285 S3 S12 S216 S319 S404 S410 T19 T20 T40 T90 X69 X144 X180 X193 X198 Y217 Y286 Z43
COLORS N19
COMMITMENT J4 J13 J54 J277 K1 S152 S285 Y119 Y275 Y313 Y316
COMMON S245 S246
COMMON GOOD D25
COMMON PEOPLE G158 J130 J247 L151 L162 M98 M99 N54 P18 S215 Y24 Y42 Y262 Y423 Z99 Z132
common sayings S437
COMMON SENSE M56
COMMUNICATION J64
communism G32 G33 Y93
Communist party C74 R27 S126 Y454 Y465
Communist slogan F71 G199 R27 S337 Z132
COMMUNITY D24 D25 D33 G78 G199 X75
COMPANIONS B209 G41 G42 G43 G44 G151 J179 L137 L171 M87 M115 R13 S34 S35 T97 T98 T104 T104 T106 T135 W93 X133 Y88 Y297 Y475 Y478
COMPANY G37 G41 L14
COMPARING B110 B153
COMPARISON B141 B145 B181 C23 C98 C103 C114 C127 G10 G27 G65 H217 J10 J95 J99 L4 L46 L57 L107 L115 N50 N52 N57 N58 N59 N61 N64 N65 N66 N68 N71 N73 N74 N75 N76 N77 N78 N79 N80 N81 N82 N84 N85 N86 N87 Q10 Q41 Q56 Q58 Q61 Q78 Q79 Q160 Q196 R71 R147 R176 S179 S299 S303 S329 W14 W18 Y262 Z8 Z154 Z156
COMPARISONS M70 R15 R16 W51 Y58 Y442 Y444 Y446
COMPASSION C25
COMPENSATION C56 S63 S134 S208 T22 X103 Y135 Y172 Y245 Y267 Y339 Y342 Y426 Z39
COMPETENCE B47 B48 B63 B102 B133 B177 B178 G152 J25 J25 L148 M69 M82 Q102 R14 S404
COMPETITION B98 B179 H50 N32 Q29 S95 S183 S329 X60 X70 X93 Y301 Y340 Z139
COMPLAINTS B177 J270 K57 N70 R232 S345 X82 Y388 Z44
COMPLETION D92 L2 X120 Y114 Y181 Y275 Z190
COMPOSITION S324
COMPREHENSION Q20
COMPROMISE G128 S404 Y67 Y340
CONCEALMENT F54
CONCEIT C13 G187 R176 R241 W37 Y12 Z69
CONCENTRATION X157 Y373
CONCESSIONS D132 H184 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R244 R264 T129 X85 Y67 Z135
CONCLUDING Q179 Y298
CONCUBINES Y216
CONDITIONS C161 C164 C167 D110 D154 E1 F42 G165 H24 H123 J145 J163 L27 L122 L150 M45 M49 M58 M65 M75 M82 M97 N34 Q40 Q178 R234 S42 S79 S143 S165 S171 S202 S230 S240 S296 S313 S332 S338 S347 S349 S370 T56 T126 W68 W70 W71 W72 Y77 Y89 Y190 Y284 Y358 Z57
CONDUCT B5 B13 B22 B36 B37 B75 B108 B112 B138 B144 B166 D47 D87 D132 D163 D181 D183 F24 G18 G18 G25 G167 G167 H215 H226 H239 J105 J151 J182 J183 J194 J204 J250 J254 J255 J256 J258 J259 J260 J261 J263 J265 J267 J268 J275 J278 J280 K43 L92 M78 M106 M108 N71 N84 N85 N97 N101 Q15 Q101 Q137 Q139 Q142 R22 R60 R104 R252 R279 R280 S94 S119 S151 S162 S176 S234 S290 S297 S427 S435 T97 T124 X20 X33 Y28 Y75 Y88 Y414 Z86 Z138 Z183 Z184 Z195
CONFIDANTS F27 Q140
CONFIDENCE B1 Z36
CONFIDENCES Y376
CONFLICT C16 D129 D158 E16 E25 F72 F87 G36 G100 H50 J135 L142 Q159 R57 R130 S6 S122 S214 X104 Y109 Y137 Y343 Y455 Z81 Z82 Z185
CONFORMITY C188 C213 N45 Q16 Q66 R268 Y109
CONFRONTATION B114
Confucian Analects B35 G77 G205 J129 J189 J260 J261 J273 J283 J284 L58 M100 S34 S58 S198 S411 X64 X186 Y5 Y314 Z113
Confucian classics Y347 Y381
CONFUCIANISM B35
Confucius R38 R61 R102 R219 S34 S57
CONFUSION S363 X52
CONGENITAL S145
cōngmíng cáizhì C9
Cóng Tán Y474
CONNECTIONS A10 C3 J165 K14 K20 Q158 R175 S53 S315 X191 Y99 Y216 Y232 Y346
CONSCIENCE B22 B112 B212 C111 C152 J75 J258 M78 R65 R104 R223 R252 S176 T5 X9 X150 X158
CONSEQUENCES C59 C72 C92 C210 D54 E40 G48 G75 G146 H44 H233 J36 L74 M131 P6 Q64 Q104 Q144 S115 S412 X132 Y22 Y164 Y209
CONSERVATISM B173
CONSIDERATION A18 D220 L73 M42 M119
CONSOLATION C7 P33 W43
CONSPIRACY B208
CONSTRUCTION Q173
CONSULTING Q132
CONTAMINATION Y152
contemporary saying C87
CONTEMPT S364
CONTENTMENT P24 R266 Z117 Z118
CONTINUITY F40
CONTRACTS Q54 S416
CONTRASTS B98 M70
CONTRIBUTIONS Y427
CONTROL G39 G121 M85 N2 S85 S313 W7 X31
CONVENTIONS L59 Q66 Y384
CONVERSATION K3 Y463
COOKING B140 S219
COOPERATION B92 B155 C27 D203 D204 D224 E29 G87 G105 G127 G173 J1 J7 J15 J102 J196 L31 L51 L112 M84 Q35 Q40 Q188 R45 R47 R50 R51 R52 R55 R57 R114 R190 R209 S16 S37 S310 S431 T125 W54 X107 X124 X162 Y16 Y104 Y143 Y144 Y145 Y146 Y148 Y165 Y167 Y169 Y194 Y195 Y199 Y228 Y234 Y235 Z102 Z103 Z128 Z130 Z131 Z133 Z142
COPYING Q208 S393 Y306 Z166
CORRECTION C31 N25 W20 X71 Y212 Y361 Z73
CORRUPTION B6 B55 B94 C4 C48 C122 C123 D20 D62 F9 G82 G114 G125 G142 G143 H122 Q30 R186 S394 X46 Y240 Z11
COSMETICS S12
COSTS L3 L63 X134 Y23 Y162 Y425
COUNTRY C57 G200 G203 T51 Y155
COUNTRYSIDE P31 X36 X81
COUNTY S421 Z9
COUPLES E12 F72 H141 L35 N20 P25 Q48 S111 S280 T40 T88 W6 Y255 Y327 Z49 Z110
couplet B133 C113 H51 Q106 R275 R275 S177 Y100
còuqiǎo S282
COUR D83
COURAGE B174 B201 D12 D92 H82 H187 H212 H213 J34 J51 L84 N17 N86 P30 Q74 R184 S59 S80 S126 S258 X131 X165 Y90 Y185 Y388 Z134
COURTESY A18 D68 D68 G169 J41 J47 J63 K24 K31 L5 L36 L56 L101 L118 L126 L127 M12 M119 P13 Q15 Q44 Q142 Q156 R1 R60 R95 R153 R166 S157 S173 S369 S425 T63 X126 Y284 Y307 Y436 Z90 Z148
COURTS D164 G123 J55 S205 Y274 Y387 Y394 Z106
COVER-UP G21 H207
COWARDICE G43
COWARDS Z8
CRABS D225
CRAFTSMANSHIP C8 R161
CRAFTSMEN D34 M26 S10
CREATION C28 T26
CREATIVITY L163
CREATURES W83
CREDIBILITY K39
CREDIT D206 M71 Q58 S179 S263
CREDITORS P3
CRIME B154 J10 J85 M48 T49 X69 Y36 Y94 Y233 Y274 Y349 Y357 Y374 Z52 Z89 Z157
CRIMINALS B154 D103 M48 Q209 Y357 Z22 Z106
CRISIS S204
CRITICISM B43 B72 B178 B206 D65 D96 D98 D197 G152 H138 J134 J250 L22 L45 L54 M71 N90 Q173 Q197 S180 T84 W65 X40 X108 Y54 Y266 Z153
CRITICS E23
CRUELTY H112 Y47
CRYING C180 H37 N10 N12 S228 Z37
cuánqián Z12
Cultural Revolution B11 B129 C130 F49 G53 L45 L145 P30 R71 S88 S126 X132 Y465 Z41
cùn X105
cùnbù-nánxíng D12 X58 X95 Y389
CUNNING H127 R89 Y98
CURING Z68 Z83
CURIOSITY Y476
CURSE G100
CURSING D97 G115 J285 Q190 X24
CUSTOMERS H227 H234 H240 K25 X40
CUSTOMS B10 C193 C193 D87 G25 G26 G54 J155 L106 N45 R268 S241 X36 X112
CYCLES L130 S44 S45 【L1】D D

dàchóng D8
dàchù-zhuóyǎn D11
dǎ dāngmiàn gǔ Y62
Dà Hǎi Hángxíng Kào Duòshǒu Y465
Dà Lüè L134
dǎn Q170
dàn B2 C28
dāngchāi de D52
DANGER B41 C18 C71 C72 C121 D27 E6 E25 F11 F31 G126 H232 H233 J28 J79 J90 J107 J210 L112 L154 N80 N87 P1 P4 P40 Q105 Q123 Q144 Q205 R112 R114 R185 R245 S85 S142 S370 S436 T4 W1 W64 X37 X121 Y355 Z5 Z126 Z172
dāng háng C8
Dàng Kòu Zhì C41 C56 C131 D45 K43 M105 N65 Q52 S414 X90 Z103
dānglìng H238
Dǎng Nèi Tuánjiē S16
dāngshí H238
Dantu S148
Dāntú Yàn S148
dànyuàn D72
Dào Dé Jīng B136 H237 M98 Q50 Z92 Z117
Dào Dé Jíng T49
Dào Xū Y232
dàqián X83
dàqì-wǎnchéng C105
DARING S80 S123 S422 X119
dǎshuǐ Q89
DAUGHTERS H26 H196 J3 J231 Y168
DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW C191 J81 L80 X148
Dà Xù Y54 Z97
Dàxué Chūnqiū J98
Dà Yá J126
DAYDREAMING L115
Dà Zhé Shì D228
DEAFNESS Y187
DEATH B51 C203 C212 G1 H82 H88 H167 H248 H249 J231 K10 L47 M98 N1 N58 N69 Q205 R71 R105 R148 R149 R158 R168 R169 R180 R182 R233 S59 S120 S235 S418 S419 S420 W1 Y29 Y49 Y83 Y182 Y269 Y289 Y353 Y394 Z8 Z95 Z107 Z154
DEBATE G171
DEBT B156 C95 D139 D207 E13 F84 H95 J124 J125 L7 L68 M37 M61 P3 Q59 Q88 R25 R137 R169 R217 S117 S206 W56 W98 X7 X201 Y365 Y366 Y451
dé bù shǎng shī J18
DECEIT B78 C121 D35 H184 H251 Q101 Q128 R104 R187 R283 S75 S380 T85 Y260 Y286 Z91
DECENCY H89
DECEPTION N14 Z94
deciliter J91 J98 J186 R21 X4
DECISIONS C173 D54 D81 J35 K49 L124 L160 Q10 Q27 Q87 R40 R94 S152 S204 S285 X12 Y209 Y402
DECLINE B32 B33 D10 F47 F69 G153 P43 Q18 Q170 S299 S303 S319 T99 Y50 Y121
dé cùn jìn chǐ D146
dé dào D126
dédào-duōzhù D126
DEEDS M16
DEFEAT B7 B77 C82 G132 H231 S140 S141 Y295
DEFECTS M20 M132 N90 W25 X103 Y172 Y223 Y300
DEFENSE C84 D165 M105
DEFICIENCIES Y172
dégāo-wàngzhòng D148
DELAY D49 X56 Y91
délǒng-wàngshǔ R86
DEMANDS K48 S355
dēngkē D145
dēng lóngmén Y123
Dèng Què Lóu Y470
Deng Xiaoping B11 B129
DEPARTURES K24 L127 N10 Q44 R139 S157 S425 T63
DEPENDENCE C76 D109 F59 J238 P34 Q82 R235 Y465
DEPRESSION D85 Y242
DESCENDANTS L52
DESCRIPTIONS G141
DESERVING J105
DESIRE A22 B109 B136 G15 H164 J195 J224 L6 Q182 R86 R150 R204 R266 S186 S260 S298 T61 W80 W97 X180 Y425 Z65 Z118
DESPAIR B57
DESPERATION B86 B105 B154 E4 E8 G89 G140 G184 H96 L155 L167 M23 R33 R78 R79 R81 S232 S412 S422 T53 T138 T140 W52 Y48 Y114 Y239 Z98
DESSERTS J182
DESTINY G52 M112
DESTRUCTION C28 C67 Q173
DETACHMENT R37 S253 X151
DETAILS D11 D51 X52 X65 X66 Y40 Y450 Y476
DETERMINATION B161 B162 D83 D92 H61 K1 K44 P30 R120 S126 S261 T65 W29 X137 X157 Y236 Y420 Y421 Y422 Y431 Y432 Y433 Y435 Z95
DETRACTION S323
DEVELOPMENT M45
DEVIL Q103
DEVILS R228 R256
DIALECT G56 J66 N103 R88
diān sān dǎo sì S363
diàoyòng X43
DIET R281
DIFFERENCES B10 B15 B16 B27 B98 C192 C193 C213 D77 F46 G24 G25 G26 G29 G30 G31 G54 G80 H124 L106 M70 Q16 Q66 Q93 Q160 R65 R66 R74 R99 R146 R190 R199 R227 R237 R242 S31 S32 S222 S223 S226 S241 T93 T101 Y102 Y133 Y142 Y151 Y207 Y312 Y439 Z113 Z146 Z190
DIFFICULTIES B155 C135 C225 C234 D83 D117 D173 F50 H61 H77 J8 J9 J21 J58 J72 J113 J136 J188 J219 K51 K54 L102 L114 L154 M19 M54 M135 P25 Q50 Q110 Q126 Q206 R31 R32 R82 S43 S67 S72 S80 S165 S211 S261 S310 S320 S353 S368 S382 T34 T46 T58 T65 T67 T119 T122 W16 X5 X19 X61 X120 X151 Y108 Y160 Y182 Y238 Y435 Y464 Z71 Z102 Z103 Z105 Z124 Z134
DIFFICULTY C207 F23 F26 F51 F68 F76 H17 H30 H80 H245 K9 K13 N18 N21 N75 N82 P38 T130 Z144
DIGNITY S302
DILIGENCE B4 B62 B135 B169 C35 C81 D90 D182 D196 G43 L18 L26 L57 L109 M30 N30 N42 N67 Q71 Q145 Q148 Q154 S7 S14 S17 S104 S400 T23 T29 T130 T134 X106 X148 X198 Y75 Z101 Z107 Z137
Ding Ling B59 R46
dìngshù D161
dǐngtiān-lìdì R27
DINNER Z15
DIRECTIONS D45 L172 Z176
DIRTY LINEN C154 J2
DISADVANTAGE H31 H179 H210 L147 X34 Y426
DISAGREEMENT H135 J203 J214 Q62
DISASTER B76 F36 H219 H224 H232 H241 H243 J28 J224 J237 J264 M135 P1 P33 P36 Q49 Q167 R160 R245 T1 T47 Y354 Y414
DISASTERS J243 N102 Q127 S333 T78 T79 X32 X56 X66 Y44
DISCERNMENT C14 H198 L146
DISCIPLINE B38 B97 B202 F81 J60 K46 N54 Q9 S68 S317 X90 Y15 Y31 Y456 Z51
DISCONTENT Y436
DISCRETION H31 X168
DISCRIMINATION N70
DISCUSSION D81 G175
DISEASE C21
DISGRACE J121 Y285 Z117
dìshì S81
DISHONESTY M14 N85 W2 Y341
DISHONOR E39 N68 R17
dīshuǐ-chuānshí S150
DISILLUSION J22
DISLIKE B40 D58 D60 S369 X49
DISPLEASURE Y333
DISPUTES D129 G100 H118 Q129 S214
DISRUPTION S8
DISSENSION L9
DISSIPATION M44
DISTANCE C100 H3 L170 P31 Q48 Q133 Q147 Q155 R99 R257 R260 S164 S166 S341 Y437 Y442 Y443 Y444 Y446 Y447 Y448 Y449
DISTINGUISHING Q93
DISTORTIONS T18
DISTRESS B57
DISTURBANCES X81
DISUSE G156
DIVINATION L60 R272 S71
DIVISION H52
DIVISION OF LABOR G135
DOCTORS C21 L22 L60 L93 L156 M15 Q141 S112 S325 X200 Y110 Y212 Y353 Y356
DOCUMENTS Q54
dog-eat-dog G100
doggerel B133
DOGS E5 E6 Y74
Dōng Guān Hān Jì B174
dōngjia G5
Dǒng Zhòng Shū Zhuàn J185
Dōng Zhōu Lièguó Zhì (DZL) C230 D54 G203 H241 J38 J238 J250 J269 L11 L75 L119 M134 Q38 Q41 S76 T1 T96 Y414
Dǒng Zuò Zhuàn Y27
dǒu C125 D72 J91 J98 J186 L132 M63 R21 X4
DOUBLE-DEALERS B159
DOUBLE JEOPARDY Y349
DOUBTS Y310
Dòu É Yuān R198
dòuqiǎo S282
Dragon Beard Ditch H64 R203 S303
dragons M69
DRAMA B197 G148 H178 J129 R118
DRC (Dream of the Red Chamber) B32 B62 B86 B89 B127 B139 B142 B179 B183 B211 C12 C58 C82 C92 D58 D61 D68 D71 D92 D104 D117 D123 D128 D149 D158 G21 G31 G52 G181 H77 H115 H129 J3 J13 J16 J27 J120 J143 J158 J176 J180 J207 J211 L6 L8 L41 L47 L125 L129 M73 M123 M129 N4 N86 N92 N104 N113 P1 P5 P10 P30 Q18 Q38 Q48 Q64 Q91 Q116 Q129 Q181 R42 R81 R106 R139 R159 R262 S33 S66 S116 S126 S152 S157 S177 S231 S260 S280 S303 S307 S319 S386 S410 T68 T74 T117 W14 W40 W83 X72 X116 X131 X136 X156 X161 Y24 Y49 Y101 Y124 Y137 Y239 Y250 Y258 Y271 Y291 Y415 Y447 Y448 Y458 Z59 Z61 Z159
Dream of Red Mansions (Dream of the Red Chamber) See DRC
Dream of the Red Chamber See DRC
DREAMS G48 M83 N16 Q182 R258 T93 Z165
DRINKING B6 C144 J177 J211 S354
DROUGHT D36 H19 P22
DRUNKENNESS J193 J217 J227 R273 S5 T77 Y131 Y350 Z13 Z179 Z180
Du Fu G188 J82 R154 S177 Z154
duìniú-tánqín D198
dùliàng dà L76
Du Mu G60 R162
dúmù bùchéng lín D71 D203
dúmù-nánzhī D204
dúmùqiáo S310
duōduō-yìshàn H22
duōrú-niúmáo X196
Dú Shǐ R162
DUTY E35 F84 G117 G197 J80 Q94 Q95 Q198 S10 S301 Z3
dǔwù-sīrén J16
DYING S148 【L1】E E

EAGLES G37
EARLINESS B20 B63 M118 W59 X10 X34 X42 Y318 Y424 Z17 Z104
EARNING B67 B135 Y254 Y319 Y337
EARS E17
EARTH T20 T45
Earth God S173
EASE L3 R271
Eastern Han dynasty B81
Eastern Wu Y72
EAST-WEST B179
EATING B65 C95 C99 D184 G202 J47 J254 K2 L49 N29 N48 N49 N83 S106 S107 S198 S207 Y92 Z15
EAVESDROPPING G45 G46 L161 M67 Q28 Q103 W88
ECLIPSES T27
ECONOMICS C101 D24 G32 G33 H222 H236 L144 X75 Y335
ECONOMY H98 N30 Q162 R253 S221 Y248 Z96
EDUCATION D4 D194 F81 G34 G35 H157 H221 J57 J60 J88 J145 J151 K28 K37 L52 M77 N105 N113 S252 S316 S317 S398 X78 X92 X167 X170 X189 X191 X194 X198 Y15 Y31 Y345 Y347 Y381 Y456 Y463 Z34
EFFICACY R91 S20 S21
EFFICIENCY D34
EFFORT B67 B81 B135 B176 B196 B207 C5 C90 C115 C116 C194 C226 D29 D100 D110 D113 D168 D187 G58 G63 G136 H17 H24 H235 J30 J78 J225 K9 K12 L115 M71 N3 N89 Q14 R219 R271 S13 S218 S242 S274 S284 S291 S329 S344 S414 T31 T37 T42 W3 W59 W60 W87 X35 X99 X101 X106 X122 X195 X198 Y56 Y66 Y76 Y127 Y199 Y208 Y373 Y422 Y470 Z107
Eight Dragons S71
Eight Immortals B54
ELDER BROTHERS F81
ELDERS B189 B190 B191 C191
ELDEST BROTHER Z40
elixir of life X9
EMBARRASSMENT J259
EMBROIDERY Y52
EMERGENCIES B18 B53 K23 L155 M31 M115 Q172 Q183 R82 S232 Y13 Y448
EMIGRATION N1 S231 S372
EMOTIONS R62 S153
EMPATHY D68 M50
EMPEROR T25
EMPLOYEES G5 S158 T30 X148
EMPLOYERS G5 S10
EMPLOYMENT B167 F17 K8 L75 L86 M3 X189 Y237
empress dowager K39
ENCOURAGEMENT S4 S248 S405 S406
ENDINGS L127 M66 Q44 Q84 Q86 Q179 S157 S425 T63
ENDURANCE K7 P25 R103 R160 R220
ENEMIES B57 B159 B183 C149 C150 D18 D101 D102 D156 D208 E16 F11 F12 G36 G100 G184 H113 H203 L1 L97 L108 N84 P8 Q118 Q124 Q144 S57 S304 Y108 Y147 Y163 Y264 Y438 Y439 Z81 Z82
ēnhuì B149
enigmatic folk simile D133
ENLIGHTENMENT H176
ENTANGLEMENTS S70 S83 S89 S253
ENTERTAINING B39
ENTHUSIASM X146
ENTICEMENTS S308 X14
ENTRAPMENT X14
ENVIRONMENT G97 J129 J161 J166 J167 J179 K6 K18 L103 M45 Q207 S78 W92
ENVY B56 D56 G27 J115 L123 S323 T87 W80 Y158 Y471
EQUALITY G60 H240 N6 S223 S290 S345 S346 T59 W13 W77 Y138 Y149 Y265 Y294 Y386 Y419
ERADICATION Z32 Z33
Èr Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí B29 B49 B50 B174 C24 G157 G170 G172 H77 H172 J2 L76 M33 Q19 Q109 Q134 R208 S63 S287 S407 T112 W26 X2 Y158 Y404 Y430 Y448 Y455
érnǚ-qíngcháng E27
Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn A8 B10 B30 B114 C8 C171 C229 D33 D61 D72 D106 D160 F1 F28 F29 F31 F81 G51 G103 G108 G161 G198 H14 H34 J195 J208 J256 K7 K14 L13 L24 L59 M42 M55 M107 M129 P21 Q46 Q64 Q176 Q205 R51 R66 R69 R76 R82 R168 R173 R199 R205 R267 S10 S80 S116 S208 S229 S237 S261 S295 S326 S378 S424 S425 T49 T55 T78 T83 W88 X54 X82 X126 X158 Y19 Y91 Y109 Y182 Y204 Y214 Y237 Y242 Y290 Y294 Y295 Y301 Z3 Z46 Z59 Z60 Z104 Z119 Z149
ERRORS K52
Èrshí Nián Mùdǔ J7 Y128
Èr Shí Zǎi Fán Huá Mèng J96
ESCAPE S43 S61 Y264
ESSAYS M49
ESTRANGEMENT R260
ethnic minorities L173
ETIQUETTE J280
EVALUATION B3 B52
EVENTUALITY Y50 Y303 Z67
EVIDENCE D13 E31 M48 M79 Q17 Q54 Q209 S120 S265 S419 Y357 Z30 Z157
EVIL B99 C9 C17 C47 C152 C215 C217 C231 D47 D78 D180 D225 D226 E5 E6 E11 E22 E23 E24 E40 F44 F66 G84 G146 G176 G185 H70 H72 H73 H93 H104 H169 H206 H207 H209 J24 J42 J46 J182 J261 L12 L14 L25 L54 L81 L96 M81 M115 M126 N4 N5 N59 O1 Q143 Q190 Q205 Q206 R76 R102 R115 R215 R227 R228 S49 S63 S96 S134 S178 S224 S225 S234 S259 S294 S321 S358 S417 T4 T18 T27 T57 T68 T79 T100 T112 T115 T117 T123 T124 T135 W9 W10 W79 W89 X29 X30 X104 X127 X165 X166 X167 X177 X188 X190 Y55 Y75 Y94 Y101 Y152 Y177 Y178 Y244 Y267 Y292 Y297 Y339 Y341 Y342 Y452 Z24 Z28 Z48 Z52 Z91 Z187 Z194
EVIL DOERS D180
EXAGGERATION D186 H150 N63 W38 X39 Y231
EXAMINATIONS D145 T11 X187
EXAMPLE D4 D14 D41 F83 G18 J45 L52 L62 Q208 S7 S73 S162 S174 W27 Y157 Z97
EXCEPTIONS G114 Y157
EXCESS C63 E34 F32 H78 H131 M6 S196 S355 X20 Y9 Z63
EXCUSES B132 B177 F57 W60
EXHORTATION Y41
EXPECTATIONS L35 L41 S81 Z14
EXPENDITURES J97 S307
EXPENSE G177 H86 H236 L63
EXPERIENCE A3 B8 B19 B28 B46 B60 B115 B116 B117 B118 B122 B124 B136 B141 B142 B147 B151 B184 B185 B188 B190 B205 C23 C24 C47 C52 C74 C97 C133 C135 C137 C137 C166 C183 C196 D57 D212 E2 G2 G13 G116 G130 G161 G188 H13 H15 H39 H175 J21 J22 J29 J43 J53 J58 J72 J101 J138 J140 J150 J152 J154 J166 J190 J197 L48 L50 L169 M24 M50 M54 M56 Q6 Q33 Q65 Q69 Q73 Q83 Q107 Q113 Q207 R90 R277 R282 S46 S51 S72 S113 S114 S149 S211 S247 S254 S320 S325 S359 S361 S428 T91 T116 X5 Y34 Y40 Y85 Y86 Y89 Y198 Y268 Y331 Z144 Z178
EXPERTISE B205 C45 H13 H14 H15 H39 J148 M51 N7 Q1 Q85 Q176 S4 S98 W35 Y276
EXPERTS D5 N34 Q90 R267 S46 S50
EXPLANATIONS D133 D134 M107 X18 Z119
EXPLOITATION B113 C12 D169 H168 J269 K21 K22 R274 S25 S35 S55 S56 S220 T136 W63 Y47
EXPOSURE H70 L143 R76 R206 Z86 Z141
EXPRESSION R269
EXTENDED FAMILIES S318 Z145
EXTERMINATION J210 Y163
EXTRAVAGANCE C70 C81 C93 D21 F78 P16 X149
EXTREMES G74 H136 R10 R259 R262 S196 S309
EYES Y7 Y40 Y51 【L1】F F

FABLE S2
fācái R274
FACE D65 D96 D197 E8 F24 G90 G93 M20 M92 Q165 R107 R141 R239 R269 S53 S168 S293 X73 Y73
FACTS S265
FAILURE B19 B42 B201 C73 H100 H108 M51 Q124 Q178 Q204 R14 S98 S140 S267 S271 W49 Y434
FAIRNESS B78 G67 H33 H126 J180 L132 S345 S346 Y65 Y171 Y294
FAIR-WEATHER J162 J215 J216 J221 J222 M89 P26 Q39 Q42 Y407 Y409 Z108
FALSEHOODS W67 Y311
FALSITY G17 G101 H159 J75 R265 S176 S287 S288 X158 Y260 Y462 Z23 Z31 Z45 Z47 Z53 Z58 Z60 Z61
FAME B61 C109 C115 C213 H149 R18 R106 R195 S248 S251 S322 S323 W76 Y50 Y75 Y80 Y417
FAMILIARITY J166 J167 R167 S113 S114 W92
FAMILIES A11 A16 B45 B70 B198 B203 B208 C36 C58 C69 C143 C163 D57 D58 D59 D60 D72 D117 D158 D159 E18 F53 F78 F87 G3 G24 G64 G122 G204 H80 H220 H250 J1 J2 J5 J7 J8 J9 J11 J12 J15 J23 J83 J84 J85 J90 J93 J96 J97 J99 J101 J102 J104 J135 J184 K43 L23 L80 M73 N6 P10 P15 Q129 Q164 R156 R244 S129 S131 S174 S290 S318 S411 T105 W4 W46 X162 Y100 Y158 Y159 Y160 Y165 Y166 Y167 Y168 Y170 Y186 Y233 Y248 Y395 Y397 Y418 Z40 Z145 Z152
FAMILY Y246 Y247
Family Maxims Y344
FAMILY PLANNING D72
FAMINE D36 H164 H165 Y17
Fǎnduì Dǎng Bāgǔ D87 K6 L54
fǎnfù-wúcháng Y328
Fan Gang S161
fángdi chǎn Q32
fánghuàn-wèirán F10 J264
fànghǔ-guīshān F11
Fāng Xì J84
FANTASY M125
Fan Yan Z137
Fan Zhongyan X53
FARMERS B146 X35 Z137
FARMING C202 F35 J178 L85 N67 Q67 Q68 Q177 R49 R73 S13 Y4
farming proverb B199
FAT R106
FATE B76 B183 C165 D48 D161 E12 G36 G52 H68 H88 H110 H144 H153 H241 J104 J156 J158 J176 J239 L129 M101 M102 M104 M112 M123 N44 N95 N102 Q48 Q76 Q184 R38 R44 R224 S44 S146 S209 S217 S280 T15 T16 T44 T101 T107 T108 W7 W25 X15 Y218 Y219 Y220 Y269 Y321 Y396 Y429 Y438 Z83
FATHERS D17 F81 F83 F84 F87 H187 H212 H213 J231 L62 S57 Y15 Y31 Y156 Y411 Y413 Z170
FAULTS G205 R63 S260 T84 W65 X88 Y341 Z153
faute de mieux C220
FAVORITISM G21 G22 G66 G79 G183 J165 R125 R126 S255 S257 X28 X130 X130 Y247
FAVORS C87 C95 C119 C122 C123 D139 D190 F63 G91 J267 J268 L7 L136 P28 Q42 R124 R128 R129 R133 R145 S208 T3 W84 X156 Y61 Y375 Z76
FEAR B22 B212 G178 G185 H17 J27 J29 J114 J138 K10 L11 L143 P2 R109 R112 R123 R197 R228 R283 S59 S80 T11 T32 T45 T85 X7 Y48 Y79 Y310 Y331 Z95
FEELINGS A4 A5 B73 D145 D220 G149 J16 J37 L95 L118 M55 N24 N66 P13 P15 Q46 Q115 Q117 Q150 Q151 Q194 R24 R62 R96 R117 R126 R129 R130 R202 R260 R269 S111 S141 S175 S256 S369 W83 X79 X97 X131 X173 Y52 Y205 Y242 Z37
fěibàng Z66
Fèi'è Bōlài J210
Fēi Gōng C199
fēiqǐn-zǒushòu N29 N48
fēn X105
Fén J210
FENCE STRADDLING J68
fēngmáng J38
fèngmáo-línjiǎo X196
Féng Mèng Lóng Z99
Fēngshén Yǎnyì B130 D71 D94 D161 G111 H2 H144 H186 J26 J30 L143 L162 L169 M83 M126 N33 N85 Q6 Q29 Q126 S153 T34 X152 Y249 Y250 Y287 Y303 Y316 Y430 Z80 Z134
fēngshuǐ Y197
fēngsú xíguàn G26
fēnjiā S318
FIANCEES W26
FICKLENESS H151
FIGHTING D3 D15 D86 D94 D98 H32 H64 H66 J32 J262 J263 L5 L13 L80 L82 L128 L142 Q202 S168 S311 T40 T122 X23 X24 X56 Y41 Y122 Y137 Y340 Z81 Z82 Z185
FILIALITY B17 C160 E19 E35 H115 J77 J191 J231 N100
FILIAL PIETY B198 J80 W10 Y258 Z3 Z136
FINALITY G1 S152 S285
FINANCES Q149 X169 Y68
FINDING H106 K32 T13
FINERY H69
FINISHING X120
FIRES J192 J208 L112 M64 R52 S333 Y448 Z130
FISHING B68
FLATTERY E41 E42 G99 G181 H251 J162 N28 Q8 R172 S377 T70 Y463 Z108
FLESH X156
FLEXIBILITY C187 D74 D122 D160 F8 G4 G76 H20 Q47 R264 S78 S266 S409 T1 X55
FLOODING B87 S333
flower-drum opera D116
FLOWERS K9
folk adages S437
folk belief D171 M53 S250
folk story C219 D37 L122
FOLLOWERS Q86 S350 S351 S356 Y230 Z62
FOOD A1 B65 B92 B111 B126 B145 C99 C139 D72 F67 G15 G91 G102 G199 G202 J112 J132 J254 K2 N29 N48 N52 N83 R73 R163 S3 S42 S107 S133 S250 S429 T30 T41 T70 T80 W90 X35 Y58 Y92 Y213 Y254 Y284 Y285 Y344 Y345 Z15 Z63 Z148 Z154
FOOLISHNESS C219 J76 Y185 Y287
FOOLS C124 C126 C197 D31 H16 H21 H38 M111 T55 X2 Y479 Y480 Z112 Z114
FORBEARANCE D130 R42 R244 R245 X64 Z118
FORCE A20 A21 B156 B179 D43 D219 K53 L51 L128 N92 Q23 Q24 R66 S20 S21 S196 S311 S407 S423 W77 X175 Y41 Y138 Y265 Z75 Z100
FOREBODING S99
FORECASTING Y323
FORESTALLING J36
FORETHOUGHT Q104
FORGETTING G181 H57 H58 S24 Y229 Y350
FORGIVENESS B211 C104 D128 L128 R7 R8 R9 S116 S194 Y325
FORMALITY Q140 Q142 Q156 R166 S385 Z90
FORTITUDE C38
FORTUNE D48 D91 F77 F79 F85 H144 H153 H218 H226 H237 H239 H241 H243 K22 L65 P14 Q169 R190 R246 S2 S44 S45 S146 S239 S240 T16 T22 T31 Y135 Y245 Y291 Y369 Y371 Y372 Y381 Y466 Y468
FORTUNETELLING M5 N65 R272 Y217
FOUNDATIONS K50 M137 P32 P34 Q174
FOWL N29 N48
FOXES Y297
FRANKNESS C131 G40 J64 J273 K49 L98 N56 Q100 Q197 R240 S156 S402 X161 Y62 Y69 Z78
FRAUD R272
FREE B111
FREEDOM Q47 S253
FRICTION R57
FRIENDLINESS H46
FRIENDS B209 C53 D67 D208 F34 G133 G151 G186 H3 H252 J61 J74 L16 P8 P27 Q116 Q133 Q143 Q146 R167 S28 S94 S210 S272 S315 S350 S351 S356 S420 T132 W14 X16 X21 X182 Y88 Y147 Y196 Y280 Y376 Y409 Y475 Z1 Z4 Z80 Z90 Z151
FRIENDSHIP B23 B114 F5 F63 G68 H32 H65 H113 H193 J64 J73 J74 J162 J203 J215 J216 J221 J222 J270 J271 J281 M11 N9 N56 N84 P28 Q39 Q42 Q140 Q143 Q152 Q153 Q158 Q166 Q212 R36 R136 R181 R217 S192 S239 S272 S403 T98 T106 W14 X20 X89 X164 Y126 Y130 Y134 Y154 Y184 Y289 Y335 Z108
FROST N102 Y44
FRUGALITY C35 C70 H98 J153 N30 P16 Q90 Q148 S186 S221 W6 X80 X149 X154 X169 Y344 Y377 Y392
FRUSTRATION R149 W80
fù S421
Fù Dé Gǔ Yuán Y93
fǔdǐ-chōuxīn Y27 Y27
FURS Q40 Q79
fútú J220
FUTURE D173 E30 F11 G201 J33 Q73 Q126 Q127 Q144 Q169 R8 R179 R280 R285 S94 S209 S229 S312 T34 X47 Y317 Y479
fúyào Y110 【L1】G G

gàiguān-lùndìng G1
GAINS C112 C128 C130 C134 D137 N26 Y291
GAMBLING D201 D202 D223 D229 J147 J201 J202 S390
GAMES J211
gāngē Y256
gāngqiáng G4
Gansu province R86 R150
gāo B94
Gāo Lì Zhuàn J248
Gāo Wēi Zhuàn Q158
Gaoyou county D37
gàozhuàng W67
Gào Zǐ X160
Gāo Zǐ Shàng C25
gē D172
gě M101
gēda A17
GENERALIZING J52 J53
GENERALS Q19 Q41
GENERATIONS B198 C34 D4 D91 E26 F78 G3 J282 Q64 Q67 Q68 Q121 S252 W27 Y121
GENEROSITY Y460 Z76
gēng H173 S17 S171 W59 Y49 Y318
Gēng Sāng Chǔ R253
Gěng Yǎn Zhuàn Y435
GENTLEMEN D88 D202 D228 F13 G147 H28 H33 H41 H42 H59 J252 J253 J254 J255 J256 J257 J258 J259 J260 J262 J263 J264 J265 J266 J267 J268 J269 J270 J271 J272 J273 J274 J275 J276 J277 J278 J279 J280 J281 J284 L89 M87 M106 M108 Q15 S235 X25 X55 X202 Y125 Y305 Z26 Z76
geomancy Y197
géqiáng-yǒu'ěr G46
géyán S34
gèyǒu-gède T141
GHOSTS R115 R197 R228
GIFTS L5 L118 Q46 R129 R166 W60 X173 Y99 Y130 Y222 Y288 Y326 Z11
ginseng H161
GIRLS L41 N103 N104 N105 N110 N113 S190 Y215
GIVING S109
GLIBNESS Z177
GLORY N68
GOADING C94
GOALS Q208
GO-BETWEENS C171 T38 Z123
GODS H149 M22 M114 N80 R76 R91 R97 S137 S253
GOLD B6 D196 Q30 Y120 Z56 Z57
Golden Lotus (Jīn Píng Méi) See JPM
Golden Mean, The R219
goldthread H161
gōng'érwàngsī G64
gōngqiáng N17
gōngshì-gōngbàn G72
Gōng Sūn Chǒu, Shàng S434
Gōng Sūn Chòu, Xià D126
gǒngzhū C16
Gong Zizhen Q82
GOOD DEEDS D73 H75 H79
GOOD LUCK H144
GOODNESS A8 B99 C140 C215 C231 D151 H28 H30 H33 H34 H72 H88 H91 H92 H93 H180 H215 J42 J45 J181 J182 J183 J261 N36 N59 P42 R147 R215 R223 R227 R228 R229 R237 S63 S96 S163 S252 S259 S358 T18 T27 W10 W89 X127 X166 X167 X188 X190 Y88 Y101 Y172 Y197 Y243 Y267 Y339 Y342 Y472 Z187
GOOD NEWS H74
GOODS C155 J226 L27 L79 L146 M9 P11 R15 Y128 Y129 Y260 Y298 Y399
GOOD WILL C134 Q46
GOSSIP C168 D16 D209 F1 F7 F46 G170 G172 H74 H177 L9 L105 R29 R59 S30 S125 S130 S182 S212 S243 T7 T17 T128 T130 X158 Y62 Y81 Y139 Y231 Z184
gǒují-tiàoqiáng G89 R81
GOVERNMENT B35 C57 G69 G70 G195 G200 G203 M98 S142 S416 T25 T51 T60 T62 T82 Y155 Z9 Z52 Z174
GOVERNMENT SERVICE D62
GRAIN D196 S132
grain measure M101
GRANDCHILDREN F78 L49
GRANDPARENTS L49
GRATITUDE B149 C129 G196 J230 N71 W33 Y365 Y366
GRAVESITES Y197
Great Leap Forward T78
Great Learning R102
GREAT MEN D95 D122 D123 S268 Y204 Y205 Y206
GREAT MINDS Y42 Y204
GREATNESS D50 D95 H8 H198 J30 W53 X88
GREED B66 D146 D182 E34 G69 G70 G189 H114 J232 L66 L66 R28 R86 R150 R180 R200 T9 T10 T19 X98
GREETINGS J41 J63 R153
GRIEF A9 T135
GROUPS B102 B143 D39 D75 D76 D117 D158 F59 G25 L120 N70 P34 Q86 Q157 Q210 S185 S321 T97 W93 X75 Y16 Y26 Y38 Y39 Y109 Y189 Y207 Y242 Y274 Z131 Z161
GROWING UP R285
GROWTH C232
GRUDGES G111 J257 J271 T40 X152
guǎbùdízhòng G105
guāiqiǎo S203
guāmù-xiāngkàn S193
guàn J99 P41 Y325
Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì B46 C56 C97 D104 D143 G21 J225 J263 J264 L101 P11 Q81 S53 X65 Y343 Y384 Y431 Z178
guānggun J100
Guǎng Lù D82
Guan Gong B158 S387
guānguān-xiānghù G137
guāng-yīn G138
Guan Hanqing J272 R198 W8
guānxī wáng R175
Guan Ye B158
Guan Yu S387
Guānyu Fùnǔ Jiěfàng S300
Guān Zhēn L57
guān zhī S292
guǎnzhōng-kuībào G162
Guǎnzi Y208
GUARANTEES B213 M61
GUESTS B39 C172 H94 H252 J212 J228 K24 K26 K29 K31 L126 L127 P13 Q15 Q44 Q135 R72 R95 S157 S425 T63 T120 W39 Y174 Z1 Z148 Z149 Z159
Gǔ Fēng R86
GUIDE J248
GUILT C152 Q209 W62 X150 Z19
guītián D20
guǐyù X87
Gǔ-Jīn Tán Gài Z99
Gǔ-Jīn Xiǎoshuō C18 C218 D48 D73 E15 G138 H87 H152 J30 J34 J83 J182 J249 K41 M32 M93 M108 M128 N9 P23 P26 P27 Q36 Q91 Q105 Q126 R39 R75 S18 S87 S256 S309 S328 T63 W61 X80 X111 X127 Y131 Y252 Y404 Y439 Y457 Z157
gùjiù Q146
Gǔnzi S252
guōbā B192
guòláirén Y86
Guó Yǔ C231 F14 H131 X162 Y55 Z142
gū-sǎo G190
Gùshi Xīn Biān T121
Gǔ Yàn Jiān R123
Gǔ Yáoyàn Q65 Q69
gùyǒu Q152 【L1】H H

HABITS D182 H147 S105 S398 X112 X113 Y391
HABITUATION S90
hǎikuò-tiānkōng H1
hǎiliàng M6
HAIR B172
Hán Cè 2 J270
HANDWRITING C22
Han dynasty H22 H211 J265 L94 Q180 R48 R144 S115 Y227 Y232 Y474
Hán Fēizǐ B98 B99 C29 C44 C222 G105 H145 J90 L50 L173 Q49 Q101 X76 Y448 Z138
Hangzhou B122 B123 R275 S87 S428
Hànlù R110
Hán Shī Wàizhuàn S315 S336 S401
Hàn Shū B25 D214 J185 J246 L115 R279 S105 S150 T12 Y42 Y50 Y347 Y356
Han Xin H22 Q180 R48
Hǎn Xué J109
Han Yin S401
hāo C235
hāo cǎo K28
hàosè S54
hàoshàn-lèshī L66
hǎoshì-duōmó H77
HAPLESS G92
HAPPINESS B141 B170 C225 D131 H158 H172 H173 K45 L65 L66 R179 R266 R269 S175 S260 W21 X53 X111 Y179 Y180 Y242 Z118
HARDSHIPS B8 B60 B115 B116 B141 B147 B181 B185 B188 C5 C38 C176 C204 H17 J21 J58 J222 L67 L87 P22 P25 Q113 S35 S247 T22
HARM H5 K14 K43 L81 L82 L165 L166 M73 M81 P34 Q202 R185 R251 S180 S184 S276 T71 T97 T137 W1 X29 X134 Y291 Y298 Z185
HARMONY C96 Y190
HARSHNESS L91 S355
HARVEST H188 R73 S429 T78 Z121 Z136
HASTE H76 J171 J234 J235 J241 M23 M24 M25 M28 M29 M32 R77 T8 W15 X12 X125 X135 Y420 Y421 Y449 Y477
HATE C149 H111 P20 Q118
HATRED E16 W33 Y439
HEALING X116
HEALTH B65 B85 B89 B93 B126 C200 D171 D176 D217 F18 F21 H16 H131 J47 J99 L47 L131 L156 M37 N37 N62 N108 Q34 R163 S106 S107 S198 S354 S383 T16 T80 T113 W47 X17 Y14 Y58 Y83 Y92 Y105 Y360 Y396 Z15 Z164
HEARER Y54
HEARING W38 W42 Y33
HEARSAY B25 E31 E32 G141 G194 W38
HEARTS F5 R31 R65 R182 R201 R202 R205 R207 R218 R223 S26 S37 S281 T75 X115 X116 X143 X155 X159 Y7 Y171 Y423 Z116
HEAT D171 L67 L69 X1
HEAVEN C11 F86 G59 H170 H171 J181 L138 M114 M123 Q76 R75 R101 R229 S371 T15 T18 T20 T25 T41 T42 T44 T45 T49 T53 T76 T79 Y346 Y398
hébāo H98
Hé Diǎn B181 C123 C187 C190 D45 D102 F52 G117 J43 J44 J171 J192 J220 N80 Q128 R249 S3 S32 S179 S206 S222 S389 T133 T137 W67 X121 X130 Y204 Y362 Y443 Z19 Z23
HEIRS C160
Hè Lín Yù Lù S150
HELL Y398
Helmsman Y465
HELP B73 B139 B206 C131 D27 D31 E13 G92 G146 G158 H101 J92 J117 J162 J210 J219 J220 J236 J260 J269 J284 M21 M59 M120 M129 N20 N41 N86 Q31 Q108 Q114 Q180 Q181 Q183 R97 R175 R270 S82 S109 S319 S399 S410 S424 S427 T3 T31 T42 T86 T96 T107 W44 Y72 Y143 Y161 Y213 Y214 Y247 Y407 Y454 Z4 Z6 Z77 Z88 Z108 Z173 Z185 Z189
HELPING D151 H19 J61 J164 J192 J208 J209 J218 N52 N72 X193 X202 Y73 Y169 Z108
HELPLESS S410
Héng Táng Jù Shì S324
héngxīn B160
HEROES B28 B201 F51 H29 H35 H36 H37 H40 H43 H44 H111 K10 L90 L149 S199 S268 Y201 Y202 Y203 Y205 Y206 Y295
HESITATION L70 Y309
HETERODOXY G178
Hè Xīnláng R162
HIERARCHY B97 D1 D19 D42 D52 D55 D149 F45 G39 G117 G121 G181 J249 L61 M34 N28 N76 P1 P40 Q204 R175 R177 S68 S76 S84 S97 S139 S385 W31 W75 X11 Y290 Y320 Y395 Y397 Z9
HINDSIGHT H175 Q33
HISTORY M103 S268 Y206
HITTING D97
HLM (Hónglóu Mèng, Dream of the Red Chamber) See DRC
HOARDING J109
HOME C214 F39 F52 G81 J79 J82 J87 J168 L94 L95 L106 L107 P41 Q163 R96 S8 S326 S341 T142 X133 Y10 Z1 Z4 Z5 Z6 Z10 Z74 Z193
HOMESICKNESS H211 H247 M55 S326 T142
HOMETOWN C30
HONESTY C66 C184 D69 E41 E42 G9 G40 G148 G150 H47 H174 K21 L138 M63 M106 M108 N85 Q100 Q101 Q128 R145 R186 R207 R240 R243 S25 S73 S75 S269 S273 S394 S395 S403 T14 W2 Y82 Y212 Y341 Z78 Z138
hǒng háizi L56
hónghúzhīzhì Y42
Hónglóu Mèng (Dream of the Red Chamber) See DRC
hóngyán Z163
HONOR E39 H9 J157 J276 J277 M102 N68 N69 N79 Q21 R17 S235 S302 Y285 Y291 Y359
HONORS F61 F62 F64 W60
HOPE B14 D173 H100 L125 L133 Q169 R179 S210 Z77
HOPES A16 L6 R229 Y19
HORSES G188 H61 R89
HOSPITALITY B39 J212 J228 R72 T120 W39
HOSTS C172 H94 K26 K29 K31 L126 L127 P13 Q15 Q44 R72 R95 S157 S425 T63 X126 Y174 Z148 Z149 Z159
Hòu Hàn Shū B174 J126 T107 Y27 Y435
Hòu Hàn Yǎnyì N108 S54
hóumén-sìhǎi H129
HOUSEHOLDS G24 J84 J87
HOUSEKEEPING H189
HOUSES B24 C28 Q56 Q187 W90 X181 Z171 Z190 Z196
Hòu Xīyóu Jì R261 W44 Y449
huāgǔ D116
Huǎi Jìn B74
Huái Nán Héng Shān C233
Huái Nán Zǐ B131 D74 H183 L115 S2 S98 Z144
Huái Yīn Hóu Lièzhuàn C76 H22 J69 J106 T76 Y480 Z114
huálǐ G26
huàlóng-diǎnjīng B68
huáng B94
Huáng Jìngrén B26
huánglián B191
huángliánmù H161
huāngluàn T118
huànnànzhījiāo J222
Hubei province D116 H188 J140
Húdié Mèng C25
Huguang province H188
huī jīn rú tú C70
huítóu-shì'àn K52
huìyǎn H198
hǔláng H203
húli wěiba H207
HUMAN BEINGS H160 N40 N42 R75 R159 R161 T37 T78 W3
HUMANITY H186 S409 S411 W7 Y125
HUMAN LIFE B21
HUMAN NATURE G84 G88 G103 G131 J24 L25 N4 N5 R63 R86 S178 S224 S225 S260 Y244
HUMILIATION D93 S235 Z115
HUMILITY L136 R276 S293
Hú minority H211
Hunan province D116 H188
HUNGER B46 B49 E2 E3 E8 E9 E38 H188 J127 J186 J240 M50 N62 R108 R163 Y252
huòhai H68
huǒhou H225
huójì J86
huǒshāo-méimao H233
huǒtóu Y61 Y61
Huòzhí Lièzhuàn B9
HUSBANDS D65 J4 K53 N15 P7 Q97 Q106 Q115 T40 W6 Y255 Y327 Z44
húshū-bùdù L131
Huzhou S429
HYDRAULICS Q175 【L1】I I

IDEAS S226 X57
IDEOLOGY B11
idiom G61 H189 T83 X2 Y209 Y214 Y232 Y239 Y316 Z33 Z43 Z101
idiomatic expression D203 F70 K37
idiomatic phrase J251
IDIOSYNCRACY H145
IDLENESS D116 D182 J111 L15 L18 L26 L32 L33 L34 L38 Q102 Q136 Q154 R28 R88 R196 S7 S115 S165 S169 X48 X123 Y32 Z181
IGNORANCE B211 X7 X198 Y191 Y296 Z50
ILLNESS B17 B82 B85 B86 B88 B89 B92 B93 B94 C21 H43 J190 J191 L36 L47 M37 S51 X63 X96 X117 Y14 Y212 Y269 Y356 Y396 Z68 Z83 Z164
IMAGINATION G162 Y310
IMITATION B107 B134 F4 G18 X167 Y227 Y415
IMMEDIACY H233
Immortals B54
immortals' pills X9
IMPATIENCE G166 M1 M28 R77 S426 X77 X125 X139 X140 X141 X142
IMPERFECTION F15
imperial examinations C180
imperial physician L156
IMPOSING N35
IMPOSITION C172 R145 S109 T120 Y174
IMPRESSIONS C181 X129 X146
IMPROVEMENT G94 Q121
INCOMPATIBILITY S334 S335
INCOMPETENCE B102 B132 B177 B178 L148 M69 Q102 R14
INCORRIGIBILITY H209 Z24
INDECISION D54 G106 J68 L160
INDEPENDENCE B148 D109 N20 N101 Q181 R25 Y56 Y98 Y402
INDIGNATION R42 R160 Z127
INDISCRETION J223 X168
INDISPENSABILITY S413 Y379
INDIVIDUALISM G31 G47 G51 G53 H23 H145 S310
INDIVIDUALITY G50 L163 S275 Y151
INDIVIDUALS B15 B45 B54 C68 C188 D24 D25 D159 D203 D204 D224 E36 F59 G49 G127 G199 H124 H214 J85 L69 L120 M84 N70 N95 P34 Q63 Q87 Q94 Q95 R140 R263 S174 S218 S321 S413 T93 X53 X75 X110 Y1 Y38 Y39 Y104 Y115 Y140 Y142 Y145 Y146 Y148 Y150 Y157 Y177 Y189 Y192 Y207 Y232 Y233 Y235 Y238 Y239 Y241 Y243 Y246 Y249 Y250 Y292 Y379 Z46 Z113 Z188
INDOMINABILITY Y93 Y236
INDULGENCE B38 S207 Y325
INEQUALITY C216 F67
INEVITABILITY N44 S209 S217 S225 S401 Y49 Y321
INEXPERIENCE M24 Z178
INFATUATION N22
INFERENCE H105
INFERIORS D1 D52 Q204 S68 Y290 Y372 Z99
INFIRMITY L47 L131 M18 S364
INFLATION J66
INFLUENCE B32 H248 J165 J179 K20 L119 N109 Q43 Q77 S7 T114 Y177 Y189 Y192 Y292 Y404
INFLUENCES A8 D17 G42 G44 Q89
INFORMALITY Q140 S385
INGENUITY R122 Y469
INGRATITUDE X153
INHERITANCE C160 D91 F49 F53 H52 L35 L41 L145 Q67 Q68 Y156 Y186 Y287 Y411
INITIATIVE D116 J139
INJURY S435 Y291
INJUSTICE D84 J10 J51 J69 L151 R232 R261 S35 T49 Y359 Y365 Y388
IN-LAWS B203 E26
In Memory of Dr. Norman Bethune R71
INNOCENCE C206 L142 M78 R252
INQUISITIVENESS H85
INSCRUTABILITY Q7
INSIDERS Q200 Y72
INSIGHT N86
INSIGNIFICANCE T114 Y141
INSINUATION M105 M106
INSPIRATION J141 Q19
INSULTS C64 D39 G98 H210 L147 R144 S196 S235 X64
INTEGRITY D153 D181 D183 E39 J157 L87 Q161 R221 S258 S302 Y464
INTELLECTUALS L58 P32
INTELLIGENCE C9 C226 C233 D28 D88 G108 G110 H123 J17 J52 J53 K46 K48 M111 N107 Q99 S16 S216 S434 W50 X18 Y287 Y476 Y479 Z92 Z112 Z114
INTENTIONALITY Y279
INTENTIONS C55 E5 E6 H4 H5 H206 J183 M126 R65 R185 R229 Y55 Y279
INTERCONNECTIONS H121 K14 Q89
INTERDEPENDENCE C3 C199 H121 L112 Q82 Q89 S337 Y454
INTERESTS D150 G51 H23 L103 S392 Z113
INTERFERENCE B130 C63 C89 C159 D46 G31 G47 G50 G53 G135 G155 G159 J143 L44 L140 M122 N101 Q95 Q112 R53 R56 R127 S110 S315 W45 X182 Y195
INTERMEDIARIES C171 C177 W31
INTIMACY B23 R260
INTRODUCTIONS M52 W99
INVASION X162
INVENTION R78 R82
INVESTMENT B9 B64 B196 C5 C128 D29 G58 J33 K5 M4 M116 N3 N73 Q68 Q72 Q81 Q127 R1 R8 S124 S169 S284 T131 W30 W87 X83 X99 X122 X123 Y64 Y66 Y76 Y127 Y208 Y222 Z121
in vino veritas J206
INVITATIONS G65 Z1
INVOLVEMENT B14 L9 R34 R248 S281
IRON Y468
iron tree Y466
IRONY G181 L5
IRREDEEMABLE G95
IRRESPONSIBILITY Z170 【L1】J J

Japan Y213
JEALOUSY C1 T87
jiān chén N71
jiànfēng-shǐduò S295
jiānghú D116 J22
Jiangsu province D37 J32 S429
jiāngxīn-bǔlòu M19
Jiangxi province D116
Jiangyin J32
jiānhuá R89
jiǎnjǔ Z89
jiǎn nián N38
Jiǎn Wén Dì Jì J258
jiànyì-yǒngwéi J51
jiànzàixiánshàng J54
jiànzuǐ L105
jiāo J140
jiāoguàn G164
jiāolóng X99
jiāoqing X28
jiāoshēng-guànyǎng J72
jiǎotù-sānkū J70
jiāoyì J73 M11
Jiào Zǐ J60
jiāyán J88
Jiǎ Yì Shū S105
jiāzéi-nánfáng J103
jiàzi H248
jībùkěshī J106 J108
Jì Bù Rǎng Bù Lièzhuàn D127
jiézòu C225
Ji Gong F57
Jǐ Hài Suì Y221
jījiàng Q131 Q191
jījiàngfǎ C94 Q131
jīmì de shì J107
jīn C28 K15 Q32 S414 Y324
jīnbuhuàn L24
Jin dynasty Y261
jīngāng-nùmù J134
jīng bù qǐ R20
jǐngdǐzhīwā J149 X2
Jìnghuā Yuán B203 C77 D73 H21 Q186 R74 S113 W10 X84 X112 Z50 Z148
Jīng Jiě C59
jīnglíng H133
Jìng Shèn J121
Jǐngshì Tōngyán B25 B64 B73 C25 C150 D8 D12 D23 D201 D231 E30 E41 F48 G53 G114 H199 H232 H245 J85 J86 J104 J195 L3 L127 M23 M38 M87 N43 N103 P20 P24 Q78 R189 R200 R211 R272 S240 S269 S270 S275 S299 S358 S364 T96 T110 T123 T132 W31 W95 X4 X17 X104 X122 Y17 Y75 Y154 Y184 Y199 Y388 Y433 Y436 Y468 Z60
Jìng Shù L131
jǐngwā J149 X2
jǐngxiàng J37
jǐngxíng G18
Jìniàn Zhāng Sīdé R71
jìnjì W69
jīnliǎng Z132
Jīn Píng Méi See JPM
jìnrú-rényì T61
jǐnshàng-tiānhuā J162 X202 Z108
jǐnshèn L109
jīnshí J136
jìnshì D145
jīnshí-wéikāi J136 Z71
Jìn Shū C235 G162 Z97
jìnshuǐ-lóutái J165
Jìn Xīn Shàng C23
Jìn Xìn Xià J172
Jìn Yǔ Y55
Jì Piàn D214
jīquǎn-shēngtiān Y232
jìrén líxià J238
jìrénzhījí Q183
jísàndì C174
jīshǎo-chéngduō J185
Jì Shēng Cǎo H160
Jì Shì J129
jiù W5 W26
jiǔ chóng tiān C192 G24
jiùdì M36
Jiǔ Dì Piān B105 T107
jiǔ lìng J211
jiǔròu-péngyou J215 Y409
Jiǔ Zhāng H247
jìwǎng-bùjiù C77 J233
jíyè-chéngqiú J185
jīyǔ-chénzhōu J237
Jí Zhèng Lièzhuàn Y289
jízhōng-shēngzhì R33 R78
JOBS Y371
JOKING L49
Journey to the West See JW
JPM (Jīn Píng Méi) B49 B87 B135 B208 C65 C84 C92 C123 C150 C151 C152 C159 C162 C213 D4 D19 D56 D58 D60 D61 D91 D95 D98 F1 F7 F38 G122 H63 H68 H88 H91 H111 H152 H214 H225 J12 J39 J86 J87 J92 J238 J254 J259 J276 K14 K49 L64 L88 L161 M83 M104 M129 N62 P10 Q11 Q28 Q53 Q106 Q141 Q180 Q183 R41 R60 R99 R145 R168 R187 R239 R279 S29 S73 S128 S189 S212 S214 S239 S413 T18 T59 T71 W53 W84 X52 X54 X183 Y19 Y49 Y63 Y64 Y75 Y135 Y303 Y365 Y451 Z177
jùbǎopén Q148
jù chù C174
JUDGES Q30
JUDGMENT H40 H103 J197 L113 L146 L162 M114 M121 N27 R83 R151 R212 R214 R215 R284 W42 Y203 Z106
JUDGMENTS A2 B52 B201 C181 D189 G1 H8 M16 M57 M93 P42 Q129 R21 R23 S151 S215 T59 T90 W4 W28 W43 X22 X25 X197 Z13 Z125 Z132
juéjiàng G76
juélù H136
jūn Y463
Jūn Zhēng B106 G184
Jūnzǐ Xíng J265
Jupiter D177
jǔrén C180
JUSTICE B55 B211 C11 C125 D82 E11 E24 E38 G32 G33 G59 G62 G67 G75 G102 G148 G178 H5 H93 H161 H170 L113 M22 Q205 R115 R119 R127 R173 R212 R232 R261 S96 S117 S118 S119 S345 S346 S418 T4 T49 T100 X28 Y125 Y185 Y245 Y294 Y451 Y452
jǔzi C180
JW (Journey to the West) B7 B174 B211 C24 C30 C57 C59 C80 C216 D3 D27 D57 D82 D147 D191 D210 E32 F79 F87 G12 G17 G61 G75 G105 G117 G185 G194 H1 H33 H53 H74 H77 H81 H240 H246 J105 J179 J181 J220 J239 L9 L106 L126 L128 L165 L169 M52 M55 M122 P37 Q22 Q29 Q48 Q102 Q131 Q179 Q204 R96 R125 R182 R271 R276 R280 S24 S35 S63 S67 S74 S103 S126 S140 S179 S185 S201 S261 S274 S294 S322 S332 S380 T52 T78 T83 T135 X55 X56 X123 Y13 Y49 Y60 Y174 Y225 Y310 Y313 Y429 Y442 Y443 Y472 Z63 Z76 Z106 Z163 Z173 【L1】K K

Kàng Měi Yuán Cháo C199
Kán Kōng Yán B207
kànxiàng M93
kàoshān K19
kèjǐ-fúlǐ R104
kèshāng C155
Kě Shū R275
KEY POINTS M2 M8 Z112
KILLING S55 S116 S121 S122
KINDNESS B149 C161 D138 E14 F44 L88 L91 M42 M102 Q11 R178 R207 R247 R248 Y126 Y293 Z76
KINDS B180 C162 T98 W83 W96 Y478
Kingdom of Shu S387
King of Hell R178 X69 X70 Y37 Y45 Y46
KINGS B41 J247
Kinsai R275
KITCHENS J132
KNOWING G30 H2 H152 S432 Z74 Z81 Z92 Z93 Z97
KNOWLEDGE B142 C183 D22 D90 D150 D193 F30 G59 G130 G188 H117 J17 J152 K50 M86 Q113 R282 S159 S181 S264 S325 S330 S359 X7 X170 X184 X199 Y30 Y183 Y193 Y221 Y276 Y302 Y470 Z75 Z100 Z147
kǒng fāng xiōng Y383
Kǒngquè Dōng Nán Fēi H211
kōng yán Y430
Kǒngzǐ Jiā Yǔ D122 L92
Korean War C199
kuài rén kuài shì K49
kuài rén kuài yǔ K49
kuānxīn J88
kǔgàn T29
kǔgēng T29
kǔhǎi K52 K52 Y360
kǔhǎi yú shēng K52
Kūn J184 【L1】L L

LABOR D196 L58 L105 Y427
láizhī-bùyì Y344
LAND G58 G81 L63 Q53 Q67 Q68 R73 T43 Y70 Z136
LANDLORDS D169 G160
Làng Tǎo Shā B74
LANGUAGE G104 Y52
lángzhōng C131 M15
làngzǐ-huítóu L24
Lantern Festival Z99
lǎobǎixìng B15 J247 Z99
Lǎo Cán Yóujì G55 J172 P1 S342 Y463 Z33 Z157
lǎomǎ-shítú L50
lǎomiànpí T66
Lao She B126 C229 G65 G179 H64 H82 R203 S303
Lǎo Shè Wénjí P38
Lǎo Tiān C11
Lǎozǐ B136 C105 D40 G200 H237 J33 M98 Q50 T49 T58 Z92
Lǎozǐ Hán Fēi Lièzhuàn D77 L79
LAPSES L42
LATENESS J49 W12
LAUGHING S383 S385 W25
LAUGHTER B186 C180 H195 N24 R162 S22 S383 X97 X145 Y304 Y419
LAW D164 F2 F28 G101 G114 G123 G157 G204 J55 J90 J267 M114 Q30 R126 R127 R171 R188 R211 S205 W13 Z16
LAWSUITS C143 W67 Y116 Y257 Y274 Y348 Y387
LAYMEN H14
LAZINESS C90 G43 H128 L15 L16 L17 L18 L26 L29 L32 L33 L34 L39 L122 L175 Q136 Q145 R28 R88 S115 X98 X106 Y15 Y31 Z107 Z152 Z181
LEADERS B101 B102 C57 C170 D107 F43 G93 G154 H6 L142 Q16 Q62 Q86 Q112 Q157 Q194 Q210 R46 R48 R192 S92 S101 S177 S185 T51 W13 X69 Y117 Y155 Y162 Y170 Y230 Y334 Z62 Z158
LEADERSHIP B1 B84 B96 D34 D141 G192 H25 J25 J84 J94 J96 J104 J248 M128 N76 Q10 Q19 Q41 Q111 S101 S308 S404 T118 Y11 Y26 Y164 Y191 Y352 Z36
LEARNING A3 A13 A15 B19 B184 B185 B189 B191 B200 C24 C74 C97 C112 C113 C135 C137 C163 C183 C236 D22 D79 D144 D193 F58 G2 G37 G41 G42 G44 H223 J20 J21 J41 J43 J45 J52 J53 J56 J67 J146 J150 J190 K28 L168 Q6 Q65 Q69 Q73 Q83 Q141 R70 R267 S34 S50 S51 S72 S357 W34 W35 W37 X5 X58 X62 X171 X183 X185 X186 X194 X195 X197 X198 X199 Y306 Y381 Y391 Y401 Y470 Z18 Z50 Z69 Z182
LEAVING L95
LEFTOVERS Z110
LEGAL G101
LEGITIMACY C82
LEISURE X51
Léi Yǔ Y113
lèjí-shēngbēi L65 S309
LENDING C108
léngjiǎo S156
lěngnuǎn-zìzhī R282
LENIENCE D128 S167
Lenin T131
LESSONS D14 D41 Q6 Q65 Q69 Q73 Q83 S72
LETTERS C100 H3 J82
LEWDNESS D201 W10 Y414
lǐ E37 G26 Q45 Q50 S242 S327 Y10 Y330
Liàn Bīng Shí Jì Z25 Z155
Lián Chéng C153
liángcǎo S392
liánggōng J69
liǎnghǔ-xiāngdòu L82
Liǎng Jiù Yǎnyì Z196
liǎngkǒu T40
liǎngmiànguāng Y194 Y293
liǎngmiàn pài B159
liǎngmiàn-sāndāo B159
Liang Mountain B114
Liang Qichao Y206
liángtǐ-cáiyī K6
Liáng Xiào Wáng L94
Liáng Xiào Wáng Shì Jiā J77
liángyào kǔkǒu L92
Liáng yuán L94
liánzuò X67
Liao Hua S404
Liáo Zhāi Zhì Yì C153 D124 H163 Y266
lìba H14
Li Bai X180 Y132
Lǐ Biāo Zhuàn Y253
Li Bo R86 Z101 Z101
lǐduō-rénbùguài L101
Liè Nǚ Zhuàn Y188
LIES C50 J75 S1 S176 S380 W66 W67 X39 X158 Z53 Z58 Z60
Lièzǐ C29 W17
LIFE B21 B197 D91 F40 F50 G14 G50 H27 H82 H175 J40 J159 J177 J213 J220 K2 K52 L125 L130 L133 M54 N58 Q37 R100 R101 R131 R152 R155 R157 R158 R168 R233 S18 S136 S140 S146 S159 S227 S267 S420 S428 S433 T16 T39 T41 T54 T61 T74 X134 Y49 Y182 Y289 Y394 Y431 Z8 Z38 Z72
LIFE-SAVING J213 J225
lígāo táng B133
Lǐ Guǎng Zhuàn Zàn T12
Lǐjì A22 C59 G133 J84 L5 R102 R219 R268 S57 T62 X194 Y456 Z39 Z90
Lí Lóu, Shàng B202 R17
Lí Lóu, Xià B198
LIMITATIONS B45 C2 C235 F76 H81 H123 H190 H214 J169 L135 M69 M76 M132 N14 N21 N32 N33 N88 N91 N96 N106 N107 P35 Q29 Q45 Q91 Q98 R39 R87 R152 R193 S66 S95 S183 S260 S306 S329 S332 S347 S366 T126 W17 X70 X93 X183 Y42 Y104 Y115 Y145 Y146 Y161 Y175 Y176 Y235 Y270 Y300 Y301 Y322 Y363 Z94 Z116 Z147
LIMITS H10 H109 L55 R6 S65 S159 S194 S307 S399 T50 Y140 Y180 Y376
Lin Baitong R123
Lin Biao N44
Lin Bu Z69
línchuáng S325
Ling-an R275
Líng Shān C185 C186
lǐngwù Q20
língxī X155
língyàn R91 S71
líng zhòu shān C185
línyuān-xiànyú L115
lípǔ L52
Lǐ Qì Z90
LIQUOR B6 C144 D38 D70 D191 J116 J177 J193 J194 J195 J198 J200 J203 J206 J207 J211 J214 J215 J216 J217 J221 J222 J223 J224 J227 M6 M44 M58 P37 Q134 R273 S5 T77 Y59 Y103 Y131 Y329 Y350 Z13 Z179 Z180
lǐràng R1
Li Shangyin C81 X155
Lǐ Shēn S133
Lí Sī C23
LISTENING L159 R278 S214 T90 T92 W41 Y53 Y87
literary expression G1 Z71
literati S437 X170
Liu Bang H22 Q180 R48
Liu Bei R150 S410
Liú Cōng Zài Jì Z97
Liú Hòu Shì Jiā Z138
Liu Jin B207
Liú Nán Suí Bǐ D162
liùqīn H165 R135
liúqíng S333
Liu Shaoqi C130 P30 Z41
Liù Tāo J243
Liu Wu L94
Liu Xiang Y474
liú yīshǒu J62 S216
liùyù J122
Liu Yuxi B19
LIVELIHOOD F39 P44 R134
LIVING C185 D120 K2 K33 R281 T36 T141 Y197 Y337 Z160 Z171 Z196
LIVING TOGETHER X19
Li Yu B74
Lǐ Yuè Zhì L115
Lǐ Yùn T62
LOANS G68 H65 H95 Q59 Q153 X164
LOCAL B10 B61 G25 Q22 Y442
LOCALITIES R268 S173 S241 S380 T25 Z160
LOCALS E10 S348
LOCATION Y197
LONELINESS H173 X4 Y39
LONGING D135
Lóng kingdom R150
Lǒng kingdom R86
Lóng Quán S180
LONG-TERM B193
LONGWINDEDNESS C33
Lóng Xū Gōu B126 H64 R203 S303
LOOPHOLES S436
LOQUACITY D216 D221
LOSERS S160
LOSING S390 Y25
LOSS B66 C15 C125 F47 G128 J49 M4 M43 N57 P33 Q51 Q105 Q210 S2 S8 S122 S390 S421 W12 Y298
LOSSES C7 C83 C96 C110 C111 C112 C128 C130 C134 C135 C137 H128 J18 N74 S72 T89 Y291 Z41
LOUDNESS R232 Y385 Y388
LOVE A4 A5 A11 A14 A16 C222 D106 E27 E33 G15 G57 G108 H77 H138 H191 L20 N22 N111 Q118 S272 S290 T69 X115 Y218 Y218 Y255 Y333 Y335 Y412 Y413 Y428 Y440 Y458 Z164
LOVERS L164 S420 X155 Y440
LOYALTY G200 H202 J126 Q200 R218 S192 S269 S420 W51 Y118
LUCK C126 C230 D48 F85 G183 H21 H237 J44 J176 K32 N65 N77 N95 N102 P14 P36 Q5 R30 R190 R224 R246 S191 S238 S239 S240 S270 T13 T31 T74 W74 Y44 Y135 Y245 Y246 Y369 Y371 Y372 Y429 Y466 Y468 Z114 Z163 Z165
Lu Juren L57
LUNCH Z15
Lùn Gòngchǎndǎng Yuán de Xiūyáng S130
Lùn Héng B81 Y232
Lúnyǔ B35 F62 G77 G205 J129 J189 J260 J261 J273 J283 J284 M100 R38 R61 S34 S58 S198 S411 X64 X186 Y5 Y314 Z113
Luo Dajing S150
Luó Hóngxiān R200
Luòtuo Xiāngzǐ C229
lùshui fūqī L164
lùsǐ-bùzéyīn L167
LUST B49 B50 J195 J224 M130 S54 Y95
Lu, state of Q125
Lù Tiān Chǐ W33
Lu Xun E39 J210 J262 M36 S265 S300 S423 T121 X110 Y195 Y426
Lǔ Xùn Shū Xìn Jí Y195
LUXURY F58 Z171
Lǔ Zài Láng J272
Lv Kun Y108
Lǚ Méng Zhuàn B174 S193
Lǚ Shì Chūnqiū J145 L131 T126
LYING D188 M63 X39 Y311 【L1】M M

MADNESS J247
MAGIC H159
MAGISTRATES B55 D52 D164 G66 G82 G125 G150 Q129 S205 X31 X32 X43 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y375 Z9
MAGNANIMITY L76 X88
mǎimai M13 P44
mǎi-mài M13 P44
MAJORITY S6 S29 S33 S407
MAKING A LIVING C185 C186 D120
MAKING-DO C220 D121
MANAGEMENT D57 D58 D59 D60 L23 L140 R56 S110
mǎnfù jīnglun Y381
mǎnfù jīnglún X198
MANIPULATION M133
Mao Dun D82 E30 H31 H171 H213 Q181 S31 S374 Y439
Máo Dùn Lùn H237
máotou gūniang N104
Mao Zedong B179 C74 C137 D87 D126 D173 F71 H101 H203 H237 J26 J131 J169 K6 K53 L45 L54 M59 M98 N44 N89 P30 P32 Q111 R44 R71 R106 R162 R193 S16 S126 S337 S401 S413 X62 X132 X160 Y54 Y143 Y163 Y332 Z97 Z130
Máo Zédōng Xuǎnjí H22 J33 M49
Marco Polo R275
MARKETS H105 H106 H222 M97 S262 X47 Y128
Mark Twain H74
MARRIAGE A11 C179 C201 D32 E12 F72 H63 H77 H141 H191 H196 J3 J4 J13 K53 L20 L144 M28 M62 M63 N8 N47 N103 N104 N109 N110 P7 Q24 Q48 Q164 Q203 S111 S280 T38 W26 W57 W66 W91 X136 Y71 Y168 Y188 Y215 Y219 Y220 Y255 Y288 Z49 Z110 Z120
MARTIAL ARTS H66 Q189 T121 W94
Marxist G32 G33
MASSES Z125 Z132 Z142
MASTERS Q194 Y290 Y415
MASTERY J148 N51
MATCHMAKERS M61 M62 M63 Q48 Q164 T38 W66 X153
MATCHMAKING L20 L144
MATHEMATICS X189 X191
MATURITY W57 X118
maxims S437
Ma Yanchu Z130
MEALS N83
MEANS B11 B34 C221
MEASURING L132
MEAT N29 N48 X45
MEDIATION H194
MEDICINE B92 B133 C21 C131 C132 C133 D175 D192 L92 M15 M96 P9 Q141 S112 S172 S389 X9 X96 X115 X200 Y58 Y60 Y69 Y83 Y110 Y353 Y396
MEEKNESS T140
MEETING B23 B74 C165 D23 G111 H46 Q212 S94 S312 W40 X15 X16 Y429 Z80
Méi Chéng Zhuàn S150
MEMORIES J16 Q36
MEMORIZATION K35 Q20 Q141
MEMORY C100 G134 H57 H58 H178 K35 R22 S381 X138 Y213 Y214 Y229 Y393
MEN H63 H64 H127 H141 J195 L6 M130 N8 N10 N11 N12 N19 N20 N22 N23 R35 T88 Y403 Y433 Y458 Z37
Mencius B198 B202 C23 C25 D126 G161 J108 J172 L58 R17 S434 X160 Z51 Z154
méndāng-hùduì D32
méndao H13 M86
Mèng Cháng Jūn Lièzhuàn J23
ménlóu H191
MERCHANDISE C155
MERCY C217 N11 S333
MERIT W61
MESSENGERS L78
METHODS D160 N27 Y467
miǎnkāizūnkǒu Q59
MIDDLE AGE R35 R38 R39 R70 R105 S47 Y408 Y457
Midnight D82 H213 Y439
mièjué Y50
MIGHT Q201
MILITARY B7 B77 B78 B83 B84 B90 B91 B95 B96 B97 B101 B102 B103 B104 B105 C56 C173 D55 D62 J25 J34 J35 J93 J112 J192 J245 J246 J248 J249 J251 L48 L84 N54 Q19 Q41 Q191 S42 S122 S404 W1 W63 W82 Y13 Y162 Y164 Z25
MINDS A9 B148 B168 H2 H125 H152 J110 L58 L131 L169 M85 Q7 Q35 Q57 R65 R99 R173 R198 R199 R202 R205 R208 S26 S31 S37 S192 S261 S363 S388 S432 T65 T75 T90 X114 X116 X143 X144 X145 X152 X155 X160 Y42 Y87 Y109 Y167 Y204 Y207 Y270 Y308 Y360 Y435 Z93 Z116
Ming dynasty B104 C74 C180 H188 K39 L122 X114 X170 Z155
Míng Gōng Yuán Nián Q125
míngjù W37
Míng Shǐ Q158
Míng Shǐ Yǎnyì H62 J245
Mǐn Nóng S133
MINORITY S407
mínquán T62
MISBEHAVIOR G93 L74 M130
MISCHIEF S189
MISERY L65 P14
MISFORTUNE D85 F77 F79 F85 H215 H218 H220 H226 H237 H239 H241 J92 J236 L109 N39 P14 P24 P36 Q25 R30 S44 S45 S191 S217 W74 X102 Y44
MISSING Y107
MISTAKES C31 C59 C74 C228 D49 D212 D222 G21 H185 H242 J241 L42 M32 M111 N25 N94 O1 Q6 Q45 Q64 Q65 Q69 R63 R67 R230 S46 S154 S170 S174 S260 S289 S365 S393 T8 W15 W49 W75 X27 X71 X94 X109 Y97 Y107 Y113 Y209 Y212 Y272 Y279 Y283 Y325 Y332 Y336 Y361 Y461 Z54 Z73 Z79 Z114 Z125 Z165 Z166 Z169 Z192
Mítuó J164 R270
Mo Bian S423
MOBILIZATION S328
MOCKERY W25
MODELS Q208
MODERATION B69 B109 D125 D182 D205 F21 G202 H78 H136 H142 J235 S58 S106 S196 S201 S237 S309 X149 Y8 Y9 Y105
MODESTY B63 C10 C14 C235 D38 F30 H35 H60 H117 H183 M38 M57 N107 R116 S91 S163 S336 S352 S399 S404 W60 X58 X180 X204 Y12 Y95 Z35 Z50 Z59 Z135
MOMENTUM C88
mónàn S247
MONEY B6 B135 C1 C4 C108 C116 C189 D66 D166 D196 G11 G68 H65 H98 H114 H172 J95 J97 J102 J124 J125 J154 J162 J174 J175 J217 K21 L153 M4 M64 N62 N73 P33 Q3 Q5 Q30 Q37 Q39 Q43 Q56 Q60 Q72 Q74 Q77 Q81 Q106 Q149 Q153 R221 S60 S307 S390 T56 W98 X43 X45 X46 X83 X164 Y4 Y120 Y179 Y222 Y223 Y277 Y295 Y298 Y382 Y383 Y392 Y394 Y395 Y397 Y398 Y399 Y402 Y403 Y404 Y407 Y410 Y427 Z12 Z38 Z108 Z170
Mongol occupation R275
Monkey (Journey to the West) See JW
Monkey King D210 Q204 Y225
MONKS Y442
MOODS C191
MOON G74 R259 R261 R262
MORALE Q111
MORALITY C9 D181 D183 G18 R37 R37 Y299
MORALS L52 X33 Y347
MORE D115 H22
MORNINGS Y211 Y318 Z17
MOTHERS C19 C106 C222 E20 E33 E35 G174 N36 N53 P39 Q11 Q145 W22 Y63 Y207 Y258 Y287 Y413
MOTHERS-IN-LAW N105
MOTIVATION R209 R213 S328 W54 Z180
MOTIVES B192 C55 C108 D30 L9 L10 L11 L12 L136 S276 W84 Y53 Y279
Móu Gāng Z82
Mount Tai N97 R71 R209
MOUTHS G144
MOVING N1 S8 S372 Y124
Mòzǐ C199
mǔ N74
Mù Chéng Zhuàn R279
Mǔdān Tíng Y117
MUDDLEHEADEDNESS C228
MURDER D201 F70 F83 G17 R100 R101 S57 S117 S118 S119 S418 Z157
MUSIC S40 Y52 【L1】N N

NAIVETE C206
NAMES M100
Nán Chāng Běi Diào Jí S300
Nán Sān G105
nánzǐhàn Y403
nǎonu Q80
NARROW-MINDEDNESS J149 N106 Q186 X2
NARROWNESS H190 X2
NATION G64 G192 G197
NATIVE PLACE B149 Q163
NATURE G166 H139 L28 R44 T26 T74 T78 T123 Y199
NAUGHTINESS N81
NECESSITIES M58 W90
NECESSITY B119 J108 J186 J240 M64 M65 M115 R82 R134 S204 X51
NEED E3 J108 J162 M23 N52 Q183 Q184 Z108
NEEDS G33
NEGLIGENCE D9 D112 H108 N26 Q49 S370 W49 Y279
NEGOTIATIONS X55
NEIGHBORS B24 D3 D105 D163 D213 F20 H29 H36 J91 J92 J170 J229 L111 L112 L113 L166 M35 M81 Q32 Q56 Q114 Q147 Q150 Q151 Q155 T137 X133 X181 Y169 Y418 Y444 Y446 Z186
nèiháng C8
Nèi Piān Zá Shàng Y196
Nèi Xùn K39
néngzhě-duōláo N35
NEPHEWS W5
NEW J199
NEWCOMERS X146 X147
NEWS E37 H74
niàntóu Y209
NIECES Z85
Niè Hǎi Huā G206 J87 K45 S374 Z140
NIGHTS C46 W59 Y96
Ningbo N44
nìngsǐ-bùqū N69
nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu N89 X195
nítāi N91
niúnie-zuòtài C148
NOBILITY D148 F45 H129 J180 Y305
NOBLES G180
NOBLESSE OBLIGE C65 D50 Y305
NONCONFORMITY C213 Q16
nóngyàn B199
Nóng Yè Hézuò M49
non-Han L173
NON-INTERFERENCE C89 C159 D46 G135 G155 G159
NONSENSE S384
northern dialect N103
Northern Song dynasty R62
Northern Zhou dynasty Y214
NOTES G134
NUMBER B3 B83 B103 B104 G87 H31 H50 H81 J34 J111 L84 Q61 R45 R46 R48 R52 R55 R57 S6 S29 S305 S311 S407
nuówō S372
nuòyán D127 【L1】O O

OATHS S420
OBEDIENCE B38 J245 N81 S10 S371 S373 T64 Y258 Y263 Y320
OBJECTIVITY B14 D61 D136 H126 J42 L28 L152 M117 M121 R34
OBLIGATION C76 C119 C122 C123 D139 D190 P27 S300
OBSCENITIES G104
OBSERVATIONS M8
OBSERVING K9 K12 K13
OBSTACLES L30
OBVIOUSNESS C219
OCCUPATIONS Q177
ODDS H31
OFFENDING H113 Q80 S388 Y61
OFFICE H151
OFFICIAL BUSINESS G71 G72
OFFICIALS B157 C53 C87 C95 C122 D7 D20 D64 D67 D124 D218 D222 G16 G66 G69 G70 G82 G112 G113 G114 G117 G119 G120 G121 G123 G125 G126 G137 G143 G148 G149 G150 G153 G154 G157 G158 G163 G200 H122 H225 J28 J31 J126 J132 J142 L138 M99 P1 P40 Q22 Q128 Q129 Q159 R144 R275 S25 S60 S75 S88 S97 S142 S173 S278 S322 S405 S406 S416 S421 T82 W8 W63 W64 W86 X33 X43 X114 X129 X177 X187 Y2 Y3 Y37 Y46 Y123 Y240 Y247 Y262 Y320 Y375 Y394 Z11 Z155
OLD J199
OLD AGE B170 C200 F3 G13 G60 H223 J38 J101 L38 L40 L47 L50 L53 L104 M18 M90 Q34 Q120 R89 R91 R93 R109 R110 R111 R113 R148 R191 R277 S104 S111 S115 S149 S359 S360 S361 S362 S363 S364 T32 W25 X33 Y17 Y92 Y458 Z182
Old Tales Retold T121
On Contradiction H237
ONLOOKERS D16
ONLY CHILDREN D194 D231
On Practice C137
OPEN-MINDEDNESS S391
OPENNESS S391
OPERA D116 D129 D144 E16 H90 J129 Y139
OPINIONS C68 H7 Q87 S31 S32 S215 S314 T88 Y241 Y402 Z190
OPPORTUNITY C83 C85 C86 D100 D208 G165 H1 H128 J44 J48 J106 L27 L83 N57 R68 S195 S296 S392 T76 W69 Y416 Z111
OPPOSITION N46 W77 Y138 Y149 Y265
OPPRESSION F60 S56
ORDERS B97 G65 J35 J245 S300 Y352
ORDINARINESS Z150
ORGANIZATION J94 J111 J249 M49 Q86 Q112 R53 R56 S110 W19
ORGANIZATIONS J165 N76
ORIGINS H34 S327
ORPHANS J285
orthographic pun G163
OSTENTATION C1 J175 L110 N67 Q3
OTHERS B71 D114 G8 H146 K12 L73 N2 N92 Q132 R16 R112 R283 S74 S82 S192 S276 S286 S308 S343 S368 S369 T92 W28 W45 W80 X179 Y65 Y227 Y367 Y417 Y445 Y472 Z51 Z88 Z92 Z122 Z189
Outlaws of the Marsh (Water Margin) See WM
OUTSIDERS G122 Q200 Z28
Ouyang Xiu R62 Y313 Z180
OVERCOMING G20 H109 L55 M132 Y300
OVER-CONFIDENCE H108 M51 S98
OVERDEPENDENCE D109
OVERFAMILIARITY J167 S365
OVERINDULGENCE S309
OVERKILL S58
OVERPOPULATION E20 R49 R54
OVERSIGHTS B12
OWNERS Q53 T43 Y303 Y405 【L1】P P

pái mǎpì Q8
PAIN C40 H58
PAINTINGS X173
pànduàn X12
Pán Gēng R181 X132
pǎo duàn tuí Y369
parasol tree M75
PARENTAL LOVE D57
PARENTHOOD B118
PARENTING A11 A14 B38 B203
PARENTS B17 B118 D8 D57 E19 E30 F82 F83 G57 G108 H26 H196 H244 J151 J191 L24 L62 N6 N36 N81 N103 Q115 Q192 R102 T24 T64 T69 W10 X67 Y18 Y19 Y56 Y156 Z3 Z4 Z6 Z40 Z40 Z77 Z143
PARTIALITY A10 C36 Q152 R94 Z161
PARTICIPATION S413 Y379
PARTING B74 H3 H46 L127 N10 Q44 Q163 Q212 S94 S157 S425 T63
PARTNERS C42 S35 Z49
PASSION N22
PAST C77 G38 G201 L53 M103
PATIENCE B137 C62 C158 D130 D155 D174 G166 K7 K54 M13 Q23 R220 R222 R245 S296 X64 X125 X139 X141 Y208 Y412
PATRICIDE F70
PATRONAGE K19
PATRONS D108 D111 D165 N41 Y174
PAYMENT B95 C56 J246 Y319
PEACE B136 G148 H158 N77 P19 S136 X23 X114 Y256 Z118
PEASANTS B146 X35
pèi qīn Q164
PENDULUMS L157
péng C235
PEOPLE B16 G119 G195 G203 L71 Q63 R40 R44 R48 R57 R146 R147 R159 R173 R190 R199 R223 R242 S32 S222 S252 S314 S334 S335 S409 S411 T7 T101 Y312 Y454 Y465 Z57 Z103 Z130
People's Liberation Army S337
PERCEPTIVENESS C29
PERFECTION F15 G14 G63 G168 J169 L117 R63 R193 S218 S260 S396 T111 Y302
PERFORMANCE K48 S408
PERMANENCE T21 T23
PERSEVERANCE B160 B164 C88 F68 N107 R61 R257 S4 S64 S127 S150 S210 S248 S405 S406 T128 T134 Y330
PERSISTENCE H132 M40 N89 R61 S71 S150 S274 T83 Z87 Z101 Z105 Z137 Z173
PERSONALITY S151 Y151
PERSPECTIVE C68 C212 D11 D51 G14 G98 G161 G162 H175 R74 R102 R237 S306 X8 X101 Y204 Z34
PERSUASION H49 R139 Y370
PETTINESS B187 C110 C125 D66 D88 D95 D137 D147 F13 H168 J18 J269 L16 S19 S220 T6 T136 X55 X84 X86 X87 X89 Y125 Y305 Y328 Z41 Z177
PHILOSOPHY K7
phoenix M75
PHYSICS X189 X191
PHYSIQUE N104
pǐ P14
PIGS R106
Pigsy Q131 S35
pǐjí-tàilái L65 P14
PILGRIMAGES Z3
Pilgrimage to the West Q204
PILLOW TALK T88
pǐndé R37
píngshū G20 H5 S164 Y170 Y341
Píng Yāo Zhuàn B50 G47 G115 R158 X41 Y230 Y244 Z101
píngyù Q54
Pǐn Zǎo S215
PIONEERS B207 X61
Pípǎ Jì E16
PITY B56 C25 J269 T96 Y471
PLACE B10 B40 B122 B123 C30 C174 C175 C185 C193 D26 F6 F52 G25 G30 G81 J37 L94 L95 L107 L141 M55 N1 N16 P31 Q15 Q22 Q117 Q163 R24 R96 R268 S74 S87 S92 S148 S166 S173 S199 S231 S241 S326 S338 S348 S372 S428 T132 T142 W96 X25 X91 Y149 Y197 Y303 Y337 Y338 Y371 Z10 Z74 Z160 Z193
PLANNING B12 B193 C40 C41 D118 D172 D214 H189 J44 J97 L15 L114 M19 M118 M123 N38 P21 Q2 Q70 Q76 Q104 Q126 Q127 R191 S197 S277 T34 T44 T131 W19 W23 W24 W100 X44 X50 X52 Y111 Y208 Y211 Y235 Y428 Y461 Y480 Z14 Z114
PLEASING S368 Y20 Y238
PLEASURE R10 S309 Y180
PLOTS S188
Plum in the Golden Vase (Jīn Píng Méi) See JPM
pòcái xiāo zāi C7 P33
poem B74 S115 S148
POETRY C23 C81 C201 C208 G60 H197 R162 S99 S227 S324 Y261
Poetry Classic G18 J126 Y54 Z97
pò fèn jī H141
POISON D192 S250 Y133
POLICIES S88
political slogan C74 X132 X201
POLITICS B41 B129 F49 F49 L54 P30 P32 Q27 S126 T60 T62 T131 Y84
POOR F73 F74 F82 G158 Y408 Y459
POPULATION T30 Z130
POSITION D67 H210 L119 L139 L147 M52 M80 M94 P1 P43 Q18 R144 R177 R184 R225 S101 S256 S292 S399 S410 X129 Y50 Y367
POSSESSION Q58
POSSESSIONS D159 L3
POSSIBILITY J131
POTENTIAL H123 R140
POVERTY B154 C35 C58 C73 C78 C81 C93 C156 C203 C204 C216 D169 D181 D183 D200 E2 E9 E38 F58 F63 F64 F67 F80 F82 G81 G140 H18 H110 H155 H162 H216 J31 J40 J79 J80 J81 J100 J127 J209 L41 L68 L109 M37 M89 M92 M112 N43 N55 N61 N64 P16 P17 P18 P23 P24 P25 P26 P27 P28 P29 Q25 Q42 Q160 Q161 Q163 Q164 Q165 Q166 Q167 Q168 Q169 Q171 Q172 R11 R80 R108 R109 R121 R134 R135 R136 R137 R138 R213 R226 R259 R274 S48 S55 S56 S131 S137 S210 S239 S258 S293 S299 S303 S402 T10 T32 T54 T86 T125 W56 X22 X30 X33 X98 X114 Y90 Y154 Y289 Y335 Y362 Y393 Y396 Y397 Y398 Y409 Y459 Z96 Z135 Z154 Z155 Z156
POWER B32 B33 C6 C87 D64 D67 D108 D111 D140 D147 D177 E10 E25 F47 G83 H6 H151 H210 H214 H248 J132 J165 K20 L43 L90 L100 L119 L139 L147 L174 M18 M88 M90 M94 M99 M133 P40 Q18 Q22 Q52 Q112 Q201 R44 R46 R64 R159 S53 S66 S101 S132 S319 S364 S421 T62 W53 X31 X32 X43 X45 X68 X70 X86 X87 X93 X151 X177 Y45 Y50 Y149 Y282 Y334 Y367 Y375 Y416 Z9 Z52 Z151 Z151
POWERLESSNESS R32
PRACTICALITY C141 L115 M125
PRACTICE B160 B164 B167 C43 G61 G63 G136 J148 Q189 S40 S218 S408 T111 X112 X167 Y259 Y302
PRAGMATISM B11 B129 H163
PRAISE H56 H70 H199
PRAYING J164
PREACHING S162
PRECAUTIONS C136 D2 J103 J243 L97 L108 N38 N78 Q49 Q123 Q127 S49 S436 W48 W49 X44 X63 X76 Y393
PRECEDENCE Q116 X11 X41
PRECEDENTS Y157
PRECISION S350 S351 S356 X52
PRECONCEPTIONS C68
PREDESTINATION F64 Y218
PREDETERMINISM G52
PREDICTABILITY B171
PREDICTIONS C19 C20 C52 C178 C196 C232 C233 J159 M53 N65 Q207 R285 S99 S229 W92 X47 Y198 Y317 Y323 Y479 Z42
PREEMPTIVE D15 D94
PREFERENCE J165
PREFERENCES C169 Z188
PREPARATION B12 B18 B20 B44 B62 B63 B91 B150 C39 C157 D36 D175 D185 D230 F19 G77 H120 J36 J48 J70 J121 J185 J243 J264 J265 J274 L97 L108 L124 M31 M116 N38 N78 P21 P22 Q49 Q70 Q122 Q123 Q127 Q162 T33 W24 W32 W71 W72 X44 X50 X51 Y13 Y17 Y78 Y354 Y355 Y380
PREREQUISITES M58 M60 M64 M65 M75
PRESCRIPTIONS Q12
PRESENT G201 M103
PRESENTATION H69
PRESENTS L7
PRESERVATION C67
PRESSURE K48 L175 M41 M47 T140
PRESTIGE D148 Y123
PRETENDING B125 H14 M37 X180 Z20
PREVENTION F10 Z68
PRICE C174 H107 H160 H222 J6 J39 J89 K38 L63 M14 M23 M36 X47 Y128 Y129 Y425
PRIDE A22 H37 H59 J76 M38 M80 N11 R141 S141 S235
PRINCES W13
PRINCIPLES B36 G28 M127 M134 Q27 Q141 T56
PRIVACY C154 D96 G31 G122 G155 G159 J2 J8 J9 J15 J91 J114 J143 L44 L161
PRIVATE G71 G72 G73 G114 G142 M114 R127 S408 S416 X26
PRIVATION L69
PRIVILEGES Z99
PROBLEMS B59 C12 C60 C118 C132 C136 C158 C234 D28 D44 D70 D82 D155 D173 D174 D178 D230 G207 H221 H230 J65 J117 J120 J237 J242 K30 L114 M2 M8 M19 M68 M72 M74 M96 P12 Q12 Q55 Q96 S43 S61 S62 S147 S177 T39 T55 W4 W48 X38 X117 X193 Y27 Y59 Y91 Y102 Y133 Y170 Y198 Y373 Y447 Y450 Z167
Problems of Strategy Y332
PROCESS B81
PROCRASTINATION G10 H128 J160 L29 L57 L114 L158 M19 P21 R250 X56 Z191
PRODIGAL B29 B30 B31 L23 L24
PRODUCTION C174 Y344 Z122
PRODUCTS B61 H83 H107 S262
PROFESSION J90
PROFESSIONALS M59 Y473
PROFESSIONS D56 G28 G29 N15 Q1 Q176 S3 S4 T94 W8 Y193 Y337 Y473 Z146
PROFESSORS J66
PROFIT B9 B64 C108 C128 G58 J278 K5 N26 S169 W30 X123 Y66
PROGRESS B4 B162 N58 X95
proletariat S401
PROMINENCE C235
PROMISES D127 E3 G163 H9 H41 H42 J276 J277 N80 Q78 S1 S301 S375 S386 W100 X203 Y5 Y313 Y314 Y316 Y324 Y328
PROMOTION H51 Y123 Y232
PROMPTNESS H53
PROOF D13 G90 Q17 Q54 Z30 Z157
propaganda literature S59
PROPERTY C7 C160 D10 F53 F69 G124 H52 H63 H191 H228 J83 J175 N60 Q53 Q74 Q170 Y68 Y405
PROPRIETY B39
PROSPERITY F78 J104
PROTECTION B45 D111 N41 Q192
PROTOCOL Q116 W31
proverbial expressions S437
PROVERBS H137 H181 K35 Q107 Q199 S233 S330 Y173 Z129
province S421
PROVISIONS S42
PROXIMITY R260 S90
PRUDENCE B22 B75 B79 B80 B108 B127 B144 B173 B175 B210 C1 C184 C188 C189 C197 C211 D12 D19 D42 D49 D125 D191 H220 J173 L109 Q106 R156 S15 S187 S236 S298 S379 S381 X94 X95 Y296 Z192
PSYCHOLOGY N16
PUBLIC C107 G64 G71 G72 G73 G114 G118 G124 G142 M114 R127 S215 S408 S416 T62 X26 X26 Y195 Y286
PUBLIC INTEREST G118
PUBLIC OPINION D53 F14 G67 G144 G175 Q13 R20 R214 R215 S215 Y84 Z125 Z126 Z127 Z132
PUBLIC PROPERTY G118
pun C94 J66 K4 K37 Q84 S316 T133 Y403
PUNCTUALITY B95 J246 L4 Z191
PUNISHMENT C37 D14 D41 D103 D106 G125 G160 M121 Q209 R263 S69 S86 T49 W20 X67 X69 X71 Y63 Y233 Y274 Y349 Y374 Y387 Y452 Z11 Z89
púrén Y415
PURPOSE B192 W96 【L1】Q Q

qiánchēzhījiàn Q6
Qián Chū Sài S177
qiānfū-suǒzhǐ Q13
Qián Hàn Yǎnyì W77
qiānjīn (gold) C201 C224 J14 J95 N73 Q4 Q30 Q32 Q33 Q34 Q35 Q36 Q37 Q38 Q40 Y288
qiānjīn (wt.) C80 K15 L31 N75 N98 Q31 S414 S431 T134 X203
qiānlǐmǎ Q45
qiānlǜ-yīdé Y480
qiānlǜ-yīshī Z114
qiànnián N38
qiánshēng Y218
Qiān Zì Wén C91
qiǎoduó-tiāngōng R161
qiào wěiba G85
Qí Cè Sì J70
Qiě Jiè Tíng Zá Wén S423
qìjié S258
Qi Jiguang Z25 Z155
qǐjū-yǐnshí D228
qìliàng xiǎo L89
qīlǜ Y163
Qín Cè 2 C50
Qín Cè 3 S30
qīngchūyúlán Q121
Qing dynasty B26 C180 C208 C235 D37 D162 H160 J7 Q82 R123 S324 X170 Y128 Y344 Z137
Qìngfǔ Q125
qīng gài B23
qìngjia A11
qǐngjiàn Y248
qínglǐ-nánróng S119
qīngméi-zhūmǎ Y71
qíngmian G149
Qing Ming Q136
Qīng Shǐ Yǎnyì S371 Y286
Qīng Yè Lù J165
qíngyì J73 M11 X28
qīngyú-hóngmáo R71
qínjiǎn Q148
Qin Jiwen Q198
Qin Kui Q143
qǐnshí D228 S198
qǐnshí bù'ān W62
Qìn Shǐ Huáng Běn Jì Q73
qīnyǒu T120
qióngkòu mò zhuī Y163
qī pǐn guān Z9
qīqiào S383
qīruǎn-pàyìng H156
qìshù D161
qiú D172
qiūhòu L47
Qiū Shēng Fù R62
Qiū Shuǐ J149 W37 X2
qiúzhī-bùdé Q184
qìwèi-xiāngtóu T102
qīwǔ J1
qìxiàng yànyǔ M53 Z42
qìyuē Q54
qízi Q104
QUALIFICATIONS Q26 S91 X171
QUALITY B83 B103 B104 C220 D205 G177 G179 H27 H51 H54 H55 H56 H83 H86 H88 H90 H107 H227 J34 J226 L27 L146 N50 N73 P11 Q208 S262 Y129
Quǎn Fū Lùn Y227
Quán Táng Shī S148
QUANTITY B3 B83 B103 D115 D146 D206 D210 G179 H22 J185 L84 N50 Q61 Y57
Quán Xiū S252 Y208
Quàn Xué W48
Quàn Xué Piàn Q121
Quàn Xuéwen S405 S406
QUARRELING D3 D98 D158 G107 J135 X23 Y41 Y455 Z145
QUESTIONS Q132
QUIET Z91
Quisling Q143
Qǔ Jiāng R154
Qū Jié Jiě D122
Qū Lǐ S57
Qū Lǐ Shàng A22 L5 R268
Qu Yuan H247 【L1】R R

R3K (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) A13 B87 B158 C199 C206 D141 D161 G184 G192 H30 H187 J35 J54 J171 J244 J251 L82 L86 L92 M3 M123 N8 N71 Q15 R150 R155 S16 S340 S404 S410 T51 T135 X64 Y27 Y42 Y72 Y155 Y264 Y464 Z82 Z111
RAIN C202 D40 H94 M53 R95 T54 T79
RANK D55 F45 F64 G121 G126 G180 G186 S292
ráoshè N37
RASHNESS Q92 X6
REACTIONS M41
READING D227 S320 S366 S391 S400 W11 X108 Y306 Z18
REALISTS S266
REALITY B25 L28 W38 Z14
REASON C6 C143 D81 D126 D133 D134 D189 F33 H49 H201 L98 L138 R26 R34 R94 S33 S118 X175 Y81 Y282 Y370 Y386 Y389 Z84
REASONS G170 G172 S200 S283
REBELLION M98 Q125 R81 S371 X176
RECIPROCATION N66 S358 Y101
RECIPROCITY J33 L5 N46 Q114 R36 R178 R207 S300 T3 X155 Y165 Y194 Y293 Y307 Z1 Z167
RECOGNITION C150 L75 S161 Y390 Z56
RECOMMENDATION J50 W99
RECOMPENSE C230 E15 H79 H91 H92 H93 H170 S96 S134 S358 W79 X127
RECORDS X138 Y253
RECOVERY B89
RECTITUDE B22 B36 B166 B212 C9 C231 G40 H71 J75 M78 R243 R252 S73 S102 S176 S391 S394 S395 S402 S403 T1 W9 X104 X158 X159 X175 Y82 Y122 Y339 Y341 Y342 Z48 Z183 Z184
Red Guards P30 S126
REDRESS Y359
Rè Fēng S265
REFINEMENT Z159
REFORM B29 B30 B31 L24 L96 S174
REFUGE F36
REFUSAL S210
REGRET H102 H224 J133 S197 S277 S320 X100 Y283 Y400 Z32 Z33
REGULATIONS B143
REINCARNATION Z143
REJECTION S278
RELATIONS G149 S315 T97 X182
RELATIONSHIPS B36 C96 C208 D3 F24 H3 H116 H193 J73 J119 K20 M11 Q82 Q115 Q133 Q142 Q147 Q156 Q158 Q212 R94 R124 R125 R126 R127 R132 R133 R165 R166 R167 R233 R260 S69 S94 S409 W99 Y99
RELATIVES A16 C58 D3 D27 D62 D67 D189 E18 E26 F63 H80 H155 H165 H186 H216 J170 L129 L145 M88 M89 P15 P26 P28 Q11 Q42 Q60 Q114 Q116 Q118 Q133 Q146 Q147 Q149 Q150 Q151 Q152 Q155 Q161 Q165 Q166 R132 R135 S24 S210 S255 S257 S281 S315 S432 T120 X20 X182 Y39 Y216 Y247 Y346 Y436 Y444 Y446 Z85 Z90
RELAXATION X144
RELIABILITY H41 H42 Y33 Y35 Y241
RELIEF H19
REMARRIAGE C179 E39 N44 P7
REMEMBERING H57 H58 J16 J268 L53 Y393
REMONSTRATING J250
réncái S12
réndīng R43
rénduō-zuǐzá R59
réngèyǒuzhì R66
rénhuò T78
Rén Jiān Xùn S2
renji-zhisheng R33
rén lǎo, xīn bù lǎo B168
rénlǎo-zhūhuáng R92 R93
rénmìng-guāntiān R101
Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Y163
rénqíng F24 G149 L7
rénshǒu Z103
Rén Xiào Wén K39
rényì J73 M11
REPAIRS J49 X109
REPARATIONS L8
REPAYMENT B156 D138 D207 E13 G91 H65 H93 J125 Q59 Q153 R124 R128 X164 Y451 Z76
REPENTANCE B31 K52 S167 Y400
REPETITION H67 H177 M95 S243 Y44
REPUTATION B2 B51 B61 D153 H55 H147 H249 K36 R18 R41 R69 R195 S161 S251 S294 S417 W40 Y441 Z125
REQUESTS B73
RESENTMENT E14 X152
RESISTANCE B57 J147 N69
RESOLUTIONS J120 Y439
RESOLVE D155 F75 H61 H231 K1 K44 W100
RESOURCEFULNESS R33
RESOURCES B47 B48 J163 L133 Y161
RESPECT B166 B190 C191 D1 D192 F47 G65 H115 H149 K8 L105 M76 N46 Q21 Q139 R11 S173 S421 T3 T24 X126 Y205 Y258 Y263 Y406 Y441 Z3
RESPONSIBILITY B84 B117 B195 B211 C51 C170 D57 D58 D59 D60 D62 D207 E36 G64 G73 G124 G197 H44 J35 J46 J85 L8 M46 M61 M76 Q94 Q95 Q198 R263 S189 T76 T139 X67 Y233 Y249 Y274 Y445 Y451
RESTING H11 X106 Y318 Y330
RESTRAINT D184 F16 F25 F32 G190 G202 H33 J122 J255 K39 K40 K41 N90 Q99 Y474 Z86 Z98 Z115 Z175
RESTRICTIONS S313
RESULTS B199 C210 D187 L13 M124 N27 P5 Q23 S124 S339 W55 W73 W87 X54 X59 X122 Y5 Y127 Y368 Y380 Z54
RETALIATION D99
RETICENCE B127 B175 S15
RETIREMENT W64 W86 Y408
RETREAT G128 N58 R5
RETRIBUTION C125 D42 D99 D177 E15 J182 T49 Y101
RETURNING S341 T142 W79 Y378 Z121
RETURNS G58
REUNIONS X136
REVENGE J252 J253 S390 W79 Y365 Y451
REVOLT M41 T140
REWARDS G5 J69 S69 S86 S208 W54 W60 W61 W62 X99 Y374 Z134 Z189
rhyme A14 B5 B13 B19 B37 B79 B80 B110 B122 B125 B126 B133 B136 B156 B160 B162 B167 B170 B172 B173 B186 B190 B203 B213 C13 C29 C32 C44 C96 C100 C102 C113 C118 C125 C132 C142 C151 C155 C166 C168 C169 C191 C198 C206 C207 C214 C225 C231 D17 D19 D20 D22 D30 D46 D47 D53 D54 D55 D59 D62 D66 D78 D81 D89 D90 D97 D104 D117 D120 D125 D134 D152 D169 D179 D190 D193 D194 D199 D205 D211 D222 D227 D228 E20 E28 E29 E30 E32 E33 E35 F11 F18 F19 F20 F21 F43 F49 F73 G5 G25 G41 G55 G59 G82 G96 G106 G118 G124 G132 G141 G165 G168 G175 G201 H15 H38 H39 H42 H45 H48 H51 H53 H60 H80 H84 H98 H125 H127 H138 H142 H150 H151 H162 H173 H189 H191 H193 H194 H195 H196 H203 H216 H221 H234 H242 J10 J11 J27 J32 J38 J40 J41 J42 J47 J59 J60 J63 J64 J69 J98 J101 J104 J108 J124 J135 J140 J145 J163 J166 J186 J204 J215 J216 J217 J223 J236 J273 J278 K8 K11 K26 K46 L2 L4 L16 L19 L20 L33 L38 L43 L44 L48 L49 L52 L62 L66 L71 L91 L92 L97 L98 L107 L108 L111 L126 L143 L145 L175 M4 M5 M12 M18 M39 M45 M58 M86 M91 M102 M104 M112 M132 N2 N15 N17 N18 N19 N23 N24 N36 N39 N42 N52 N56 N59 N63 N72 N76 N79 N95 N97 N101 P3 P4 P29 Q2 Q14 Q27 Q87 Q89 Q94 Q95 Q96 Q106 Q132 Q141 Q174 Q181 Q199 Q203 R18 R21 R27 R28 R29 R35 R41 R42 R54 R104 R110 R119 R123 R124 R133 R143 R163 R177 R216 R225 R272 R274 R275 R275 R276 R277 R278 R285 S3 S23 S26 S28 S37 S48 S49 S76 S78 S84 S87 S107 S109 S111 S132 S148 S150 S181 S205 S213 S217 S228 S230 S257 S267 S271 S281 S297 S318 S359 S360 S362 S363 S399 S405 T11 T33 T36 T39 T40 T50 T55 T72 T76 T81 T92 T113 T115 T119 T125 T135 T141 W25 W30 W39 W63 W95 X32 X35 X49 X52 X66 X71 X75 X97 X98 X106 X109 X118 X124 X149 X153 X154 X162 X169 X171 X174 X175 X178 X180 X183 X188 X203 X204 Y1 Y2 Y8 Y50 Y65 Y70 Y98 Y100 Y103 Y142 Y143 Y167 Y245 Y259 Y269 Y279 Y282 Y283 Y285 Y369 Y378 Y380 Y381 Y382 Y386 Y387 Y396 Y419 Y422 Y425 Y466 Y478 Z22 Z24 Z35 Z64 Z98 Z102 Z115 Z116 Z160 Z182 Z184 Z188 Z192
RICE S429
RICH C216 D10 D32 D111 D200 F58 F60 F67 F69 F73 F74 F78 F80 F82 G16 G140 G180 G186 H112 H129 J40 J140 P16 Q161 Q170 S132 Y362 Y408 Y459 Z196
RICHES F64 H110 M102
Rickshaw C229
RIGHT S160 Y385 Y386 Y387 Y388 Y389
RIGHTEOUSNESS D126 J278 J282
RIGHTS S128 T60
RIGIDITY C187 D160
RINGLEADERS D103
RISK B119 B174 D196 D222 G126 G180 K5 N45 P1 P4 R248 S123 S263 T133 X121 Y64 Y66 Y76 Y77
RIVALS B183 G36 T94 Y153 Y438 Z139
RIVERS Y423
rì-yuè G138
rìyuè-rúsuō G138
ROADS Y467
ROBBERS M121 R275 S177
ROBBERY D13 F83 J103 X37
ROMANCE L164
Romance of the Three Kingdoms See R3K
Rome C175
ROOTS M127 M134 M137 S200
ROTE LEARNING Q141
ROUTINE D160
ruǎndāozi R265
RUDENESS R60
RUIN B32 B33 C69 C70 C71 D191 F78 L23 R156 Y50 Z12
RULERS B41 C161 G192 T51 Y47 Y155 Y386 Y423
RULES B202 G38 G114 G204 J11 J93 R281 Y157 Y271 Y384
RULING B35
Rúlín Wàishǐ A11 B156 C105 D102 D164 F72 G57 G66 G154 H63 H130 H225 H232 J79 K18 L6 L36 M34 M36 P40 S25 S45 S94 S174 S208 S325 T104 W22 X21 Y99 Y469
RUMORS C50 C168 D179 E17 E31 E32 E37 H150 H194 J75 L134 M106 R85 S30 S176 S182 S243 T89 X158 Y81 Y227
rúqiōng Q42
RUTHLESSNESS H111 W53 【L1】S S

SACRIFICES B119 F75 S122 S124 X38 X83
SADNESS C180 R269 Y59 Y242
SAFEKEEPING Y229
SAFETY B171 F36 J14
SAINTS S253
SALES C190
SALT E20
SALVATION K52
Samson & Delilah Y202
sānbǎiliùshíháng S3 S4
Sān Bǎo Diàn J156
sān céng mén G122
sān dōng L91
sānfú L67
sāngēng Y49
sāngēng bànyè Y49
Sān Guó Yǎnyì (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) See R3K
Sān Guó Zhì B174 J204 R65 R266 S69 S193 S423 X85 Z66
SANITATION B126 C99 Y6
sānjiǔ hándōng T71
sānjiǔ (tiān) L67
sān-jūn J25
Sān Kè Pāi'àn Jīngqí Q100 Y421
sān lǎo R277
sān ménzi C58
sǎn qǔ H160
Sān Shào Dì Jì R65
Sanskrit J220
sān suì zhì lǎo R285
Sān Wáng Shì Jiā A16
Sān Xiá Wǔ Yì B98 D143 G125 J203 J274 K10 L154 M118 N52 N87 Q19 Q74 R63 S98 S204 Y3 Y14 Y431 Z89 Z171
Sān Zì Jīng J57 Y15
SARCASM Q59 T66
SATISFACTION C90 D145 R150 R266 Y20 Y115 Y238 Z63 Z65
SAVING D21 J185 S121 W24 Y17
SAYINGS S437
SCALES Z132
SCANDALS J2 J11
SCARCITY H236 L63 Y36
SCENERY J37 S428
SCHEMES A12 A17 L76 S188
SCHEMING H127 S276 S390
SCHOLARS B26 L173 Q62 S23 S166 S193 S272 T11 W8 X22 X170 X171 X172 X173 X174 X175 X176 Z137
SCOLDING D106
SCOUNDRELS G131 H89
Sea of Woes K52
SEARCHING K32 T13 Y25
SEASONS D176 F73 J128
SECRETS B58 D105 F1 G46 G86 G206 H75 J2 J8 J9 J107 J114 J144 J258 M34 M35 N2 Q28 R76 R206 S36 S38 S66 S273 T28 T117 X192 Y223 Y376 Z67 Z140 Z141 Z186 Z194 Z195
SECURITY F13 P19
SEDUCTION Y95
SEEING B25 T91 Y6 Y7 Y33 Y34 Y35 Y437
SELECTIONS P12
SELF D159 G49 J65 K43 N74 R27 Y34 Y445 Y472 Z161 Z164 Z169
SELF-CONCEIT R241
SELF-CONTROL C94 H64 Q195 R104 R144 R160
SELF-CORRECTION H242
SELF-CRITICISM L22 Z165 Z169
SELF-CULTIVATION B4 C140 Z66
SELF-DEFENSE D165 E23 R265
SELF-DEPRECATION D152
SELF-DESTRUCTION F31
SELF-DETERMINATION R44
SELF-ESTEEM R107 R141
SELF-HELP H171
SELF-IMAGE R107
SELF-IMPORTANCE G96 G182
SELF-IMPROVEMENT B184 B185 G205
SELF-INDULGENCE F57 R281
SELF-INTEREST B192 B194 D64 D67 F35 F63 G47 H166 H232 J281 L119 L139 L141 L155 L165 L166 M81 M122 P10 P28 Q42 R27 R189 S232 S239 T137 W45 X89 Y125 Y184 Y416
SELFISHNESS E21 H28 R27 S275
SELF-JUSTIFICATION F57
SELF-KNOWLEDGE B72 D136 H204 J42 L135 L152 M69 N93 N94 R87 S189 W28 Y363 Z79 Z81 Z82 Z92
SELFLESSNESS G64 L73 R27 X53
SELF-PERCEPTION R67
SELF-PRESERVATION S232
SELF-PROMOTION L173 M7 M9 Y334 Y417
SELF-PROTECTION G21 G22 H4 L155 N71 Q169 Q200 R239 Y132
SELF-REFLECTION T84
SELF-RELIANCE J117 K16 K17 K19 M21 Q181 T39 T86
SELF-RESPECT F55 Y403
SELF-RESTRAINT C213 D6 D65 D68 D72 D98 D129 D130 D137 D143 D177 D216 E14 E34 F21 F22 F29 F60 G8 G31 G53 G115 G129 G184 H131 H140 H219 H224 J59 J105 J121 J207 J224 K4 L59 L79 L135 L148 L165 L166 L168 M33 M38 M39 M69 M81 M122 N49 P20 Q16 Q92 Q105 Q137 R104 R266 R276 R279 R280 S9 S22 S106 S107 S108 S135 S153 S155 S196 S201 S207 S213 S216 S219 S237 S298 S307 S309 S350 S351 S356 T1 T57 T137 W22 W25 X156 Y63 Y126 Y137 Y296 Y343 Y363 Z51 Z97 Z117
SELF-REVELATION J198
SELF-SATISFACTION D145 X84
SELF-SUFFICIENCY H63 M21
SELLING M36 Y36 Y399
SENIORITY J83 X11 X41 Y290 Y395 Y397 Y419
SENTIMENT Q46
SEPARATION E33 G23 G30 G56 H26 L120 Q163 R19 R260 S193 X136 Y56 Y148 Y251 Z5
SEQUELS D152
SERVANTS Q194 Y290 Y415
SERVICE J69 L86 R218 Y118 Y372 Y374 Y390
SETBACKS C137 S72
SEX J195 J224 M130 S54
SEXISM S27
SGY (Sān Guó Yǎnyì, Romance of the Three Kingdoms) See R3K
SHAMANS D188 W44
shāmào S60
SHAME D39 D97 G93 H85 M78 R12 R143 R188 R252 S235 S293 Y73 Y252
Shandong Province N97
Shàng Dé C161
Shang dynasty Q38
Shāng Jūn Lièzhuàn K56 Q62
shàng shòu R277
Shāng Shū R181 X132
Shān Hǎi Jīng R200
Shān Mù G6 J281 X89
shānqiū S146
Shào 9 Niáng D124
SHARING D33 G78 G102 G199 J83 L69
shēnfen S302
shēng G102 M101
shěng S421
Shēng Ān Jīng Shuō X114
shéngjù-mùduàn S150
Shěng Xīn Luò Z69
Sheng Zhi Wu Qi Liè Zhuàn J35
Shèn Yán Zhāng K39
Shèn Zǐ J185
shīdào-guǎzhù D126
Shí Diǎn Tóu L162 M63 S418
shìfēi rén L8
Shī Gōng Ān W24
Shí Guó Chūnqiū Z174
Shǐ Jì A16 B9 B23 C76 C138 C233 D77 D127 G18 G74 H22 H85 J14 J23 J35 J35 J51 J69 J77 J81 J106 J270 J281 K56 L79 Q40 Q62 Q73 Q79 R44 S289 T76 T98 Y22 Y289 Y324 Y480 Z114 Z120 Z127 Z138
Shījīng C74 G18 J126 Y54 Z97
shīlǐ J41
shī pǔ L52
Shì Shuō Xīn Yǔ S215
Shì Xié J90
shǐ xìngzi J133
shìzàirénwéi S284 T37
shǐzàixiánshàng S285
SHOES X105
SHORTAGES C16
SHORTCOMINGS B128 C146 C147 D68 D136 G21 H204 N93 R67 R102 S398 X13 Y172 Z39
SHORTCUTS J78
SHORTSIGHTEDNESS L21 R75 S397
shǒukǒu-rúpíng S298
shòurénzhītuō S301
shǒushēn S302
Shǒu Tǔ J243
SHOWING OFF H60 H200
SHREWDNESS R90
shuǎ hóuzi S85
shuǎngkuài K49
shūbùjiànqīn S315
shù-dǎo-húsūn-sàn S319
Shǔ Dào Nán Y132
shùdà-zhāofēng S322 S323
Shù Ér F62 J273 S34
shū'érbùlòu T49
Shūfǎ S396
Shūfǎ Yào Lù S396
shuǐdī-shíchuān S150 S331 S344
Shuǐhǔ Hòu Zhuàn N8
shuǐhuǒ S333 S334 S335
Shuǐhǔ Quán Zhuàn C150 L76 R264
Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn B114
Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn (Water Margin) See WM
shuǐluò-shíchū S343 S343 S349
Shǔ kingdom R86 R150 S404
Shū Lín D82
shūlòu B12
shùnkǒuliū B133
Shuō Fù C29
shuō kǔ B110
Shuō Lín Shàng C29 L50 Q101 Y448
Shuō Lín Xià L173
Shuō Lín Xùn L115 Z144
Shuō Táng H5
Shuō Wǎn Y474
Shuō Yuǎn J121
Shuō Yuè Quán Zhuàn G146 Y456
shūshu R153
Shú Shū Xì Zhèng Zhuàn X85
shūyuǎn T106
SHYNESS C148
SHZ (Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn, Water Margin) See WM
Sichuan province R86 R130 R150
SICKNESS G112
SIGHTSEEING G141
SIGNS C178 Y323
sǐhuò S409
SILENCE H140 M91 R251 S23 S120 S419 W18 Y221 Y474
sīliang S430
SILVER C219
Silver Rule J189
Sīmǎ Guāng Zhuàn S273
sìmǎ-nánzhuī J277 Y313
Sima Qian C76 G18 G74 R71
Sīmǎ Xiàngrú Lièzhuàn J14
Sima Yi S423
SIMILARITIES B180 B182 C19 C162 G28 G116 J23 L14 L137 L145 M87 Q35 Q57 Q114 R231 S342 T68 T96 T97 T101 T102 T107 T135 W5 W26 W83 W93 X131 Y156 Y203 Y204 Y205 Y297 Y411 Y415 Y478 Z167
SIMPLICITY B204 Z171
SIN E40
SINCERITY F34 H49 H197 J64 J136 J162 L92 R203 S192 T12 W39 X180 Y424 Z70 Z71 Z108
SINGING D144 T122
Sino-Japanese War H203
SISTERS-IN-LAW L80 Z145
sìtōng-bādá S357
SITUATIONS D43 D87 G80 G94 G95 H25
sǐwúduìzhèng S120
Six Dynasties Y72
sīxīn H122
six relations H165 R135
SIZE S138 X178
SKILL B47 B48 B54 B160 B164 B167 C43 C45 C209 G63 H200 J62 J86 J90 J109 J146 M26 M27 M51 M68 M69 N7 N54 N105 Q1 Q41 Q79 Q85 Q92 Q109 Q176 Q189 R58 R249 R267 S4 S40 S46 S50 S93 S98 S218 S264 S279 S408 T26 T111 T127 W94 Y40 Y112 Y136 Y224 Y225 Y259 Y319 Y356
SKILLS C224 R43 R70 T121 Y275 Y299 Y302 Y337 Y338
SKY T45
SLANDER C168 G9 G40 H47 H56 H71 H199 J75 J204 L99 L105 L121 L123 M105 M106 N72 Q103 S176 S395 X158 Y82 Z66 Z183 Z184
SLEEP D85 H173 Q71 S203 S354 T93 T113 W59 X1 Y108 Y318
SLEEPLESSNESS C46
SLOGANS L54
SLYNESS D69
SMALL WORLD D23 S312
SMILES C84 N24 Q38 S168 X79 X97 Y304
SNAKES D178 D225 D226 Y331
SNOBBERY G98 H216 R64 R80
SOCIAL CLASS C216 D32 D167 D200 F49 H34 H129 J14 J31 L58 L144 L145 P18 P32 R22 R177 W91 X3 Y19 Z99 Z154 Z196
SOCIETY G32 G33 X81
Solar Term R110
SOLDIERS F50 H84 Q41 S42 X175 Z25
SOLIDARITY B70 C162
SOLUTIONS C61 C62 C132 C158 C221 C234 D28 D173 D174 D195 K30 M68 M72 M74 M96 Q12 Q55 Q96 Q110 Q172 R94 S43 S61 S62 S67 S205 T39 X38 Y27 Y102 Y103 Y133 Y198 Y447 Y450 Z103
Sòng Chùshī Guī Shān S227
Sòng Dù Shào Fù H3
Song dynasty B24 B207 C201 D96 G195 J165 L57 L57 Q143 R62 R174 R275 S405 S406 X53 Y345 Z180
SONGS H90
Sòng Shǐ H202 S273 W82 Y469
Sòng Yínzi Yī Jué G60
SONS D17 F84 F87 G3 H26 H97 H187 J80 L24 L62 N100 N112 S209 T72 Y17 Y156 Y287 Y411 Z77 Z136 Z170
SONS-IN-LAW N112
SOPHISTICATION G161
SORROW C144 E40 J116 J193 L69 N12 R10 R182 S228 Y29 Y59 Y103 Y304 Y329 Y362
SOURCES L8 M127 M134 Y214 Y344
Southern Song F57
sòutóu J66
Sou Xin Y214
SPACE Q47
Spanish T53
SPANKING D106
SPEAKER Y54
SPEAKING F48
SPECIALISTS C236 D5
SPECIALITIES Z146 Z147
SPECIALIZATION Y30 Y276
SPEECH B69 B108 C6 C33 C184 C197 D114 D125 D184 D226 E41 E42 F27 G191 G202 H48 H49 H99 H174 H176 H181 J133 J173 J272 J273 J275 K11 K40 K41 K55 L98 L159 Q137 Q196 R26 R216 R251 S77 S135 S187 S236 S298 S314 S369 S374 S375 S378 S379 S384 S387 T60 T71 T90 T128 W41 X72 X74 X150 Y53 Y296 Y388 Y474 Z97 Z179
SPEED B162 D49 M26 M27 M39 S201 S237 T8 W15 Y448 Y449 Y477
SPICES B140
SPIRIT X156 Y93
SPIRIT MONEY S109
SPIRITS Q130
SPIRITUALITY X114
SPOILING B38 C142 C222 D194 E28 F78 G164 G174 J5 J72 J77 Y152 Y177 Y292
SPORT G147
SPOUSE H138 T88 Y29
SPRING C196 C198 C200 C201 C202 H139 Y93 Y210 Y211
STANDARDS D47 H8 H145 L52
STARS Y423
STARTING F23 F25 F26 K3 Q179 W85
STATUS G186 L144 Y216 Y395 Y397 Y406
STEALING J127 Q99 S367 T14 Y453 Z27 Z29
STEPCHILDREN G23 P15
STEPMOTHERS G23 H130 Y413
STEPS J171 J234 L115 N87 Q47 S199 T131 Y107 Y111
STINGINESS B187 T6 T9
STORIES H27 M60
STORMS F36 F40 K51 T74
Story of the Stone (Dream of the Red Chamber) See DRC
STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS B158 J273 K49 Q197 S156 S402 X165 Y388 Z78
STRANGENESS C148 S113 S114
STRANGERS F34 L171 S151 Y441
STRATEGY A19 A21 B14 B34 B87 B91 B104 B106 B120 B137 C130 C134 D15 D87 D94 D101 D102 D103 D156 D192 D208 D214 D219 E23 F11 F12 G80 G129 G132 G145 G184 G193 H66 H132 J34 J112 L11 L12 L97 L108 M33 M118 N46 N58 N71 N84 N99 Q41 Q55 Q81 Q109 Q124 Q131 Q138 Q144 Q157 Q191 S20 S21 S43 S74 S103 S177 S216 S219 S295 S304 S340 S423 T115 T121 T129 T131 W12 W23 X52 X55 X56 Y132 Y163 Y332 Y469 Z41 Z81 Z82 Z104 Z139
STRENGTH B53 B70 C27 D37 D71 D75 D76 E29 F76 G178 H50 H81 H111 H214 J1 J38 J237 K15 L1 L31 L40 L67 L84 L90 L135 M68 M69 M84 N17 N32 N33 N46 Q29 Q52 Q180 Q183 Q188 Q201 R35 R45 R47 R50 R52 R55 R79 R163 R184 R209 S29 S47 S95 S138 S183 S431 T125 T139 W50 W53 X60 X107 Y105 Y144 Y146 Y148 Y185 Y200 Y202 Y239 Y295 Y301 Z100 Z142 Z151 Z192
STRENGTHS C138 N96
STRESS X143
STRICTNESS D47 F28 G157 S68 Y43
STRONGER D7 D37 D119 G20 G105 N98 X68 X70 X93
STUBBORNNESS A23 G4 G76 H231 N100 R264
STUDENTS J67 M113 Q121 S218 Y43 Y89
STUDYING H102 J17 J56 K50 N51 Q1 S14 S248 S357 S405 S406 W8 W94 X58 X62 X183 X184 X187 X189 X194 X196 Y75 Y401 Y473 Z18 Z182
STUPIDITY C124 C219 C228 C229 D80 G108 J50 M109 M110 X98 Y430
SUBJECTIVITY D61 D136 R34 W43
SUBMISSION C49 D6 N69 S116
SUBORDINATES D197 G39 J25 J250 L61 M34 Q19 Q128 S73 S75 S76 S84 S101 W75 X69 Y46 Y117 Y118 Y162 Z69 Z158
SUBSTITUTES C127 C220 C235
SUCCESS B4 B11 B19 B34 B101 B155 B201 C41 C44 C53 C70 C73 C81 C82 C105 C115 C221 D29 D83 D113 D143 D168 E1 F50 G61 G85 G196 H17 H24 H146 J7 J78 J102 J104 J244 K44 K54 L30 L150 L158 M12 M45 M58 M59 M82 N89 P30 Q14 Q24 Q40 Q55 Q124 Q136 Q148 Q154 Q204 R118 R120 R122 R194 R219 R257 R275 R276 R277 S11 S14 S37 S64 S71 S93 S123 S126 S127 S140 S143 S202 S237 S261 S267 S271 S274 S291 S308 S344 S408 S409 S414 S434 T42 T56 T65 T83 W59 W99 X10 X56 X176 X189 X191 X196 Y72 Y78 Y79 Y80 Y99 Y123 Y167 Y181 Y210 Y216 Y260 Y273 Y278 Y282 Y309 Y322 Y340 Y346 Y410 Y422 Y428 Y432 Y434 Y435 Y467 Z81 Z82 Z101 Z102 Z104 Z108 Z133 Z139
Su Dongbo R174
SUFFERING B184 C24 C103 C113 J12 L69 L142 M50 N12 N74 R22 R87 R182 S48 S228 T96 Y362
SUFFICIENCY D115 E9
SUGGESTION Y199
Sui dynasty C175
Suí Táng Yǎnyì D147 F65 Q159 Q212 S232 T120 X49 Y149 Y283 Z5 Z109
SUMMER D171 D172 D185 X1
SUN R259 R261 R262 T27
Sun Wukong D210 Q204 Y225
Sun Yatsen T62
Sūnzǐ B100 B105 B106 D214 T107 Y163 Z82
SUPERFICIALITY D116
SUPERFLUITY L116 S305
SUPERIORS B157 D1 L61 M3 M34 Q204 S68 S73 S75 S76 S84 W13 W75 X31 Y46 Y290 Y372 Z6 Z99
SUPERSTITION N39 P33 R256 R272 T27
SUPPORT C2 D84 D107 D126 D140 D141 E35 G149 G196 H101 H115 H146 M129 N72 Q108 Y213 Z77 Z88
súqì S437
SURNAMES T105 W46 Y100
SURPRISE M105 S23
SURRENDER N11 N58
SURROUNDINGS C79 J161
SURVIVAL C18 D48 F59 G4 K52 M92 P34 S371 S373 T36
Su Shi C201 G195
SUSPICION G167 Y237 Y310
suyu B168 B193 D14 D41 D84 D146 G98 L37 L151 N14 N92 N109 P21 S410 S437 T19 T90 Y66 Y166 Y286
Suzhou B122 B123 S87 S148 S428 S429
SWIMMING D112
sword-fighting novels S59
SYMPATHY G116 M50 T96 Z167 【L1】T T

TABOOS M119 R268 W69 X72
TACT C177
TACTICS B87 G145 N46 N99 Q41 S20 S21 Y469
tài P14
TAILORS M17 Q90 Q98
Tài Píng Guǎng Jì J134
Tài Shǐ Gōng Zìxù S289
Tàisuì D177
Tàisuì tóu shàng D177
tàiwèi R144
Tàiyáng Zhào Zài B59 R46
tàiyī L156
TALENT B47 B48 B54 B61 C14 C80 C117 C120 C161 C235 G97 H18 H25 H83 H123 J50 J115 J145 K42 L41 L75 L79 L93 L110 L141 M7 M52 M77 M113 N13 P31 R43 R176 R284 S14 S91 S93 S161 S164 S165 S199 S223 S247 S266 S336 S338 S347 S348 T126 W43 W50 W78 X82 X91 Y24 Y43 Y417 Y442 Z55 Z56
TALK B79 B80 B144 B186 C33 D184 D186 D199 G104 G136 G182 G202 H71 H135 H140 H142 H143 H178 H194 H195 H201 H251 J59 J206 L53 L62 L64 M67 M95 N2 N49 N90 Q100 Q132 R156 R216 R227 R251 R255 S9 S22 S77 S125 S130 S135 S156 S180 S184 S187 S198 S213 S236 S298 S360 S376 S382 S383 S384 S385 S388 T90 W18 W88 X2 X3 X16 X39 X179 Y9 Y53 Y81 Y139 Y221 Y227 Y313 Z80 Z177
TALKATIVENESS A6 D216 D221 F7
Tan Fuyin D144
Tang dynasty B19 B74 C23 C30 C81 C175 G60 G188 H197 J82 K39 R162 S99 S133 S227 X15 X155 X180 Y93 Y132 Y221 Y470 Z101 Z154
Tang poetry R154 S148
Tang Seng Q204
Tángshī Sānbǎi Shǒu S324
Tang Xiansu Y117
tān piányi T6
tántiān X2
Taoism D79 D126 G66 G75 Y232 Z59 Z188
Taoist B54
Tao Qian Y261
TARDINESS M25 Y106 Y107 Y420 Y424 Z191
TASTE B140
TASTES B16 H23 R170 Y115 Z124
TAXES J151
TEA S354
TEACHERS G55 J57 J67 J98 M113 Q121 T24 T121 Y15 Y31 Y43 Y89 Y263
TEACHING C224 J11 J57 J60 J62 J66 J67 J71 J98 J151 L52 L62 N105 Q73 S34 S51 X62 Y150
TEARS N10 N12
TEASING L49
TECHNIQUE Y224
TEMPER J133 J187 R236 X143
TEMPERAMENT Q63
TEMPERING B8
TEMPTATION B49 C4 C48 F9 G12 G91 J127 Q134 R174 X14 X159
téng'ài D106 D106
Téng Wén Gōng Shàng L58
TERRITORY S173
TESTING J126 L102 R31 S353 Y289 Z57
THEFT D2 D201 D229 J127 L62 T109 T112 T117 T121 X177 Y36 Z23 Z157
THEORY Y183
THIEVES D88 D89 J103 M73 Q17 Q17 Q165 S49 T115 T124 Y453 Z19 Z20 Z21 Z22 Z24 Z25 Z26 Z27 Z28 Z29 Z30 Z31 Z52 Z109 Z194
THINKING D215 L57 S197 S277 X160 X185 X186 Y204 Y207
Third Brother Zhang C219
THIRST Q182 Y447
THOROUGHNESS B5 B37 C60 D101 D102 D156 F11 H45 J218 L2 Q144 S121 S301 S424 S427 Y114 Y119 Z32 Z33
THOUGHTS L118 M83 R258 X160
THREATS M98 Q61 X162
Three Bad Years T78 X154
Three Character Classic J57 Y15
Three Constantly Read Essays R71
Three Gorges R130
Three Hundred Poems of the Tang S324
Three Kingdoms period S387 S423
THRIFT A1 B70 B204 C81 D21 F58 H98 H189 J153 N20 N30 Q106 Q162 X154 Y248
THUNDER D40
tiānbuzhuàn dìzhuàn T20
tiāncháng-dìjiǔ T21 T21
Tiān Dān Lièzhuàn Z120
Tian Deng Z99
tiān gǎo, dì hòu T19
Tian Han T41
tiānkuān-dìkuò R5 T129
Tiān Ruì W17
tiántǔ D91
tiānwài-yǒutiān R176 S95
tiānwǎng-huīhuī T49
tiānwú'èrrì T51 T52
tiānxià-wéigōng T62
tiānzhū-dìmiè R27
Tián Zǐtáng A9
Tí Bì Zì Xù J258
TIGERS D8 F66 G37 G41 M69 R228 Y22
TILLING G58
TIME B9 B13 B21 B81 B131 C34 C40 C46 C91 C223 D135 G60 G138 G139 G166 G201 H27 H62 H87 H139 H179 H180 H182 H235 J106 J128 J282 K45 L47 L127 L149 L164 L170 M1 M30 M66 M116 N2 N23 N104 P5 Q44 Q52 Q54 Q84 Q120 R152 R155 R158 R168 R222 R257 R260 S23 S26 S39 S96 S100 S105 S146 S157 S193 S195 S203 S227 S230 S244 S270 S393 S425 S426 T43 T54 T63 W21 W33 X8 X49 X51 X118 X188 Y13 Y120 Y175 Y176 Y180 Y208 Y219 Y226 Y251 Y257 Y261 Y270 Y271 Y330 Y412 Y443 Y452 Z12 Z14 Z182
TIMELESSNESS C85
TIMELINESS D63 D131 G10 J160 L114 L158 M19 X42 X193 X202 Y106
TIMIDITY C78 D12
TIMING B20 B63 B120 B121 B137 B193 B194 C86 C157 D123 G193 G198 H144 H238 J128 K32 K54 L4 L27 N78 P21 Q23 Q126 R68 R189 S171 S195 S202 S204 S230 S266 S296 S434 T34 T42 W12 W59 X54 X56 X166 Y14 Y49 Y91 Y94 Y420 Y424 Y447 Y448 Y468 Z17 Z111
tīngyīn K11 L159
TITLES Q26
TOADS Y141
TOLERANCE H7 L89
tóngbìng-xiānglián T96 Z167
tóngchuáng-yìmèng T93
tóngháng-xiāngjì T94
tóngshēng-xiāngyìng T102
Tōng Sú Biān C235
Tōng Sú Cháng Yán Sū Zhèng Z101
tóngzhōu-gòngjì T107
TOOLS G77 G113 M82 R14 S93
TRADER C155
TRADES C8 C133 C163 D56 G28 N7 N15 Q1 Q177 S218 T94 Y193
TRADITION L52 N45 Q116 X119
traditional China B26 B50 B55 B67 B110 B146 C179 D58 D59 D60 D169 F53 G160 H127 J3 J13 P18 Q30 W63 Y70 Y413 Z9 Z25
TRAGEDY L65
TRAINING C224 H39 H157 K46 L67 M77 Q9 Q189 S41 Y391 Y456
TRANSGRESSIONS D2 D50 X71
TRANSIENCE D40 F61 F62 G139 H62 H87 H88 H180 H182 J177 L157 R130 R159 T21 Y226
TRAPS R112
TRAVEL B122 B123 C176 C214 D45 D193 F52 G116 J79 L106 L107 L153 L155 L168 L171 L172 Q50 Q122 Q146 Q162 R19 R159 S67 S87 S231 S242 S341 S428 T104 T106 W32 X121 X126 X133 Y10 Y108 Y268 Y330 Y338 Y449 Z5
TREACHERY B158 B163 D35 E7 Q143 R187 W51
TREASON Q143
TREATMENT M3 Y14
TREES R111 S252
TRENDS Y323
TRESPASSES J256 J268
TRICKERY S423 T85 T116 X27 Y286 Z91
TRICKS D210 F1 G55 H13 H132 H208 J62 X110 Y193
TROUBLE B81 B113 B130 B200 B208 C29 C32 C157 C182 C234 D104 D117 D209 D218 D222 F10 F22 G107 G149 H242 J36 J126 L8 L9 L149 M134 M135 Q125 Q126 Q130 R29 R32 R247 R248 S9 S19 S70 S83 S89 S108 S125 S129 S155 S189 S213 S214 S315 T55 T128 W22 W36 W61 X12 X65 X66 X76 X182 Y103 Y126 Y159 Y160 Y264 Y360 Y451 Z32 Z33 Z54 Z145
TRUST C42 D127 G194 H2 H152 H174 H202 H205 J276 J277 M120 S301 S432 T133 W57 Y5 Y178 Y237 Y314 Z93
TRUTH B58 B110 C26 C131 C153 D189 F54 G171 G175 H99 H159 H201 J55 J206 L102 L159 L169 M22 M34 M35 M48 M79 N2 R76 R206 R216 S66 S287 S288 S343 S349 S353 S432 T18 T52 X74 X192 Y35 Y241 Y281 Y357 Y386 Z18 Z45 Z47 Z53 Z60 Z61 Z67 Z179
TRYING N57 S71
tuǒdàng Y181
tùsǐ-húbēi T135
TYRANTS E10 S373 【L1】U U

UGLINESS C146 C147 C151 G94 G190 L152 W51
UNCLES W5
UNDERESTIMATING D18
UNDERSTANDING B46 B124 B144 C79 D79 D133 D134 D200 D227 F66 G109 G110 H134 J74 J110 J149 J154 J197 K11 L159 L169 M3 M95 M103 M109 M110 Q20 R205 R208 S26 S211 S286 S388 T90 W41 X18 X147 X155 Y42 Y51 Y87 Y352 Z43 Z82 Z84 Z116 Z119
UNITY C27 D71 D75 D76 D77 E29 G87 G105 G127 G173 J1 J102 L31 L51 M84 Q188 R45 R47 R50 R114 R209 S37 S431 T125 X107 X162 Y144 Y148 Y166 Y167 Y327 Z142
UNPREDICTABILITY B171
UNTOUCHABILITY L45
UNUSUAL S245 S246
UPBRINGING G34 G35
UPRIGHTNESS G178
USE L131 M90 W17 W96 Y303 Z46
USEFULNESS X178
USURPATION Y45
UTILITY H193 【L1】V V

VACILATION Q27
VALOR B83
VALUE B3 B33 B61 B83 C91 C166 G177 G179 H158 H160 J39 L3 N73 P11 Q36 Q37 Q38 Q79 R92 R100 R101 R271 S136 S179 T12 Y69 Y442 Z150
VANITY H183 R168
VARIETY R146 X110
VEGETABLES L156
VEGETARIANISM F57
VENGENCE S57 X201 Y359 Y365
VERSATILITY Q85
VICIOUSNESS Y74
VICISSITUDES M54 R97 R157 R226 S18 S140 S256 S267 S433 T74
VICTIMS G189
VICTORY D214 F50 S140 S141 Y282
VIGILANCE L42 Q193 S304 Y36 Z109
VINEGAR T110
VIRTUE D82 F6 H147 H239 J20 J184 J207 J279 J282 J283 N113 Q185 R13 S259 W10 Y131 Z143
VISITING D30 L11 L12 L49 R29 S278 T120 W84 X19
VISITORS H245 Q146
VOICE R232 Y385 Y388
VOWS N80
VULGARITY R170 S437 【L1】W W

WAGES Y319
Wài Chǔ Shuō Zuǒ Shàng Z138
Wài Piān D228
WAITING D135 X49
WALKING M40 M50 R257 Y96 Y330
wànfūmòdāng Y239
Wáng Bà Zhuàn J126
Wáng Chǎng Zhuàn J204 Z66
Wáng Chōng Y232
Wang Fu Y227
Wàng Jiāng Tíng W8
Wáng Xiàn Zhī Zhuàn G162
Wang Xihong Q91
wángyáng-bǔláo W12
Wang Yinggui D162
Wáng Zhāojūn J206
Wang Zhihuan Y470
Wàn Zhāng Shàng Z51
WAR B78 B106 D86 L78 S122 W82 Y256
WARMTH L69
WARNING R256
WASTE D21 D34 J171 J234 J241 M32 S133 Y345
WASTING TIME D198
WATCHDOG R28
WATER L63 Q7 Q89 Q175 R72 Y213 Y214 Y368 Y447 Y448 Z193
Water Margin See WM
WEAKNESS C138 D119 G20 H37 H156 H169 H210 J1 L47 L143 L147 M135 N88 P43 Q18 Q52 R163 S297 T139 X68 X70 X93 X156 Y200
WEALTH B135 B145 B146 C4 C7 C44 C78 C160 D10 D24 D167 D200 F58 F60 F61 F62 F63 F64 F67 F69 F73 F74 F78 F82 G16 G143 H112 J5 J14 J40 J86 J91 J95 J97 J99 J109 J140 K22 K25 M12 M44 M102 M112 N55 N61 N64 P16 P17 P18 P23 P24 P26 P28 P29 Q3 Q4 Q42 Q67 Q68 Q74 Q106 Q134 Q159 Q160 Q161 Q164 Q165 Q166 Q169 Q170 Q171 R11 R28 R80 R180 R186 R225 R226 R240 R259 R274 R275 S55 S56 S60 S131 S132 S137 S186 S209 S299 S303 S405 S406 T86 T99 T109 X37 X46 X75 X144 X151 X177 Y32 Y50 Y64 Y108 Y154 Y158 Y161 Y179 Y216 Y246 Y247 Y289 Y347 Y362 Y377 Y393 Y396 Y406 Y406 Y409 Y459 Z12 Z64 Z96 Z154 Z155 Z156 Z181 Z196
WEAPONS D86
WEATHER C198 F42 M53 Q207 R137 S13 T16 T74 T79 W92 Z42
weather proverb M53 Z42
wéi'ào S6
Wěi Cè Yì J237
wéifēi-zuòdǎi C9
Wèi Líng Gōng G77 J189 X64 Y314
wèi méng Y479
wéirén S151 X20
Wèi Shì Jiā J81
Wèi Shū J204 R65 R266 S69 Y253 Z66
Wèi Xián Zhuàn Y347
Wéi Zhèng R38 X186
Wěi Zìyóu Shū X110
WELCOME Q146
Wén Gōng 17 Nián L167
Wén Zhǐ C161
wěnzhòng Z192
Western Han C175
White-Haired Girl F55 H178
WHOLESALE C174
WICKEDNESS H206
WIDOWS E39 G107 N44 P7 X4 Y188 Z120
WILL H20 J38 R40 R184 R211 R213 S261 S275 S401 T65 X137 X152 X156 Y236 Y420 Y421 Y422 Y431 Y432 Y433 Y435 Z142
WILLFULNESS H20 S275
WINDOWS F18
WINDOW SHOPPING B43 D166 X40
WINDS Y368
WINE H54 H55 H252 J197 J224
WINNERS S160
WINNING S390 S423
WINTER C46 D171 D172 D175 D185 L63
WISDOM B142 D215 E2 F3 H31 H85 J152 K15 L86 L134 N40 N98 Q180 R183 R222 R237 R278 S203 S355 T50 X46 X124 Y221 Y228 Y287 Y430 Y434 Z55 Z79 Z92 Z111 Z129 Z131
WISHFUL THINKING L6
WITNESS J55 S120 S419
WIVES B70 C151 D65 G186 J4 J13 J60 J81 K53 L80 N8 N100 N109 P7 P27 Q97 Q106 Q115 Q185 Q203 T40 W6 W26 Y71 Y255 Y327 Y380 Z44
WM (Water Margin) B70 B114 C102 C179 C214 D6 D64 D223 F31 F38 F79 G8 G45 G70 H74 H111 H154 H173 H232 J108 J195 J208 J214 J238 L65 L94 L95 L107 L108 M5 M58 M68 M114 N5 N65 P21 P44 Q15 Q97 R62 R100 R112 R129 S58 S140 S156 S288 S312 S340 T13 T28 T77 T85 T110 W40 W62 W81 X131 Y37 Y233 Y298 Y429 Y444 Y451 Z33 Z40 Z157 Z179
wok B192 G193
WOMEN B183 C148 C179 F71 G107 H63 H64 H127 H141 H191 K27 L6 M28 M130 N8 N15 N19 N20 N22 N23 N109 N110 N111 P7 Q38 S12 S27 S190 S272 T88 X33 X73 Y139 Y188 Y202 Y215 Y433 Z35 Z120 Z145 Z163 Z184
WORDS B69 C6 G191 G194 H48 H134 H176 H251 J59 J206 J272 K11 K55 K56 L72 L91 L99 L121 M16 M62 M63 M100 Q196 R251 S22 S77 S180 S200 S228 S243 S265 S273 S283 S377 S379 S381 S386 T70 T71 T90 W18 W36 X24 X179 Y5 Y8 Y28 Y87 Y313 Y315 Y316 Y322
WORK B26 B124 C35 C54 C207 G32 G135 G173 H45 M26 M27 N1 N35 R49 R50 R73 R161 R249 S17 S128 S320 S372 S376 W8 X191 Y4 Y210 Y211 Y252 Y254 Y319 Y408 Z6 Z17 Z101 Z122 Z128 Z130
WORKING B134 B194 B202 D11 J86 J90 J95 J109 K2 K9 K18 L29 L40 L48 L57 L58 L140 L158 M116 N3 N20 N82 P44 Q50 Q85 Q91 Q136 Q176 Q198 R51 R53 R56 R134 R189 R257 R267 S3 S4 S41 S50 S110 S231 S299 S303 T141 X59 X110 X120 X135 Y32 Y270 Y369 Z10 Z196
WORKMANSHIP C8
WORK STYLE X110 Y142 Y150
WORLD X170
wormwood C235
WORRIES B172 D195 E17 J116 J193 J227 M122 N24 N55 P17 P37 Q171 R42 R97 R103 R104 R248 S5 S206 T45 T46 T47 T57 W47 W88 W98 X53 X97 X114 Y7 Y59 Y68 Y182 Y192 Y217 Y350 Y380 Z72
WORTH T12
WORTHLESS G92
WRITING G134 H57 H178 Q54 R116 S393 W43 X138 Y306
WRONG S160 Y387 Y389 Y451
Wú Cháng Q205
Wǔ Dài Shǐ Yányì H43
Wǔ Dèng Huì Yuán Y231
Wu dialect J66 N36
Wǔ Dù C44
wúdúbùzhàngfu H111 W53
wù fǔ shēng chóng W48
wǔgēng H173 S17 W59 Y49 Y318
wúgōng-shòulù W61 W62
wùjìnqíyòng W96 W96
wúkě-nàihé D1
wúmǐzhīchuī Q91
wùshāng-qílèi T135 W83
wǔshí S171
Wǔ Shū S193
Wǔ Sōng A23 B45 B98 B153 C22 C34 C95 C143 C156 D14 D15 D49 D71 D122 D166 D198 F84 G128 G130 H13 H31 H75 H248 J50 J55 J63 J201 J202 J275 K24 L51 L111 L136 L160 M14 M29 M68 M88 N8 N75 Q88 Q103 Q124 Q167 Q168 Q176 R166 R168 R172 R218 R279 S72 S149 S155 S172 S214 S367 T46 T77 W6 W99 Y75 Y170 Y341 Y394 Y415 Y446 Y450 Z67 Z84 Z91 Z110 Z184
Wǔ Sōng Yǎnyì D208
Wú Tí X155
Wǔ Wáng Fá Zhòu J26
Wǔ Wén Shì Wáng S69
Wuxi J32
wǔ xiāng B140
wǔ xià xiǎoshuō S59
Wú Xià Yàn Lián N36 N44
wùxing Q20
wùyǐlèijù W93
Wú Zǐxū Lièzhuàn R44 【L1】X X

xiàfán S173
xiàn S421
xiāndān X9
xiāngchù F20
Xiāng Dǎng Piàn S198
Xiāng Gōng 23 Nián H226
Xiāng Gōng 31 Nián R210
xiāngqù-shènyuǎn R242
Xiang Yu Q180
xiàngyú Y242
Xiàng Yú Běn Jì Y22
Xián Nán Y227
xiánwàizhīyīn L159 T90
Xiǎn Xué B98 B99 C222
Xiányang Chéng Dōng Lóu S99
Xiǎo Bì C74
xiǎode S35
Xiǎo Èr Yǔ Y340
xiǎonián C46
xiǎoqì X84
xiǎoqián X83
xiǎorén-dézhì X86 X87
Xiāo Yāo Yóu H190
xiàshāo H79
xià shòu R277
Xì Cí R237
xiehouyu B54 B66 D133 F31 H22 H146 J165 L29 L82 M131 S183 S322 W39 Z138
xǐ'ér-gōngtīng X180
Xǐ Gōng 14 Nián P32
Xī Gōng 33 Nián D156 Y264
xìhuó M27
xīnfùshì Y87
xīnghuǒ-liáoyuán X132
xínglǐ J41
Xīng Qíjí B24
Xǐngshì Héngyán B29 B75 B76 B136 B149 B157 B175 B181 B200 C75 C184 C218 C228 C229 D101 D121 D128 D137 D146 E24 F25 F50 F56 F57 F60 F67 G137 G138 G149 H20 H81 H110 H191 H211 H236 H247 J24 J37 J107 J181 J186 J219 J220 J240 J253 K21 K40 L60 L114 L129 M43 M115 N41 N77 N100 P40 Q4 Q35 Q58 Q194 R21 R78 R98 R103 R119 R148 R190 R205 R208 R281 S179 S184 S235 S276 S282 S311 S315 S345 S346 S411 T46 T48 T53 T85 T100 T102 T123 W57 W66 W74 W93 Y32 Y33 Y73 Y87 Y215 Y218 Y236 Y281 Y405 Y428 Y439 Z72 Z87 Z136 Z155
Xǐngshì Yīnyuán Zhuàn C19 C61 C128 C202 C218 D21 D84 D106 D111 D139 E19 F69 G31 G123 G185 H86 H89 J84 J259 J280 L160 M64 M70 M129 N38 N90 Q43 Q134 Q135 S116 S152 S210 T4 T25 W31 X24 X148 Y23 Y61 Y181 Y228 Y348 Y358 Z6
xíngxíng-sèsè R146
Xíngzài R275
xīnjì S276
xīnkuān tǐ pàng H16 X144
Xīn Táng Shū J248
xīn yīnyáng Y217
xīnzhí-kǒukuài X161
xǐquè Q207
Xíshì S81
xìshuǐ-chángliú H189 X169
Xītiān B37 B124 C115 C183
xiùcai X170
Xiùcai Qū Guài H163
xiùcáirénqíng X173
Xiū Shēn L85
xiūxíng G66 G75 S218
Xīxiāng Jì D129 J31 J129 T71 W33 W53 X72 X173 Y275
Xīyáng Jì B205 C65 C173 J274 N98 R46 W36 X104 Y120 Y385
Xīyóu Jì (Journey to the West) See JW
Xuan Hanqing G148
Xuan Lan H1
Xuán Shī Shǐ Fàn D96
xuányá-lèmǎ M19
Xué Ér G205
Xué Jì G133 Y456 Z39
xuètǒnglùn F49 L145
Xuéxi Hé Shíjú X160
xuězhōng-sòngtàn J162 X202 Z108
Xu Hun S99 S227
Xù Niè Hǎi Huā J243
Xúnzǐ L85 L110 L134 Q6 Q121 W48
Xū Shí Piān B100
xūwén Z90
Xù Xiǎo Ér Yǔ Y108
xǔyuàn N80
XYJ (Xīyóu Jì, Journey to the West) See JW 【L1】Y Y

yá bǎn M16
yá kǒu M16
yámen B55 D52 G66 G150 T82 Y2 Y375
Yàn Cè Èr Y455
yǎngāi D50
Yáng Huò S58
yānghǔ-yíhuàn Y22
Yang Jinxian R195
Yang Shen X114
Yǎng Shēng Zhǔ S159
yángtāng-zhǐfèi Y27
Yangtse River R130 S148
Yáng Xióng Zhuàn Y50
yǎnjiànshìshí Y33
yánmiàn S405
Yán Shì Jiā Xùn C100 J60 J109
Yánwang R178 X69 X70 Y46
yánwangzhài X69
yānxiāo-yúnsàn R220 R220
Yán Yuān J260 J261 S411
Yàn Zhì Lièzhuàn J51
Yànzǐ Chūnqiū D228 Y196
yáochǎn-wànguàn J99
yáoqiánshù Q148
YEARNING Y440
yècháng-mèngduō R250 Y91
yèluò-guīgēn S326 S326
yīchuí-dìngyīn Q10
yīcóng Y320
yǐdú-gōngdú D192
YIELDING H20 H184 R2 R3 R4 R244 R264 T129 Y67 Z135
Yìjīng L65 P14 Q172 R237
yījǔ-chéngmíng S248
yīliǎo-bǎiliǎo Y182
Yì Lín Fá Shān X114
Yīn Chū T126
Yīng Lièzhuàn B104 Y239
Yǐn Gōng 11 Niàn D123
yīniànzhīchā Y209
yínshī S324
yǐnshuǐ-sīyuán Y214
yīnuò-qiānjīn X203
yǐnxiàn W99
yīnyáng Y217
yīnyáng-guàiqì B163
yīnyuán Q48 Y218 Y219 Y220
yīqiào-bùtōng D198
yīshǒu-zhētiān Y286
yītōng-bǎitōng Y225
Yì Wén Zhì Y356
yìwúzhǐjìng Y302
yíxīn Y310
yīyán-wéidìng Y316
yīzhīhuā N23
yōngrén-zìrǎo T55 T55
yōngsú R170 S437
Yōng Yě J283 J284 Z113
yǒubèi-wúhuàn Y355
yǒuguǐ W44
yōuhuì J267
Yòu Mèng Yǐng C208
Yǒu Shǐ Lán J145
yǒushuō-yǒuxiào Y419
YOUTH E27 H88 H182 L38 L40 L52 L59 L60 N24 Q71 Q120 S104 S112 S115 S190 S317 X60 X78 X79 X80 X82 X90 X97 X119 X145 Y201 Y419 Y458 Z178
yǒuxīnrén T65
yóuzuǐ X35
Yuan Cai D96
Yuan Chun Y216
Yuán Dào Xùn B131 S98
Yuan dynasty G148 J272 K39 W8
yuánfèn G52 J239 Y218 Y429
yuānjia B183 H138 Y440
yuānjiā-lùzhǎi Y438
yuán lǐ fāng Y383
yuánmǎn S237
yuánmèng Z165
yuánmù-qiúyú S79
Yuán Shǐ Y188
yuānwang Z135
Yuan Zhen C23
Yù Dà J145
Yuè H211
Yuè Fēi Zhuàn B34 B41 B77 B91 D86 E31 E33 G20 G197 H13 H35 H36 H82 H214 J112 J268 L12 M71 Q29 R51 R163 R164 R176 R230 R246 S164 W82 Y148 Y469
yuèfǔ H211 J265 S115
Yuè Yàn Z137
Yuē Yáng Lóu Jì X53
Yuè Yì Lièzhuàn J270
Yú Guāng Qǔ T41
yǔhòusòngsǎn X193
Yù Lǎo X76
yǔrén-fāngbiàn J164 Y472
yùshǐ dàfū R144
Yù Shì Míng Yán J34 J249 P27
yùsuì N68
Yu Wenbao J165 【L1】Z Z

Zàishēng Yuán B202 C227 N68 Q84 Q198 R16 R207 S290 Y420
zàixià W75
zāixīng R160
zǎnqián Z12
zànqiě H233
zào R236
zāokāngzhīqī P27
zàolì Y375
Zá Shī Y261
Zá Yì C100
Zen J120
Zhái Hào C235
zhǎncǎo-chúgēn Z33
zhàng D82 S326 T3
Zhāng Chǎo C208
Zhang Dan Y412
Zhāng Hàn G188
Zhāng Sān Lǐ Sì Z38
Zhànguó Cè C50 J49 J70 J237 J270 Q73 S30 X120 Y455
Zhāng Yú Zhǔ Hǎi Y412
Zhang Zhifu R275
Zhào Cè Yī Q73
Zhào Chōng Guó Zhuàn B25 D214
Zhào Fàn Zhuàn H202
Zhāo Gōng 13 Nián Z127
Zhāo Gōng 3 Nián F3
zhāoshù D162 R5
Zhào Zǐ Yuè P38
Zhejiang province S180 S429
Zhèng Hóng Qí Xià G65 G179
zhèng míng M100
zhēngzuǐ J280
zhēnnǚ Z120
zhēnrén Z59
Zhen Zhong S405 S406
Zhī Běi Yóu R155
Zhì Cǎo Jù Rén Y195
zhīchēng W90
zhǐchǐ-tiānyá R99
Zhì Jiā Géyán Y344
zhījǐ-zhībǐ Z81
zhī lǐ G109 Z84
zhìqì Y431 Y435
Zhī Zhōng J185
zhīzú-chánglè R266 Z118
Zhōngguó Xiǎoshuō Jí M36
Zhōngguó Xiǎoshuō Shǐ Lüè E39
zhòngkǒu-nántiáo Y20 Z124
zhòngkǒu-shuòjīn Z125
zhòngmù zhāozhāng Z132
zhòngnù-nánfàn Z126
zhòngqíng-yìjǔ Z128
zhōngyán nì'ěr L92 Z138
Zhōng Yǒng R219
zhòngyútàishān R71
zhòngzhì-chéngchéng Z142
Zhōu Enlai Y213
zhōujì J283
zhōumì B12
Zhōu Sòng C74
Zhou Wang Q38
Zhōu Yì J184 Q172
Zhōu Yǔ, Shàng F14
Zhōu Yǔ, Xià C231 Z142
Zhōu Yǔ, Zhōng X162
zhù K39
Zhuāng Gōng 22 Nián W77
Zhuàng Liú B81
zhuāng shòu R277
zhuàngyuan S4
Zhuāngzǐ A9 G6 H190 J149 J281 R155 R253 S159 W37 X2 X89
Zhuǎn Yùn Hàn M112
Zhu Bolu Y344
Zhuge Liang A13 R150 S410 S423
zhǔgù J89
zhúlù-zhōngyuán Z139
zhūmén Z154 Z155
zhùrén-wéilè Y472
Zhu Xi Y345
Zhǔ Xù Xùn D74
Zhū Zǐ Jiā Xùn Y345
Zhu Ziqing J26
zìjiā Z164
Zì Jīng Fù Féngxiān Z154
Zǐ Lù M100 R61 Y5
zìmí R245
zìmíng S296
Zì Qiān J177
Zǐyè D82 H31 H171 H213 S31 S374 Y439
Zìyóu Shū Y206
zìzuò-zìshòu M131
zònghǔguīshān F11
zǒu juélù H136
zǒushòu N29 N48
Zuìwēng Tíng Jì Z180
zuòbùchuítáng J14
zuòchī-shānkōng Z181
zuò'è T78
zuò jiāngshān T89
zuǒjiǔ Z189
zuò mǎimai P44
zuòniè T78
zuònòng S270
Zuǒ Zhuàn B94 D123 D156 F3 H226 L167 P32 Q125 R210 W77 Y264 Z127
zūshuì J139