Chinese proverbs (谚语)

Proverbs that state a piece of folk wisdom, like 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒 (three feet of ice does not come from one cold day).

挨金似金，挨玉似玉 āi jīn sì jīn, āi yù sì yù

Stay near gold and you become like gold; stay near jade and you become like jade

Being close to excellent people brings you good influence. Approving; close to 'you are known by the company you keep'.
挨着大树能乘凉 āi zhe dà shù néng chéng liáng

Stay next to a big tree and you can enjoy the shade

Having a powerful or well-off person to rely on brings you benefits. Slightly knowing, sometimes mildly critical of leaning on others.
矮檐之下出头难 ǎi yán zhī xià chūtóu nán

Under a low eave it is hard to lift your head

When you are under someone's control, it is hard to get ahead or show your talent. Close to 'hard to stand tall under another's roof'.
矮子群里拔不出将军 ǎizi qún lǐ bá bù chū jiāngjūn

You can't pull a general out of a crowd of short men

A group of poor quality won't produce outstanding talent. Critical.
爱叫的麻雀不长肉，咬人的狗不露齿 ài jiào de máquè bù zhǎng ròu, yǎo rén de gǒu bù lòu chǐ

The sparrow that chirps a lot grows no flesh; the dog that bites doesn't bare its teeth

Those who make a loud show are not dangerous, while truly vicious people hide it. Cautionary; like 'barking dogs seldom bite'.
爱在心里，狠在脸上 ài zài xīn li, hěn zài liǎn shang

Love in the heart, harshness on the face

Traditionally of loving a younger person deeply but showing only strictness when disciplining them.
碍了脸皮，饿了肚皮 àile liǎnpí, èle dùpí

Mind your face-skin and you starve your belly-skin

If you are too embarrassed to speak up or hold your ground, you will suffer a real loss. Practical advice.
安不忘危，治不忘乱 ān bù wàng wēi, zhì bù wàng luàn

In safety don't forget danger; in order don't forget chaos

Even in peaceful times, stay alert to hidden risks. Approving, advisory; like 'prepare for a rainy day'.
安危相易，祸福相生 ān wēi xiāng yì, huò fú xiāng shēng

Safety and danger change into each other; misfortune and fortune give rise to each other

Safety and danger, good luck and bad, can turn into one another under certain conditions.
按牛头吃不得草 àn niútóu chībude cǎo

You can't make an ox eat grass by pressing its head down

Forcing people to do what they don't want never works. See 强按牛头不喝水.
熬过冬就是夏 áoguo dōng jiù shì xià

Get through the winter and summer comes

If you endure the current hard times, success will come. Encouraging; like 'every cloud has a silver lining'.
八个人也抬不走一个理字 bā gè rén yě tái bù zǒu yī gè lǐ zì

even eight men can't carry off the single word 'reason'

If you are in the right, you can stand firm however many people oppose you. It also urges people to be reasonable.
拔出脓来，才是好膏药 báchū nóng lái, cái shì hǎo gāoyao

only a plaster that draws out the pus is a good plaster

A method is good only if it solves the key problem. A practical, approving saying.
拔了毛的凤凰不如鸡 bále máo de fēnghuáng bùrú jī

a plucked phoenix is worse than a chicken

A powerful person who loses power ends up worse off than ordinary people. Often said with schadenfreude or sympathy.
白酒红人面，黄金黑世心 báijiǔ hóng rén miàn, huángjīn hēi shì xīn

white liquor reddens the face, yellow gold blackens the heart

Greed for drink, pleasure and money corrupts people. A warning.
白日不做亏心事，半夜敲门不吃惊 báirì bù zuò kuīxīn shì, bànyè qiāo mén bù chījīng

do no guilty deed by day, and a knock at midnight won't startle you

If you act with a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear.
白日莫闲过，青春不再来 báirì mò xián guò, qīngchūn bù zài lái

don't idle the daylight away; youth won't come again

Urges people to treasure their time and youth rather than waste them.
百病从脚起 bǎi bìng cóng jiǎo qǐ

a hundred illnesses start from the feet

Folk health advice: many illnesses begin when the feet catch cold, so keep your feet warm and cared for.
百尺高楼从地起 bǎi chǐ gāo lóu cóng dì qǐ

a hundred-foot tall building rises from the ground

Any great undertaking must be built step by step on a solid foundation. Similar to 'Rome wasn't built in a day'.
百里不同风，千里不同俗 bǎi lǐ bù tóng fēng, qiān lǐ bù tóng sú

a hundred miles apart the customs differ; a thousand miles apart the habits differ

Different places have different local customs and ways of life. Said to urge tolerance of local differences.
百炼方能成钢 bǎi liàn fāng néng chéng gāng

only after a hundred forgings can iron become steel

People become capable only after repeated hardship and training. Encouraging.
百密总有一疏 bǎi mì zǒng yǒu yī shū

among a hundred careful points there is always one oversight

However carefully you plan, something will be missed. Said as a caution or an excuse; compare 'even the best-laid plans go wrong'.
百人百性，百人百样 bǎi rén bǎi xìng, bǎi rén bǎi yàng

a hundred people, a hundred natures; a hundred people, a hundred ways

Everyone has a different character and way of doing things. Compare 'different strokes for different folks'.
百岁光阴如过客 bǎi suì guāngyīn rú guòkè

a hundred years of life are like a passing traveller

Life is short and passes quickly, like a traveller going by. Reflective, a reminder to value time.
百万豪家一焰穷 bǎi wàn háojiā yī yàn qióng

a millionaire's household is made poor by a single flame

Even the richest family can be ruined by one fire; a warning to be careful about fire and not to rely on wealth.
百万买宅，千万买邻 bǎi wàn mǎi zhái, qiān wàn mǎi lín

a million to buy a house, ten million to buy neighbours

Good neighbours matter more than a fine house if you want a peaceful life.
百闻不如一见 bǎi wén bùrú yī jiàn

hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once

Seeing something yourself beats hearing about it. Equivalent to 'seeing is believing'.
百样生意百样做 bǎi yàng shēngyi bǎi yàng zuò

a hundred kinds of business are done a hundred ways

Each line of business has its own methods, so work from the actual situation instead of forcing one way on everything.
百艺百穷，九十九艺空 bǎi yì bǎi qióng, jiǔshíjiǔ yì kōng

a hundred skills, a hundred dead ends; ninety-nine skills, all empty

Trying to master every skill leads to mastering none; it is best to focus on one. Compare 'jack of all trades, master of none'.
百战百胜，不如不战 bǎizhàn bǎishèng, bùrú bù zhàn

a hundred battles and a hundred wins is not as good as no battle

Avoiding war is better than winning every one, or the best victory is one won without fighting. Often cited from military thinking.
败兵之将，不敢言勇 bàibīng zhī jiàng，bù gǎn yán yǒng

a general of a beaten army doesn't dare speak of courage

One who has failed has no face to boast; also, someone who has met setbacks loses the nerve to aim high.
败家容易兴家难 bàijiā róngyì xīngjiā nán

ruining a household is easy; building one up is hard

Wasting family wealth is easy, but building it back is hard. A caution against squandering.
败子回头金不换 bàizǐ huítóu jīn bù huàn

a prodigal son turning back is worth more than gold

When a wastrel mends his ways, it is very precious. Encouraging; compare 'the prodigal son's return'.
拜师如投胎 bàishī rú tóutāi

taking a master is like being reborn

A teacher or master is like a second parent, so choose well and respect him.
半大小子，吃死老子 bàn dà xiǎozi，chīsǐ lǎozi

a half-grown boy can eat his father to death

Teenage boys have huge appetites, eating more than adults and costing their parents a lot. Humorous and exaggerated.
伴君如伴虎 bàn jūn rú bàn hǔ

attending a ruler is like keeping company with a tiger

Working close to a powerful, capricious person is dangerous, since you may be punished at any moment. Now used of any tyrannical boss.
帮人帮到底，救人救个活 bāng rén bāng dàodǐ，jiù rén jiù ge huó

help a person to the end; save a person so they live

If you help someone, see it through. Don't leave off halfway. Approving advice.
帮艺不帮钱 bāng yì bù bāng qián

help with a skill, not with money

Teaching someone a skill helps more than handing out money. English: 'teach a man to fish'.
膀对膀，心对心 bǎng duì bǎng，xīn duì xīn

shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart

People are united in thought and effort, working together. Approving.
棒头出孝子，箸头出忤逆 bàngtóu chū xiàozǐ，zhùtóu chū wǔnì

the stick produces dutiful sons; chopsticks produce rebels

The old belief that strict discipline raises obedient children while pampering raises unfilial ones. It reflects the traditional view of child-rearing.
包子有肉不在褶上 bāozi yǒu ròu bù zài zhě shang

if a bun has meat, it isn't shown in the pleats

Real ability or wealth doesn't show on the surface. Don't judge by appearances.
饱汉不知饿汉饥 bǎohàn bù zhī èhàn jī

the well-fed man doesn't know the hungry man's hunger

The comfortable don't understand the suffering of the poor. English: 'one half of the world does not know how the other half lives'.
饱暖思淫欲，饥寒起盗心 bǎo nuǎn sī yínyù，jīhán qǐ dàoxīn

when fed and warm, one thinks of lust; when hungry and cold, one conceives thoughts of theft

People can go wrong in good times and in bad. Comfort breeds lust and hardship breeds theft, so one should guard against improper desires either way. A moralising warning.
饱食伤身，忠言逆耳 bǎoshí shāngshēn，zhōngyánnì'ěr

overeating harms the body; honest advice grates on the ear

Too much of a good thing hurts, and true advice is often unpleasant to hear.
宝剑赠予烈士 bǎojiàn zèng yǔ lièshì

give a precious sword to a hero

Give treasures to someone who will truly value and use them. English: 'pearls before swine' is the reverse.
背人没好事，好事不背人 bèi rén méi hǎoshì，hǎoshì bù bèirén

what is done behind people's backs is nothing good; a good deed is not hidden from people

If someone hides what they are doing, it is probably wrong, since honest things need no concealment. Used as a warning or accusation.
本钱易寻，伙计难讨 běnqián yì xún，huǒji nán tǎo

capital is easy to find; a shop assistant is hard to get

In old-style business, raising money is easier than finding a reliable helper. Used to stress that trustworthy people are hard to find.
本事不是吹的 běnshi bù shì chuī de

skill is not something you get by blowing

Real ability comes from hard work, not boasting. Used to rebuke bragging. Close to 'actions speak louder than words'.
笨人先起身，笨鸟早出林 bènrén xiān qǐshēn，bènniǎo zǎo chū lín

the slow person gets up first; the clumsy bird leaves the woods early

Those less able should start early to make up for it; diligence offsets weakness. Also advises acting early to keep the initiative. Compare 'the early bird catches the worm'.
笨人有笨福 bènrén yǒu bèn fú

slow people have slow luck

Simple, honest people who don't scheme often end up lucky. Consoling or mildly teasing.
避色如避仇，避风如避箭 bì sè rú bì chóu，bì fēng rú bì jiàn

avoid lust as you avoid an enemy, avoid wind as you avoid an arrow

Old health advice: stay away from sexual indulgence and from 'wind' (cold and draughts) that were thought to cause illness.

May offend: sexist or sexual
扁担是条龙，一生吃不穷 biǎndan shì tiáo lóng，yīshēng chī bù qióng

the carrying pole is a dragon: you'll never go hungry

Old saying that a poor person can always make a living by honest labour. Approving of hard work.
遍地是黄金，缺少有心人 biàn dì shì huángjīn，quēshǎo yǒuxīnrén

gold is everywhere; what's lacking is people who pay attention

Opportunities are all around, but only the observant spot and seize them. Encouraging.
表壮不如里壮 biǎo zhuàng bùrú lǐ zhuàng

a strong outside is not as good as a strong inside

For a household, a capable husband is good but a capable wife is better. It reflects traditional gender roles.

May offend: sexist or sexual
冰冻三尺，非一日之寒 bīng dòng sānchǐ，fēi yīrì zhī hán

ice three feet thick does not come from one day's cold

Big results or problems build up over a long time. Used to explain deep-rooted situations. Like 'Rome wasn't built in a day'.
冰炭不同炉 bīng tàn bù tóng lú

ice and charcoal do not share a stove

Opposites such as good and evil cannot coexist. Refers to the saying about good and evil taking different paths.
兵败如山倒，胜者似潮来 bīng bài rú shān dǎo，shèngzhě sì cháo lái

a defeated army collapses like a mountain; the victors come like a tide

Once an army starts to lose, collapse is unstoppable; once winning, it is irresistible. Momentum is decisive.
兵不厌诈，将贵知机 bīngbùyànzhà，jiàngguìzhījī

in war deception is never too much; a general values knowing the moment

In war use stratagems to mislead the enemy and seize the right opportunity.
兵贵奇不贵众 bīng guì qí bù guì zhòng

in war prize the unexpected, not numbers

Victory comes from surprising tactics, not sheer numbers.
兵贵神速 bīngguìshénsù

in war, speed is prized

Speed is vital in war; more generally, act quickly. Approving.
兵可百年不用，不可一日不备 bīngkě bǎi nián bù yòng，bùkě yī rì bù bèi

an army may go a hundred years unused but not a day unready

Be always prepared, even in peacetime. Often said of defence.
兵来将挡，水来土堰 bīng lái jiàng dǎng，shuǐ lái tǔ yàn

when soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth banks hold it

Meet each problem with an appropriate response as it arises. Like 'we'll cross that bridge when we come to it'.
兵马未动，粮草先行 bīngmǎ wèi dòng，liángcǎo xiān xíng

before troops and horses move, grain and fodder go ahead

Prepare supplies and groundwork before starting any undertaking.
兵㞞㞞一个，将㞞㞞一窝 bīng sóng sóng yī gè，jiàng sóng sóng yī wō

a cowardly soldier is one coward; a cowardly general is a whole nest of cowards

A weak leader ruins the whole group, while one weak member matters little. Leadership is decisive.
兵听将令草随风 bīng tīng jiànglìng cǎo suí fēng

soldiers obey the general's order as grass follows the wind

Soldiers must obey orders absolutely.
兵无常势，水无常形 bīng wú cháng shì，shuǐ wú cháng xíng

war has no fixed formation, as water has no fixed shape

Tactics must be flexible and adapt to conditions.
兵无将而不动，蛇无头而不行 bīng wú jiàng ér bù dòng，shé wú tóu ér bù xíng

troops without a general don't move; a snake without a head can't crawl

A group cannot function without a leader. Like 'a ship without a captain'.
兵无强弱，将有巧拙 bīng wú qiáng ruò，jiàng yǒu qiǎo zhuō

soldiers are not strong or weak, but generals are skilled or clumsy

An army's strength depends on its commander's skill.
兵在精而不在多，将在谋而不在勇 bīng zài jīng ér bù zài duō，jiàng zài móu ér bù zài yǒng

soldiers should be elite not numerous; generals should have strategy not just courage

Quality and planning matter more than numbers and bravery.
病从口入，祸从口出 bìng cóng kǒu rù, huò cóng kǒu chū

illness enters by the mouth; trouble comes out of the mouth

Illness comes from what you eat and trouble from what you say, so watch both. Like 'least said, soonest mended'.
病来如山倒，病去若抽丝 bìng lái rú shān dǎo, bìng qù ruò chōu sī

illness arrives like a mountain falling; leaves like silk being drawn out

Sickness strikes suddenly but recovery is slow, so be patient with treatment.
病人心事多 bìngrén xīnshì duō

a sick person has many things on the mind

People who are ill tend to worry a lot. Said sympathetically, as a reminder to be patient and reassuring with the sick.
病有四百四病，药有八百八方 bìng yǒu sìbǎi sì bìng, yào yǒu bābǎi bā fāng

illness has four hundred and four kinds, medicine has eight hundred and eight remedies

However many kinds of illness there are, there are even more cures. Used figuratively to say that for every problem there are more ways to solve it. Encouraging.
不挨骂长不大 bù áimà zhǎng bù dà

without being scolded, one doesn't grow up

Everyone makes mistakes; accepting fair criticism and correcting yourself is how you mature. Said to encourage someone who has been told off.
不比不知道，一比吓一跳 bù bǐ bù zhīdào, yī bǐ xià yī tiào

without comparing you don't know; once you compare, you get a fright

Only by comparing do you see how big the difference is, often a surprising one. Said when a comparison shows a startling gap.
不尝苦中苦，不知甜中甜 bù cháng kǔ zhōng kǔ, bù zhī tián zhōng tián

without tasting the bitterest bitter, you won't know the sweetest sweet

Without going through hardship you cannot appreciate happiness. Encouraging, said to those facing difficulty.
不吃苦中苦，难为人上人 bù chī kǔ zhōng kǔ, nán wéi rén shàng rén

if you don't eat the bitterest of the bitter, it is hard to become a person above others

To rise above the rest you must be willing to endure great hardship. Said to urge effort and perseverance. Compare "no pain, no gain."
不痴不聋，不做姑翁 bù chī bù lóng, bù zuò gū wēng

if you're not a bit simple and a bit deaf, you can't be a mother-in-law or father-in-law

Parents-in-law should turn a blind eye and be tolerant of a daughter-in-law rather than pick at her faults. More broadly, advice to elders to be forgiving.
不除病邪，不能治本；不经风雨，不能强身 bù chú bìngxié, bù néng zhìběn;bù jīng fēngyǔ, bù néng qiángshēn

without removing the disease, you can't cure the root; without going through wind and rain, you can't strengthen the body

Remove the root cause of trouble and toughen yourself up through exercise and experience; this is the lasting way. Advice-giving.
不打不相识 bù dǎ bù xiāngshí

without fighting, you don't get to know each other

People often become friends after a clash or contest, because it lets them understand each other. Said of former rivals who get on well. Compare "fight and be friends."
不当家不知柴米贵，不养儿不知父母恩 bù dāngjiā bù zhī cháimǐ guì, bù yǎng ér bù zhī fùmǔ ēn

if you don't run a household you don't know how dear firewood and rice are; if you don't raise a child you don't know your parents' kindness

You only appreciate hardships and sacrifices when you experience them yourself. Said to someone who has not yet had that experience, or by one who now has.
不到黄河心不死 bù dào huánghé xīn bù sǐ

until you reach the Yellow River, your heart won't die

Someone who won't give up until they have run out of options or hit a dead end. Often mildly critical of stubbornness. Compare "never say die."
不到火候不揭锅 bù dào huǒhou bù jiēguō

don't lift the lid until the heat is right

Don't act before the time is ripe. Compare "a watched pot never boils" in spirit: be patient and wait for the right moment.
不到西天，不知佛大小 bù dào xītiān, bù zhī fó dàxiǎo

until you reach the Western Heaven, you don't know how big the Buddha is

Without personal experience your understanding stays shallow. Compare "seeing is believing."
不管白猫黑猫，抓住老鼠就是好猫 bùguǎn báimāo hēimāo, zhuāzhù lǎoshǔ jiù shì hǎo māo

whether a cat is white or black, one that catches mice is a good cat

Judge people or methods by results, not by labels or ways. Pragmatic; strongly associated with Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms.
不患人不知，单怕不知人 bù huàn rén bù zhī, dān pà bù zhī rén

don't worry that others don't know you; only fear that you don't know others

Don't fret about being unrecognised; take care to understand other people. Advice on judging people well.
不会看的看热闹，会看的看门道 bù huì kàn de kàn rènao, huì kàn de kàn méndao

those who can't look watch the excitement; those who can look watch the tricks of the trade

Amateurs watch the spectacle while experts see the underlying skill and technique. Said when an expert notices what laypeople miss.
不会做饭的看锅，会做饭的看火 bù huì zuò fàn de kàn guō, huì zuò fàn de kàn huǒ

those who can't cook watch the pot; those who can cook watch the fire

A skilled person attends to the key factor, such as timing or heat, while a novice looks at surface things. Said about handling matters wisely.
不见高山，不现平地 bù jiàn gāo shān, bù xiàn píngdì

without seeing high mountains, the flat ground doesn't show

Only through comparison do the good and the bad become clear.
不见棺材不掉泪 bù jiàn guāncai bù diào lèi

not shedding tears until seeing the coffin

Refusing to admit defeat or accept the truth until things are hopeless. Critical of stubbornness. Compare "won't take no for an answer until it's too late."
不叫的狗才咬人 bù jiào de gǒu cái yǎo rén

the dog that doesn't bark is the one that bites

People who say nothing and seem harmless are the ones who secretly scheme and do the most harm. A warning, similar to "beware the quiet ones."
不经一事，不长一智 bù jīng yī shì, bù zhǎng yī zhì

without going through one matter, you don't gain one bit of wisdom

You only learn through experience, including setbacks. Often said after a mistake. Compare "live and learn."
不看僧面看佛面 bù kàn sēng miàn kàn fó miàn

if not for the monk's face, then look at the Buddha's face

Even if you won't do it for the person themselves, do it out of respect for their relative or patron who stands behind them. Used when pleading for leniency or a favour.
不可一日近小人 bùkě yī rì jìn xiǎorén

don't be close to petty people even for one day

Keep away from mean, base people. A moral warning against bad company.
不满则旺 bù mǎn zé wàng

not being full, then prosper

Those who are not complacent will flourish. Encourages humility.
不磨不难不成人 bù mó bù nàn bù chéngrén

without grinding and hardship, no one becomes a person

Only those who endure suffering and trials become capable people.
不能正己，焉能正人 bù néng zhèng jǐ, yān néng zhèng rén

if you can't set yourself straight, how can you set others straight

You can't correct others if your own conduct is poor. Said critically of hypocrites. Compare "practise what you preach."
不怕不识货，就怕货比货 bù pà bù shíhuò, jiù pà huò bǐ huò

don't fear not knowing goods, only fear goods compared with goods

Even without expertise, putting things side by side shows which is better. Used when comparison reveals quality differences.
不怕不识字，就怕不识人 bù pà bù shízì, jiù pà bù shí rén

no fear of being unable to read, only of being unable to read people

Failing to see people's true nature is worse than illiteracy. A warning to judge character carefully.
不怕单，就怕连 bù pà dān, jiù pà lián

don't fear singles, fear them linked

One thing alone is no threat, but when things join together their power is great. Used of unity, or of linked troubles.

Every kind of Chinese saying