Chinese proverbs (谚语)

脚上的泡自己走的，身上的疮自己惹的 jiǎo shang de pào zìjǐ zǒu de，shēn shang de chuāng zìjǐ rě de

the blisters on your feet you walked yourself; the sores on your body you brought on yourself

Your troubles are mostly your own doing. Critical or reproachful.
叫花子也有三个穷朋友 jiàohuāzi yě yǒu sān gè qióng péngyou

even a beggar has three poor friends

However poor a person is, they have friends.
叫唤的猫不抓老鼠 jiàohuan de māo bù zhuā lǎoshǔ

a yowling cat doesn't catch mice

People who talk big seldom get things done. Compare 'all talk and no action'.
教妇初来，教儿婴孩 jiào fù chū lái，jiào ér yīnghái

teach a wife when she first arrives, teach a son when he is a baby

Old saying: begin training people early, a daughter-in-law as soon as she joins the family and a son from infancy. In general, teach people from the start or from childhood.

May offend: sexist or sexual
教子之法，莫叫离父；教女之法，莫叫离母 jiào zǐ zhī fǎ，mò jiào lí fù；jiào nǚ zhī fǎ，mò jiào lí mǔ

the way to teach a son: don't let him leave his father; the way to teach a daughter: don't let her leave her mother

Old saying that parents' words and example shape their children most. It assumes fathers guide sons and mothers guide daughters.

May offend: sexist or sexual
结果最多的树枝垂得最低 jiéguǒ zuì duō de shùzhī chuí de zuì dī

the branch with the most fruit hangs lowest

The more a person achieves, the more modest they are. Approving; like "the fullest ears of corn bow lowest."
揭底就怕老乡亲 jiēdǐ jiù pà lǎo xiāngqīn

when exposing someone's background, the thing to fear is fellow villagers

People from your home area know all about your past, so they are the ones who can expose you.
节令不到，不知冷暖；人不相处，不知厚薄 jiélìng bù dào，bù zhī lěngnuǎn；rén bù xiāngchǔ，bù zhī hòubó

until the season arrives you don't know cold or warm; until people spend time together you don't know how warm or cool they are

You can't really know a person until you've had dealings with them over time.
节令不等人 jiélìng bù děng rén

the seasons don't wait for people

Seasonal timing follows its own rules, so farmers must not miss the planting time. Like "time and tide wait for no man."
节欲是最好的药品 jié yù shì zuì hǎo de yàopǐn

curbing desire is the best medicine

Keeping your appetites and wants in check is the best way to stay healthy.
节约好比燕衔泥，浪费好比河决堤 jiéyuē hǎobǐ yàn xián ní，làngfèi hǎobǐ hé juédī

saving is like a swallow carrying mud; wasting is like a river breaking its dike

Wealth is built up slowly, bit by bit, but is lost in a rush through waste. Encourages thrift.
结得人缘好，不怕做事难 jiéde rényuán hǎo，bùpà zuòshì nán

if you've built good relations, you needn't fear hard tasks

If you are well liked and have many friends, people will help and things get done.
结冤容易，解冤难 jiéyuān róngyì，jiě yuān nán

making a grudge is easy, undoing it is hard

It is easy to make an enemy and hard to end the hatred. Warns against falling out with people.
解铃还得系铃人 jiělínghái děi xìlíngrén

whoever tied the bell must be the one to untie it

Whoever caused a problem must be the one to solve it. Said when only the person involved can settle the matter.
今日不知明日事 jīnrì bù zhī míngrì shì

today you don't know tomorrow's affairs

No one can predict what will happen in the future.
金窝银窝，不如自家的草窝 jīn wō yín wō，bùrú zìjiā de cǎowō

a golden nest or silver nest is not as good as your own straw nest

No place, however fine, beats your own home. Like "there's no place like home."
金无足赤，人无完人 jīnwúzúchì，rénwúwánrén

no gold is perfectly pure, no person is perfect

Nobody and nothing is flawless, so be tolerant of faults. Often said to excuse someone's shortcomings.
金乡邻，银亲眷 jīn xiānglín，yín qīnjuàn

neighbours are gold, relatives are silver

People living near you matter more than distant relatives, because they are the ones who help.
金银财宝，身外之物 jīn yín cáibǎo，shēn wài zhī wù

gold, silver and treasure are things outside the body

Wealth is not part of who you are; you are born without it and take none when you die. Used to urge detachment from money.
金银难买勤手脚 jīn yín nán mǎi qín shǒujiǎo

gold and silver can't buy diligent hands and feet

Hard work is a precious virtue, worth more than money.
金银压死人 jīn yín yāsǐ rén

gold and silver can crush a person to death

Too much wealth is also a burden.
紧行无好步 jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù

hurried walking has no good steps

Rushing leads to mistakes; doing things too hurriedly causes problems. Like "haste makes waste."
锦上添花易，雪中送炭难 jǐnshàngtiānhuā yì，xuězhōngsòngtàn nán

adding flowers to brocade is easy, sending charcoal in the snow is hard

It is easy to add to someone's good fortune but harder, and worth more, to help in real need. Urges helping people in need.
尽听蝲蝲蛄叫就别种庄稼了 jìn tīng làlàgǔ jiào jiù bié zhòng zhuāngjia le

if you only listen to the mole crickets chirp, don't plant crops

Don't give up doing something just because others complain or gossip. Like "you can't please everyone."
进门看脸色，出门观天色 jìnmén kàn liǎnsè，chūmén guān tiānsè

entering the house, read faces; going out, watch the sky

Advises being alert: read people's moods at home and the weather outside before acting. It also hints at having to be careful around people's moods.
近不过夫妻，亲不过父母 jìn bùguò fūqī，qīn bùguò fùmǔ

none are closer than husband and wife, none dearer than parents

Says that among all relationships, a married couple are the closest and parents love their children most. Approving and sentimental.
近火的先焦 jìn huǒ de xiān jiāo

what is near the fire gets scorched first

Those closest to a disaster suffer first. Used as a warning about being close to danger or trouble. Compare 'if you play with fire, you get burned'.
近朱者赤，近墨者黑 jìnzhūzhěchì，jìnmòzhěhēi

he who is near cinnabar turns red, he who is near ink turns black

You are influenced by the company you keep: good friends make you good, bad ones make you bad. Close to 'birds of a feather' or 'lie down with dogs, get up with fleas'. Often a warning to choose friends carefully.
经霜的甘蔗分外甜 jīng shuāng de gānzhe fènwài tián

sugar cane that has been through frost is especially sweet

Mostly said of couples whose affection grows deeper and whose life is happier after going through hard times together. Approving. Compare 'no pain, no gain'.
经一事，长一智 jīng yī shì，zhǎng yī zhì

go through one matter, grow one measure of wisdom

Each experience teaches you something. Often said after a setback to encourage learning from it. Compare 'live and learn'.
井淘三遍吃甜水，人从三师武艺高 jǐng táo sān biàn chī tián shuǐ，rén cóng sān shī wǔyì gāo

clean a well three times and drink sweet water; learn from three teachers and your skill is high

Persistence pays: clean the well repeatedly and the water is sweet; study under many teachers and you become skilled. Encouraging.
井要淘，儿要教 jǐng yào táo，ér yào jiào

a well must be cleaned out, a child must be taught

Children need regular teaching and guidance to turn out well, just as a well needs to be cleared of silt. Approving advice for parents.
敬人自敬，薄人自薄 jìng rén zì jìng，bó rén zì bó

respect others and you respect yourself; belittle others and you belittle yourself

How you treat others reflects on you, so you should treat people with respect. Approving advice.
镜越磨越亮，泉越汲越清 jìng yuè mó yuè liàng，quán yuè jí yuè qīng

the more a mirror is polished the brighter, the more a spring is drawn the clearer

The more hardship a person goes through, the more mature and capable they become. Encouraging.
久别胜新婚 jiǔbié shèng xīnhūn

a long parting beats a new marriage

A couple reunited after a long separation are even more affectionate than newlyweds. Often said with a smile.
久病成良医 jiǔ bìng chéng liáng yī

a long illness makes a good doctor

Long exposure to something makes you an expert in it; someone who has been ill a long time comes to know medicine well. Approving.
久病乱投医 jiǔ bìng luàn tóuyī

long ill, one consults any doctor at random

People who are desperate try any source of help, however unreliable. Compare 'a drowning man clutches at straws'.
久病无孝子 jiǔ bìng wú xiàozǐ

a long illness has no dutiful son

Even children lose patience in caring for a long-term sick parent. Cynical but realistic.
久赌无胜家 jiǔ dǔ wú shèng jiā

gamble long enough and nobody wins

Anyone who keeps gambling will lose in the end; by extension, constant risk-taking ends badly. A warning.
久看成行家 jiǔ kàn chéng hángjia

look long enough and you become an expert

Constant exposure to a skill or craft lets you pick it up and become knowledgeable. Approving.
酒不在多，只要醇；蜜不在多，只要甜 jiǔ bù zài duō，zhǐ yào chún；mì bù zài duō，zhǐ yào tián

wine need not be plentiful, only mellow; honey need not be plentiful, only sweet

What matters is quality, not quantity, especially of words: a few well-chosen ones that please are enough.
酒不醉人人自醉，色不迷人人自迷 jiǔ bù zuìrén rén zì zuì，sè bù mírén rén zì mí

wine doesn't make a man drunk, he makes himself drunk; beauty doesn't bewitch a man, he bewitches himself

The fault lies in people's own lack of self-control, not in drink or lust. Moralising.
酒逢知己千杯少，话不投机半句多 jiǔ féng zhījǐ qiān bēi shǎo，huà bù tóujī bàn jù duō

with a true friend a thousand cups are few; with an uncongenial person half a sentence is too many

Time with kindred spirits flies, while talking to someone you don't click with is a burden.
酒后吐真言 jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēn yán

after wine, one speaks the truth

Drink loosens the tongue and people say what they really think. Compare 'in vino veritas'.
酒乱性，色迷人 jiǔ luàn xìng，sè mírén

wine unsettles the nature, lust bewitches people

Warns that indulging in drink and sex makes people lose their reason.
酒能成事，酒能败事 jiǔ néng chéngshì，jiǔ néng bàishì

wine can make things succeed, wine can ruin things

Drink can help or harm, so drink in moderation and mind the occasion.
酒肉朋友，柴米夫妻 jiǔròu péngyou，cháimǐ fūqī

friends of wine and meat, couples of firewood and rice

Cynically says that some friendships last only while there is feasting, and some marriages only while there is a livelihood to share; neither survives real trials. Compare 'fair-weather friends'.
酒肉朋友短，患难夫妻长 jiǔròu péngyou duǎn，huànnàn fūqī cháng

wine-and-meat friends are short-lived, couples who share hardship last long

Friends made over pleasure are not sincere and do not last, while couples who endure hardship together have deep, lasting bonds.
酒色祸之媒 jiǔsè huò zhī méi

wine and lust are the go-between of disaster

Indulging in drink and sex invites trouble. A moralising warning against self-indulgence.
酒席好摆客难请 jiǔxí hǎo bǎi kè nán qǐng

a banquet is easy to lay out, guests are hard to invite

Preparing the feast is the easy part; getting the right people to come is harder. Said when hosting or organising an event.
酒香不怕巷子深 jiǔ xiāng bùpà xiàngzi shēn

if the wine is fragrant, it doesn't matter how deep the alley is

Good quality will be found out without advertising. Close to "good wine needs no bush"; today it is often said with some irony about the need for marketing.
酒要少喝，事要多理 jiǔ yào shǎo hē，shì yào duō lǐ

drink little wine, attend to much business

Advises drinking less and handling more of your affairs and responsibilities.
酒斟满，茶倒浅 jiǔ zhēn mǎn，chá dàoqiǎn

fill the wine cup full, pour the tea shallow

Hosting etiquette: fill a guest's wine cup to show warmth, but pour tea only partway to show refinement.
旧的不去，新的不来 jiù de bù qù，xīn de bù lái

if the old doesn't go, the new won't come

You must get rid of old things to make room for new ones. Said when clearing out stuff or old ways. Compare "out with the old, in with the new".
救兵如救火 jiùbīng rú jiùhuǒ

relief troops are like putting out a fire

Help in an emergency must come at once, with no delay.
救急容易救穷难 jiù jí róngyì jiù qióng nán

rescuing from an emergency is easy, rescuing from poverty is hard

Helping someone through a short-term crisis is easy, but lifting them out of lasting poverty is hard.
救了落水狗，反被咬一口 jiùle luòshuǐgǒu，fǎn bèi yǎo yī kǒu

save a dog that fell in the water and get bitten in return

Helping a wicked person ends with them harming you. A warning against kindness to the undeserving; compare "bite the hand that feeds you".
救人一命，胜造七级浮图 jiù rén yī mìng，shèng zào qī jí fútú

save one life, better than building a seven-storey pagoda

Saving a life earns more merit than building a pagoda. Said to praise rescuing someone or to urge helping people in danger.
救人一难，多活十年 jiù rén yī nàn，duō huó shí nián

save a person from one calamity and live ten years longer

An old belief that helping someone in trouble earns merit and a longer life. Used to encourage kindness.
举贤不避亲 jǔxián bù bì qīn

in recommending the worthy, don't avoid your relatives

When recommending people, judge by merit and don't exclude a relative just because of kinship. Said approvingly.
惧法朝朝乐 jù fǎ zhāozhāo lè

fear the law and be happy every day

If you respect the law and obey it, you can live in peace and contentment.
聚少成多，滴水成河 jùshǎochéngduō，dīshuǐchénghé

gather little to make much, drops of water make a river

Small amounts add up to something big. Said to encourage saving or steady effort; compare "many a little makes a mickle".
军律如刀，军令如山 jūnlǜrú dāo，jūnlìngrúshān

military law is like a knife, military orders are like a mountain

Military discipline is strict and orders must be obeyed absolutely.
军中无戏言 jūn zhōng wú xìyán

in the army there are no jesting words

Words spoken in the military are serious and binding. By extension, said of serious matters not to be treated lightly.
君子爱财，取之有道 jūnzǐ ài cái，qǔ zhī yǒu dào

a gentleman loves wealth, but gets it in the proper way

It's fine to want money, but it must be earned honestly. Often said to excuse earning money or to warn against dishonest gain.
君子不吃无名之食 jūnzǐ bù chī wúmíng zhī shí

a gentleman doesn't eat nameless food

A person of integrity doesn't accept gifts or benefits without a good reason.
君子不夺人之所好 jūnzǐ bù duó rén zhī suǒ hào

a gentleman doesn't take what others love

A decent person won't seize what someone else treasures. Often said when declining something offered or taking a person's possession.
君子不开口，神仙猜不透 jūnzǐ bù kāikǒu，shénxiān cāi bù tòu

if a gentleman doesn't speak, not even an immortal can guess

If you don't say what you think, no one can know it, so speak up.
君子不羞当面 jūnzǐ bù xiū dāngmiàn

a gentleman is not ashamed of face-to-face

A person of character welcomes criticism and disagreement stated directly to his face, and speaks plainly himself.
君子成人之美 jūnzǐ chéngrénzhīměi

a gentleman helps others achieve what is good

A good person gladly helps others to succeed in what they want. Said approvingly, or when asking for a favour.
君子动口，小人动手 jūnzǐ dòngkǒu，xiǎorén dòngshǒu

gentlemen use their mouths, petty men use their hands

A civilised person argues with words; only the uncouth resort to fists. Said to urge calm in a quarrel.
君子防患未然 jūnzǐ fánghuànwèirán

a gentleman guards against trouble before it happens

A wise person takes precautions before disaster strikes. Compare "prevention is better than cure".
君子施恩不望报 jūnzǐ shī'ēn bù wàng bào

a gentleman bestows favours without hoping for return

A noble person helps others selflessly and expects nothing back.
君子言先不言后 jūnzǐ yán xiān bù yán hòu

a gentleman speaks first, not afterwards

State your terms or concerns in advance rather than complaining later, to avoid disputes.
君子一言，驷马难追 jūnzǐyīyán，sìmǎnánzhuī

a gentleman's word, four horses can't catch

Once a person of honour has given his word, it can't be taken back. Compare "a man's word is his bond".
君子之交淡如水 jūnzǐzhījiāodànrúshuǐ

the friendship of gentlemen is as plain as water

True friendships are free of self-interest and fuss; they are pure and understated rather than showy. Said approvingly.
君子重情义，小人重财利 jūnzǐ zhòng qíngyì，xiǎorén zhòng cáilì

gentlemen value feeling and loyalty, petty men value wealth and profit

A good person puts loyalty and affection first, while a mean one cares about money. Moralising.
君子周急不周富 jūnzǐ zhōu jí bù zhōu fù

a gentleman helps the needy, not the rich

A decent person aids those in urgent need rather than currying favour with the wealthy.
开船不等客 kāichuán bù děng kè

the ship sails without waiting for passengers

Opportunities won't wait for you, so be on time. Compare "time and tide wait for no man".
开店容易守店难 kāi diàn róngyì shǒu diàn nán

opening a shop is easy, keeping it going is hard

Starting a business is easier than sustaining it; more generally, building something is easier than holding on to it.
开弓没有回头箭 kāigōng méiyǒu huítóu jiàn

once the bow is drawn there is no arrow that turns back

Once you've started something you must see it through; there is no going back. Said resolutely.
开弓哪能不放箭 kāigōng nǎ néng bù fàng jiàn

having drawn the bow, how can you not shoot

Once you've built up momentum or made threats, you have to follow through with action.
开口求人难 kāikǒu qiúrén nán

opening your mouth to ask a favour is hard

It is awkward and embarrassing to ask others for help.
开锣容易收场难 kāiluó róngyì shōuchǎng nán

beating the opening gong is easy, closing the show is hard

Starting something is easy, but bringing it to a good conclusion is hard.
开水不响，响水不开 kāishuǐ bù xiǎng，xiǎng shuǐ bù kāi

boiling water doesn't make a noise, noisy water isn't boiling

Truly capable people are quiet, while loud braggarts lack real ability. Compare "empty vessels make the most noise".
开头马虎，半路费工 kāitóu mǎhu，bànlù fèigōng

sloppy at the start, extra work halfway

Carelessness at the beginning of a task causes trouble and extra effort later.
砍的不如旋的圆 kǎn de bùrú xuàn de yuán

what is hacked is not as round as what is turned

If you go about something the wrong way, you will not get a satisfactory result. Use the right method for the job.
看菜吃饭，量体裁衣 kàncàichīfàn，liàngtǐcáiyī

look at the dishes to eat your meal, measure the body to cut the clothes

Act according to the actual circumstances. Close to "cut your coat according to your cloth".
看花容易种花难 kàn huā róngyì zhònghuā nán

looking at flowers is easy, growing flowers is hard

It is easy to admire or approve of a success, but much harder to achieve it yourself. Close to "easier said than done".
看人看心，听话听音 kànrénkànxīn，tīnghuàtīngyīn

when judging a person look at the heart, when listening to talk listen for the tone

Look past appearances to a person's real character and to what their words truly imply. Advice not to be fooled by the surface.
看人挑担不费力，自己挑担重千斤 kàn rén tiāodàn bù fèilì，zìjǐ tiāodàn zhòng qiān jīn

watching others carry a load takes no effort, carrying it yourself weighs a thousand jin

Watching from the sidelines it looks easy, but doing the task yourself shows how hard it is. Said to critics who underrate others' work.
看树看皮，看人看底 kànshùkànpí，kànrénkàndǐ

judge a tree by its bark, judge a person by their background

To know a person you must find out about their background and roots, not only appearances.
靠山吃山,靠水吃水 kàoshānchīshān, kàoshuǐchīshuǐ

live off the mountain if you live by the mountain, live off the water if you live by the water

Make a living from what is around you, or from your own line of work. Neutral, practical.
磕的头越多,人家看你越矮 kē de tóu yuè duō, rénjia kàn nǐ yuè ǎi

the more you kowtow, the shorter people see you

The more servile you are to others, the less they respect you.
可怜天下父母心 kělián tiānxià fùmǔ xīn

pitiable are the hearts of parents under heaven

Said to remark on how selflessly parents love and worry about their children, often when a child has been thoughtless or ungrateful. Sympathetic, sentimental.
刻薄不赚钱,忠厚不折本 kèbó bù zhuànqián, zhōnghòu bù shéběn

being mean makes no money; being honest and kind loses no capital

Treating customers or others harshly does not bring profit, and being honest and generous does not bring loss. It advises decency in business and dealings. Approving of kindness.
客不压主 kè bù yā zhǔ

the guest does not press down on the host

A guest should defer to and respect the host and not take over or outshine them. Used as advice on etiquette.
客气非朋友,朋友不客气 kèqi fēi péngyou, péngyou bù kèqi

those who stand on ceremony aren't friends; friends don't stand on ceremony

Real friends are frank and informal with each other and don't bother with polite formalities. Often said to put a friend at ease.
客随主便 kè suí zhǔ biàn

the guest follows the host's convenience

A guest should go along with the host's arrangements. Said politely by a guest, or to ask a guest to be flexible. Close to 'when in Rome...' in spirit.
孔子家儿不识骂,曾子家儿不识斗 kǒngzǐ jiā ér bù shí mà, zēngzǐ jiā ér bù shí dòu

Confucius's sons don't know how to curse; Zengzi's sons don't know how to fight

A good home environment greatly helps children grow up well. Approving.

Every kind of Chinese saying