Chinese proverbs (谚语)

牛大压不死虱子 niú dà yā bù sǐ shīzi

however big the ox, it can't crush a louse to death

Being bigger doesn't mean you can overcome the small. Used to say size is no guarantee of winning.
牛劲儿不齐拉乱套，人心不齐瞎胡闹 niújìnr bù qí lā luàntào, rénxīn bù qí xiāhúnào

if the oxen don't pull together the harness tangles; if people aren't united they just make a mess

Without unity, a group cannot get things done. Used to urge teamwork.
牛皮不是吹的，火车不是推的 niúpí bù shì chuī de, huǒchē bù shì tuī de

oxhide isn't blown up, a train isn't pushed

Boasting gets nothing done; real action is needed. Mocking toward braggarts.
牛有千斤之力，人有倒牛之方 niú yǒu qiān jīn zhī lì, rén yǒu dǎo niú zhī fāng

an ox has a thousand jin of strength, but people have ways to bring an ox down

However powerful an opponent is, there is a way to subdue them. Encouraging.
怒伤肝，喜伤心 nù shāng gān, xǐ shāng xīn

anger harms the liver, joy harms the heart

Extreme emotions, even happy ones, damage your health. Said to advise calm.
女大不由娘 nǚ dà bùyóu niáng

once a daughter is grown, she doesn't go by her mother

A grown daughter makes her own decisions, such as about marriage, and her mother can't decide for her.
女大不中留 nǚ dà bùzhōng liú

a grown daughter can't be kept at home

A girl of marrying age should be married off and not kept at home. Old-fashioned, and sometimes said jokingly of a daughter eager to marry.
女大十八变 nǚ dà shíbā biàn

a girl changes eighteen times as she grows up

A girl's looks change greatly in adolescence, usually for the better. Said when someone has grown prettier than expected.
女大自巧，狗大自咬 nǚ dà zì qiǎo, gǒu dà zì yǎo

a girl grows skilled by herself, a dog grows to bark by itself

Girls become deft and capable with age without being taught, as dogs come to bark on their own. Old-fashioned.
女儿心，海底针 nǚ'ér xīn, hǎidǐ zhēn

a young woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea

A young woman's feelings are hard to read. It is said teasingly.
女为悦己者容，士为知己者死 nǚ wèi yuèjǐzhě róng, shì wèi zhījǐzhě sǐ

a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her; a gentleman dies for one who knows him

Women dress up for those who love them, and men give their lives for those who appreciate them. A classical line about devotion to those who value you.
女婿顶半子 nǚxu dǐng bàn zǐ

a son-in-law counts as half a son

A son-in-law can do about half of what a son would do for his wife's parents.
女子的泪，男子的跪 nǚzǐ de lèi, nánzǐ de guì

a woman's tears, a man's kneeling

A woman's tears and a man's kneeling are what most easily soften people's hearts.
藕发莲生，十指连心 ǒufāliánshēng，shízhǐliánxīn

the root sprouts and the lotus grows; ten fingers are linked to the heart

A parent's love for children is the deepest. The root stands for parents and the lotus for children.
爬得高，跌得重 pá de gāo，diē de zhòng

the higher you climb, the harder you fall

The higher a position, the worse the failure. Often a warning to those who rose by improper means. Like 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall'.
怕鬼偏有鬼 pà guǐ piān yǒu guǐ

afraid of ghosts, and there is a ghost

The bad thing you fear is just what happens. Like 'if something can go wrong, it will'.
怕虎怕狼不在山上住 pà hǔ pà láng bù zài shān shang zhù

if you fear tigers and wolves, don't live in the mountains

If you fear risks you shouldn't try to do anything. To do a job, accept the risks.
怕见的是怪，难躲的是债 pà jiàn de shì guài，nán duǒ de shì zhài

what you fear to see is monsters, what is hard to dodge is debt

Debt can't be avoided by hiding from it.
怕问路，要迷路 pà wènlù，yào mílù

afraid to ask the way, you'll get lost

If you won't ask others for advice, you are likely to go wrong.
怕小河过不了大江 pà xiǎo hé guò bùliǎo dà jiāng

afraid of a small stream, you can't cross the great river

If you fear small difficulties, you can't achieve big things.
螃蟹不忘横着爬 pángxiè bù wàng héngzhe pá

a crab never forgets to crawl sideways

A domineering, bullying person finds it hard to give up their overbearing ways. Critical.
胖子不是一口吃起来的 pàngzi bù shì yī kǒu chī qǐlái de

a fat man isn't made by one mouthful

Big results come only through gradual accumulation; you can't get there in one step. Similar to 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. It does not mock fat people.
刨树要刨根 páo shù yào páo gēn

to dig up a tree, dig up the root

Get to the bottom of things, or finish a job thoroughly so no trouble is left behind. Close to 'get to the root of the matter'.
跑出去的马好抓，说出去的话难追 pǎo chūqù de mǎ hǎo zhuā，shuō chūqù de huà nán zhuī

a horse that has run off is easy to catch; words that have been spoken are hard to chase

Words cannot be taken back once said, so don't speak carelessly. Close to 'a word spoken is past recalling'.
跑了和尚跑不了庙 pǎole héshang pǎo bùliǎo miào

the monk may run away, but the temple can't

Someone may flee, but their home, family or property remain, so they can still be made to answer. Often used as a warning.
朋友妻，不可欺 péngyou qī，bùkě qī

a friend's wife must not be wronged

One should respect a friend's wife and never take advantage of her. A traditional moral warning.
朋友千个少，冤家一个多 péngyou qiān gè shǎo，yuānjia yī gè duō

a thousand friends are too few; one enemy is too many

Make friends and avoid making enemies. Approving advice.
匹夫无故获千金，必有非常之祸 pǐfū wúgù huò qiānjīn，bì yǒu fēicháng zhī huò

if a common man gets a thousand gold for no reason, there must be an extraordinary disaster

An ordinary person who suddenly gets a large sum of money for no reason will surely meet great trouble. A warning against windfalls; close to "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
偏怜之子不保业，难得之妇不主家 piānlián zhī zǐ bù bǎo yè，nán dé zhīfù bù zhǔ jiā

a favoured son won't keep the family estate; a doted-on wife won't run the household

People who are pampered and favoured rarely achieve much.
骗朋友只有一次，害自己却是终身 piàn péngyou zhī yǒu yīcì，hài zìjǐ quèshì zhōngshēn

you cheat a friend only once, but you harm yourself for life

If you deceive a friend even once, you lose their trust for good, and so hurt yourself. It urges honesty in friendship.
骗人骗自己，害人害自己 piàn rén piàn zìjǐ，hài rén hài zìjǐ

cheat others, cheat yourself; harm others, harm yourself

Deceiving or harming others rebounds on you in the end. A moral warning; close to "what goes around comes around."
漂亮话好说，漂亮事难做 piàoliang huà hǎo shuō，piàoliang shì nán zuò

pretty words are easy to say; fine deeds are hard to do

Talking well is easy, but achieving something good takes hard work. Used to urge action over talk; close to "talk is cheap."
拼着一身剐，敢把皇帝拉下马 pīnzhe yī shēn guǎ，gǎn bǎ huángdì lāxià mǎ

willing to be cut to pieces, one dares to pull the emperor off his horse

If you're ready to risk everything, you dare to challenge even the most powerful. Expresses bold, fearless defiance and is approving.
贫不学俭，卑不学恭 pín bù xué jiǎn，bēi bù xué gōng

the poor needn't learn thrift; the lowly needn't learn deference

Poverty makes people frugal and low status makes them humble without being taught. It observes that social and economic position shapes behaviour.
贫贱之交不可忘，糟糠之妻不下堂 pínjiàn zhī jiāo bùkě wàng，zāokāng zhī qī bù xià táng

don't forget friends from poor days; don't cast out the wife who shared the dregs and chaff

Once you are rich and successful, don't forget old friends or abandon the wife who stood by you in hard times. Approving and moral: don't forget your roots.
平安就是福 píng'ān jiù shì fú

safety is itself good fortune

Being safe and free from trouble is a blessing in itself. A comforting or sensible remark, close to "health and safety are the best blessings."
平地不会起风波 píngdì bù huì qǐ fēngbō

flat ground doesn't raise wind and waves

Trouble doesn't arise for no reason; there is always a cause. Close to "there's no smoke without fire."
平生不做亏心事，世上应无切齿人 píngshēng bù zuò kuīxīn shì，shìshàng yīng wú qièchǐ rén

if you never do anything to trouble your conscience, no one in the world will grind their teeth at you

If you never wrong anyone, you won't have enemies who hate you. It praises a clear conscience.
平时肯帮人，急时有人帮 píngshí kěn bāng rén，jíshí yǒu rén bāng

help others in ordinary times, and others will help you in an emergency

If you're generous to others day to day, you'll get help when you're in need. Approving; close to "one good turn deserves another."
平时省分文，用时有千金 píngshí shěng fēnwén，yòng shí yǒu qiānjīn

save a cent in ordinary times, and have a thousand gold when you need it

Careful saving in small amounts builds up a large sum for when you need it. Close to "take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves."
瓶口扎得住，人口扎不住 píngkǒu zhā de zhù，rénkǒu zhā bù zhù

you can tie up a bottle's mouth, but not people's mouths

You can't stop people from talking or spreading rumours. Often said when a secret or gossip gets out.
泼出的水，说出的话 pōchū de shuǐ，shuōchū de huà

water thrown out, words spoken

Words once spoken can't be taken back, like spilled water, so you must keep your word and speak carefully. Close to "what's said can't be unsaid."
泼水容易收水难 pōshuǐ róngyì shōu shuǐ nán

spilling water is easy; gathering it back is hard

It's easy to say something but hard to take it back, so be careful what you say.
婆婆嘴碎，媳妇耳背 pópo zuǐsuì，xífu ěrbèi

the mother-in-law is chatty; the daughter-in-law is hard of hearing

Advice that a daughter-in-law should pretend not to hear her mother-in-law's nagging, to avoid family quarrels.
破人生意如杀人父母 pò rén shēngyi rú shā rén fùmǔ

ruining someone's business is like killing their parents

Sabotaging another's livelihood is a grave wrong. It reminds merchants to keep to business ethics.
破山中贼易，破心中贼难 pòshān zhōngzéiyì，pò xīn zhōng zéi nán

beating bandits in the mountains is easy; beating the bandit in your heart is hard

Defeating external enemies is easier than overcoming your own bad thoughts and desires. A saying from Wang Yangming's philosophy, used in moral self-improvement.
七次量衣一次裁 qī cì liángyī yīcì cái

measure the cloth seven times, cut once

Prepare thoroughly before you act, then act decisively. Close to "measure twice, cut once."
七分补养三分药 qī fēn bǔyǎng sānfēn yào

seven parts nourishment, three parts medicine

Recovery depends more on good nourishment and care than on medicine.
七分人事，三分天资 qī fēn rénshì，sān fēn tiānzī

seven parts human effort, three parts natural talent

Success depends mostly on hard work, and only partly on natural ability. Encouraging.
七十二行，行行出状元 qīshí'èr háng，hánghángchū zhuàngyuan

seventy-two trades, every trade produces a top scholar

Every line of work can produce outstanding people, so any job can lead to success if you work hard. Encouraging; similar to 'where there's a will, there's a way'.
七岁八岁狗也嫌 qī suì bāsuì gǒu yě xián

at seven or eight, even the dogs dislike him

Children of seven or eight are at their naughtiest and annoy everyone around them. Said humorously or with exasperation.
七岁看大，八岁看老 qī suì kàn dà，bā suì kàn lǎo

at seven see the adult, at eight see the old age

A child's character at seven or eight shows what kind of adult they will become, so upbringing should start early. Close to 'the child is father of the man'.
七月的天，孩子的脸 qī yuè de tiān，háizi de liǎn

the weather in the seventh month, a child's face

Describes something that changes unpredictably, like summer weather or a child's moods. Light, humorous.
妻贤夫祸少，子孝父心宽 qī xián fū huò shǎo，zǐ xiào fù xīn kuān

a worthy wife, the husband has fewer misfortunes; a filial son, the father's heart is at ease

A sensible wife keeps her husband out of trouble, and a dutiful son spares his parents worry. An approving saying about family harmony.
欺人是祸，饶人是福 qī rén shì huò，ráo rén shì fú

bullying people is disaster, forgiving people is blessing

Bullying others brings trouble on yourself, while showing mercy brings good fortune. Advice to be forgiving.
骑驴的不知赶脚苦 qí lǘ de bù zhī gǎnjiǎo kǔ

the one riding the donkey doesn't know the driver's hardship

Well-off people do not appreciate how hard life is for the less fortunate. Mildly critical; like 'half the world doesn't know how the other half lives'.
骑马坐船三分险 qí mǎ zuò chuán sān fēn xiǎn

riding a horse or taking a boat, three parts danger

Even ordinary activities carry some risk; most undertakings are not entirely safe.
棋高一招，缚手缚脚 qí gāo yī zhāo，fù shǒu fù jiǎo

one move better at chess, hands and feet tied

Against someone slightly more skilled, you are hemmed in and cannot show your abilities; more generally, one is constrained in front of a stronger person.
棋要一步一步地走，事要三思而后行 qí yào yī bù yī bù de zǒu，shì yào sānsī érhòuxíng

chess is played one step at a time, affairs need three thoughts before acting

Like chess, think carefully before acting. Advice to be prudent; like 'look before you leap'.
起头容易结尾难 qǐtóu róngyì jiéwěi nán

starting is easy, finishing is hard

A good start is easy, but finishing well is difficult.
气不可使尽，话不可说绝 qì bùkě shǐjìn，huà bùkě shuōjué

don't use up your temper, don't say words absolutely

Don't go to extremes in anger or speech; leave room to maneuver.
气大伤神，食多伤身 qì dà shāng shén，shí duō shāng shēn

great anger harms the spirit, much eating harms the body

Anger and overeating both damage health.
气恼成病，快乐长命 qìnǎo chéng bìng，kuàilè chángmìng

anger makes illness, joy lengthens life

Frequent anger causes illness; a cheerful mind helps one live long.
千般易学，一窍难通 qiān bān yì xué，yī qiào nán tōng

a thousand things easy to learn, one key point hard to grasp

General knowledge is easy to pick up, but mastering the heart of a subject is hard.
千锤打锣，一锤定音 qiān chuí dǎ luó，yī chuí dìng yīn

a thousand blows on a gong, one blow fixes the note

After much discussion, one authoritative decision settles it. Often 'one hammer blow settles it'.
千防万防，家贼难防 qiān fáng wàn fáng，jiāzéinánfáng

guard a thousand ways, a thief in the family is hard to guard against

Bad people within your own circle are hardest to guard against.
千高万高，人心最高 qiān gāo wàn gāo，rénxīn zuì gāo

a thousand heights, ten thousand heights, the human heart is the highest

Human desires and ambitions have no limit.
千行万行，庄稼是头一行 qiān háng wàn háng，zhuāngjia shì tóuyī háng

a thousand trades, ten thousand trades, farming is the first

Agriculture is the most important occupation, as the base of the economy.
千金难买好音讯 qiānjīn nán mǎi hǎo yīnxùn

a thousand gold can hardly buy good news

Useful information or good news is precious and can't be bought.
千金难买回头看 qiānjīn nán mǎi huítóu kàn

a thousand gold pieces can't buy a look back

Looking back to reflect on your own conduct and learn from it is enormously valuable. Said approvingly as advice.
千金难买心中愿 qiānjīn nán mǎi xīn zhōng yuàn

a thousand gold pieces can't buy what the heart wishes

Something done willingly, from the heart, is precious and can't be bought with money. Approving; also used for getting what you truly wanted.
千金难买信得过 qiānjīn nán mǎi xìndeguò

a thousand gold pieces can't buy being trusted

Being trusted by others is rare and valuable; money can't buy it. Approving.
千金难买一口气 qiānjīn nán mǎi yī kǒu qì

a thousand gold pieces can't buy one breath

Self-respect and pride (here 'breath' means spirit) are worth more than money. Said when someone refuses to sell their dignity. Close to 'some things money can't buy'.
千金念白四两唱 qiānjīn niànbái sì liǎng chàng

a thousand gold pieces for spoken lines, four ounces for singing

In traditional Chinese opera, delivering the spoken parts well is harder than singing. Used among opera fans and performers.
千金易得，知音难求 qiānjīn yì dé，zhīyīn nán qiú

a thousand gold pieces are easy to get; a true soulmate is hard to find

A friend who truly understands you is rarer than wealth. Said with feeling about close friendship; it alludes to Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi.
千金之裘，非一狐之腋 qiānjīn zhī qiú，fēi yī hú zhī yè

a fur coat worth a thousand gold isn't made from one fox's armpit

Great achievements can't be accomplished by one person alone; they need many people's contributions. Approving of teamwork.
千军易得，一将难求 qiān jūn yì dé，yī jiàng nán qiú

a thousand soldiers are easy to get; one general is hard to find

Good leaders are much harder to find than ordinary followers. Said when stressing the value of talented leadership.
千里能相会，必是有缘人 qiān lǐ néng xiānghuì，bì shì yǒuyuán rén

if people can meet from a thousand li apart, they must be fated to be together

People who meet despite great distance are destined to be connected. Said warmly on meeting someone unexpectedly.
千里姻缘一线牵 qiān lǐ yīnyuán yī xiàn qiān

a marriage a thousand li away is pulled together by one thread

Fate, in the form of the Old Man under the Moon's red thread, joins destined couples however far apart. Also used loosely for two parties brought together by chance. Romantic, traditional.
千里之堤，溃于蚁穴 qiānlǐzhīdī，kuìyúyǐxué

a dike a thousand li long collapses through an ant hole

Neglecting small problems can cause huge disasters. A warning, like 'for want of a nail the kingdom was lost'.
千里之行，始于足下 qiānlǐzhīxíng，shǐyúzúxià

a journey of a thousand li begins beneath your feet

Great goals are reached by starting with small, steady steps. Encouraging; the same as 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'.
千年不断亲 qiān nián bùduàn qīn

a thousand years won't sever kinship

Blood ties last no matter how much time passes. Said of relatives who remain family despite long separation.
千年大道走成河 qiān nián dà dào zǒuchéng hé

a thousand-year-old road, walked until it becomes a river

Given enough time, the world changes enormously. Used when reflecting on fortunes and circumstances changing.
千年纸墨会说话 qiān nián zhǐ mò huì shuōhuà

paper and ink of a thousand years can speak

Written documents and contracts remain valid proof however much time passes. Said to urge putting agreements in writing.
千人千品，万人万相 qiān rén qiān pǐn，wànrén wàn xiàng

a thousand people, a thousand characters; ten thousand people, ten thousand faces

Everyone differs in temperament and looks, so people must be dealt with individually rather than by one-size-fits-all methods. Like 'different strokes for different folks'.
千人所指，无病而死 qiān rén suǒ zhǐ，wú bìng ér sǐ

when a thousand people point at you, you die even without illness

Someone condemned by everyone won't survive long; public anger is dangerous to defy. A warning, somewhat grim.
千日练兵一日用 qiān rì liànbīng yī rì yòng

train soldiers a thousand days, use them for one day

Long preparation pays off in a crucial moment. Said to justify steady practice or training.
千日行善，善犹不足；一日行恶，恶自有余 qiān rì xíngshàn，shàn yóu bùzú；yī rì xíng'è，è zì yǒuyú

a thousand days of doing good is still not enough good; one day of doing evil is already more than enough evil

Good deeds can never be done enough, while a single bad deed does great harm. A moral warning.
千虚不如一实 qiān xū bùrú yī shí

a thousand empty things are not as good as one real thing

Honest, practical action beats any amount of empty talk or deceit. Approving of substance over show.
千夜做贼一夜穷 qiān yè zuò zéi yī yè qióng

a thousand nights as a thief, one night of poverty

Wealth gained illegally will eventually be lost entirely when the crime is discovered. A warning that crime doesn't pay.
千丈麻绳总要有一个结 qiān zhàng máshéng zǒng yào yǒu yī gè jié

a thousand-zhang hemp rope must still have an end knot

However long a matter drags on, it will eventually reach a conclusion.
千招要会，一招要好 qiān zhāo yào huì，yī zhāo yào hǎo

know a thousand moves, but be really good at one

Learn a broad range of skills, but also master at least one. Advice about skills.
千阵万阵，难买头阵 qiān zhèn wàn zhèn，nán mǎi tóu zhèn

of a thousand battles, ten thousand battles, none is worth as much as the first battle

The first engagement matters most, so win it; by extension, a good start is vital.
牵牛要牵牛鼻子 qiān niú yào qiān niúbízi

to lead an ox, lead it by the nose

When solving a problem, take hold of the key point or main contradiction. Advice about efficiency.
牵一发动全身 qiānyīfàdòngquánshēn

pull one hair and the whole body moves

A small change in one part affects the whole situation. Used of tightly connected systems.
谦受益，满招损 qiān shòu yì，mǎn zhāo sǔn

modesty receives benefit, fullness invites loss

Humility brings gain while self-satisfaction brings harm. Approving of modesty; from the Book of Documents.
谦虚使人进步，骄傲使人落后 qiānxū shǐ rén jìnbù，jiāo'ào shǐ rén luòhòu

modesty makes people advance, arrogance makes people fall behind

Humble people keep learning and improve; arrogant ones stagnate. A classic piece of advice for students.
前不算，后要乱 qián bù suàn，hòu yào luàn

not calculating beforehand, there will be chaos afterward

Poor planning in advance leads to trouble later. Like 'fail to plan, plan to fail'.
前车覆，后车戒 qián chē fù，hòu chē jiè

when the cart ahead overturns, the cart behind takes warning

Learn from the failures of those before you. Like 'learn from others' mistakes'.
前官便是后官的眼 qián guān biàn shì hòu guān de yǎn

the former official is the later official's eyes

A successor can learn from what his predecessor did. Dated.

Every kind of Chinese saying