Chinese proverbs (谚语)

上半夜想想人家，下半夜想想自己 shàngbànyè xiǎngxiǎng rénjia, xiàbànyè xiǎngxiǎng zìjǐ

in the first half of the night think about others, in the second half think about yourself

Reflect often, comparing yourself with others and examining your own conduct.
上边一张嘴，下边跑断腿 shàngbian yī zhāngzuǐ, xiàbian pǎoduàn tuǐ

above, one mouth opens; below, legs run until they break

It is easy for superiors to give orders but hard for those below to carry them out. Often a complaint, urging leaders to consider their subordinates.
上不紧，下不忙 shàng bù jǐn, xià bù máng

if above is not tight, below is not busy

If leaders are lax, subordinates slacken too. The root of problems at the bottom lies at the top.
上床夫妻，下床君子 shàng chuáng fūqī, xià chuáng jūnzǐ

husband and wife in bed, gentlemen out of bed

Even a married couple should behave with propriety in public and in daily life.
上当学乖，吃亏学能 shàngdàng xué guāi, chīkuī xué néng

being cheated teaches you to be sharp, taking a loss teaches you skill

Getting fooled or losing out makes you wiser if you learn from it. Close to 'once bitten, twice shy'.
上肩容易下肩难 shàng jiān róngyì xià jiān nán

easy to take a load onto the shoulder, hard to take it off

It is easy to get involved in something but hard to get out of it.
上梁不正下梁歪 shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi

if the upper beam isn't straight, the lower beams go crooked

If those in authority behave badly, those below will copy them. Critical. Close to 'a fish rots from the head'.
上门的买卖好做 shàngmén de mǎimai hǎo zuò

business that comes to your door is easy to do

When the other side takes the initiative, a deal is easy to make.
上明不知下暗 shàng míng bù zhī xià àn

those above, though enlightened, don't know the darkness below

Even a wise ruler or superior can hardly know the corruption and wrongs at lower levels.
上人不好，下人不要 shàngrén bù hào, xiàrén bù yào

what those above don't like, those below don't want to do

Subordinates tend to cater to their superiors' tastes and avoid what they dislike.
上山八条路，下山路八条 shàngshān bā tiáo lù, xiàshān lù bā tiáo

eight paths up the mountain, eight paths down

There is always a way to solve a problem. Encouraging.
上山容易下山难 shàng shān róngyì xià shān nán

going up the mountain is easy, coming down is hard

Literally, descents are riskier because you can slip. Figuratively, rising in status is easy to enjoy but falling from it is hard to bear.
上什么山唱什么歌 shàng shénme shān chàng shénme gē

whichever mountain you climb, sing that mountain's song

Adapt your behaviour to where you are. Close to 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'.
上有天堂，下有苏杭 shàng yǒu tiāntáng, xià yǒu sūháng

above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou

Praises Suzhou and Hangzhou as beautiful and prosperous, like paradise on earth.
上贼船易，下贼船难 shàng zéichuán yì, xià zéichuán nán

easy to board a pirate ship, hard to get off

Joining a gang of bad people is easy but leaving is hard. A warning against bad company.
艄公多了打烂船 shāogōng duōle dǎlàn chuán

with too many helmsmen the boat gets wrecked

When too many people lead and disagree, things go wrong. Close to 'too many cooks spoil the broth'.
勺子免不了碰锅台 sháozi miǎn bùliǎo pèng guōtái

a ladle can't avoid knocking the stove rim

People who live or work together will inevitably have some friction; it is normal and nothing to worry about.
少吃多滋味，多吃坏肚皮 shǎo chī duō zīwèi, duō chī huài dùpí

eat less and it tastes better, eat more and you ruin your stomach

Advice to eat in moderation, since overeating harms health.
少吃咸鱼少口干 shǎo chī xiányú shǎo kǒu gān

eat less salted fish and your mouth is less dry

Stay out of other people's quarrels and you will have less trouble. Mildly cynical advice.
少吃一口，安定一宿 shǎo chī yī kǒu, āndìng yī xiǔ

eat one mouthful less, and sleep peacefully for a night

Advice not to eat too much at supper if you want to sleep well.
少叫一声哥，多走十里坡 shǎo jiào yī shēng gē, duō zǒu shí lǐ pō

say 'elder brother' once less, and walk ten more miles of hill

Be polite when asking for directions or help, or you'll pay for it. It praises courtesy as a practical matter.
少年不知勤学苦，老来方知读书迟 shàonián bù zhī qínxué kǔ, lǎolái fāng zhī dúshū chí

in youth one doesn't know the hardship of diligent study; only in old age does one know reading started late

Young people don't work hard at their studies, then in old age regret it when it's too late. Used to urge students to study now.
少年夫妻老来伴 shàonián fūqī lǎo lái bàn

young husband and wife, companions in old age

Couples who marry young become each other's companions in old age, and need to care for each other then. Warm and approving.
少年偏信，老年多疑 shàonián piānxìn, lǎonián duōyí

the young are too trusting, the old are too suspicious

Each age has its own failing: the young believe too easily and the old doubt too much.
少女的心，秋天的云 shàonǚ de xīn, qiūtiān de yún

a young girl's heart, an autumn cloud

A girl's feelings change as quickly as autumn clouds. It is a mildly teasing, stereotyped remark.

May offend: sexist or sexual
少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲 shàozhuàng bù nǔlì, lǎodà tú shāngbēi

if you don't work hard when young and strong, you'll grieve in vain when old

If you waste your youth you will only regret it later. Often used to urge young people to make an effort.
舌上有龙泉，杀人不见血 shé shang yǒu lóngquán, shā rén bù jiàn xiě

there is a Longquan sword on the tongue, killing without blood

Cruel words can destroy a person as surely as a blade, and the speaker bears no blame. Warning and critical.
舌是斩身刀 shé shì zhǎn shēn dāo

the tongue is a knife that cuts down your own body

Careless speech can bring about your own ruin. Close to 'loose lips sink ships'.
舌头底下压杀人 shétou dǐxia yāshā rén

a person can be crushed to death under the tongue

Rumours and gossip can kill someone.
舌为利害本，口是祸福门 shé wéi lìhài běn, kǒu shì huò fú mén

the tongue is the root of gain and harm, the mouth is the gate of fortune and misfortune

What you say can bring benefit or disaster, so speak with care and principle.
蛇无头不行 shé wú tóu bù xíng

a snake without a head can't go

A group can't get anything done without a leader.
蛇咬一口，入骨三分 shé yǎo yī kǒu, rùgǔ sān fēn

a snake's bite goes three tenths of an inch into the bone

Being slandered by a bad person is very hard to shake off.
蛇走无声，奸计无影 shé zǒu wúshēng, jiānjì wúyǐng

a snake moves without sound, a wicked plot leaves no trace

Sly schemes are silent and invisible, so they are all the more dangerous.
蛇钻窟窿蛇知道 shé zuān kūlong shé zhīdào

the snake knows the hole it crawls into

You know best what you yourself have done.
舍不得孩子套不住狼 shěbudeháizǐ tào bù zhù láng

if you can't part with the child you can't snare the wolf

You can't achieve a goal without paying a price. Close to 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'.
舍不得金弹子，打不住银凤凰 shěbude jīndànzi, dǎ bù zhù yínfènghuáng

if you won't spare the golden pellet you can't shoot the silver phoenix

Unless you're willing to pay a high price you won't get a big reward.
舍得一身剐，敢把皇帝拉下马 shěde yī shēn guǎ, gǎn bǎ huángdì lāxià mǎ

if you're ready to be cut to pieces, you dare pull the emperor off his horse

Someone who fears nothing, not even a terrible punishment, will dare anything. Admiring or defiant.
射人先射马，擒贼先擒王 shè rén xiān shè mǎ, qín zéi xiān qín wáng

to shoot a rider, shoot the horse first; to catch bandits, catch the chief first

To solve a problem, go for the key point or the leader first. Approving advice about strategy; close to 'cut off the head of the snake'.
涉浅水者得鱼虾，涉深水者擒蛟龙 shèqiǎnshuǐzhě déyú xiā, shèshēnshuǐzhě qín jiāolóng

those who wade shallow water get fish and shrimp; those who wade deep water catch dragons

Small risks bring small rewards, big risks bring big rewards. Used to encourage boldness; like 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'.
谁家锅底没有黑 shéi jiā guō dǐ méiyǒu hēi

whose pot has no black on its bottom?

Every family has something embarrassing or unpresentable in it, so nobody should judge others. Used to excuse faults or answer gossip.
谁人背后无人说，哪个人前不说人 shéirén bèihòu wú rén shuō, nǎge rén qián bù shuō rén

who is not talked about behind their back, and who does not talk about others to their face

Everyone gets gossiped about and gossips about others; it is a normal part of life, so don't take it too much to heart.
谁是常贫久富家 shéi shì cháng pín jiǔ fù jiā

which family is always poor or rich for long?

Fortunes change; no family stays poor or rich forever. Said to console the poor or warn the rich. Dated in tone.
谁笑到最后，谁才笑得最好 shéi xiàodào zuìhòu, shuí cái xiào de zuì hǎo

whoever laughs last laughs best

Who really wins is decided by the final result, not early advantage. Matches the English 'he who laughs last laughs longest'.
谁养孩子谁当娘，谁种土地谁收粮 shéi yǎng háizi shéi dāng niáng, shéi zhòng tǔdì shéi shōu liáng

whoever raises the child is the mother; whoever farms the land harvests the grain

The fruits of labour belong to the one who put in the work.
伸手不打笑脸人 shēnshǒu bù dǎ xiàoliǎn rén

an outstretched hand does not strike a smiling face

People rarely hit someone who greets them with a smile; being polite and friendly defuses conflict.
身安抵万金 shēn ān dǐ wàn jīn

personal safety is worth ten thousand in gold

Staying safe and well matters more than money.
身教胜于言教 shēnjiào shèngyú yánjiào

teaching by example beats teaching by words

Setting an example works better than lecturing. Close to 'actions speak louder than words'.
身正不怕影子斜 shēn zhèng bùpà yǐngzi xié

if the body is upright, it doesn't fear a slanting shadow

If you act honestly you need not fear rumours or suspicion. Said in defence of one's own integrity.
深山藏虎豹，乱世出英雄 shēnshān cáng hǔ bào, luànshì chū yīngxióng

deep mountains hide tigers and leopards; chaotic times produce heroes

Fierce beasts lurk in remote mountains, and heroes emerge in times of turmoil. Old-fashioned; said admiringly.
深山出俊鸟 shēnshān chūjùn niǎo

deep mountains produce beautiful birds

Remote, poor places can produce outstanding talent. Approving.
什么钥匙开什么锁 shénme yàoshi kāi shénme suǒ

whatever key opens whatever lock

Each problem needs its own fitting solution. Usually written 一把钥匙开一把锁.
什么种出什么苗 shénme zhǒng chū shénme miáo

whatever seed, that is the seedling

Children turn out like their parents. Can be critical or approving; like 'like father, like son'.
神龙现首不现尾 shénlóng xiàn shǒu bù xiàn wěi

the divine dragon shows its head but not its tail

Describes an elusive, deep person whose words and actions are hard to read.
神山佳话多 shén shān jiāhuà duō

sacred mountains have many fine tales

Places where immortals are said to live have many beautiful legends.
神仙本是凡人做，只为凡人不肯修 shénxiān běn shì fánrén zuò, zhǐ wèi fánrén bù kěn xiū

immortals were originally made from ordinary people; ordinary people just won't cultivate themselves

Anyone can reach a higher level through self-cultivation, but most won't put in the effort. Encouraging, with a reproach.
生不带来，死不带走 shēng bù dàilái, sǐ bù dàizǒu

not brought at birth, not taken at death

You arrive with nothing and leave with nothing, so don't be greedy for wealth.
生成的眉毛，长成的骨骼 shēngchéng de méimao, zhǎngchéng de gǔgé

eyebrows you're born with, bones that have grown

Looks are natural; likewise, a person's character, once formed, is hard to change.
生气催人老，笑笑变年少 shēngqì cuī rén lǎo, xiàoxiào biàn niánshào

anger hurries a person to old age; laughing makes one young

Advice not to get angry and to laugh more for your health.
生有涯，学无边 shēng yǒu yá, xué wúbiān

life has a shore; learning has no edge

Life is limited but knowledge is endless, so keep learning. Echoes 'life is short, art is long'.
生子莫生多，生多换破锅 shēng zǐ mò shēng duō, shēng duō huàn pò guō

don't have many children; many children means trading for a broken pot

Have few children, since too many will lower the family's living standard. Reflects family-planning rhetoric.
绳子总在细处断 shéngzi zǒng zài xì chù duàn

a rope always breaks at its thin part

Weak links are where things go wrong. Like 'a chain is only as strong as its weakest link'.
省吃餐餐有，省穿日日新 shěng chī cāncān yǒu, shěngchuān rìrì xīn

economise on food and there's food every meal; economise on clothes and there's something new every day

Being frugal day to day means you never lack food or clothes in the long run.
省事不如省官 shěngshìbùrú shěngguān

cutting down on affairs is not as good as cutting down on officials

Fewer officials means fewer troublesome bureaucratic matters. Critical of bureaucracy.
圣人也有三分错 shèngrén yě yǒu sān fēn cuò

even a sage is wrong thirty percent

Everyone makes mistakes, even the wisest. Used to excuse errors; like 'to err is human'.
胜败乃兵家常事 shèngbài nǎi bīngjiā chángshì

victory and defeat are everyday matters for soldiers

Winning and losing are normal, so don't take one setback too hard. Used to console.
胜不骄，败不馁 shèng bù jiāo, bài bù něi

don't be proud in victory or discouraged in defeat

Stay level-headed whether you win or lose. Approving advice.
胜不足喜，败不足忧 shèng bùzú xǐ, bài bùzú yōu

victory is nothing to rejoice at, defeat nothing to worry about

Keep a calm attitude to winning and losing; same sense as 胜不骄，败不馁.
胜者王侯败者贼 shèngzhě wánghóu bàizhě zéi

the winner is king or lord, the loser is a bandit

Right and wrong are judged by who wins. Often said cynically; like 'history is written by the victors'.
盛喜中不许人物，盛怒中不答人简 shèngxǐ zhōng bù xǔ rén wù, shèngnù zhōng bù dá rén jiǎn

in great joy don't promise people things; in great anger don't answer people's letters

Don't make decisions when emotions run high, as you are likely to handle things badly.
失败是成功之母 shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ

failure is the mother of success

Learning from failures leads to success. Encouraging; like 'failure is the mother of success' or 'learn from your mistakes'.
师傅不明弟子浊 shīfu bù míng dìzǐ zhuó

if the master isn't clear-sighted, the disciple is muddled

If the teacher is not capable, the students will be confused. Critical of poor teachers.
师傅领进门，修行在个人 shīfu lǐngjìn mén, xiūxíng zài gèrén

the master leads you through the door; the practice depends on the individual

A teacher can only start you off and guide you; how far you get depends on your own effort. Said in an encouraging or admonishing tone about learning.
师高弟子强 shī gāo dìzǐ qiáng

the master is excellent, the disciples are strong

A skilled teacher produces capable students. Approving; close to 'like master, like pupil' in a positive sense.
师徒如父子 shī tú rú fù zǐ

master and apprentice are like father and son

The bond between a master and his apprentice is as close as that between father and son. Said approvingly of a close teacher–student relationship.
虱多不痒，债多不愁 shī duō bù yǎng, zhài duō bù chóu

with many lice you don't itch; with many debts you don't worry

When troubles or debts pile up high enough, you stop worrying about them because worrying is useless. Wry and resigned, often said of someone deep in debt.
狮子老虎也护犊 shīzi lǎohǔ yě hùdú

even lions and tigers protect their cubs

Every parent naturally loves and protects their children, even the fiercest creatures. Said to explain or excuse parental protectiveness.
施恩不望报，望报不施恩 shī ēn bù wàng bào, wàng bào bù shī ēn

do a kindness without hoping for repayment; if you hope for repayment, don't do the kindness

Help others without expecting anything back. Approving moral advice.
十步之内，必有芳草 shí bù zhī nèi, bì yǒu fāngcǎo

within ten paces there must be fragrant grass

Talented people are to be found everywhere. Encouraging; a reminder not to overlook talent around you.
十层单当不得一层棉 shí céng dān dàngbude yī céng mián

ten layers of thin cloth can't equal one layer of padding

Many thin things are no substitute for one thing of real quality. Literally about warmth; also used figuratively.
十个人十个性 shí gè rén shí gè xìng

ten people, ten personalities

Everyone has their own character. Said to explain differences between people; compare 'different strokes for different folks'.
十个指头不一般齐 shí gè zhǐtou bù yībān qí

ten fingers are not all the same length

People or things are never entirely alike; differences are unavoidable. Often said to justify unequal results.
十个指头咬着都疼 shí gè zhǐtou yǎozhe dōu téng

bite any of the ten fingers and it hurts

A parent loves all their children equally, and hurting any one of them hurts the same. Also used for close family generally.
十个嘴把式，顶不住一个手把式 shígè zuǐ bǎshi, dǐng bù zhù yī gè shǒu bǎshi

ten men skilled with their mouths can't match one man skilled with his hands

Ten talkers are not worth one doer. Practical ability counts for more than eloquence; compare 'actions speak louder than words'.
十句好话顶不上一句丑话 shí jù hǎohuà dǐng bù shàng yī jù chǒuhuà

ten kind words don't outweigh one ugly word

One harsh remark can undo the effect of many kind ones; bad words do more damage than good words do good.
十句谚语九句真 shí jù yànyǔ jiǔ jù zhēn

of ten proverbs, nine are true

Most proverbs reflect real experience and can be trusted.
十里没真信 shí lǐ méi zhēn xìn

over ten li there is no true news

News gets less reliable the further it travels, so don't trust rumours passed along a long way.
十磨九难出好人 shí mó jiǔ nàn chū hǎorén

ten grindings and nine hardships produce a good person

Only through many trials does a person become good or strong. Encouraging; compare 'adversity builds character'.
十年窗下无人问，一举成名天下闻 shí nián chuāng xià wú rén wèn, yījǔchéngmíng tiānxià wén

ten years at the window and nobody asks; one success and the whole world hears

A scholar studies in obscurity for years, then becomes famous overnight after passing the exam. Used of hard work finally rewarded.
十年树木，百年树人 shíniánshùmù, bǎiniánshùrén

ten years to grow a tree, a hundred years to grow a person

Raising trees takes years, and educating people takes much longer. Used to stress that education is a long-term investment.
十七十八无丑女 shíqī shíbā wú chǒu nǚ

at seventeen or eighteen there is no ugly girl

Young women at that age are all pretty because of their youth; youth is itself beauty. Light, approving remark.
十事半通，不如一事精通 shí shì bàn tōng, bùrú yī shì jīngtōng

half-knowing ten things is worse than mastering one

It is better to master one skill than to have a shallow smattering of many. Compare 'jack of all trades, master of none'.
十月怀胎，一朝分娩 shíyuèhuáitāi, yīzhāofēnmiǎn

ten months of pregnancy, then delivery in a single day

After long, patient effort, results will come in time. Encouraging.
时间就是金钱，效率就是生命 shíjiān jiù shì jīnqián, xiàolǜ jiù shì shēngmìng

time is money, efficiency is life

Time and efficiency decide whether an enterprise survives and grows. A well-known slogan of the economic reform era; 'time is money'.
时间就是生命 shíjiān jiùshìshēngmìng

time is life

Valuing time is valuing life, and in urgent situations, such as rescues, saving time can save lives.
时间无私，历史无情 shíjiān wúsī, lìshǐ wúqíng

time is selfless, history is merciless

Time treats everyone equally and history judges fairly. Often used as a solemn warning.
时势造英雄 shíshì zào yīngxióng

the times make heroes

Heroes are made by circumstances, not born. Said when explaining someone's rise by the conditions of their era.
识破人情便是仙 shípòrénqíng biàn shì xiān

see through human relationships and you are an immortal

If you understand how people and society really work, you can live carefree like an immortal. A somewhat worldly-wise or cynical remark.
识时务者为俊杰 shíshíwùzhě wéi jùnjié

those who recognise the times are outstanding people

A wise person sees which way things are going and adapts. Can be approving, or ironic when excusing bowing to power; compare 'discretion is the better part of valour'.
识时务者为英雄 shíshíwùzhě wéi yīngxióng

those who recognise the times are heroes

A less usual wording of 识时务者为俊杰: a sensible person reads the situation and adapts.
实话好说，谎话难编 shíhuà hǎo shuō, huǎnghuà nán biān

truth is easy to tell, lies are hard to make up

Telling the truth is simple, while a lie is hard to keep consistent. Often said to urge honesty.

Every kind of Chinese saying