Chinese proverbs (谚语)

学好千日不足，学歹一日有余 xuéhǎo qiān rì bùzú, xuédǎi yī rì yǒuyú

learning good takes a thousand days and is not enough; learning bad takes one day and is more than enough

Becoming good is slow and hard, but picking up bad habits is fast. A warning, especially to the young.
学问无大小，能者为尊 xuéwen wú dàxiǎo, néngzhě wéi zūn

learning has no big or small; the able are respected

Knowledge is not a matter of age or rank; honour whoever knows most. Approving.
学问学问，勤学好问 xuéwen xuéwen, qín xué hào wèn

learning, 'ask-learning': study diligently and love to ask

To gain knowledge, study hard and ask questions. A play on the word 学问 as 学 (study) plus 问 (ask).
学者如牛毛，成者如麟角 xuézhě rú niúmáo, chéngzhě rú línjiǎo

learners are like ox hairs, successes like a unicorn's horn

Many study, but few achieve something. Observational, a little discouraging.
雪地里埋不住死人 xuědì li mái bù zhù sǐrén

a dead body cannot be hidden in the snow

The truth can't be hidden for long and will come out. Often said about cover-ups.
雪中送炭真君子，锦上添花是小人 xuězhōngsòngtàn zhēn jūnzǐ, jǐnshàngtiānhuā shì xiǎorén

bringing charcoal in snow is a true gentleman, adding flowers to brocade is a petty person

Someone who helps in need is truly noble; one who only flatters the successful is petty. Approving of the first, critical of the second.
丫头是当妈的小棉袄 yātou shì dāngmā de xiǎo mián'ǎo

a daughter is her mother's little padded jacket

A daughter is the child closest to her mother's heart, warm and caring. Affectionate.
压大的力,吓大的胆 yādà de lì, xiàdà de dǎn

pressure raises strength, scares raise courage

Ability and courage are forged by hardship and adversity. Encouraging; like 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'.
牙硬磨不过舌头 yá yìng mó bù guò shétou

hard teeth can't outlast the tongue

Gentleness overcomes force; the soft beats the hard. Teeth wear away and fall out while the tongue remains.
严嵩做寿,照单全收 yánsōng zuòshòu, zhào dān quán shōu

Yan Song holds a birthday celebration: accepts everything on the list

Mocks a greedy person who takes every gift or bit of wealth offered, never refusing any.
严师出高徒 yánshī chū gāotú

a strict master produces outstanding apprentices

Strict teaching brings out excellent students. Approving; similar to 'spare the rod and spoil the child' in spirit.
严是爱,松是害 yán shì ài, sōng shì hài

strictness is love, leniency is harm

Being strict with children is real love, while being lax harms them. Said by parents and teachers.
言不乱发,笔不妄动 yán bù luàn fā, bǐ bù wàngdòng

words not uttered carelessly, the pen not moved rashly

Be careful and responsible when speaking and writing; do not do so casually.
言多失语,食多伤身 yán duō shī yǔ, shí duō shāngshēn

many words lead to slips of speech, much food harms the body

Talking too much leads to mistakes, as eating too much harms health; anything beyond reasonable limits does harm. Similar to 'moderation in all things'.
言教不如身教 yánjiào bùrú shēnjiào

teaching by words is not as good as teaching by one's own person

Setting an example teaches better than lecturing. Similar to 'actions speak louder than words'.
言为心之苗 yán wéi xīn zhī miáo

words are the sprouts of the heart

What people say shows what they think inside.
眼不见为净 yǎn bù jiàn wéi jìng

what the eye doesn't see counts as clean

If you don't see something unpleasant, you feel it doesn't bother you. Similar to 'out of sight, out of mind'.
眼不见,心不烦 yǎn bù jiàn, xīn bù fán

if the eyes don't see, the heart isn't troubled

Avoid upsetting things and you won't be vexed. Similar to 'what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over'.
眼光浅时无大量 yǎnguāng qiǎn shí wú dàliàng

when vision is shallow there is no great capacity

Short-sighted people are narrow-minded and petty.
眼过千遍,不如手过一遍 yǎn guò qiān biàn, bùrú shǒu guò yī biàn

eyes passing over it a thousand times is not as good as the hands doing it once

Doing something yourself teaches more than watching repeatedly; practice brings real knowledge.
眼见方为是,传言未必真 yǎn jiàn fāng wéi shì, chuányán wèibì zhēn

only what the eyes see is true; hearsay isn't necessarily real

Trust what you see yourself, since rumours are often wrong. Similar to 'seeing is believing'.
眼睛是心灵的窗户 yǎnjing shì xīnlíng de chuānghu

the eyes are the windows of the soul

A person's inner nature can be read from their gaze. Same as the English saying.
眼泪灭不了火 yǎnlèi miè bùliǎo huǒ

tears cannot put out a fire

Crying alone won't solve a problem; you have to act.
眼里揉不下沙子 yǎn li róu bù xià shāzi

the eye can't take a rubbed-in grain of sand

Someone who cannot tolerate anything that conflicts with their views or interests; intolerant of wrongs.
眼亮不怕夜黑 yǎn liàng bùpà yè hēi

with bright eyes one doesn't fear a dark night

A person with sharp judgment can see through deception in any circumstances.
燕雀安知鸿鹄志 yànquè ān zhī hónghú zhì

how could a sparrow know the ambitions of a swan

Ordinary people can't grasp the lofty aims of the ambitious. Often said by or of one with high aims.
燕子不大飞千里 yànzi bù dà fēi qiān lǐ

though the swallow is small, it flies a thousand miles

Small or young people can still accomplish big things. Encouraging.
燕子衔泥垒大窝 yànzi xián ní lěi dà wō

swallows carry mud to build a big nest

Persistent effort, bit by bit, achieves great things. Similar to 'little strokes fell great oaks'.
羊群里丢了羊群里找 yáng qún li diūle yángqún li zhǎo

a sheep lost in the flock is looked for in the flock

When a problem arises somewhere, look for the cause there.
养兵千日,用在一时 yǎngbīngqiānrì, yòng zài yīshí

feed soldiers a thousand days, use them for one moment

You train and support people for years so that they can perform when the need arises. Said when calling on people to deliver.
养病如养虎 yǎngbìng rú yǎng hǔ

nursing an illness is like raising a tiger

Leaving an illness untreated is like keeping a tiger: it will bring endless trouble later. A warning to treat problems early.
养不教,父之过 yǎng bù jiào, fù zhī guò

to feed without teaching is the father's fault

If a child is raised but not taught, the father is to blame. Taken from the Three Character Classic, it stresses parents' duty to educate.
养儿不读书,只当喂个猪 yǎng ér bù dúshū, zhǐ dàng wèi gè zhū

raise a son who doesn't study, and it's just like feeding a pig

A child who does not study will not develop his mind and will grow dull. Said to urge schooling; it is harsh in tone.
养儿方知父母恩 yǎng ér fāng zhī fùmǔ ēn

only when you raise a child do you know your parents' kindness

You only appreciate what your parents did for you once you become a parent yourself.
养儿防老,积谷防饥 yǎng érfánglǎo, jīgǔfángjī

raise sons to guard against old age, store grain to guard against hunger

Traditional saying that you have children as support in old age, just as you store grain against famine; both are provision for the future.
养生不如放生 yǎngshēng bùrú fàngshēng

keeping creatures is not as good as setting them free

Literally, it is better to release animals than keep them captive (a Buddhist idea). Figuratively, it is better to encourage idle dependants to go out and make their own way than to feed them at home.
养正邪自退 yǎng zhèng xié zì tuì

nurture what is right and the wrong retreats by itself

If you build up healthy, upright values, bad influences fade away on their own.
养子不易,教子更难 yǎng zǐ bù yì, jiào zǐ gèng nán

raising a child is not easy, teaching a child is harder

Bringing up children is hard, and educating them well is harder still, so education should come first.
咬人的狗暗下口 yǎo rén de gǒu àn xià kǒu

a dog that bites does so quietly

Truly vicious people strike secretly without warning. A warning to watch out for quiet, malicious people.
药补不如食补 yàobǔ bùrú shíbǔ

medicine tonics are not as good as food tonics

For building up health, eating nourishing food beats taking medicine.
药不治假病,酒难解真愁 yào bù zhì jiǎ bìng, jiǔ nán jiě zhēn chóu

medicine can't cure a fake illness, wine can hardly dispel real sorrow

Pretended ills need no cure, and real grief can't be drowned in drink.
药医不死病 yào yī bù sǐ bìng

medicine cures only the illness that won't kill

Medicine can't cure everything; it only helps with curable conditions. Often used to say fate decides in the end.
要防福中变,得在苦中练 yào fáng fú zhōng biàn, děi zài kǔ zhōng liàn

to guard against going bad amid comfort, you must train in hardship

To stop people spoiling in good times, they must be toughened by hard times.
要过河,先搭桥 yào guò hé, xiān dāqiáo

to cross the river, first build a bridge

Before doing something, create the conditions it needs.
要想有所得,必先有所失 yào xiǎng yǒu suǒdé, bì xiān yǒu suǒshī

to gain something, you must first lose something

Getting anything worthwhile requires a sacrifice first. Close to 'no pain, no gain'.
要知山下路,须问过来人 yào zhī shān xià lù, xū wèn guòlái rén

to know the road below the mountain, ask someone who has come that way

To understand a matter, ask those with experience.
要做好人,须寻好友 yào zuò hǎorén, xū xún hǎoyǒu

to be a good person, seek good friends

Good friends help you to be good. Compare 'a man is known by the company he keeps'.
一把钥匙开一把锁 yī bǎ yàoshi kāi yī bǎ suǒ

one key opens one lock

Says different people or problems need different methods. Neutral advice.
一白遮百丑 yī bái zhē bǎi chǒu

one whiteness covers a hundred flaws

Says fair skin makes up for other flaws in looks; it is also used for any one strong point hiding weaknesses.
一百个小和尚好认一个老和尚，一个老和尚难认一百个小和尚 yībǎi gè xiǎo héshang hǎo rèn yī gè lǎo héshang, yī gè lǎo héshang nán rèn yībǎi gè xiǎo héshang

a hundred young monks can easily know one old monk, but one old monk can hardly know a hundred young monks

Says many people easily recognise one prominent person, but he can't know all of them.
一辈子不出马，到老是个卒 yībèizi bù chūmǎ, dào lǎo shì gè zú

never move the knight all your life and you stay a pawn to the end

Says that someone who doesn't go out into the world and try will never amount to much. Encouraging. The image is from Chinese chess.
一不过二，二不过三 yī bù guò èr, èr bù guò sān

one doesn't go past two, two doesn't go past three

Says a mistake can be forgiven once, perhaps twice, but not a third time. Close to 'three strikes and you're out'.
一步错，步步错 yī bù cuò, bùbù cuò

one wrong step, every step wrong

Warns that one key mistake leads to more mistakes. Close to 'one false step leads to another'.
一步赶不上，步步赶不上 yī bù gǎn bù shàng, bùbù gǎn bù shàng

miss one step, miss every step

Says that if you fall behind at a key moment, you stay behind.
一朝天子一朝臣 yī cháo tiānzǐ yī cháo chén

each emperor's reign has its own ministers

Says a new leader brings in his own people. Often wry or critical of workplace or political changes.
一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴 yī cùn guāngyīn yī cùn jīn, cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāngyīn

an inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of gold can't buy an inch of time

Urges people to value time, which is worth more than money. Close to 'time is money', though stronger.
一打三分低 yī dǎ sān fēn dī

one blow lowers you by three points

Says that anyone who hits someone is in the wrong and loses standing.
一滴水可以反映出太阳的光辉 yī dī shuǐ kěyǐ fǎnyìng chū tàiyáng de guānghuī

a single drop of water can reflect the sun's brilliance

Says that something small can show something great. Approving.
一动不如一静 yī dòng bùrú yī jìng

one move is not as good as one stillness

Advises staying put and watching when you're unsure rather than acting.
一法通，百法通 yī fǎ tōng, bǎi fǎ tōng

master one method, master a hundred methods

Says that once you grasp the underlying principle of one thing, you can handle many related ones.
一方水土养一方人 yī fāng shuǐtǔ yǎng yī fāng rén

one place's water and soil raises one place's people

Says that local people are shaped by where they live and live off what it provides. Neutral, often used to explain regional differences.
一分耕耘，一分收获 yī fēn gēngyún, yī fēn shōuhuò

one measure of ploughing, one measure of harvest

Says that results match the effort you put in. Encouraging. Close to 'you reap what you sow'.
一竿子打不倒一船人 yī gānzi dǎ bù dǎo yī chuán rén

one pole can't knock down a whole boatload of people

Warns against blaming everyone because of a few; it is better to target the real culprits.
一个巴掌拍不响 yī gè bāzhang pāi bù xiǎng

one palm can't clap

Says that a quarrel takes two sides, so both are partly at fault. Close to 'it takes two to tango'.
一个好汉三个帮，一个篱笆三个桩 yī gè hǎohàn sān gè bāng, yī gè líba sān gè zhuāng

a good man needs three helpers, a fence needs three posts

Says even a capable person needs the help of others.
一个和尚挑水吃，两个和尚抬水吃，三个和尚没水吃 yī gè héshang tiāo shuǐ chī, liǎng gè héshang tái shuǐ chī, sān gè héshang méi shuǐ chī

one monk carries water to drink, two monks share a pole to carry it, three monks have no water

Says that when too many people share a job, each leaves it to the others and nothing gets done. Critical. Close to 'too many cooks spoil the broth'.
一个人一个性 yī gè rén yī gè xìng

each person has his own nature

Says that people differ in their aims and temperament.
一根单丝难成线，千根万根拧成绳 yī gēn dān sī nán chéng xiàn, qiān gēn wàn gēn níngchéng shéng

a single strand can hardly make a thread, but thousands twisted together make a rope

Says that one person's strength is limited, but united people are strong. Approving. Close to 'unity is strength'.
一根麻不乱，十根麻扯成团 yī gēn má bù luàn, shí gēn má chěchéng tuán

one strand of hemp doesn't tangle, but ten strands pulled together make a knot

Advises doing things one at a time, since several tasks mixed together cause a mess.
一回生，两回熟 yī huí shēng, liǎng huí shú

strangers the first time, familiar the second

Says that people or things feel strange at first but become familiar quickly. Often said to put someone at ease.
一家不知一家事 yī jiā bù zhī yī jiā shì

one household doesn't know another household's affairs

Says that outsiders can't know the difficulties inside another family, so don't judge.
一家人不说两家话 yī jiā rén bù shuō liǎng jiā huà

people of one family don't speak two families' words

Says that close people needn't use polite formalities with each other.
一客不烦二主 yī kè bù fán èr zhǔ

one guest doesn't trouble two hosts

Says that when you ask a favour, you should keep asking the same person until it's done instead of going to someone else. Often said when asking for more help.
一口吃不成大胖子 yī kǒu chī bù chéng dà pàngzi

you can't become a big fat man with one mouthful

Says that results take time and can't be rushed. Close to 'Rome wasn't built in a day'.
一木不成林，一花不成春 yī mù bù chéng lín, yī huā bù chéng chūn

one tree doesn't make a forest, one flower doesn't make spring

Says one person alone can hardly achieve great things; cooperation is needed.
一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨 yī nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zàiyú chén

the year's plan lies in spring, the day's plan lies in the morning

Says a good start lays the groundwork for success, so make the most of spring and the morning. Encouraging. Close to 'the early bird catches the worm'.
一勤生百巧，一懒生百病 yī qín shēng bǎi qiǎo, yī lǎn shēng bǎi bìng

one bit of diligence breeds a hundred skills; one bit of laziness breeds a hundred ills

Hard work makes you skilled and resourceful, while laziness leads to all kinds of problems. Used to encourage diligence.
一人计短，众人计长 yī rén jì duǎn, zhòngrén jì cháng

one person's plan is short; many people's plans are long

One person's ideas are bound to have gaps, but a group planning together will be more thorough. Said to encourage consulting others. Close to 'two heads are better than one'.
一人难称百人心 yī rén nán chèn bǎi rén xīn

one person can hardly suit a hundred people's hearts

It is hard for one person to satisfy everybody. Said when someone cannot please all and gets complaints. Close to 'you can't please everyone'.
一人难做百人饭 yī rén nán zuò bǎi rén fàn

one person can hardly cook a meal for a hundred people

One cook can hardly make food that suits everyone's taste. Used, often as an excuse, when someone cannot please everybody.
一人拼命，万夫莫当 yī rén pīnmìng, wànfūmòdāng

one man fights to the death, ten thousand men cannot hold him off

A person ready to risk his life is so fierce that even a crowd cannot stop him. Said to warn against pushing someone into a desperate corner.
一人为私，两人为公 yī rén wéi sī, liǎng rén wéi gōng

one person acts for self, two people act for the public

One person's judgment is likely to be biased, while what two people agree on is closer to fair. Used to support joint decisions.
一日为师，终身为父 yī rì wéi shī, zhōngshēn wéi fù

one day as teacher, a lifetime as father

A teacher, even of just one day, deserves respect for life, like a father. Said to stress respect for teachers; somewhat old-fashioned in tone.
一山不容二虎 yī shān bù róng èr hǔ

one mountain cannot hold two tigers

Two strong rivals who refuse to yield cannot share one place or organisation. Said of power struggles. Close to 'two kings cannot rule one throne'.
一身做不得两件事，一时用不得两条心 yīshēn zuòbude liǎng jiàn shì, yīshí yòngbude liǎng tiáo xīn

one body cannot do two things; one moment cannot use two minds

Do one thing at a time with full attention; you can't divide your mind. Used to urge focus.
一失足成千古恨，再回头是百年身 yī shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn, zài huítóu shì bǎinián shēn

one slip of the foot becomes a lasting regret; turn back and it is already a lifetime gone

One serious mistake can cause lifelong regret that cannot be undone. Said as a solemn warning to be careful at critical moments.
一手遮不了天 yīshǒu zhē bùliǎo tiān

one hand cannot cover the sky

No matter how powerful or cunning, you cannot hide the truth from everyone. Said critically of those who try to conceal wrongdoing or control everything.
一天省一把，十年买匹马 yī tiān shěng yī bǎ, shí nián mǎi pǐ mǎ

save a handful a day, in ten years buy a horse

Small daily savings add up to something big over time. Used to encourage thrift. Close to 'a penny saved is a penny earned'.
一碗饭能顶三服药 yī wǎn fàn néng dǐng sān fù yào

one bowl of rice can match three doses of medicine

A healthy appetite and good food keep you well better than medicine does; diet beats drugs.
一文钱难倒英雄汉 yī wén qián nándǎo yīngxiónghàn

one copper coin can defeat a hero

At a critical moment even a heroic man can be stuck for lack of a tiny sum, so value money. Said when someone is brought low by a small shortage.
一物降一物 yīwùxiángyīwù

one thing subdues another thing

Everything has something that can control it; no one is unbeatable. Said with a humorous or knowing tone when someone meets their match.
一笑消百愁 yī xiào xiāo bǎi chóu

one laugh dispels a hundred worries

Laughing drives away worries; an upbeat outlook helps you cope. Used to cheer someone up.
一言既出，驷马难追 yīyán jìchū, sìmǎnánzhuī

once a word is spoken, a team of four horses cannot catch it

A promise once made cannot be taken back, so keep your word. Approving of honesty; also used as a reminder to be careful what you say.
一夜夫妻百日恩 yī yè fūqī bǎi rì ēn

one night as husband and wife, a hundred days of affection

Even a short marriage creates deep bonds and kindness between a couple. Said to urge mercy or kindness toward a spouse or former spouse.
一招不慎，满盘皆输 yīzhāobùshèn, mǎnpánjiēshū

one careless move, the whole board is lost

One wrong key move can lose the entire game. Used of strategy, business or life. Close to 'one false step ruins everything'.
一朝被蛇咬，三年怕草绳 yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo, sān nián pà cǎoshéng

bitten by a snake once, for three years afraid of a straw rope

After one bad experience, you are afraid of anything similar. Said sympathetically or mildly teasingly. Close to 'once bitten, twice shy'.
一争两丑，一让两有 yī zhēng liǎng chǒu, yī ràng liǎng yǒu

one quarrels, both look ugly; one yields, both gain

Arguing shames both sides, while giving way benefits both. Used to advise compromise in disputes.
一正压百邪 yī zhèng yā bǎi xié

one righteousness presses down a hundred evils

Upright moral force can overcome all kinds of wrongdoing. Used in approving, encouraging contexts.
一只老鼠坏一锅汤 yī zhī lǎoshǔ huài yī guō tāng

one rat spoils a pot of soup

One bad person or one rotten thing can ruin the whole group. Critical. Close to 'one bad apple spoils the barrel'.
衣不如新，人不如旧 yī bùrú xīn, rén bùrú jiù

for clothes, nothing beats new; for people, nothing beats old

New clothes are better than worn ones, but old friends and long-time partners are closer than new ones. Used to value long-standing relationships.

Every kind of Chinese saying