Chinese proverbs (谚语)

真金不怕火炼 zhēnjīnbùpàhuǒliàn

real gold does not fear being refined in fire

A person of firm will or honesty can withstand any test. Approving; close to 'truth will out'.
真理越辩越明，道理越讲越清 zhēnlǐ yuè biàn yuè míng, dàoli yuè jiǎng yuè qīng

truth gets clearer the more it is debated, reason gets clearer the more it is explained

Open debate and discussion make the truth clearer. Often used to encourage argument.
真穷好过，假富难当 zhēn qióng hǎo guò, jiǎ fù nán dāng

real poverty is easy to get through, pretending to be rich is hard to bear

Honest poverty is easier to endure than keeping up a false show of wealth. It warns against pretence.
真人不露相，露相不真人 zhēnrén bù lòuxiàng, lòuxiàng bù zhēnrén

a true master doesn't show his face; one who shows his face is no true master

Truly able people don't show off, and those who like to display themselves are usually less capable. Similar to 'still waters run deep'.
真人面前说不得假话 zhēnrén miànqián shuōbude jiǎ huà

you can't tell lies before a real master

Said to assure someone, who is experienced and sees through things, that what you say is true.
真心对真心，石头变黄金 zhēnxīn duì zhēnxīn, shítou biàn huángjīn

true heart to true heart, stones turn into gold

If people treat each other sincerely, wonders can happen. Approving.
争着不足，让着有余 zhēngzhe bùzú, ràngzhe yǒuyú

fighting over it, there isn't enough; yielding, there is more than enough

Quarrelling makes even plenty seem too little, while giving way makes even a little enough. It encourages courtesy and compromise.
整瓶不摇半瓶摇 zhěng píng bù yáo bàn píng yáo

a full bottle doesn't slosh, a half-full bottle sloshes

Truly knowledgeable people don't show off, while half-skilled people like to flaunt it. Like 'empty vessels make the most noise'.
正气能驱邪，无私可服神 zhèngqì néng qū xié, wúsī kě fú shén

righteousness can drive out evil, selflessness can win over the gods

A just spirit can defeat evil and total selflessness earns respect. Approving.
正人先正己 zhèng rén xiān zhèng jǐ

to correct others, first correct yourself

If you want to correct others, hold yourself to a strict standard first. Close to 'practise what you preach'.
知错改错不算错 zhī cuò gǎi cuò bù suàn cuò

knowing a mistake and correcting it is not a mistake

If you admit and correct your error, it hardly counts as one. Used to encourage someone.
知恩不报非君子 zhī ēn bù bào fēi jūnzǐ

one who knows a kindness and doesn't repay it is no gentleman

Whoever fails to repay a favour is not a decent person.
知夫莫如妻 zhī fū mòrú qī

no one knows a husband like his wife

A wife understands her husband best.
知己知彼，百战百胜 zhījǐzhībǐ, bǎizhànbǎishèng

know yourself, know the enemy, win a hundred battles of a hundred

If you understand both your own side and your opponent, you will win every time. It goes back to Sun Tzu.
知冷知热是夫妻 zhī lěng zhī rè shì fūqī

knowing when the other is cold or hot is what makes a couple

Husband and wife should care for and look after each other in daily life.
知人难，知己更难 zhī rén nán, zhī jǐ gèng nán

knowing others is hard, knowing yourself is harder

Seeing yourself accurately is harder than understanding others.
知人知面不知心 zhī rén zhī miàn bù zhī xīn

you know a person's face but not their heart

It's easy to know how someone looks but hard to know what they think. A warning not to trust people too quickly.
知识在于积累，天才在于勤奋 zhīshi zàiyú jīlěi, tiāncái zàiyú qínfèn

knowledge lies in accumulation, genius lies in diligence

Knowledge is built up bit by bit, and genius depends on hard work. Used to encourage study.
知子莫若父，知女莫若母 zhī zǐ mòruò fù, zhī nǚ mòruò mǔ

none knows a son like his father, none knows a daughter like her mother

Parents understand their children best.
知足者常乐 zhīzúzhě cháng lè

those who know contentment are always happy

People who are content with what they have are happy. Approving.
只怕不做，不怕不会 zhǐ pà bù zuò, bù pà bù huì

fear only not doing it, not failing to know how

If you dare to practise, you can learn anything. It encourages people to try.
只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 zhǐ xǔ zhōuguān fànghuǒ, bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎn dēng

the prefect may set fires, but the people may not light lamps

Those in power do whatever they like while ordinary people are denied even their basic rights. Critical; like 'one law for the rich, another for the poor'.
只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针 zhǐyào gōngfu shēn, tiěchǔ mó chéng zhēn

with enough effort, an iron pestle can be ground into a needle

With great persistence, even a very hard task can succeed. Said to encourage perseverance; like 'where there's a will, there's a way'.
只要种子落地，早晚会有收成 zhǐyào zhǒngzi luò dì, zǎowǎn huì yǒu shōucheng

as long as the seed falls to the ground, sooner or later there will be a harvest

Effort put into a venture will eventually bear fruit. Encouraging; like 'you reap what you sow' in its hopeful sense.
纸里包不住火 zhǐ lǐ bāo bù zhù huǒ

paper cannot wrap up fire

The truth cannot be concealed for ever; it will come out. Close to 'truth will out'.
指亲不富，看嘴不饱 zhǐ qīn bù fù, kàn zuǐ bù bǎo

counting on relatives won't make you rich; watching others' mouths won't fill you up

Relying on relatives and friends for help will not make you prosperous; you must rely on yourself. Advisory.
治酒容易请客难 zhì jiǔ róngyi qǐngkè nán

preparing a feast is easy; getting guests to come is hard

Laying on a banquet is simple, but persuading an important or respected person to attend is hard.
致富先治愚，治愚办教育 zhìfù xiān zhì yú, zhì yú bàn jiàoyù

to get rich, first cure ignorance; to cure ignorance, set up education

Escaping poverty at the root requires education. A slogan-like, approving saying.
智者千虑，必有一失 zhìzhě qiān lǜ, bì yǒu yī shī

even a wise man, in a thousand considerations, will surely make one slip

Even clever people make mistakes, so they should not be overconfident. Equivalent to 'everyone makes mistakes' or 'even Homer nods'.
忠言逆耳，良药苦口 zhōngyánnì'ěr, liángyàokǔkǒu

honest words grate on the ear; good medicine is bitter in the mouth

Sound advice is unpleasant to hear but does you good, like bitter medicine. Said to urge acceptance of criticism.
众人拾柴火焰高 zhòngrén shí chái huǒyàn gāo

when everyone gathers firewood, the flames rise high

When many people work together, great strength results. Close to 'many hands make light work'.
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 zhòngguādéguā, zhòngdòudédòu

plant melons, get melons; plant beans, get beans

Every effect has its cause; you get what you sow. Close to 'you reap what you sow'.
种禾得稻，敬老得宝 zhòng hé dé dào, jìnglǎo dé bǎo

plant rice seedlings and get grain; respect the old and gain treasure

Respecting elders brings valuable experience and knowledge, as sowing brings harvest. Approving, moralising.
重赏之下，必有勇夫 zhòngshǎngzhīxià, bìyǒu yǒngfū

under a heavy reward there are sure to be brave men

A big enough reward will make people take risks. Somewhat cynical about the power of incentives.
主雅客来勤 zhǔ yǎ kè lái qín

if the host is refined, guests come often

A cultured, pleasant host attracts frequent visitors.
拄棍要拄长的，结伴要结强的 zhǔ gùn yào zhǔ cháng de, jiébàn yào jié qiáng de

choose a long stick to lean on; choose a strong companion

Make friends with strong, capable people who can support you.
煮饭要下米，说话要讲理 zhǔ fàn yào xiàmǐ, shuōhuà yào jiǎnglǐ

to cook rice you must put in rice; to speak you must be reasonable

Without reason, nobody will listen, just as there is no rice without grain. Used to urge talking sense.
捉贼见赃，捉奸见双 zhuō zéi jiàn zāng, zhuōjiān jiàn shuāng

catch a thief, see the stolen goods; catch adultery, see the pair

A judgement needs hard evidence: a thief must be found with the loot, and adultery proved by catching both people. Said when urging proof before accusing.

May offend: sexist or sexual
子不嫌母丑 zǐ bù xián mǔ chǒu

a child doesn't find his mother ugly

A child loves their mother however she looks; more broadly, one stays loyal to one's home or origins however humble.
子孝双亲乐，家和万事成 zǐ xiào shuāngqīn lè, jiā hé wànshì chéng

when children are filial, both parents are happy; when the family is harmonious, everything succeeds

Respectful children make their parents happy, and a harmonious household helps everything go well. Approving, moralising.
自病不能自医 zì bìng bù néng zì yī

one cannot cure one's own illness

You need others' help to correct your own faults, as you can't see them yourself. Like 'a doctor can't treat himself'.
自古嫦娥爱少年 zì gǔ cháng'é ài shàonián

since ancient times Chang'e has loved young men

Young women have always been drawn to young, handsome men. A light, humorous observation about youthful attraction.
自己跌倒自己爬 zìjǐ diēdǎo zìjǐ pá

if you fall, get up yourself

You must pick yourself up after your own setbacks and rely on yourself.
纵有大厦千间，不过身眠七尺 zòng yǒu dà shà qiān jiān, bùguò shēn mián qī chǐ

even with a thousand rooms in a mansion, you sleep in only seven feet

A person's real needs are limited, so don't be greedy.
纵子如纵虎 zòng zǐ rú zòng hǔ

indulging a son is like letting a tiger loose

Giving children free rein brings endless harm later. A warning against spoiling children.
走马有个前蹄失，急水也有回头浪 zǒumǎ yǒu gè qián tí shī, jí shuǐ yě yǒu huítóu làng

even a galloping horse stumbles on a front hoof; even fast water has backward waves

However smoothly things go, setbacks and slips happen. Like 'even Homer nods'.
走千里路，问千里话 zǒu qiān lǐ lù, wèn qiān lǐ huà

walk a thousand li, ask a thousand li of questions

Customs differ from place to place, so ask as you go in a new place. Like 'when in Rome...'
嘴上没毛，办事不牢 zuǐ shàng méi máo, bàn shì bù láo

no hair on the mouth, work is not firm

An old saying that young people are unreliable and do not get things done steadily. It reflects an old prejudice against youth, and people often quote it ironically.
醉是醒时言 zuì shì xǐng shí yán

what is said drunk is what was said sober

What people say when drunk is what they really think when sober. Close to 'in vino veritas'.
作福不如避罪 zuòfú bùrú bì zuì

seeking blessings is not as good as avoiding crime

Praying to the gods for good fortune is less useful than staying out of wrongdoing. Doing no evil brings its own good fortune.
坐吃山空，立吃地陷 zuòchīshānkōng, lìchī dì xiàn

sit and eat, the mountain empties; stand and eat, the ground sinks

If you only spend and do not earn, even a great fortune will run out. Close to 'spend without earning and the wealth will vanish'. A warning against idleness.
坐如钟，站如松，卧如弓 zuò rú zhōng, zhàn rú sōng, wò rú gōng

sit like a bell, stand like a pine, lie like a bow

Advice on good posture: sit steadily, stand straight, lie in a natural curve. More broadly, it means behaving with discipline and good manners.

Every kind of Chinese saying