Chinese proverbs (谚语)

当家才知柴米价，养儿方晓父母恩 dāngjiā cái zhī cháimǐ jià, yǎng ér fāng xiǎo fùmǔ ēn

only running the household do you learn the price of firewood and rice; only raising a child do you know parents' kindness

You understand things truly only through personal experience.
当家三年狗也嫌 dāngjiā sān nián gǒu yě xián

run the household three years and even the dog dislikes you

Anyone in charge for long will end up resented by some. Wry, resigned.
当局者迷，旁观者清 dāngjúzhě mí, pángguānzhěqīng

the player is confused; the onlooker sees clearly

Those involved in a matter often cannot see it clearly, while outsiders can. Close to "onlookers see most of the game".
当堂不让父 dāng táng bù ràng fù

in the court hall, don't spare even your father

In court, the law must be upheld even against one's own father. Used of impartial justice.
当着矮人，不说短话 dāngzhe ǎi rén, bù shuō duǎn huà

in front of a short person, don't say "short" words

Don't point out people's weak points or mention what they are sensitive about when they are present.

May offend: mocks disability
当着真人，不说假话 dāngzhe zhēnrén, bù shuō jiǎhuà

before a person who knows the truth, tell no lies

Be truthful with those who understand things; lying to them is pointless.
刀快不怕脖子粗 dāo kuài bù pà bózi cū

if the knife is sharp, you needn't fear the neck is thick

With firm resolve and effective methods, no problem is too hard to solve. Said approvingly to encourage someone facing a difficult task.
到了庙里随和尚 dàole miào li suí héshàng

once in the temple, follow the monks

When you go somewhere new, follow the arrangements of those in charge there. Like 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'.
到什么山上唱什么歌 dào shénme shān shàng chàng shénme gē

on whatever mountain you reach, sing whatever song fits

Act according to the actual place and time rather than rigidly following fixed rules. Like 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do', but stressing flexibility.
道高一尺，魔高一丈 dàogāoyīchǐ, mógāoyīzhàng

if virtue rises a foot, the devil rises ten feet

Evil or obstacles grow even faster than the good that opposes them; also used for a rival who outdoes you. The book points to the more common form with the order reversed.
道在圣传修在己 dào zài shèng chuán xiū zài jǐ

the Way is passed on by sages, but cultivation lies in oneself

Teachers can pass on moral teachings, but whether you improve your character depends on your own effort.
稻多打出米来，人多讲出理来 dào duō dǎchū mǐ lái, rén duō jiǎngchū lǐ lái

much rice yields grain when threshed; many people talking bring out the reason

The more people discuss a matter, the clearer and more thorough the reasoning becomes. Approving of group discussion.
得放手时须放手，得饶人处且饶人 dé fàngshǒu shí xū fàngshǒu, dé ráo rén chù qiě ráo rén

let go when you can let go; forgive when you can forgive

Be lenient and magnanimous when you can, and don't push others too hard. Advice to be forgiving.
得理让三分 dé lǐ ràng sān fēn

when you are in the right, yield three tenths

Even when you are right, give way to others somewhat. Advises humility and generosity in arguments.
得民心者昌，失民心者亡 dé mínxīnzhě chāng, shī mínxīnzhě wáng

those who win the people's hearts prosper; those who lose them perish

A government rises or falls according to popular support. Approving, used in political and historical contexts.
得便宜处失便宜 dé piányi chù shī piányi

where you gain an advantage, you lose an advantage

Someone who takes unfair advantage will in the end lose out. A warning against greed, like 'cheats never prosper'.
得趣便抽身 déqù biàn chōu shēn

once you've had your fun, pull out

When you've gained something, be content and stop in time instead of pushing further.
得人钱财，与人消灾 dé rén qián cái, yǔ rén xiāozāi

take a person's money, and clear away their trouble

If you accept someone's money, you must solve their problem. Often said cynically, as in hired help or bribes.
得人者昌，失人者亡 dérénzhě chāng, shīrénzhě wáng

those who win people prosper; those who lose people perish

A variant of 得民心者昌，失民心者亡: success depends on winning people's support.
得意夫妻欣永守，负心朋友怕重逢 déyì fūqī xīn yǒng shǒu, fùxīn péngyou pà chóngféng

a happy couple gladly stay together forever; a faithless friend fears meeting again

Loving spouses want to stay together for life, while a friend who betrayed you dreads seeing you again.
得智慧胜过得金子 dé zhìhuì shèngguò dé jīnzi

gaining wisdom beats gaining gold

Knowledge is worth more than wealth. Approving, often used in teaching.
灯不拨不亮，话不说不明 dēng bù bō bù liàng, huà bù shuō bù míng

a lamp doesn't brighten unless trimmed; words aren't clear unless spoken

Things become clear only when you take action or speak out. Encourages speaking plainly.
灯草拐棍儿扶不起人 dēngcǎo guǎigùnr fú bù qǐ rén

a walking stick of lamp rush can't support a person

Someone too weak to be of help to others.
灯靠油，人靠饭 dēng kào yóu, rén kào fàn

lamps depend on oil, people depend on food

Material resources are needed for anything to run, just as people need to eat.
灯一拨就亮，理一讲就明 dēng yī bō jiù liàng, lǐ yī jiǎng jiù míng

a lamp brightens once trimmed; a principle is clear once explained

Reason becomes clear once it is explained.
登高必跌重 dēnggāo bì diē zhòng

the higher you climb, the harder you fall

The higher the position, the worse the fall. See 爬得高，跌得重.
低棋也有神仙招 dī qí yě yǒu shénxiān zhāo

even a poor chess player has a masterly move

Even a weak player can occasionally find a brilliant move. It means that people of modest ability may show real talent at some point. Roughly 'even a blind squirrel finds a nut', though kinder in tone.
滴水成河，积少成多 dīshuǐchénghé, jīshǎochéngduō

drops of water make a river; small amounts add up to a lot

Small amounts accumulate into something large. Said to encourage saving or steady effort. Close to 'many a little makes a mickle' or 'every little helps'.
滴水之恩，当涌泉相报 dī shuǐ zhī ēn, dāng yǒngquán xiāngbào

a favour as small as a drop of water should be repaid with a gushing spring

Repay even a small kindness many times over. Approving; said about gratitude.
敌强用智，敌弱用势 dí qiáng yòng zhì, dí ruò yòng shì

when the enemy is strong use wits; when the enemy is weak use force

Against a strong opponent win by strategy; against a weak one win by overwhelming power. A piece of military and competitive advice.
定法不是法 dìng fǎ bù shì fǎ

a fixed method is not a method

A rigid way of doing things is not a good one, so be flexible in handling affairs.
东北有三宝，人参、貂皮、鹿茸角 dōngběi yǒu sān bǎo, rénshēn、diāopí、lùróngjiǎo

the northeast has three treasures: ginseng, sable fur, deer-antler velvet

A saying naming the three prized products of northeast China: ginseng, sable fur and young deer antler.
东边不养西边养 dōngbian bù yǎng xībian yǎng

if the east doesn't feed you, the west will

If one place can't support you, another can, so take the initiative and look for room to survive or make a living.
东方不亮西方亮，黑了南方有北方 dōngfāng bù liàng xīfāng liàng, hēile nánfāng yǒu běifāng

if the east isn't bright, the west is; if the south is dark, there's the north

If one approach or place doesn't work out, there are others; there is always room to manoeuvre. Encouraging. Close to 'when one door closes, another opens'.
东河里没桥西河里走 dōng hé li méi qiáo xī hé li zǒu

no bridge on the east river, walk the west river

If one road is blocked, take another; there is always some way forward.
东家不饮客不餐 dōngjia bù yǐn kè bù cān

if the host doesn't drink, the guest doesn't eat

Etiquette at a banquet: guests wait for the host to raise his cup before they begin to eat.
东家不知西家苦，南家不知北家难 dōng jiā bù zhī xī jiā kǔ, nán jiā bù zhī běi jiā nán

the east house doesn't know the west house's bitterness; the south house doesn't know the north house's hardship

Every household has its own troubles that outsiders don't see. Said to urge sympathy or to avoid envying others.
东山的老虎吃人，西山的老虎也吃人 dōng shān de lǎohǔ chī rén, xī shān de lǎohǔ yě chī rén

the tiger on the east hill eats people, the tiger on the west hill eats people too

Bad people do harm wherever they are. Critical.
东庄的土地到西庄不灵 dōng zhuāng de tǔdi dào xī zhuāng bù líng

the earth god of the east village has no power in the west village

Authority only works within its own jurisdiction; outside it, one's power counts for nothing.
冬雪胜如宝 dōng xuě shèng rú bǎo

winter snow is better than treasure

Winter snow benefits crops in the north and is very precious.
豆腐多了一包水，空话多了无人信 dòufu duōle yī bāo shuǐ, kōnghuà duōle wú rén xìn

too much tofu is just a bag of water; too much empty talk and no one believes it

The more empty talk, the less it is believed, just as more tofu means more water. Warns against idle chatter.
豆腐好吃浆难磨 dòufu hǎochī jiāng nán mò

tofu is tasty but the soy milk is hard to grind

Good things come only after a hard process and a price paid. Like 'no pain, no gain'.
豆芽哪怕长得天那样高，总是一棵小菜 dòuyá nǎpà zhǎng de tiān nàyàng gāo, zǒngshì yī kē xiǎocài

however tall a bean sprout grows, it is still just a small vegetable

A person of low quality or status will never amount to much, however he may rise. Condescending.

May offend: mocks a group of people
毒蛇口中吐莲花 dúshé kǒu zhōng tǔ liánhuā

a lotus flower spat from a venomous snake's mouth

Wicked people often pose as kind and say pleasant things. Warns against sweet talk from the malicious.
独虎好擒，众怒难犯 dú hǔ hǎo qín, zhòngnùnánfàn

a lone tiger is easy to catch, the anger of the crowd is hard to offend

Don't go against the will of the many; public anger is more dangerous than a single enemy.
独拳难打虎 dú quán nán dǎ hǔ

a lone fist can hardly fight a tiger

One person's strength is small and can hardly accomplish something big. Like 'one man can't do it alone'.
读书人的子弟熟悉笔墨，木匠的孩子会玩斧凿 dúshūrén de zǐdì shúxī bǐmò, mùjiang de háizi huì wán fǔzáo

a scholar's children know brush and ink; a carpenter's children can play with axe and chisel

A person's upbringing is deeply shaped by the family. Like 'like father, like son'.
读书人识不尽字，种田人识不尽草 dúshūrén shí bù jìn zì，zhòngtiánrén shí bù jìn cǎo

scholars can't know all the characters, farmers can't know all the weeds

There is no end to learning; no matter how experienced, there is always more to know.
读书要三到：口到、眼到、心到 dúshū yào sān dào：kǒu dào、yǎn dào、xīn dào

reading needs three 'arrivals': mouth, eyes, heart

Study with full concentration: read aloud, read with the eyes and take it in with the mind.
读万卷书，行万里路 dú wàn juàn shū，xíng wàn lǐ lù

read ten thousand scrolls of books, walk ten thousand miles of road

Gain both wide book learning and rich real-world experience. Approving advice, often given to the young.
赌近盗，淫近杀 dǔ jìn dào，yín jìn shā

gambling is close to theft, debauchery is close to murder

A warning that vices lead to crime: gamblers lose and then steal, and sexual affairs lead to killings of passion. Moralising and old-fashioned in tone.
对待失意人，别说得意事 duìdài shīyì rén，bié shuō déyì shì

when dealing with a disappointed person, don't speak of your successes

Advice to be tactful: do not boast about good fortune to someone who is down, since it will hurt them.
对牛弹琴，牛不入耳 duìniútánqín，niú bù rù ěr

playing the lute to a cow: the cow doesn't take it in

Speaking to the wrong audience is a waste of breath. Close to 'casting pearls before swine', though it implies the listener cannot understand, not that they are unworthy.
对什么人，说什么话 duì shénme rén，shuō shénme huà

to whatever person, say whatever words

Adapt what you say to who you are talking to. Mostly practical advice, though it can suggest shrewdness.
多存芝麻好榨油 duō cún zhīma hǎo zhà yóu

store plenty of sesame to press oil

The more raw material you gather, the more finished product you can produce. Advice to prepare and stock up.
多大的云下多大的雨 duō dà de yún xià duō dà de yǔ

as big a cloud, as big a rain

You can do only as much as your strength allows. Often used to say results match capacity.
多得不如现得 duō dé bùrú xiàn dé

getting more later is not as good as getting it now

Better to get a smaller sum in cash now than a larger one on credit, which may cause trouble. Like 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'.
多个朋友多条路，少个对头少堵墙 duō ge péngyou duō tiáo lù，shǎo ge duìtou shǎo dǔ qiáng

one more friend, one more road; one fewer enemy, one fewer wall

Make friends widely and avoid making enemies, as friends open doors and enemies block them. Approving advice.
多个人，多个胆 duō ge rén，duō ge dǎn

one more person, one more share of courage

People feel braver in company. Similar to 'there's safety in numbers'.
多求不如省费 duō qiú bùrú shěng fèi

asking many is not as good as saving expense

Rather than seek help from many people, spend less yourself. Advice to be thrifty and self-reliant.
多想出智慧 duō xiǎng chū zhìhuì

much thinking brings out wisdom

Thinking things through leads to good solutions. Encouraging.
多行不义必自毙 duōxíngbùyìbìzìbì

do many unjust deeds and you will surely bring about your own downfall

Evildoers will end up destroying themselves. A stern, classical warning, similar to 'what goes around comes around'.
多虚不如少实，广种不如狭收 duō xū bùrú shǎo shí，guǎng zhòng bùrú xiá shōu

much show is worse than a little substance; sowing wide is worse than reaping from a small plot

Better a little of real value than a lot of show, and better to work a small area well than spread thin. Advice to be practical.
多言众所忌 duō yán zhòng suǒ jì

much talk is what everyone dislikes

Talking too much annoys people. A caution to speak less.
多一分享用，减一分志气 duō yī fēn xiǎngyòng，jiǎn yī fēn zhìqì

each extra bit of enjoyment takes away a bit of ambition

The more one pursues comfort and pleasure, the weaker one's drive becomes. Moralising.
多用兵不如巧用计 duō yòng bīng bùrú qiǎo yòng jì

using many troops is not as good as using clever tactics

Winning by strategy beats winning by sheer force. Approving of wit over brawn.
多栽花，少栽刺 duō zāi huā，shǎo zāi cì

plant more flowers, plant fewer thorns

Be generous and helpful to others and avoid making enemies. Approving advice about getting along.
躲过不是祸，是祸躲不过 duǒ guò bù shì huò，shì huò duǒ bù guò

if you can dodge it, it isn't a disaster; if it's a disaster, you can't dodge it

An old fatalistic saying: real calamities are fated and cannot be avoided.
阿谀人人喜，直言个个嫌 ēyú rénrén xǐ，zhíyán gègè xián

flattery pleases everyone, plain speaking displeases everyone

People like to be flattered and dislike blunt truths. Said ruefully about human nature.
恶不可积，过不可长 è bùkě jī，guò bùkě zhǎng

evil must not pile up, faults must not grow

Evil should be stopped before it accumulates, and one's own faults should be corrected before they get worse. Moral advice. Close to 'nip it in the bud'.
恶贯不可满，强壮不可恃 è guàn bùkě mǎn，qiángzhuàng bùkě shì

the string of evil deeds must not be filled; strength must not be relied on

Warns that someone who does too much evil, or abuses their strength and indulges themselves, will meet their downfall.
恶虎难斗肚里蛇 è hǔ nán dòu dù li shé

a fierce tiger can hardly fight the snake inside its belly

Internal troubles are the hardest to deal with, harder than any outside enemy.
恶龙不斗地头蛇 è lóng bù dòu dìtóushé

even a fierce dragon doesn't fight the local snake

Even a powerful outsider avoids confronting well-entrenched locals. Same sense as 强龙不压地头蛇.
恶人先告状 èrén xiān gàozhuàng

the wicked man files his complaint first

A wrongdoer rushes to accuse the victim first to put them in the wrong. Critical, and used often in everyday talk.
恶人自有恶报 èrén zì yǒu è bào

evil people have their own evil retribution

Wicked people will eventually suffer for what they have done. Close to 'what goes around comes around'.
恶言不出口，忿言不返于身 è yán bù chū kǒu，fèn yán bù fǎn yú shēn

if evil words don't leave your mouth, angry words won't come back on you

If you don't insult people, you won't get angry insults in return. Advice to speak kindly.
恶言伤心，恶行伤身 è yán shāng xīn，è xíng shāng shēn

evil words hurt the heart, evil deeds hurt the body

Cruel words and cruel acts both do real harm to people. Moral advice.
饿出来的见识，穷出来的聪明 è chūlái de jiànshi，qióng chūlái de cōngmíng

insight that comes from hunger, cleverness that comes from poverty

Hardship pushes people to work hard, learn and become resourceful.
饿得死懒汉，饿不死穷汉 è de sǐ lǎnhàn，è bù sǐ qiónghàn

a lazy man can starve, a poor man won't

Anyone willing to work will find a way to live, however poor. It praises diligence.
饿慌的兔子也咬人 èhuāng de tùzi yě yǎo rén

even a starving rabbit will bite

Even a gentle person will fight back when pushed too far. Close to 'even a worm will turn'.
饿了吃糠甜如蜜，不饿吃蜜也不甜 èle chī kāng tián rú mì，bù è chī mì yě bù tián

when hungry, chaff tastes sweet as honey; when not hungry, even honey isn't sweet

Need decides value: when you are in great need anything seems good, and when you are not even good things don't appeal. Close to 'hunger is the best sauce'.
饿则思饱，冷则思暖，病则思健，穷则思变 è zé sī bǎo，lěng zé sī nuǎn，bìng zé sī jiàn，qióng zé sī biàn

when hungry think of being full, when cold of warmth, when ill of health, when poor of change

People in hard times long for a better life and look for change.
恩爱不过夫妻 ēn'ài bùguò fūqī

no love goes beyond that of husband and wife

Of all human relationships, the bond between spouses is the deepest.
恩义广施，人生何处不相逢；冤仇莫结，路逢狭处难回避 ēnyì guǎng shī，rénshēng héchù bù xiāngféng；yuānchóu mò jié，lù féng xiá chù nán huíbì

give kindness widely, for where in life won't we meet again; make no enemies, for on a narrow road it is hard to avoid them

Be generous and avoid making enemies, as you will meet people again. Close to 'don't burn your bridges'.
儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫 ér bù xián mǔ chǒu，gǒu bù xián jiā pín

a son doesn't find his mother ugly, a dog doesn't find its home poor

People stay loyal to those who raised them, whatever their looks or wealth. It is often used of love for one's homeland.
儿大不由爹，女大不由娘 ér dà bù yóu diē，nǚ dà bù yóu niáng

a grown son doesn't obey his father, a grown daughter doesn't obey her mother

Grown children make their own decisions, and parents can no longer control them. Often said with a sigh.
儿女多来冤孽多 érnǚ duō lái yuānniè duō

more children, more grievances

A large family brings heavier burdens and more quarrels and complaints. Wry or complaining.
儿女情长，英雄气短 érnǚqíng cháng，yīngxióngqìduǎn

with tender love of family, the hero's spirit shrinks

Heroes who get caught up in romantic or family feeling lose their drive. Said critically or with sympathy.
儿女做坏事，父母终有错 érnǚ zuò huàishì，fùmǔ zhōng yǒu cuò

when children do wrong, the parents are still at fault

Parents bear some moral responsibility for what their children do.
儿时练功易，老来学艺难 ér shí liàngōng yì，lǎo lái xué yì nán

practising skills is easy in childhood, learning a craft is hard in old age

Skills should be learned young. Close to 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'.
儿孙自有儿孙福，莫为儿孙做马牛 érsūn zì yǒu érsūn fú，mò wèi érsūn zuò mǎniú

children and grandchildren have their own fortune; don't toil like horse and ox for them

Descendants will make their own way, so elders shouldn't wear themselves out for them. It is often said to ease worry.
儿行千里母担忧 ér xíng qiān lǐ mǔ dānyōu

when a son travels a thousand li, his mother worries

A mother never stops worrying about her children when they are away from home. Warm and sentimental.
儿要自养，谷要自种 ér yào zì yǎng，gǔ yào zì zhòng

a son should be raised by oneself, grain should be grown by oneself

A child you raise yourself is the closest to you, and grain you grow yourself tastes best.
儿做的儿当，爹做的爹当 ér zuò de ér dāng，diē zuò de diē dāng

what the son does the son bears, what the father does the father bears

Each person must answer for what they do themselves, and others are not to be blamed.
耳不听，心不烦 ěr bù tīng，xīn bù fán

if the ear doesn't hear, the heart isn't troubled

If you ignore gossip and nagging, it won't bother you. Close to 'ignorance is bliss'.
耳听千遍，不如手过一遍 ěr tīng qiān biàn，bùrú shǒu guò yī biàn

hearing a thousand times is not as good as going through it once by hand

Doing something yourself teaches more than hearing about it many times.
耳听是虚，眼见为实 ěrtīngshìxū，yǎnjiànwéishí

what the ear hears is empty, what the eye sees is real

Believe what you see yourself, not rumours. Close to 'seeing is believing'.
耳闻不如目睹，目睹不如身受 ěrwén bùrú mùdǔ，mùdǔ bùrú shēn shòu

hearing is not as good as seeing, and seeing is not as good as experiencing

Heard accounts are less reliable than what you see, and what you see is less vivid than what you go through yourself.
二八月乱穿衣 èrbāyuè luàn chuān yī

in the second and eighth months, people dress all anyhow

Says that in early spring and early autumn the weather swings between hot and cold, so people wear very different clothes.
二虎相争，必有一伤 èrhǔxiāngzhēng，bìyǒuyīshāng

when two tigers fight, one must be hurt

When two strong rivals fight, at least one will suffer. A warning against conflict. Close to 'when elephants fight, the grass suffers', though the sense differs.

Every kind of Chinese saying