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List of Chinese proverbs
[[fr:Proverbes chinois]]

These are the humble beginnings of a collection of [[China|Chinese]] [[Proverb|proverbs]] (&#27463;&#24460;&#35486; in [[pinyin]]: xie4 hou4 yu3; &#35578;&#35486; yan4 yu3) and idioms, given in (and sorted by) [[pinyin]] transcription. Formulaic saying/expression (&#25104;&#35486; cheng2 yu3) is the Chinese equivalent of the Japanese [[four-character idiom]].  

(contracted; show full)
:* Moral: Having spent [[decade]]s with each other, family members know what type of persons each others are. "Sons" and "fathers" also apply to the [[female]] equivalents.
:* Usage: Character witness in a trial. Despite his/her denial, an honest parent can tell if their children are capable of heinous [[crime]]s, like [[murder]].

==[[Cantonese language |Cantonese]] proverbs==
sorted alphabetically by the [[penkyamp]], a Cantonese 
rRomanization.

:&#22909;&#24515;&#20871;&#22909;&#22577;&#65292;&#22909;&#26612;&#29138;&#29211;&#28790; (penkyamp: Ho sumw2 samp1 mow5 how2 bow3, how2 cayi4 siu1 lan jo6 zow3) 
⏎
 )
:* Meaning: Good deeds may not be rewarded; even good firewood may ruin the stove. 
:* Note: 'reward' and 'stove' rhyme in Cantonese.

:&#23527;&#25945;&#20154;&#25171;&#20180;&#65292;&#33707;&#25945;&#20154;&#20998;&#22971; (penkyamp: Nenk4 gau3 yant4 fant1 cay1, mog6 gau3 yant4 da2 zay2)
:* Literally: iIt is okay to teach someone how to discipline a child, but don't teach how to divorce one's wife.
:* Note: 'child' and 'wife' rhyme in Cantonese

:&#22971;&#36066;&#22827;&#31117;&#23569;&#65292;&#25613;&#21451;&#29399;&#19981;&#22914; (penkyamp: Cay1 yin4 fu1 wo6 siu2, sont2 yaw2 gaw2 bat1 yeu4)
:* Literally: wWith a good wife, the husband won't get in trouble; a bad wife is worse than a dog.

:&#21315;&#37329;&#38627;&#36023;&#24515;&#38957;&#22909; (penkyamp: Cin1 gamp1 nan4 mai5 samp1 taw4 how2)
:* Literally: A thousand pieces of gold may not buy you what you like.
:* Moral: Money isn't everything. 

:&#20107;&#24613;&#39340;&#34892;&#30000; (penkyamp: Si6 gap1 ma5 hang4 tin4)
:* Literally: In case of emergency, the [[horse]] (&#39340;) can move in the field (&#30000;).
:* Explanation: This is in reference to the rules in [[Chinese Chess]]. Normally the [[horse]] piece can only move in the 'sun' character (&#26085; or a 1x2 rectangle) pattern.
:* Moral: In an emergency, one can break the rules.

:&#29399;&#19978;&#29926;&#22353;&#26377;&#26781;&#36335; (penkyamp: Gaw2 seong5 nga5 hang1 yaw5 tiu4 low6)
:* Literally: When a dog climbs to the roof, it takes its usual path.
:* Meaning: A villain uses their usual tricks, or behaves like any other villain. 
:* Usage: often used to imply an improper relationship, such as adultery.

:&#22825;&#19978;&#38647;&#20844;&#22320;&#19979;&#33285;&#20844; (penkyamp: Tin1 seong6 loy4 gonk1, dey6 seong6 kaw5 gonk1)
:* Literally: iIn heaven, there is the thunder god; on earth, there is brother of your mother.
:* Explanation: In the old Chinese social hierarchy, one can be disciplined by the brothers of one's mother.  Even the parents could not spoil a child in front of that uncle.

:&#27193;&#22823;&#26377;&#26543;&#26525;&#65292;&#26063;&#22823;&#26377;&#20062;&#20818; (penkyamp: Seu6 dai6 yaw5 fu1 zi1, zok6 dai6 yaw5 hat1 yi1)
:* Literally: oOn a big tree, there are dead branches; in a big clan, there are beggars.
:* Note: 'branch' and 'beggar' rhyme in Cantonese

:&#31204;&#19981;&#38626;&#37448; (penkyamp: Cenk3 bat1 ley4 to4)
:* Literally: a steelyard always goes with the weights.
:* Usage: X always goes with Y.

:&#33853;&#22320;&#21898;&#19977;&#32882;&#65292;&#22909;&#37276;&#21629;&#29983;&#25104; (penkyamp: Log6 dey6 ham3 sam1 seng1, how2 caw2 meng6 sang1 seng4)
:* Literally: wWhen a baby is born, after the third wail, its good or bad fate is determined.
:* Moral: There is no free will, your fate is pre-determined.
:* Note: tThe last syllable of the two phrases rhyme in Cantonese

:&#39080;&#21561;&#38622;&#34507;&#27580;&#65292;&#36001;&#25955;&#20154;&#23433;&#27138; (penkyamp: Fonk1 coy1 gay1 dan2 hog3, coi4 san3 yant4 ngon1 log6)
:* Literally: Like wind blows on egg shells, when the money is gone a person feels light (at ease).
:* Moral: Money is a burden.
:* Usage: This is usually used by a gambler who just lost all his money, but needs a philosophy to make themselves feel better.
:* Note: the last syllable of the two phrases rhyme in Cantonese

:&#20900;&#35948;&#38957;&#37117;&#26371;&#36935;&#21040;&#33804;&#40763;&#33769;&#34217; (penkyamp: Yeun1 zeu1 taw4 dow1 wui5 yeu6 dow2 mank4 bey6 pow4 sad3)
:* Literally: Even a rotten pig head for offering will someday meet a bodhisattva with stuffed nose.
:* Moral: rRegardless of any short coming, there will be someone who doesn't mind.
:* Usage: uUsually used in the context of matchmaking.

:&#22827;&#22971;&#26412;&#26159;&#21516;&#26519;&#40165;&#65292;&#22823;&#38627;&#33256;&#38957;&#21508;&#33258;&#39131; (penkyamp: Fu1 cay1 bun2 si6 tonk4 lamp4 niu5, dai6 nan6 lamp4 taw4 gog3 zi6 fey1)
:* Literally: hHusband and wife are like birds in the woods, when trouble comes, they flee separately.
:* Explanation: tThis view reflects the lack of love in arranged marriages in ancient China.

:&#20818;&#22899;&#30524;&#21069;&#20900;&#65292;&#22827;&#22971;&#28193;&#23458;&#33337; (penkyamp: Yi4 noy5 ngan5 cin4 yeun1, fu1 cay1 dow6 hag3 seun4)
:* Literally: Children are eye sores; marriage is like an encounter on a ferry. 
:* Meaning: mMarriages sometimes lead to disasters.
:* Note: 'eye sore' and 'boat' rhyme in Cantonese

:&#20804;&#24351;&#22914;&#25163;&#36275;&#65292;&#22827;&#23142;&#22914;&#34915;&#26381; (penkyamp: Henk1 day6 yeu4 saw2 zok1, fu1 fu5 yeu4 yi1 fok6)
:* Literally: bBrothers are like arms and legs; husband and wife are like clothing 
:* Meaning: yYou're stuck with your family, but it's easy to change your spouse.
:* Note: 'leg' and 'clothes' rhyme in Cantonese


==[[Hakka language |Hakka]] proverbs==
The [[Hakka language|Hakka]] proverbs are sorted by the number of strokes (few to many).  ''Please add Hakka pronunciations''

''Initial source: [http://raid.lcjh.tpc.edu.tw/&#23458;&#23478;&#35486;/guest5.htm &#23458;&#23478;&#35578;&#35486; (Hakka Proverbs)]''

:&#19968;&#19979;&#38647;&#40180;&#22825;&#19979;&#30693;
:* Literally: When the thunder rumbles once, all the world under heaven immediately knows.
:* Moral: When one acts, s/he shouldn't expect that it will be kept a secret forever.

:&#19968;&#19990;&#20316;&#23448;&#19977;&#19990;&#32085;
:* Literally: Having an official in one generation would cause misfortune for the next three generations.
:* Moral: Regardless how virtuous an official is, s/he is bound to offend some people, and hence causing his/her descendants hardship.

:&#20062;&#39135;&#20180;&#21809;&#23665;&#27468;
:* Literally: Poor man sings folk songs.
:* Moral: Poverty does not mean an absolute lack of joy.

:&#22823;&#30446;&#23064;&#30475;&#19981;&#21040;&#28790;&#38957;
:* Literally: Big-eyed lady doesn't see the stove.
:* Moral: Everyone, even the best of us, can be careless sometimes.

:&#32769;&#40736;&#23563;&#35987;&#20844;
:* Literally: [[Mouse]] seeks Mr. [[Cat]].
:* Usage: sSelf-destructive thoughts or acts; looking purposefully for an unfortunate end.

:&#27794;&#31680;&#30340;&#31481;&#31570;
:* Literally: [[Bamboo]] containers without the [[joint]]s.
:* Explanation: Empty on both ends; the container can't hold anything without the joints
:* Usage I: getting busy all over nothing.
:* Usage II: [[Jook-sing]]

(contracted; show full):* Usage: so ignorant that they can't tell dead from alive.

:&#36938;&#36938;&#37326;&#37326;
:* Literally: Wander, wander; wild, wild.
:* Usage: someone has nothing to do and wanders around.

:&#34277;&#26041;&#19977;&#25220;&#27602;&#27515;&#20154;
:* Literally: The medicine from a <A TITLE="Click for more information about 
recipe<A TITLE="Click for more information about recipe" STYLE="background-color: #f0f000; " HREF="http://search.targetwords.com/u.search?x=5977|1||||recipe|AA1VDw">recipe</A>" STYLE="background-color: #f0f000; " HREF="http://search.targetwords.com/u.search?x=5977|1||||recipe|AA1VDw">recipe</A> that have been copied three times (one after another) can kill people.
:* Moral: Excessive enthusiasm can be counterproductive despite its good intention.

:&#39449;&#39740;&#31359;&#31761;&#34915;
:* Literally: Cheat the [[ghost]]s by wearing clothes made of leaves.
:* Usage: warn others that someone is not easily deceived. (?)
(contracted; show full)
See also:
* [[English proverbs]]
* [[German proverbs]]
* [[French proverbs]]
* [[Spanish proverbs]]
* [[Polish proverbs]]
* [[Japanese proverbs]]