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Difference between revisions 2325083 and 2506568 on enwiki[[fr:Proverbes chinois]] These are the humble beginnings of a collection of [[China|Chinese]] [[Proverb|proverbs]] (歇後語 in [[pinyin]]: xie4 hou4 yu3; 諺語 yan4 yu3) and idioms, given in (and sorted by) [[pinyin]] transcription. Formulaic saying/expressions (成語 cheng2 yu3 -- ''"to become a saying"'') are known as [[four-character idiom]]s (exceptions exist in the number of characters, though the majori(contracted; show full) Some proverbs are literary, that is, from a written source. (See [[Classical Chinese|the historical written language]] or the more [[Bai hua|modern written language]].) Others originated among families, street vendors, and other commoners. ==[[Mandarin Chinese |Mandarin]] proverbs== The following proverbs are sorted alphabetically by their [[pinyin]]. If you know the literary source, please add it! Also add other pronunciations if you know them. :百世修來同船渡，千載修得共枕眠 ⏎ :百世修来同船渡，千载修得共枕眠 (pinyin: bai3 shi4 xiu1 lai2 tong2 chuan2 du4, qian1 zai4 xiu1 de gong4 zhen3 mian2) :* Literally: It takes hundreds of [[reincarnation]]s to bring two persons to ride on the same [[boat]]; it takes a thousand eons to bring two persons to share the same pillow. :* Moral: It is fate and [[yuanfen]] that brings two persons together, value an encounter and treasure a relationship. :* Note: These two phrases do not rhyme, but have parallel [[grammatical]] structure, i.e, [[subject]] to subject, [[verb]] to verb, etc. :* Usage: Sometimes used in marriage counselling to advise the couples having problems to resolve it, before making any hasty decisions. :冰封三尺，絕非一日之寒 ⏎ :冰封三尺，绝非一日之寒 (pinyin: bing1 feng1 san3 chi3, jue2 fei1 yi2 ri4 zhi1 han2) :* Literally: Three [[foot (unit of length)|feet]] of [[ice]] does not result from one day of cold [[weather]]. :* Moral: Trouble, for example, in a relationship, indicates a long history of problems. :此地无银三百两，隔壁阿二不曾偷 ⏎ :此地无银三百两，隔壁阿二不曾偷 (ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3, ge2 bi4 a1 er4 bu4 ceng2 tou1) :* Literally: There isn't a stash of three hundred ''liang'' <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Chinese unit]]] of [[silver]] below this spot; your neighbor Ah-er did not steal them :* Moral: A nervous heart is prone to mistakes; overkill will worsen a situation rather than bettering it. :* Note: The original story concerns a man who had hid several piles of silver beneath the earth with the only indication being that of a sign suggesting that no silver was buried here. Naturally, the silver was stolen overnight, and the man awoke next morning to find a dug-up pile of dirt and a sign explaining why his neighbor could not be the culprit. :大水冲了龙王庙 (pinyin: da4 shui3 zhong1 ne long2 wang2 miao4) :* Literally: massive amount of [[water]] [[flood]]ed the [[Chinese dragon|dragon]]-king [[temple]] :* Moral: Misunderstandings may bring about adverse and unforseen consequences. :* Explanation: the dragon-king is a mystical creature that lives underwater and controls the natural bodies of water. People visit the dragon-king temple to placate him and prevent floods, thus his temple being destroyed by the very forces which he controls is a situational [[irony]]. :畫蛇添足 ⏎ :画蛇添足 (pinyin: hua4 she2 tian1 zu2) :* Literally: Adding legs when painting a snake. :* Moral: Don't ruin your work by an unnecessary addition. :* English: Gilding the Lily (a Lily having its own natural beauty would not be improved by gold-plating). :空穴来风未必无因 (pinyin: kong1 xue4 lai2 feng2 wei4 bi4 wu2 yin1) :* Literally: if [[wind]] comes from an empty [[cave]], it's not without a reason. :* Moral: Most seemingly strange events and actions have [[logic]]al explanations. :老驥伏櫪，志在千里 ⏎ :老骥伏枥，志在千里 (pinyin: lao3 ji4 fu2 li4, zhi4 zai4 qian1 li3) :* Literally: The old [[horse]] in the stable still wants to run 1000 <i>li</i> <sup>1</sup>. :* Moral: Don't underestimate those with experience, people of great age may possess great ambitions and potential. :* Note: 'stable' and 'li' rhyme in Mandarin :: <sup>1</sup> ''li'': a Chinese unit of linear measure which corresponds to about a half kilometer :路遥知马力，日久见人心 (pinyin: lu4 yao2 zhi1 ma3 li4, ri4 jiu3 jian4 ren2 xin1) :* Literally: Over a long distance, you learn about the strength of your [[horse]]; over a long time, you learn about the true character of your [[friend]]. :* Usage: This can be used positively to praise a true friend; or negatively to criticize friends that could not stand a test. :人要面，樹要皮 ⏎ :人要面，树要皮 (pinyin: ren2 yao4 lian3, shu4 yao4 pi2) :* Literally: a person needs a [[face]]; a tree needs bark :* Meaning: a person needs a clean reputation to survive. :* Note: Face here is used [[metaphor]]ically as the [[face (social custom)]]. :* Usage: when someone behaves dishonorably (once or repeatedly), it can be said directly to that person as admonishment (as parents to an child). :肉包子打狗;一去不回头 (pinyin: rou4 bao1 zi da3 gou3, yi2 qu4 bu4 hui2 tou2) :* Literally: hit a dog with a meat bun, it does not return. :* Interpretation: the dog is driven away, but the bun is also gone. :* Moral: don't act rashly to preserve what you have, you lose some of it anyway :* Usage: when something is loaned away and one doesn't expect to get it back, or something is given in some exchange, but nothing is expected in return. :世上无难事，只怕有心人 (pinyin: shi4 shang4 you3 nan2 shi4 zhi3 pa4 you3 xing1 ren2) :* Literally: On this world there exists no such impossible tasks, they fear only those with perseverance. :* Moral: No task in this world is impossible so long as there are willing hearts. :樹倒猢猻散 :树倒猢狲散 (pinyin: shu4 dao3 hu2 sun1 san4) :* Literally: when a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. :* Usage: When a leader loses power, his followers become disorganized. This proverb is anti-[[anarchistic]]. :水能载舟亦能覆舟 (pinyin: shui3 neng2 zai4 zhou1, yi4 neng2 fu4 zhou1) :* Literally: Not only can [[water]] can float a craft, it can sink it also. (contracted; show full) :* Moral: don't underestimate the potential destructive power that a seemingly minor problem can spread. :熊瞎子摘苞米，摘一个丢一个 (pinyin: xiong2 xia1 zi zhai1 bao1 mi3, zhai1 yi2 ge4 diu1 yi2 ge4) :* Literally: blind bear picks corn, picks one and throws one :* Meaning: Inability to appreciate what you have. :淹耳盜鈴 ⏎ :掩耳盗铃 (pinyin: yan3 er3 dao4 ling2) :* Literally: covering one's ear when pilfering a [[bell]] :* Moral: Fooling oneself by ignoring the facts. :* Note: this is an example of a [[four-character idiom]]. The story behind it said a stupid thief covered his ear when he stole a bell, believing that no one could hear the bell when he could not. :也要馬兒好，也要馬兒不吃草 ⏎ :也要马儿好，也要马儿不吃草 (pinyin: ye3 yao4 ma3 er2 hao3, ye3 yao4 ma3 er2 bu4 chi1 cao3) :* Literally: want the [[horse]] to be the best, also want the horse not to eat any [[hay]] :* Moral: You can't have your cake and eat it too (English equivalent) :* Usage: someone has an unrealistic expectation. :* Note: 'best' and 'hay' rhyme in Mandarin :有志者，事竟成 ⏎ :有志者，事竟成 (pinyin: you3 zhi4 zhe, shi4 jing4 cheng2) :* Literally: If a person has stamina, things will be accomplished :* Moral: If you keep working, you will have success. :玉不琢不成器 (pinyin: yu4 bu4 zhuo2 bu4 chen2 qi4) :* Literally: [[Jade]] requires chiselling before becoming a [[gem]]. :* Moral: a person needs training and discipline to build character. :斬草不除根，春風吹又生 ⏎ :斩草不除根，春风吹又生 (pinyin: zhan3 cao3 bu4 chu2 gen1, chun1 feng1 chui1 you4 sheng1) :* Literally: If the [[root]]s are not removed during [[weed]]ing, the weeds return next [[spring]]. :* Moral: It is essential to finish a task thoroughly or the effort would be wasted, or a stitch in time saves nine (approximate English equivalent). :知子莫若父 (pinyin: zhi1 zi3 mo3 ru2 fu4) :* Literally: no one knows a [[son]] better than the [[father]]. :* 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 Romanization. :好心冇好報，好柴燒爛灶 (penkyamp: How2 samp1 mow5 how2 bow3, how2 cai4 siu1 lan6 zow3) :* Meaning: Good deeds may not be rewarded; even good firewood may ruin the stove. :* Note: 'reward' and 'stove' rhyme in Cantonese. (contracted; show full)* [[English proverbs]] * [[French proverbs]] * [[German proverbs]] * [[Japanese proverbs]] * [[Latin proverbs]] * [[Polish proverbs]] * [[Portuguese proverbs]] * [[Spanish proverbs]] All content in the above text box is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license Version 4 and was originally sourced from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=prev&oldid=2506568.
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