4/23/13
Famous Chinese Sayings, Old Chinese Sayings, Chinese Sayings
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wn sh j bi, zh qin dng fng - Everything is ready except the east wind. This Horoscope proverb instructs that everything is ready except what is crucial. Compatibility chng jing yu r s w r, m jing w sh xing yu sh - When rich, think of poverty, but don't think of riches when you are poor. This proverb indicates that frugality is Beijing City W all the best policy: Be frugal even when you are rich, and don't dream of riches when you are poor, but work hard and be thrifty. Chinese Zodiac , si wng sh m, yn zh fi f -A bad thing may become a good thing under certain Signs conditions. According to the book 'Huainanzi - Lessions of Human World' , an old man living in a border region lost his horse and people came to comfort him, but he said 'This may be a blessing in disguise, China's Great W who knows?' Indeed, the horse later returned to all the man and brought him a better horse. xu r b s z w ng, s r b xu z di - Learning without thought means labour lost; thought without learning is perilous. sh do yng sh fng hn sh o It is when you are using what you have learned from books that you wish you had read more. This proverb reminds us that we can never read widely enough. , qin jn y d, y jiang nn qi - It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general. This proverb notes the difficulty of finding an outstanding leader. xio dng b b , d dng ch k - A small hole not mended in time will become a big hole much more difficult to mend. This proverb tells us that if a trivial problem is not solved in time, it will become a serious and knotty one. d sh x yng y, y z zh qin jn When reading, dont let a single word escape your attention; one word may be worth a thousand pieces of gold. This proverb stresses the fact that study requires undivided attention. No single word should be passed over before we fully understand it. Only in this way can study be rewarded. , yu l z u bin tin xi, w l cn b nn xng - With justice on your side, you can go anywhere; without it, you can't take a step. This proverb stresses the fact that righteousness will see you through all difficulties, whereas without it your progress will be hampered from the very start. , m qu su xio, w zng j qun - Small as it is, the sparrow has all the vital organs. dn yun rn chng ji, qin l gng chn jun - Wish us a long life to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even thousands miles apart. -Sayings and everything we can think of about Mid-Autumn Festival. Tng jn yxhu, shng yng jing q y wi sh nin sh- Listen to your advice, better than reading books for ten years. l yo zh m l, r ji jin rn xn As distance tests a horses strength, so does time reveal a persons real character. This saying tells us that a long period of testing is needed to understand ones nature and capabilities. dng b b b ling, l b bin b mng: An oil lamp becomes brighter after trimming, a truth becomes clearer after being discussed. This saying tells us that facing a complicated problem, only by discussion and debate can we get the correct answer. Truth develops through the comparison of ideas. , (fn rn b k mo xing, h i shu b k du ling) - As a man cannot be known by his looks, neither can the sea be fathomed by a gourd. This proverb notes that judging by appearance may lead to serious mistakes. Guln shnshu ji tinxi - Guilins mountain and water scenery is the best under heaven. sn rn y tio xn, hung t bin chng jn - If people are of one heart, even the yellow earth can become gold. This proverb tells us that as long as people are unified, any goal can be achieved. , dng j zh m, png gun zh qng - The spectators see more of the game than the players. This proverb points out that a person involved in a matter usually does not have a comprehensive overview of it due to too much concentration on gains and losses, while the onlookers, who have a calmer and more objective attitude, have a better grasp of what is going on. d ch zhu xing, xio ch zhu sh u - Keep the general goal in sight while tackling daily tasks. This proverb advises us to always keep the overall situation in mind and be farsighted while we set our hands to mundane business. ch y qin, zh ng y zh - A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. This proverb's messages is: Having gone through a setback, one will have gained experience and wisdom, which will be useful if only one can take warning and learn something from the setback.
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Famous Chinese Sayings, Old Chinese Sayings, Chinese Sayings
B nng yku ch chng g pngzi - e.g. Keep going with your Chinese, you just started. Don't give up! You can't get fat on one just one mouthful. fng w chng shn, bng w chng shng - A boat can't always sail with the wind; an army can't always win battles. This proverb urges us to be fully prepared for difficulties and setbacks: It is impossible to have smooth sailing all the time. shu mn z y - Water surges only to overflow. This proverb points out that: things turn into their opposites when they reach their extremes. yu yun qin l li xing hu - Fate brings people together no matter how far apart they may be. This proverb points out that human relationships are decreed by Fate. , (y ba ch jio zi, xn l yu sh) - When a mute person eats dumplings ( jiaozi), he knows how many he has eaten, even though he cannot speak. We use this saying to point someone knowing the situation quite well, yet saying nothing. (zh yo gng f shn, ti ch m chng zhn) - If you work hard enough at it, you can grind even an iron rod down to a needle. This proverb encourages us to persevere in whatever we undertake. Just as the English proverb has it:"Constant drilling can wear away a stone". , (zhng gu d gu, zhng du d du) - As a man sows, so shall he reap. This proverb warns that one receives just returns for one's actions; good for good, and evil for evil. (shn yu shn bo) - Do well and have well. (rn fng x sh jng shn shu ng) - A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. , (shu d sh chun, shng j m dun) - Dripping water pierces a stone; a saw made of rope cuts through wood. Meaning: Patience and persistence can berk through anything,no matter how gerat the difficulty. (y r zh j zi y chn) - A days planning is done in the morning. (jn z zh jio dn r shu )- The friendship of a gentleman is insipid as water. , (yu do zhng qi fn wi mng, mi fng ji ji bi s qn) - The moon is the most bright on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the homesick feeling will be stronger during this traditional festival . (d wn jun sh b r xng wn l l) - It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books. (jng y xi shn) - Quiet thoughts mend the body. (qing lng nn y dtu sh) - Even a dragon (from the outside) finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt. This means: Powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies. ( y b y g jio ynr ): Every step leaves its print; work steadily and make solid progress. ( y g lu bo y g kngr ): One radish, one hole. Each has his own task, and nobody is dispensable. / (z i xin d l nn chn chun / kun hng d ling ): A prime minister's mind should be broad enough for poling a boat. Usage: This can be used to praise someone is a magnanimous person. ,(bng dng sn ch , fi y r zh hn) - It takes more than one cold day for a river to freeze three feet deep. This means: "Rome wasn't built in a day. Work harder and practice more. (sn g hshng mi shu h) - Three monks have no water to drink. This means Too many cooks spoil the broth. ESL: The English idiom means there are too many people trying to do something, so they make a mess of it. /(y rn nn chn b i rn xn / zhng ku nn tio) - It is hard to please everyone. (nan d h tu) - Where ignorance is bliss, it's folly to be wise. ,(zh z zh sh u, y z xi lo) - For life or for death, holding your hand, and aging with you. ,(qin l zh xng, sh y z xi) - A thousand-li journey is started by taking the first step. ,(gu y mn wi bn, mn y sh wi tin) - People as the root of the country, and food is the first necessity of people. (r xng qin l m dn yu) - When children travel far from home, mothers never stop worrying. (mi yu gu ju b chng fng yun) - Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. (p j ti li) - Things at the worst will mend. , (qin p lng hu p h ) - Fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind/ hesitate in doing something. (qng ch y ln r shng y ln) - Indigo blue is obtained from the indigo plant, but such color is bluer than the plant itself; the disciple has surpassed the master. (lo j f l, zh zi qin l) - An old warhorse in the stable still longs to gallop a thousnad li. Meaning: One who still cherishes high aspirations in spite of age. ,(sh nin sh m, b i nin sh rn) - It takes ten years to grow trees but a hundred years to rear people. (bng b yn zh) - Nothing is too deceitful in war. (m y chng zhu),(shng m zh chng sh fn) - The timber has been turned into a boat already. The rice is already cooked. Meaning: What's done cannot be undone. (shn t l xng) - Practice what you preach. (chng qin b hu) - Learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones. (y sh r nio) - Kill two birds with one stone. (r zu zhn zhn) - Like sitting on a carpet of needles; to feel tense and uneasy. (xng xng zh hu , k y lio yun) - A single spark can start a prairie fire. (n li shn shu) - Take things as they come. (hu gn g wi y b) - To bury the hatchets and work for peace. (c d w yn sn b i ling): Never try to prove what nobody doubts. (yn sh ch go t) - Good pupils are to be brought up by strict teachers.
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Famous Chinese Sayings, Old Chinese Sayings, Chinese Sayings
(sn s r hu xng) - Look before you leap. (i bng b shng) - An oppressed army fighting with desperate courage is sure to win. ,(ch d k zhng k, fng wi rn shng rn) - No pains, no gains. (xin do xin d) - The early bird catches the worm. (li d qng shn zi, b p mi ci sho) - Where there is life, there is hope. (hu cng ku ch) - Disaster emanates from a careless talk. (y xio ji qin chu) - A smile can erase a million worries. ,(xio y xio,sh nin sho) - Just one laugh makes the person ten years younger. Happiness is the best cosmetic. (mi mng shng gu mi mo) - A good fame is better than a good face. (r xing su s) - When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do. (d zh ru y) - He knows most who speaks least. (ji z xin dng) - First come, first served. (sh u d yn ki jin yu mng) - Every cloud has a silver lining. (hun nn jin zhn qng) - A friend in need is a friend indeed. (fn sh du yng ling l r xng) - a man can do no more than he can. (xn kung shn y, sh sh shn l) - a merry heart goes all the way. (ling yo k ku) - a good medicine tastes bitter. (jng y xi shn) - a light heart lives long. (zh yn nn m) - a faithful friend is hard to find. (n jng ch rn ci) - adversity makes a man wise, not rich. (sh sh shng y xing bin) - actions speak louder than words. ,(l zh zho ling bi rn, qu hu mi le z j) - a candle lights others and consumes itself. (chu ni y shu hu ng bn sh tng zng) - a boaster and a liar are cousinsgerman. (y nio zi sh u shng gu shung nio zi ln) - a bird in the hand is worth than two in the bush. (b hu chng chun gui h wn) - a bad workman always blames his tools. (b shn sh zh b shn zhng) - a bad beginning makes a bad ending. Also read how to communicate with Chinese?
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11 comments Yung Yung Li at (Chandra Kusuma School) Reply 3 Like August 16, 2011 at 3:14am Add a comment
Tracy Wang Works at China Highlights Chinese sayings reveal the essence of Chinese culture and history. Share your opinion on these sayings. Reply 7 Like April 20, 2011 at 11:46pm Charles Toh The origin of the manifestation of civilisation....... by the simplest scholars who dwelled. Reply Like December 13, 2012 at 10:35am View 9 more
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