Lets discuss the 100 beautiful Chinese Saying and proverbs and how to use them properly. In the rich world of Chinese culture, one can find a treasure trove of wisdom over all the succinct and profound expressions of traditional sayings. Sayings or proverbs can be said to form deeps words, it is mainly seen around elders and it is used when they want you to think about what they told you.
In an era where pop culture reigns supreme, Chinese proverbs are not left behind. This section unravels instances where traditional sayings have found their way into literature, films, music, and other facets of contemporary popular culture.
This article embarks on a journey to explore the essence of basic Chinese sayings, unraveling their historical significance and cultural importance.
China is a beautiful country with beautiful proverb and with this all said, lets get into the 100 beautiful Chinese Saying and proverbs below.
The Importance of Chinese Proverbs in Daily Life
Chinese proverbs are not mere linguistic ornaments; they play a pivotal role in daily communication. Examining how these sayings are seamlessly integrated into conversations reveals their importance as vehicles for expressing nuanced emotions and imparting wisdom. SEE ALSO CHINESE VOCABULARY FOR BEGINNERS
100 beautiful Chinese Saying and proverbs and Their English Meanings
From “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” to “When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills,” this segment breaks down specific, well-known proverbs, unveiling the profound meanings hidden beneath the surface.
Certainly! Here are 100 beautiful Chinese Saying and proverbs along with their English translations:
- 千里之行，始于足下。
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- 不怕慢，就怕站。
- It’s not that I’m afraid to work slowly, I’m afraid to stand still.
- 有情人终成眷属。
- Love will find a way.
- 塞翁失马，焉知非福。
- Misfortune may be an actual blessing.
- 山不在高，有仙则名。
- A mountain is not high because of its height, but because it has a god.
- 饮水思源。
- When drinking water, remember its source.
- 不经一番寒彻骨，怎得梅花扑鼻香。
- Without going through the cold of winter, one cannot appreciate the warmth of spring.
- 百闻不如一见。
- Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.
- 翻山越岭。
- Overcome all obstacles.
- 拭目以待。
- Wait and see.
- 独木难支。
- A single tree cannot support itself.
- 虚心使人进步，骄傲使人落后。
- Modesty helps one make progress; arrogance makes one lag behind.
- 不经一事，不长一智。
- One only gains wisdom through experience.
- 己所不欲，勿施于人。
- Do not do unto others what you don’t want done unto you.
- 患难见真情。
- True feelings are revealed in times of adversity.
- 路遥知马力，日久见人心。
- Time reveals a person’s true character.
- 世上无难事，只怕有心人。
- Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.
- 不怕慢，只怕站。
- It’s not that I’m afraid to work slowly, I’m afraid to stand still.
- 柳暗花明又一村。
- Beyond the dark clouds, there is still sunshine.
- 宁可老实，莫做老千。
- It’s better to be honest than a swindler.
- 明日复明日，明日何其多。
- Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.
- 枝繁叶茂。
- Luxuriant foliage.
- 风雨同舟。
- We’re all in the same boat.
- 慢工出细活。
- Slow work produces fine work.
- 好马不吃回头草。
- A good horse doesn’t go back to eat old grass.
- 水能载舟，亦能覆舟。
- Water can carry a boat; it can also overturn it.
- 谋事在人，成事在天。
- Man proposes, God disposes.
- 无风不起浪。
- There is no smoke without fire.
- 骄兵必败。
- Pride goes before a fall.
- 破釜沉舟。
- Burn one’s boats and destroy the cooking pots.
- 欲速则不达。
- More haste, less speed.
- 不畏浮云遮望眼，只缘身在最高层。
- Do not fear the clouds that hide the sun; your destiny may be hidden beneath them.
- 儿行千里母担忧。
- A mother’s love knows no bounds.
- 画蛇添足。
- To paint a snake and add legs to it.
- 宁做鸡头，不做凤尾。
- Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.
- 虎头蛇尾。
- A tiger’s head with a snake’s tail.
- 狼来了。
- The wolf is coming.
- 独一无二。
- One of a kind.
- 授人以鱼，不如授人以渔。
- Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
- 柳暗花明。
- After the darkness comes light.
- 先发制人。
- To strike first to gain the upper hand.
- 宁可错杀一千，不可放过一个。
- Better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let one escape.
- 鱼和熊掌不可兼得。
- You can’t have both the fish and the bear’s paw.
- 海阔凭鱼跃，天高任鸟飞。
- The sea is wide because fish leap; the sky is high because birds fly.
- 脚踏实地。
- To be down-to-earth.
- 柳下惠。
- Hui of the willow under the wind.
- 画龙点睛。
- To add the finishing touch.
- 高瞻远瞩。
- To have lofty ideals and far-sighted goals.
- 心如止水。
- Calm and unruffled like still water.
- 叶公好龙。
- Duke Ye loves dragons.
- 画蛇添足。
- Drawing a snake and adding legs.
- 宁为鸡口，无为牛后。
- Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a bull.
- 抱薪救火。
- To add more fuel to the fire.
- 囫囵吞枣。
- To swallow dates without chewing them.
- 养虎遗患。
- To rear a tiger invites calamity.
- 隔墙有耳。
- The walls have ears.
- **
拔苗助长。**
– To pull up seedlings to help them grow.
- 鸡犬不宁。
- A disturbance involving even chickens and dogs.
- 雷声大，雨点小。
- Loud thunder, little rain.
- 千军易得，一将难求。
- It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general.
- 一箭双雕。
- To shoot two hawks with one arrow.
- 倒绷孩儿。
- To hold a baby upside down.
- 亡羊补牢。
- To mend the pen after the sheep are lost.
- 过犹不及。
- Going too far is as bad as not going far enough.
- 蚍蜉撼大树。
- A mantis trying to stop a chariot.
- 丢车保帅。
- Abandoning the cart but keeping the general.
- 口说无凭。
- Words are not enough.
- 跋山涉水。
- To traverse mountains and rivers.
- 牛头马嘴。
- Ox head and horse mouth.
- 亡羊补牢。
- To mend the fold after the sheep are lost.
- 破釜沉舟。
- Breaking the pots and sinking the boats.
- 百闻不如一见。
- Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.
- 十年树木，百年树人。
- It takes ten years to grow a tree but a hundred years to nurture a person.
- 过犹不及。
- Going too far is as bad as not going far enough.
- 一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴。
- An inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of time cannot be purchased with an inch of gold.
- 磨杵成针。
- Grind an iron rod down to a needle.
- 黄粱一梦。
- A dream in a yellow millet dream.
- 心有余而力不足。
- The heart is willing but the flesh is weak.
- 守株待兔。
- To guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits.
- 一举两得。
- To kill two birds with one stone.
- 乌合之众。
- A disorganized mob.
- 乘风破浪。
- To ride the wind and cleave the waves.
- 飞黄腾达。
- To ride on the yellow dragon, i.e., to advance rapidly.
- 卧薪尝胆。
- To sleep on straw and taste gall – to undergo severe trials.
- 风驰电掣。
- To speed like the wind and be as nimble as lightning.
- 泣不成声。
- To be choked with sobs.
- 虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず。
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- 百尺竿头，更进一步。
- At the top of a hundred-foot pole, take another step forward.
- 金窝银窝，不如自己的狗窝。
- A golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one’s own dog nest.
- 拔苗助长。
- To pull up seedlings to help them grow.
- 骏马是一匹，千里驹。
- A swift horse is a horse, but a thousand-mile foal is still a foal.
- 一石二鸟。
- To kill two birds with one stone.
- 翻手为云覆手为雨。
- To turn one’s hand to make clouds and turn the other to make rain.
- 朝三暮四。
- Saying three in the morning and four in the evening – to change one’s words.
- 临渊羡鱼。
- To stand at the water’s edge, envying the fish.
- **画龙点睛。
- To add the eyes to the dragon – to add the finishing touch.
- **指桑骂槐。
- To point at the mulberry tree while scolding the locust tree – to scold the wrong person.
- **如鱼得水。
- Like a fish in water.
- 买椟还珠。
- To buy a chest and return the pearls – to make a foolish transaction.
- 破釜沉舟。
- Breaking the pots and sinking the boats – to cut off one’s means of retreat.
Importance of Chinese Proverbs in our Daily Discourse
Chinese proverbs, like ancient whispers of wisdom, have long been most important part of daily life in China. Beyond their linguistic elegance, these age-old sayings play a crucial role in shaping conversations and enriching everyday communication. Let’s go deeper into the importance of Chinese proverbs in the tapestry of daily life.
Used in the place of Embedded in Conversations:
In the vibrant streets of China, one can often hear the rhythmic cadence of proverbs seamlessly woven into conversations. These sayings, at times concise and profound, serve as linguistic gems that add depth and nuance to interpersonal communication. Chinese people use proverbs to say complex emotions, share advice, or express cultural values succinctly.
It is used in place of Expressing Nuanced Emotions
Chinese proverbs act as emotional shorthand, allowing individuals to express sentiments that might be challenging to articulate directly. For instance, the saying “狗嘴里吐不出象牙” (gǒu zuǐ lǐ tǔ bù chū xiàng yá) translates to “A dog’s mouth cannot spit out ivory,” conveying the idea that people should speak within the bounds of their own understanding. Employing such proverbs enables individuals to communicate subtle emotions and opinions effectively.
Conveying Cultural Values:
These sayings act as vessels carrying the cultural ethos of China. In a society where respect for elders is highly valued, proverbs like “老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼” (lǎo wú lǎo yǐ jí rén zhī lǎo, yòu wú yòu yǐ jí rén zhī yòu) – “Respect old people when you are young and help the young when you are old” encapsulate the enduring importance of intergenerational respect.
Examples in Everyday Communication:
Consider a workplace scene where a colleague is facing a challenging project. A Chinese coworker might offer encouragement by saying, ” 千里之行，始于足下” (qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià) – “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” In this context, the proverb serves as both motivation and a reminder that progress is achieved through incremental efforts.
Similarly, in family discussions, a parent might use the proverb “授人以鱼，不如授人以渔” (shòu rén yǐ yú, bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú) – “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” to emphasize the importance of imparting skills and knowledge for long-term success.
In Conclusion to 100 beautiful Chinese Saying and proverbs
Chinese proverbs are not mere linguistic artifacts; they are living expressions of cultural wisdom, resilience, and shared experiences. In the ebb and flow of daily life, these sayings act as bridges, connecting generations and providing a timeless guide for navigating the complexities of existence. Chinese proverbs are not just words; they are a reflection of a rich cultural heritage, echoing through the corridors of everyday conversations.
