Chinese Proverb Life Is Long and Well Meet Again

Chinese Proverbs // 9 Must Know Chinese Sayings

ix Chinese Proverbs and Sayings to Level Up Your Mandarin

While there are many sayings in English, Chinese proverbs are comparatively used much more than oft in everyday oral communication.

These idioms are called chéngyǔ 成语.

Chengyu are generally 4 characters long, and many have a literal and metaphorical pregnant.

To fit a full phrase into merely four characters, usually a shorter form of a total, two-graphic symbol word is used.

So when it comes to more than complicated idioms, a new listener tin can't generally hear and immediately understand, unless the meaning has been explained first.

Some chengyu are easier to empathize or have direct English translations, but others don't make sense at all unless you lot sympathise the story that the chengyu comes from.

Learning Chinese proverbs and integrating them into your oral communication and writing can bear witness that yous've accomplished a higher level of Chinese and can really print Chinese speakers!

Also if you lot starting time spending your time on social media platforms such as Weibo for immersion, the content volition accept on a whole new life as you lot understand the deeper meaning.

In this blog, I'll introduce you to several Chinese sayings/Chengyu that yous tin can use in daily speech.

57 Basic Chinese Phrases 🗣 LTL's Consummate Guide to Chinese for Beginners

57 Of The Most Useful Basic Chinese Phrases To Learn In Minutes New to learning Chinese?Want to acquire some bones Chinese phrases for your trip to China?Need some Chinese beginner flashcards? If you fit just one of these questions, y'all…

Chinese Proverbs – Proverbs with Direct Translations

Chinese Proverbs – Add Anxiety When Drawing a Snake (画蛇添足)

Chinese Proverbs – Mark the Boat to Find the Sword (刻舟求剑)

Chinese Proverbs – Guard the Stump Waiting For a Rabbit (守株待兔)

Chinese Proverbs – Render the Jade to the Zhao State (完璧归赵)

Chinese Proverbs – Imagine Plums to Quench Thirst (望梅止渴)

Chinese Proverbs – Playing with an Axe (班门弄斧)

Chinese Proverbs – Find Out More

Oh before we start, to show our dedication and beloved for Chinese sayings and the language we created this slap-up "Chinese Proverb of the Solar day Generator".

Bank check back each day to larn a new one!

Proverbs with Direct Translations

First, let's start off with some like shooting fish in a barrel ones! These chengyu have very straight translations in English.

For me personally, I observe these types of proverbs much easier to integrate into my speech and writing, because I would naturally say them if I were speaking English language.

掌上明珠 (zhǎng shàng míngzhū)
掌: palm of the hand
上: on top
明珠: pearl

This translates literally into "a pearl in the palm of the hand", but a better translation would really exist "the apple of my centre", referring to a beloved person. In Chinese, it is particularly used to refer to daughters.

一石二鸟 (yī shí èr niǎo)
一: 1
石: stone
二: 2
鸟: bird

This idiom translates to, "one stone, two birds", or "kill ii birds with one stone". The literal and figurative meanings are almost identical in Chinese and English language!

种瓜得瓜, (zhòng guā dé guā)
种: to constitute
瓜: melon
得: to get

This proverbs literally means, "plant a melon, get a melon", but translates better into "you reap what yous sow".

Information technology's oft used together with another phrase, 种豆得豆 (zhòng dòu dé dòu), which has the same meaning, but uses the grapheme 豆, which ways "bean".

Complex Proverbs

Now we can get into some more interesting Chinese sayings and proverbs!

These idioms are more than complex and take stories behind them. Using these when y'all talk would be specially impressive!

画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú)

画: to draw
蛇: serpent
添: to add
足 : pes

Literal meaning: add anxiety when drawing a snake

Figurative meaning: to ruin something by calculation something superfluous or unnecessary

Story

As the story goes, in that location was in one case a man who was trying to share a bottle of alcohol amidst several people.

There wasn't plenty booze for every to drink, merely enough for ane person to drink and be satisfied.

So to decide who would get the alcohol, they held a contest. Whoever could draw a ophidian on the basis the fastest would get the alcohol.

I human being drew his snake this fastest, and quickly grabbed the bottle of alcohol.

To evidence his skill, he held the alcohol in his left hand, and with his right hand, he continued to depict–adding anxiety to his ophidian.

Just earlier he finished drawing the feet, another person finished drawing his serpent.

This person looked at the first man's drawing and proclaimed, "Snakes don't accept feet! Why did you add anxiety to your cartoon? The alcohol belongs to me!"

So the 2nd homo took the alcohol from the first and drank information technology.

Chengdu Street Nutrient – 5 Must-Effort Street Foods in Chengdu

Street Food in Chengdu – Five Of The All-time Chengdu Street Nutrient – oh it'south adept! It's so, so skilful! Sichuan province is famous for its food, it is the dwelling of the comforting hot pot, afterward all. Yes, it…

This story was originally told by Chenzhen (陈轸) to Zhaoyang (昭阳), when China was broken up into seven different states. Zhaoyang was a general from the Chu State (楚国), sent by the Chu ruler to overtake cities in the Wei Country (魏国).

Zhaoyang and his troops were extremely successful, conquering eight cities in the Wei Land. After his success, Zhaoyang wanted to keep to the Qi State (齐国) and keep fighting, hoping to conquer more cities.

The ruler of the Qi Land was worried, but luckily Chenzhen, an ambassador from the Qin State (秦国), decided to assist him by talking to Zhaoyang himself.

Chenzhen told Zhaoyang the story of the snake-drawing contest, and brash him not to assail the Qi Country.

He pointed out that if Zhaoyang succeeded, information technology wouldn't bring much more glory or honour to his country, but if he failed, then all his previous efforts would have been wasted. Zhaoyang decided to heed his advice, and he returned abode without attacking.

Examples

穿上西装还要戴两块手表，真是画蛇添足。
chuānshang xīzhuāng hái yào dài liǎng kuài shǒubiǎo, zhēn shì huà shé tiān zú.

Translation: To wear a adjust and ii wrist watches on peak of that is actually unnecessary.

对一个这样漂亮的女孩来说，化妆有些画蛇添足。
duì yī gè zhèyàng piàoliang de nǚhái lái shuō, huàzhuāng yǒuxiē huà shé tiān zú.

Translation: For such a cute girl, wearing makeup is non really necessary.

刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn)

刻: to cutting, carve, or engrave
舟: boat
求: to seek
剑: sword

Literal significant: carve a notch on the boat to seek the sword

Figurative meaning: to take measures without regard to changes in circumstance; to exercise things rigidly without existence flexible

Story

During People's republic of china'south Warring States menses, in that location was a man from the Chu Land (楚国) who loved swordsmanship.

He e'er carried a sword on his body wherever he went.

This man was very inflexible in his thinking.

He did everything by the book–he practiced his swordsmanship exactly how his chief taught him, and when he had a trouble himself, he copied exactly how other people would solve the problem. He didn't know how to be flexible.

One day, this homo came beyond a wood cutter in the wood, chopping forest. Equally he watched, the woods cutter accidentally dropped his axe into a ravine.

But instead of panicking, the wood cutter calmly marked a spot on the mountain where his axe had fallen.

And so he climbed down, using the mark to guide him, and found the axe in the underbrush. The man from Chu Land was very impressed by this and made a note to himself.

Later, the Chu Country human was crossing a river on a ferry. As he was standing past the edge of the gunkhole, he accidentally dropped his sword in the water.

The other passengers on the gunkhole noticed and asked to stop the boat, then he could jump in and retrieve his sword.

However, the human declared that he had his own method of getting the sword back, and he proceeded to employ a knife to carve a notch on the boat where he had dropped the sword in the water.

He then told the boatman to continue crossing the river, refusing the help of a young rider who offered to remember the sword for him.

When the boat finally reached the shore on the other side, the man took off his clothes and jumped into the water to try to dredge up the sword.

He tried and tried but couldn't find the sword.

Finally he said, "Evidently I dropped the sword hither, why can't I discover it?"

The other passengers from the ferry saw him and started to express joy. The young passenger from earlier laughed the loudest and said, "The boat has already traveled so far, you can't find the sword at present! How could you mark the gunkhole and hope to find the sword?"

Examples

时代变了，还按十年前的方法去做是不对的。这是刻舟求剑的想法。
shídài biàn le, hái ān shí niánqián de fāngfǎ qù zuò shì bùduì de. zhè shì kè zhōu qiú jiàn de xiǎngfǎ.

Translation: Times accept changed, to continue doing things the same mode as they were done 10 years agone is incorrect. This is inflexible thinking.

解决问题要根据现实情况找出最合适的方法，不要刻舟求剑。
jiějué wèntí yào gēnjù xiànshí qíngkuàng zhǎochū zuì héshì de fāngfǎ, bùyào kè zhōu qiú jiàn.

Translation: In lodge to solve a problem, you demand to observe a suitable method based on the current situation, don't ignore the circumstances.

守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù)

守: to baby-sit, to stand watch over
株: tree stump
待: to wait
兔: rabbit

Literal meaning: to guard a tree stump, waiting for rabbits

Figurative meaning: to wait idly for opportunities instead of taking initiative; to trust things to chance

Story

Once, a long fourth dimension agone, there was a farmer who made a living by tending his fields. One day, he was tilling his fields and became tired, and then he sat down for a remainder.

All of a sudden, a rabbit came forth and ran caput first into a tree stump, killing itself.

The farmer was delighted; he took the rabbit home and ate it. Ever since that 24-hour interval, the farmer no longer did work.

Instead, all mean solar day he sabbatum past the stump, waiting for a rabbit to run across information technology and die.

Every bit he waited, his fields became overgrown, simply he never saw another rabbit over again.

HSK Prep // Top Tips on Passing the HSK Exam (Plus 2021 Updates)

If you are studying Chinese the HSK test is something you have probably heard of before. Many students enquire what the best HSK prep is, permit's enlighten yous.

Examples

我还是继续守株待兔吗？
wŏ háishì jìxù shŏu zhū dài tù ma?

Translation: Should I go on waiting around for something to happen?

他唯一做的就是守株待兔。
tā wéiyī zuò de jiùshì shŏu zhū dài tù.

Translation: The only thing he does is wait around for things to happen.

没有人能靠守株待兔取得成功。
méiyŏu rén néng kào shŏuzhūdàitù qŭdéchénggōng.

Translation: No 1 can depend on idle waiting to succeed.

完璧归赵 (wán bì guī zhào)

完: to terminate, to be over
璧: special type of jade (a flat deejay with a round hole in the middle)
归: return
赵: Zhao (State)

Literal meaning: to return the jade intact to the Land of Zhao

Figurative meaning: to return something perfectly intact to its rightful possessor

Story

Long agone, during the time of the Warring States in Cathay, the king of the Zhao Land (赵国) obtained an extremely valuable piece of jade, which he cherished.

When the male monarch of the Qin State (秦国) heard about this, he became envious and wanted the jade for himself.

So he sent an ambassador to the Zhao State, promising to commutation xv cities in render for the piece of jade.

The Zhao Country King knew that the Qin State Rex was trying to trick him, but he was also agape that if he didn't comply with the Qin King's demands, and so the Qin State would assail the Zhao Land.

So the Zhao Rex and his advisors discussed among themselves, but they couldn't come up with a surefire plan. The rex was very nervous.

Mulan (2020): Feminist Remake and Cultural Homage

This is information technology, Mulan 2020 the live action film will be out in theatre soon. Find out how Mulan is a feminist moving picture and important for Asian representation.

During this fourth dimension, a homo named Lin Xiangru (蔺相如) was recommended to him. This man was said to be brave and clever. So the king immediately summoned him and asked for his communication.

Lin Xiangru told the king,

"If you lot don't agree to the Qin Country'south demands, then the blame will be yours. Simply the Qin State has promised to give you 15 cities, and then if they don't, then the blame will exist theirs. If you trust me, requite me the jade. I volition meet with the Qin King. If he truly intends to keep his give-and-take, I will give him the jade in exchange for the cities. Just if he doesn't programme to give you the cities, I promise I volition return the jade safely to you."

Having no better programme, the Zhao King agreed. Lin Xiangru traveled to the Qin palace and presented the jade to the rex. The king turned it over and over in his hands, admiring it. His advisors were besides eager to look at the jade and pass it around, congratulating the king in unison.

Another jade disk ( 璧玉, bìyù)
Image Courtesy of Luzigang

Lin Xiangru stood to the side for a long fourth dimension.

The Qin Rex didn't mention annihilation about the cities he was supposed to give to the Zhao King.

Lin Xiangru realized that the Qin Rex was tricking them and never intended to give them the cities.

And so finally, Lin Xiangru said,

"This piece of jade has a small flaw, give information technology to me, and I will bespeak it out to you lot."

The Qin King believed him and handed him the jade. Once he had the jade, Lin Xiangru held it close to his chest and backed up, leaning against a pillar.

He angrily told the king,

"When ordinary people brand friends, they know that honor is important. But you, as the prestigious male monarch of a cracking nation, take received this jade sent by the Zhao Male monarch, and you haven't even in one case mentioned the cities you lot agreed to requite us. So I volition take this jade and go dorsum domicile. If y'all endeavour to steal the jade from me, I will smash information technology against this pillar!"

Upon hearing this, the Qin King hastily tried to persuade Lin Xiangru. In insincerity, he ordered a map to be brought out, so he could testify the cities to Lin Xiangru. He agreed to comply with Lin Xiangru'southward demands past fasting for five days, then holding a 1000 ceremony to formally bear the commutation.

But Lin Xiangru could tell that the King wasn't telling the truth, and that he would pause his promise. So that very night, he bearded one of his trusted aides as an ordinary person and sent him back the Zhao State with the jade.

Play

Some other peachy Chinese Proverb to learn, courtesy of our very ain Alex!

On the day of the celebration, he told the Qin King,

"I accept already sent the jade back to the Zhao State. If you are sincere in your promise, first give us the 15 cities, and I volition immediately have the jade sent to you. If not, even if you kill me, it volition be pointless. I've only done this because I was forced into this situation."

The Qin King was furious but had no other options. He could but send Lin Xiangru home.

So the jade was sent back to the Zhao State, whole and complete.

Examples

你放心，你那两件东西不久就会完璧归赵。
nĭ fàngxīn, nĭ nèi liăngjiàn dōngxī bùjiŭ jiù huì wán bì guī zhào.

Translation: Don't worry, I'll bring these two things back to yous, rubber and sound, in no time.

我会把它完璧归赵的！
wŏhuì bă tā wán bì guī zhào de!

Translation: I will bring it back condom and audio!

望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě)

望: to expect, to promise
梅: plum
止: terminate
渴: thirsty

Literal meaning: to quench one'southward thirst past thinking of plums

Figurative meaning: to console oneself with illusions or fantasies

Story

In ancient Cathay, there was a man name Caocao (曹操). He was a very resourceful statesman and general.

When he led his troops to boxing, he had quick wits and frequently won by taking his enemy by surprise.

One summer day, Caocao was leading his his troops on an expedition. On this item mean solar day, the sun was scorching hot, and the rut pressed down on the soldiers.

They had already spent half a day without a drop of water, and many of them were then thirsty they couldn't keep. The further they marched, the slower they became.

When Caocao realized this, he ordered his men to terminate and sent someone to notice h2o.

Simply they were in the centre of the wilderness, and in that location were no rivers or ponds. The ground was and so dry out that it was cracked open.

Caocao was very worried. Simply of a sudden, he had an idea! He leapt off his equus caballus and shouted, "Water, water!"

Upon hearing him, his soldiers' free energy immediately returned, and they looked around, asking, "Where?"

Caocao replied, "Ahead of us I run across a plum tree forest. The plums should be ripe correct now. When we reach the forest, everyone tin consume to their heart'south content!"

When the soldiers heard Caocao, they immediately began to call up of the sugariness and sour gustation of the plums, making them salivate.

Equally they salivated, they didn't experience as thirsty as before. The soldiers pulled themselves together and strode quickly forward.

Finally, they left the wilderness behind them and found a place with water.

Examples

懒惰的他对成功成天空想, 望梅止渴.
lǎnduò de tā duì chénggōng chéngtiān kōngxiǎng, wàng méi zhǐ kě.

Translation: Equally a lazy person, he daydreams about success all day, comforting himself with fantasies.

如果再不开始行动, 我们对参赛并拿奖的愿望只能望梅止渴了.
rúguǒ zàibù kāishǐ xíngdòng, wǒmen duì cānsài bìng ná jiǎng de yuànwàng zhǐnéng wàng méi zhǐ kě le.

Translation: If we don't starting time to take action, our dream of winning the competition volition simply be a fantasy.

班门弄斧 (bān mén nòng fŭ)

班: (in this instance, a surname)
门: door
弄: play with
斧: axe

Literal meaning: using an axe outside Ban's door

Figurative meaning: not to overestimate their ain abilities.

Story

This idiom is used to remind people non to overestimate their own abilities.

What is this idiom about?

Ban (班) is, in this case, really a surname. Master Lŭ Bān was an expert craftsman in ancient times.

I day a young carpenter came to his neck of the woods carrying a hatchet (you know, as one does). This young guy starts bragging how astonishing and not bad he is at making and building things.

Someone who was near asked him if he could peradventure make a nice, wooden door like the one of Lu Ban's. Once he heard whose door it was, the immature carpenter's face turned cherry-red and he excused himself, saying he had other business organisation.

He did not want to compete with master Lu Ban's skills. So this is how the idiom "班门弄斧" came into existance.

This phrase can also be used to show respect to someone, in the meaning of doing something or making something in front of y'all is like "using an axe in forepart of Ban's door".

Or maybe – speaking Chinese in front of a native speaker is like "using an axe in front end of Ban'southward door".

Examples

在你面前这样班门弄斧，真是不好意思。
Zài nǐ miànqián zhèyàng bānménnòngfǔ, zhēnshi bù hǎoyìsi.

Translation: Showing off in front of you like that, I'm really embarrassed. (this is used when the person you're speaking to is skilled at whatever you are doing)

他在美国呆过十年，你教他英语，那是班门弄斧.
Tā zài měiguó dāiguò shí nián, nǐ jiào tā yīngyǔ, nà shì bānménnòngfǔ.

Translation: He used to stay in USA for ten years, you lot wanna teach him English? It'south similar education a fish to swim.

Immersion Preparation – How to Really Immerse Yourself

Immersion Training – 100% Immersion into Chinese civilisation while travelling If y'all didn't know already LTL stands for "Live the Language". LTL is based on immersion and the practise of immersion training. Today, our friend Callan tells us the best…

Find More Chinese Proverbs & Stories!

If you're interested in more stories like this, all of the stories from this blog post were translated from a book called…

中华成语故事 (Zhōnghuá chéngyǔ gùshi, or Chinese Saying Stories).

The chief editor/author is 崔钟雷 (Cui Zhonglei).

You tin purchase the the book here, or try to find it at a library!

If you tin't find this exact book, at that place are enough other books that explain the stories that Chinese sayings and proverbs come from.

ALSO…

Feeling ready to try your mitt at a Chinese Proverbs quiz?

We've prepared a super, quick quiz to see how much yous really know near Chinese Proverbs.

Take our quick-burn Chinese Proverbs quiz here.

AND FINALLY…

If that wasn't plenty we have WAY more content on Chinese proverbs, sayings and the language itself… hither's but a few.

Blog Post
More Popular Chinese Proverbs
Chinese Proverb of the Day
What is Mamahuhu?
Notice Chinese Slang
Game of Thrones in Chinese

Got anymore to share with united states? What other Chinese stories have you heard? Let us know in the comments below!

Chinese Maxim – FAQ'due south

What is "Mamahuhu"

Mamahuhu means "Horse horse tiger tiger". Yet, despite its literal translation, this idiom has two main meanings:

1 – It can describe a devil-may-care person or actions that are performed carelessly

2 – It tin can likewise mean "then-then".

What is a Chengyu?

While at that place are many sayings in English, Chinese proverbs are insufficiently used much more frequently in everyday spoken communication.

These idioms are chosen chéngyǔ 成语.

How do y'all say saying in Mandarin?

Proverbs in Mandarin Chinese is谚语 yànyŭ.

Should I learn Proverbs in Chinese?

When getting to more advanced stages of Mandarin it is certainly useful to larn them.

Chengyu come up everyday in Chinese speech and without agreement them, often the literal meaning makes no sense (which tin exist said of English proverbs also of grade) and so this makes understanding certain sentences very difficult.

Past learning a few as yous get along, this can bully enhance your Chinese proficiency.

Want more from LTL?

If y'all wish to hear more than from LTL Mandarin School why not join our mailing list.

We give plenty of handy information on our courses, blogs to assistance build your vocabulary, useful apps to acquire the language and everything going on at our LTL schools!

Sign up beneath and become part of our e'er growing customs!

kriegeranthery.blogspot.com

Source: https://ltl-chengdu.com/chinese-proverbs-sayings/

Share this post