Over the course of thousands of years of history, the Chinese language has been enriched a huge amount proverbs, idioms and popular expressions, including those that came from the artistic works of Chinese writers and poets, and those that came from folk tales, everyday life ordinary people. For us, in most cases, these expressions and phrases in translation sound strange and unusual, but for the Chinese they are as indispensable as air, and it is not surprising that they actively use these phrases both in speech and in writing.
Of course, it is almost impossible to deduce the meaning of a proverb or a catchphrase from just one translation into Russian, because behind most Chinese set expressions there are small or large stories, without knowledge of which, all the beauty and meaning of the phrase are lost in the non-obviousness or imaginary simplicity of the images. In addition, Chinese sayings sound complicated in our native language, but in translation we can convey them either in boring prose or in a Russian expression that has a corresponding meaning.
This page contains a large selection of Chinese proverbs, wise phrases and a saying. We present the original versions in Chinese, their pinyin transcription, as well as a translation into Russian, including a literal reading and interpretation (if required), often using our equivalent expressions.
Let's start with a classic Chinese riddle:
万里追随你，从不迷路。不怕冷，不怕火，不吃又不喝。太阳西下，我便消失。
wànlǐ zhuīsuí nǐ, cóng bù mílù. bùpà lěng, bùpà huǒ, bù chī yòu bù hē. tàiyáng xī xià, wǒ biàn xiāoshī.
I can follow you thousands of miles and not get lost. I am not afraid of frost and fire, I do not eat or drink, but I disappear when the sun sets in the west. Who am I?
Answer:
你的影子
nǐ de yǐngzi
Your shadow.
欲速则不达
yù sù zé bù dá
If you are chasing speed, you will not achieve it (if you drive more quietly, you will get further).
爱不是占有，是欣赏
ài bú shì zhàn yǒu, ér shì xīn shǎng
Love is not about possession, but about respect.
“您先请”是礼貌
“nín xiān qǐng” shì lǐ mào
After you - these are good manners.
萝卜青菜，各有所爱
luó bo qīng cài, gè yǒu suǒ ài
Everyone has their own hobby.
广交友，无深交
guǎng jiāo yǒu, wú shēn jiāo
A friend to everyone is a friend to no one.
一见钟情
yí jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight. Usually in relation to people, but can be used for other physical objects.
山雨欲来风满楼
shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu
A downpour is coming in the mountains, and the entire tower is being blown by the wind (clouds have gathered over someone).
不作死就不会死
bù zuō sǐ jiù bú huì sǐ
Don't do it, you won't die. This means that if you don't do stupid things, they won't hurt you.
书是随时携带的花园
shū shì suí shí xié dài de huā yuán
A book is like a garden in your pocket.
万事开头难
wàn shì kāi tóu nán
Starting any business is very difficult (it’s hard to get started).
活到老，学到老
huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo
Live until you are old, learn until you are old (live forever and learn).
身正不怕影子斜
shēn zhèng bú pà yǐng zi xié
A straight leg is not afraid of a crooked shoe.
爱屋及乌
ài wū jí wū
If you love a house, love the crows [on its roof] (if you love me, love my dog too). Spread your love for one person to everyone around him.
好书如挚友
hǎo shū rú zhì yǒu
A good book is a good friend.
一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴
yí cùn guāng yīn yí cùn jīn, cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāng yīn
Time is money, money can't buy time.
机不可失，时不再来
jī bù kě shī, shí bú zài lái
Don't miss the chance, because it's unlikely that another one will appear.
一言既出，驷马难追
yì yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī
If the word is said, you can’t catch him even with four horses.
好记性不如烂笔头
hǎo jì xìng bù rú làn bǐ tóu
A good memory is worse than the tip of a bad brush. Writing it down is better than remembering it.
近水知鱼性，近山识鸟音
jìn shuǐ zhī yú xìng, jìn shān shí niǎo yīn
Near the water we learn fish, in the mountains we learn the songs of birds.
愿得一人心，白首不相离
yuàn dé yī rén xīn, bái shǒu bù xiāng lí
If you want to find the heart of another, never leave him.
人心齐，泰山移
rén xīn qí, tài shān yí
If people unite, then Mount Taishan will be moved. Together we can move mountains.
明人不用细说，响鼓不用重捶
míng rén bú yòng xì shuō, xiǎng gǔ bú yòng zhòng chuí
An intelligent person does not need a long explanation.
花有重开日，人无再少年
huā yǒu chóng kāi rì, rén wú zài shào nián
Flowers may bloom again, but man will never have the opportunity to become young again. Don't waste your time.
顾左右而言他
gù zuǒ yòu ér yán tā
Go aside, change the subject.
几家欢喜几家愁
jǐ jiā huān xǐ jǐ jiā chóu
Some are happy, some are sad. Or the grief of one is the joy of another.
人无完人，金无足赤
rén wú wán rén, jīn wú zú chì
Cannot be found ideal person, just as it is impossible to find 100 percent pure gold.
有借有还，再借不难
yǒu jiè yǒu hái, zài jiè bù nán
Timely repayment of the loan makes it easier to borrow a second time.
失败是成功之母
shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ
Failure is the mother of success. You won't become a master without messing things up.
人过留名，雁过留声
rén guò liú míng, yàn guò liú shēng
A person passing by must leave behind a reputation, just as a passing goose leaves behind a cry.
万事俱备，只欠东风
wàn shì jù bèi, zhǐ qiàn dōng fēng
Everything is prepared, the only thing missing is the east wind (the absence of one of the most important conditions for the implementation of the plan).
Origin story: Guanzhong Luo. Three Kingdoms.
常将有日思无日，莫将无时想有时
cháng jiāng yǒu rì sī wú rì, mò jiāng wú shí xiǎng yǒu shí
When you are rich, think about poverty, but don't think about wealth when you are poor. This proverb indicates that frugality is the best policy: be modest even if you are rich, and do not dream of wealth when you are poor, but work and be frugal.
塞翁失马，焉知非福
sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú
The old man lost his horse, but who knows - maybe this is fortunate (every cloud has no silver lining). According to the book "Huainanzi - Lessons from Humanity", an old man living in the border region lost his horse and people came to console him, but he said: "This may be a blessing in disguise, who knows?" In fact, the horse later returned to the man along with an excellent stallion.
Meaning: it is said when they want to say that temporary failures can later turn into great success.
Origin story:
Once upon a time, an old man who lived at the Northern Outpost (as they call the Great Chinese wall), lost his horse. The neighbors came to console him, but to their surprise they found the unlucky old man in a good mood. “Maybe losing a horse is bad, maybe it’s not, who knows?” - he calmly declared to his neighbors. A few months later, the lost horse returned home and brought with it a fast runner. In China, such horses are also called 千里马 qiān lǐ mǎ - “ horse (running) 1000 li (per day)" The neighbors came to the old man again, this time to congratulate him on his good luck. But the old man didn’t think of being particularly happy: “Who knows, maybe this will lead to misfortune?” One day the old man's son rode a fast horse. The horse was racing so fast that the son could not stay in the saddle, fell and broke his leg. Everyone began to express sympathy for the old man, to which he objected: “Maybe this will turn into happiness.” And so it happened. Soon after this, bandits attacked the outpost and took all the young people with them. The old man’s son, who was lying with a broken leg, managed to avoid this fate. The elder’s predictions came true every time.
"Huai Nanzi"
学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆
xué ér bù sī zé wǎng, sī ér bù xué zé dài
To study and not to reflect means to learn nothing; to reflect and not to learn means to follow a dangerous path.
书到用时方恨少
shū dào yòng shí fāng hèn shǎo
When you use what you learned from books and want to read more about it. This proverb reminds us that we can never read enough.
千军易得，一将难求
qiān jūn yì dé, yī jiang nán qiú
It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, but it is difficult to find a good general. This proverb notes the difficulty of finding a great leader.
小洞不补，大洞吃苦
xiǎo dòng bù bǔ, dà dòng chī kǔ
A small hole that is not repaired in time will become a large hole that is much more difficult to patch. Everything needs to be done on time.
读书须用意，一字值千金
dú shū xū yòng yì, yī zì zhí qiān jīn
When you read, do not let a single word escape your attention; one word can be worth a thousand gold coins. This proverb emphasizes the fact that research requires close attention. Not a single word should be passed over without understanding. Only in this way can learning be rewarded.
有理走遍天下，无理寸步难行
yǒu lǐ zǒu biàn tiān xià, wú lǐ cùn bù nán xíng
If the law is on your side you can go anywhere; without this you will not be able to take a single step. Virtue will carry you through any difficulty, while without it your business will be doomed from the very beginning.
麻雀虽小，五脏俱全
má què suī xiǎo, wǔ zàng jù quán
Although the sparrow is small, all its organs are in place. Despite the small size, everything is as it should be, everything is there.
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟
dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān
Wish us long life to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even thousands of miles apart.
听君一席话，胜读十年书
tīng jūn yīxíhuà, shèng yīng jiāng qí yì wèi shí nián shū
Listening to the sovereign's advice is better than reading books for ten years.
路遥知马力，日久见人心
lù yáo zhī mǎ lì, rì jiǔ jiàn rén xīn
The strength of a horse is known by a long journey, and the heart of a man by time.
灯不拨不亮，理不辩不明
dēng bù bō bù liàng, lǐ bù biàn bù míng
After trimming, the oil lamp becomes brighter, the truth becomes clearer after discussion.
凡人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
fán rén bù kě mào xiàng, hǎi shuǐ bù kě dòu liàng
A person is not judged by his appearance, the sea is not measured with scoops.
桂林山水甲天下
guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎ tiānxià
Guilin's mountain and water scenery is the best in the world.
三人一条心，黄土变成金
sān rén yì tiáo xīn, huáng tǔ biàn chéng jīn
When three people are unanimous, even clay can be turned into gold.
当局者迷，旁观者清
dāng jú zhě mí, páng guān zhě qīng
It's clearer from the outside. A person involved in something usually does not have a comprehensive overview due to too much focus on profit and loss, while observers, being calmer and more objective, are more aware of what is happening.
大处着想，小处着手
dà chù zhuó xiǎng, xiǎo chù zhuó shǒu
Keep the overall goal in sight when solving everyday problems. This proverb advises us to always keep the overall situation in mind and be far-sighted while we are busy with the bustle of the world.
吃一堑，长一智
chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yí zhì
Every failure makes a person smarter.
不能一口吃成胖子
bù néng yīkǒu chī chéng gè pàngzi
You can’t get fat from one sip (to achieve something, you have to work hard).
风无常顺，兵无常胜
fēng wú cháng shùn, bīng wú cháng shèng
The boat will not always sail with the wind; the army will not always win. This proverb encourages us to be prepared for difficulties and failures: everything cannot be smooth all the time.
水满则溢
shuǐ mǎn zé yì
If there is a lot of water, it pours out. This proverb indicates that things turn into their opposites when they reach their extremes.
有缘千里来相会
yǒu yuán qiān lǐ lái xiāng huì
Even those who are far from each other are destined to meet. This proverb says that (according to the Chinese) human relationships are determined by fate.
哑巴吃饺子，心里有数
yǎ ba chī jiǎo zi, xīn lǐ yǒu shù
When a mute person eats dumplings (饺子 jiaozi), he knows how much he has eaten, although he cannot tell. This expression is used to indicate that a person knows a situation well, although he remains silent.
只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针
zhǐ yào gōng fū shēn, tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn
If you work hard enough, you can wear even an iron rod down to the size of a needle. Patience and a little effort.
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆
zhòng guā dé guā, zhòng dòu dé dòu
If you plant a melon, you get a melon; if you plant beans, you get beans (what goes around comes around).
善有善报
shàn yǒu shàn bào
Good will turn out to be good.
人逢喜事精神爽
rén féng xǐ shì jīng shén shuǎng
Joy inspires a person.
水滴石穿，绳锯木断
shuǐ dī shí chuān, shéng jù mù duàn
Dripping water pierces the stone; a saw made of rope cuts right through the tree (water wears away the stone).
一日之计在于晨
yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén
The morning is wiser than the evening.
君子之交淡如水
jūn zǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ
Friendship between gentlemen is as tasteless as water.
月到中秋分外明，每逢佳节倍思亲
yuè dào zhōng qiū fèn wài míng, měi féng jiā jié bèi sī qīn
The moon is at its brightest during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and homesickness will become stronger during this traditional festival.
读万卷书不如行万里路
dú wàn juàn shū bù rú xíng wàn lǐ lù
A journey of ten thousand li better reading ten thousand books (practical experience is more useful than theory).
静以修身
jìng yǐ xiū shēn
Silence and silence improve the body.
强龙难压地头蛇
qiáng lóng nán yā dìtóu shé
Even the mighty dragon cannot cope with the snakes here (be careful with strangers or in unfamiliar places).
一步一个脚印儿
yī bù yī gè jiǎo yìnr
Every step leaves a mark (work steadily and make significant progress).
一个萝卜一个坑儿
yī gè luó bo yī gè kēng er
One radish, one hole. Everyone has their own task, and no one is useless.
宰相肚里好撑船 / 宽容大量
zǎi xiànɡ dù lǐ nénɡ chēnɡ chuán / kuān hóng dà liàng
The prime minister's soul should be as wide as the sea (not to be offended no matter what you hear).
冰冻三尺，非一日之寒
bīng dòng sān chǐ, fēi yī rì zhī hán
Meter-thick ice does not form in one day (Moscow was not built right away).
三个和尚没水喝
sān gè héshàng méi shuǐ hē
The three monks have no water to drink. “Too many cooks spoil the broth” or “seven nannies and a child without an eye.”
一人难称百人心 / 众口难调
yī rén nán chèn bǎi rén xīn / zhòng kǒu nán tiáo
It is difficult to please everyone (there are no comrades according to taste and color).
难得糊涂
nan de hú tu
Where ignorance is bliss, it is foolish to be wise.
执子之手，与子偕老
zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xié lǎo
Holding hands, growing old together.
千里之行，始于足下
qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
国以民为本，民以食为天
guó yǐ mín wéi běn, mín yǐ shí wéi tiān
People are like the root of the country, and food is the first necessity of the people.
儿行千里母担忧
ér xíng qiān lǐ mǔ dān yōu
When the son is away from home, the mother worries.
没有规矩不成方圆
méi yǒu guī ju bù chéng fāng yuán
Nothing can be achieved without norms or standards.
否极泰来
pǐ jí tài lái
When the hexagram “Pi” (“Decline”) reaches its limit, the hexagram “Tai” comes (a streak of bad luck is sometimes replaced by good luck).
前怕狼，后怕虎
qián pà láng, hòu pà hǔ
Be afraid of the wolf in front, and the tiger in the back (always be afraid of something).
青出于蓝而胜于蓝
qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán
Blue is born from blue, but is much thicker than the latter (the student has surpassed the teacher).
老骥伏枥，志在千里
lǎo jì fú lì, zhì zài qiān lǐ
The old horse lies in the stall, but with his thoughts he rushes a thousand miles away (even though he is old in years, he is filled with high aspirations).
十年树木，百年树人
shí nián shù mù, bǎi nián shù rén
A tree takes ten years to grow, a person takes a hundred years (about the difficult and long task of education).
兵不厌诈
bīng bù yàn zhà
In war, tricks are not forbidden.
木已成舟
mù yǐ cheng zhōu
生米煮成熟饭
shēng mǐ zhǔ chéng shú fàn
The grain was cooked and turned into porridge (the job is done - you can’t return it).
身体力行
shēn tǐ lì xíng
Implement it yourself with all your energy.
惩前毖后
cheng qián bì hòu
Learn from the mistakes of the past as an edification for the future.
一石二鸟
yī shí èr niǎo
Knock down two birds with one stone.
如坐针毡
rú zuò zhēn zhān
Sit on pins and needles.
星星之火，可以燎原
xīng xīng zhī huǒ, kě yǐ liáo yuán
A spark of fire can burn out the steppe. A spark can start a fire.
逆来顺受
nì lái shùn shòu
Submissively endure misfortune (injustice), do not resist evil.
化干戈为玉帛
huà gān gē wéi yù bó
End the war peacefully, change the situation for the better (beat swords into ploughshares).
此地无银三百两
cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng
Give yourself away (sewn with white thread).
严师出高徒
yán shī chū gāo tú
Good students are raised by strict teachers.
三思而后行
sān sī er hòu xíng
Proceed with action only after thinking about it three times (measure seven times, cut once).
哀兵必胜
āi bīng bì shèng
An oppressed army fighting with desperate courage is sure to win.
吃得苦中苦，方为人上人
chī dé kǔ zhōng kǔ, fāng wéi rén shàng rén
You can’t even pull a fish out of a pond without difficulty.
先到先得
xiān dào xiān dé
Whoever gets up early, God gives him.
留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
liú dé qīng shān zài, bú pà méi chái shāo
If only there were a forest, there would be firewood (as long as I live, I hope).
祸从口出
huò cóng kǒu chū
All troubles come from the tongue (my tongue is my enemy).
一笑解千愁
yī xiào jiě qiān chóu
One smile can erase a million worries.
笑一笑，十年少
xiào yī xiào,shí nián shào
He who knows how to laugh becomes younger. Laughter prolongs life.
美名胜过美貌
měi míng shèng guò měi mào
Good fame is better than a good face.
入乡随俗
rù xiāng suí sú
When entering a country, follow its customs (they don’t go to a foreign monastery with their own rules).
大智若愚
dà zhì ruò yú
Great wisdom is like stupidity (about an intelligent, educated person who does not know how or does not want to show himself).
捷足先登
jié zú xiān dēng
The one who walks quickly reaches the goal first.
守得云开见月明
shǒu dé yún kāi jiàn yuè míng
Every cloud has a silver lining (every cloud has a silver lining).
患难见真情
huàn nàn jiàn zhēn qíng
Trouble sees the truth (a friend is known in trouble).
凡事都应量力而行
fán shì dōu yìng liàng lì ér xíng
A person cannot do more than he can.
心旷神怡，事事顺利
xīn kuàng shén yí, shì shì shùn lì
The heart is open, the soul rejoices - [then] and every business is successful.
良药苦口
liáng yào kǔ kǒu
Good medicine is bitter in the mouth (though it stings the eyes).
静以修身
jìng yǐ xiū shēn
Peace and quiet for self-improvement.
知音难觅
zhī yīn nán mì
A true friend is hard to find.
逆境出人才
nì jìng chū rén cái
Hard times give birth to great people (talents).
事实胜于雄辩
shì shí shèng yú xióng biàn
Facts are more convincing than any words (facts are stubborn things).
蜡烛照亮别人，却毁灭了自己
là zhú zhào liàng bié rén, què huǐ miè le zì jǐ
A candle illuminates others, but destroys itself.
吹牛与说谎本是同宗
chuī niú yǔ shuō huǎng běn shì tóng zōng
Boasting and lying come from the same ancestor.
一鸟在手胜过双鸟在林
yī niǎo zài shǒu shèng guò shuāng niǎo zài lín
A bird in the hand is worth two birds in the bush (a bird in the hand is better than a pie in the sky).
不会撑船怪河弯
bú huì chēng chuán guài hé wān
Not knowing how to steer a boat, but blaming the bend of the river (a bad dancer’s legs get in the way).
不善始者不善终
bú shàn shǐ zhě bù shàn zhōng
A bad start means a bad ending (what goes around comes around).
Chinese phrases and expressions related to dragon:
龙飞凤舞
longfēi fèngwǔ
Rise of the dragon and dance of the phoenix (about exceptionally beautiful handwriting; about careless cursive handwriting; to swim majestically, to swim out).
龙马精神
lóngmǎ jīngshén
A horse with a dragon spirit (we are talking about a strong spirit in old age).
鱼龙混杂
yú long hùn zá
The fish and dragons are mixed up (everything is mixed up, good and bad are mixed together; there is also honest people and scum).
龙腾虎跃
longteng hǔyuè
Like a dragon flies, like a tiger leaps (to perform a glorious deed; to do a useful deed).
车水马龙
chē shuǐ mǎ lóng
A stream of carriages and a string of horses (about a lot of traffic).
龙潭虎穴
lóngtán-hǔxué
The Dragon's Deep (and the Tiger's Lair) (about a dangerous place).
画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
When drawing a dragon, draw its pupils (finish, make the last one or two masterful strokes).
叶公好龙
yè gong hào long
She-gun loves dragons (to love by hearsay; to love what he has never seen; to love only in words; according to the parable of She-gun, who really liked dragons and who constantly drew them, but when he saw a living dragon, he ran away in fear).
鲤鱼跳龙门
lǐyú tiào lóngmén
Karp jumped over the dragon's gate (pass the state exam, get promoted and make a fast career).
Phraseologisms
Currently, in Chinese phraseology, the most common classification is proposed by the Chinese linguist Ma Guofan (马国凡), consisting of five categories:
1. Chengyu (Chinese trad. 成語, ex. 成语, pinyin: chéngyŭ, literally: “ready-made expression”) - idiom.
2. Yanyu (Chinese tr. 諺語, exemplar 谚语, pinyin: yànyŭ) - proverb
3. Xiehouyu (Chinese tr. 歇後語, exercise 歇后语, pinyin: xiēhòuyǔ, literally: “speech with a truncated ending”) - innuendo-allegory
4. Guanyunyu (Chinese trad. 慣用語, ex. 惯用语, pinyin: guànyòngyŭ, literally: “habitual expression”) - phraseological combination
5. Suyu (Chinese trad. 俗語, exemplar 俗语, pinyin: súyǔ, literally: “colloquial expression”) - saying
Gambling leads to robbery; debauchery leads to murder.
The shark will be happy if the whole world is under water.
If you're poor, don't lie; if you're rich, don't be arrogant.
Without fire, brushwood will not burn.
A noble man does not remember the old evil.
Close neighbors are better than distant relatives.
Fear that the lazy man will not plow, and that the yellow earth will not give birth, do not be afraid.
There are three cases of disrespect for parents, no descendant - the worst of them.
There are only pure brides, but there are no pure matchmakers.
There is only the wrong way, but there is no hopeless situation.
Open your eyes quickly, open your mouth slowly.
If you commit virtuous deeds for three years, few will know about it; Once you do something bad, the whole Celestial Empire will know.
He hits - he regrets, he scolds - he loves, when he gets angry - he tramples underfoot.
IN long journey There is no such thing as light luggage.
In his youth he wandered around without anything to do, as an adult he dreams of unearthing a treasure, when he gets old he will become a monk.
It’s good to make money in an unfamiliar place, and it’s good to celebrate the New Year in a familiar place.
You can't fit two spoons into one mouth.
A fly will not fly into a whole egg.
The nobleman will die - a hundred guests at the gate, the general will die - and the soldier will not come.
Mutual trust is the basis of friendship.
If you borrow it, pay it back; it will be easy to borrow it a second time.
Water flows down, but man strives upward.
There are many wolves, but little meat.
Always know your limit.
To leave and enter - there is no gate, to come and go - there is no way.
If snow falls, the dogs are happy, but the sparrow has a lot of anger in his stomach.
The tall lamp shines far away.
The deaf teach the mute - one does not know how to speak, the other does not know how to listen.
A hungry mouse is ready to eat a cat.
The sovereign is like a boat, and the people are like water: they can carry them, they can drown them.
The day is long - there is a lot to do, the night is long - there are many dreams.
A rich man's money is a poor man's life.
Money in the hands of a messenger is like a ram in a tiger's mouth.
The tree fell and the macaques fled.
During the day - thoughts, at night - dreams.
There are a lot of debts - don't be sad, there are a lot of fleas - don't itch.
Long fire hardens steel.
There is no friend without a flaw; If you look for a flaw, you will be left without a friend.
Friendships built on benefits are never lasting.
The road that has been walked on for a thousand years turns into a river.
The ancients do not see today's moon, but today's moon once illuminated the ancients.
Think better about the food in this world, and not about the fact that in the next world there will be nothing to heat it with.
A bad person suffers from bad people.
The peasant's food depends on the weather.
If you take the wrong road, you can return; If you make a mistake with a word, nothing can be done.
If you make a mistake, it’s better to laugh right away.
If you doubt a person, don’t do business with him, and if you do, don’t doubt him.
If a woman has no talent, this is already a virtue.
There is money, there is wine - and you will find friends.
There is you - nothing has been added, there is no you - nothing has decreased.
Live with peace. Come spring, and the flowers bloom themselves.
They sent a goose feather for a thousand miles: an easy gift, but expensive attention.
The wound closed - I forgot about the pain.
An evil that is afraid of being found out is probably great.
And there are cracks in the fence, and the walls have ears.
And the high mountain will not block the sun.
And for the fallen brick the day comes when it will be turned over.
You can't take a chicken egg from a crow's nest.
It is difficult to light a fire from one twig.
Look for bones in a chicken egg.
The temptation to give up will be especially strong shortly before victory.
Who knows if the future will be as good as the present.
No matter how hard the wind blows, the mountain will not bow to it.
Which official is unselfish?
When there is wine, think more often about the time when there will be no wine.
When you sit down on a wedding palanquin, it’s too late to pierce holes in your ears.
When you are alone, think about your sins; when in society, forget strangers.
When a person is hardworking, then the earth is not lazy.
If you believe that incense sticks will help you, then light them, don’t think twice about whether it’s morning or evening.
If there is musk, it smells itself, then why is wind needed?
If the title of the essay is unsuccessful, then the words do not flow freely.
If you are eighty-eight, don’t laugh that someone else is lame and blind.
If you yourself are ignorant, there is no point in boasting about your ancestors.
They feed troops for a thousand days, but use one minute.
Beautiful flowers are embarrassed when they are stuck in the hair of older women.
Whoever is closest to the fire is the first to burn.
Whoever sits on a tiger finds it difficult to get off it.
A piece of field is worth a piece of sky.
The lamp does not illuminate itself.
The boat can also capsize in a drainage ditch.
It is better to talk to a smart person than to fight with a fool.
It is better if it did not exist and appeared, than if it existed and disappeared.
It’s better for people to put the burden on me than for me to blame it on others.
It's better to see a face than to hear a name.
People strive to get close to those who have a good soul; fish rush to the lake, rich in algae.
The frog dreams of climbing the cherry tree.
A small, small knife must be sharp, a small, small person must be good.
You can't cut down a big branch with a small ax.
The world is so big that there is nothing that does not exist.
You can only buy by mistake, but you cannot sell by mistake.
A wise man demands everything only from himself, but an insignificant person demands everything from others.
The monastery is opposite the nunnery - even if nothing happens, there is still something.
There is too much thought, but not enough strength.
They are not offended by excessive politeness.
There is resentment in the heart, but a smile on the face.
Don't be afraid to hesitate, don't be afraid to stop.
Don't be afraid if people don't invite, be afraid that the skill is not perfect.
Don't be afraid that you don't know - be afraid that you don't learn.
You cannot shoot an arrow that has lost its feathers: it is difficult to live for a person who has lost his friends.
Not knowing is not a crime.
If you don't suffer, you won't become a Buddha.
If you don't rise, you won't fall.
If you don’t climb the mountains, you won’t know the height of the sky; If you don’t go down into the abyss, you won’t recognize the thickness of the earth.
Not weak-minded, not deaf - so what kind of great-grandfather is he?
If you cannot tolerate small things, you will frustrate big plans.
Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know - who says no one knows?
No debts - and your soul is easy.
There is no feast that never ends.
There are no holidays that never end.
You need a big heart - and you don't need a big room.
Common aspirations - common strengths.
Ordinary people run ordinary businesses.
You can't wrap fire in paper.
Garden worms are in the garden and die.
If you touch one branch, ten will sway; it is difficult to support a falling palace with one log.
There is always brushwood under a big tree.
Until you have had breakfast, you are considered early; until you get married, you are considered small.
When you buy a horse, look at its parents.
A full bottle is silent, a half empty bottle gurgles.
After a long illness, you become a good doctor yourself.
The pumpkin seller does not say that the pumpkins are bitter, the wine seller does not say that the wine is diluted.
It leaks at the top, but those below know about it.
Once you put on new shoes, raise your feet higher.
After three years, the separated brothers become simply neighbors.
Drawing a devil is easy, drawing a tiger is difficult (since no one has seen the devil, but a tiger should look like a real animal).
Your parents gave you life - develop your will yourself.
A trotter often carries a fool; a wise woman often lives with a stupid man.
He has been stealing needles since childhood - when he grows up, he will steal gold.
With money you can buy a watch, but not time.
From this mountain it seems that that mountain is high.
It's easy to mount a horse, but difficult to get off.
A pig sleeps and grows meat; a man sleeps and sells his house.
Today you cannot predict tomorrow morning.
A woman's heart is the most harmful.
How many people - so many roads.
A blind cat came across a dead mouse. (About luck)
The caught fish is always big.
Hundreds of diseases begin with a cold.
They repay the debt while standing, and on their knees they ask for the money back.
The happiness of the next century is built in this century.
A son is like a wolf, but seems like a lamb; a daughter is like a mouse, but seems like a tiger.
The tiger is skinny, but has a brave heart in his chest, and man is poor, but his will is inexhaustible.
To those who wait, even a minute seems like a year.
For those who participate in the case, everything is in the dark, for those who look from the outside, everything is clear.
Those who slander me secretly are afraid of me; those who praise me to my face despise me.
The one who points out your shortcomings is not always your enemy; the one who talks about your merits is not always your friend.
A thousand ways to find out are easy, but achieving one result is difficult.
Seeing is better than hearing, knowing is better than seeing, doing is better than knowing.
The fish painted on the wall has only one eye.
He who has many friends is at ease, as in the steppe; those who don’t have them feel as cramped as between their palms.
The dog grew cow horns. - unexpected change in appearance or behavior
The monk ran away, but the monastery will not run away.
A smiling official kills people.
A good breakfast is no substitute for a good lunch.
A good product is never cheap; cheap goods are never good.
The heron does not eat heron meat.
A man without a will is like a knife without steel.
Say what you do.
You can't glue someone else's meat to your body.
Chinese proverbs and sayings are a storehouse of Chinese wisdom. China is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. After all, the written history of China alone is 3,500 years old.
For many years, the Chinese people collected the sayings and observations of the sages who lived on their land.
Their wisdom is distinguished by a special view of the world and man’s place in it. And although these words were written thousands of years ago, they can still help each of us in life and direct our thoughts, and therefore our actions, in the right direction.
The wisdom of the Chinese people, proverbs and sayings that contain a deep meaning:
- Don't be afraid that you don't know - be afraid that you don't learn.
- Meeting a friend in a distant land is like long-awaited rain.
- The one who points out your shortcomings is not always your enemy; the one who talks about your merits is not always your friend.
- What happens happens on time.
- Always look at things on the bright side, and if there are none, rub the dark ones until they shine.
- A hut where they laugh is richer than a palace where they are bored.
- If one word does not bring you to your senses, ten thousand will not bring you to your senses.
- If you tripped and fell, this does not mean that you are going the wrong way.
- Anyone who drinks water must remember those who dug the well.
- Until you fall for the bait, you will not become an expert.
- Only a beautiful bird is put in a cage.
- Truth has many faces.
- A fool has stupid happiness.
- There are many roads that lead to the top. but the landscape remains unchanged.
- Reflecting on the past, you learn about the future
- Treat your thoughts like guests, and treat your desires like children.
- Don't be afraid to hesitate, don't be afraid to stop.
- It is difficult for both good and bad to escape people's rumors.
- He who treads softly will go far on his path.
- The strong will overcome the obstacle, the wise will overcome the entire path.
- Don't be friends with an ungrateful person.
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
- If there is a desire in the heart, then you can drill through the stone
- Don't speak unless it changes the silence for the better.
- The trick of life is to die young, but as late as possible.
- The temptation to give up will be especially strong shortly before victory.
- Teachers only open the doors, then you go on your own.
- No matter how hard the wind blows, the mountain will not bow to it.
- Live with peace. The time will come and the flowers will bloom on their own.
- There is no friend without a flaw; If you look for a flaw, you will be left without a friend.
- Misfortune enters the door that was opened to him.
- No one returns from travel the same as he was before.
- Those who are capable of blushing cannot have a black heart.
- It is better to be a man for one day than to be a shadow for a thousand days.
- Your home is where your thoughts are calm.
- If you make a mistake, it’s better to laugh right away.
- The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is today.
- When they talk about my merits, they rob me; when they talk about my shortcomings, they teach me.
- Having money and not helping others is like entering a cave with jewelry and returning empty-handed.
- An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, despite the time, place and circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.
- It's easy to be a saint while sitting on Mount Tai Shan. It is much more difficult to remain holy while sitting in the market.
- The man who was able to move a mountain began by dragging small stones from place to place.
- The wisest person is the one who does not forget suffering and torment even during the greatest fun. Live in peace.
- Come spring, and the flowers bloom themselves.
- The size of a tower is measured by the length of the shadow it casts, and the greatness of a person is measured by the number of his envious people.
- There is you - nothing has been added, there is no you - nothing has decreased.
- One of the main duties of a person is to make the bright principle of reason that we receive from heaven shine in full force.
- Knowledge is a treasure that follows those who possess it everywhere.
- Those who walk together on the road love each other, those who do the same thing envy each other.
- And the emperor cannot buy a thousand years of life.
- It is better to leave your son one book than a pot of gold.
- Truth is the source of courage.
- A big river flows quietly, a smart man does not raise his voice.
- A hut where they laugh is richer than a palace where they are bored.
- Always look at things on the bright side, and if there are none, rub the dark ones until they shine.
- What will happen will happen beyond your anxiety.
- Every failure makes you smarter.
- Modesty is true good people is expressed in oblivion: they are so absorbed in what they are doing now that they lose sight of what they have already done.
- When you look for fire, you find it along with smoke.
In knowing the truth, you also come to know lies.
Every thing has two halves,
And without one you won’t understand the other.
For the whole long history development in Chinese many proverbs and sayings, phraseological units, quotes and aphorisms appeared, which came from literary works, folklore and the ordinary life of ordinary Chinese.
For the Russian-speaking population, most of them, when translated, are perceived as strange and not entirely familiar, but for the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire themselves, they are necessary, like air, and are often used in everyday speech and writing in hieroglyphs.
Fact. Most often, it is almost impossible to understand the meaning of a proverb or wise saying from a simple translation, since behind each idiom there is a long or short story, without understanding which all the beauty and weight of expression loses part of its meaning. In addition, Chinese proverbs sound rhythmically and rhyme only in their native language, and when translated into Russian they are pronounced in prose or with the sound of a phrase similar in meaning.
History of Chinese Proverbs
During its development, any nation gains everyday experience, passing it on from generation to generation. Before the spread of writing in China and at a time when education was inaccessible to ordinary people(many Chinese are still illiterate), idioms, quotes, useful conclusions about changes in nature, observations about human relationships were passed down from older generations to descendants in the form of witty sayings and idioms that are easy enough to remember.
In modern Chinese there are a large number wise proverbs and sayings. They have different origins, but perform one task - they give emotional coloring to speech. The Chinese call them chengyu, and the sayings usually consist of 4 syllables. Most Chengyu came from Wenyan, the language of ancient Chinese writing, which practically did not remain in the modern Chinese language, but there are also expressions that are more modern in origin.
According to their source, Chinese expressions, quotes and phraseological units are divided into several types:
- originating from religious Chinese beliefs - and Taoism (“Buddha should be covered with gold, and people with clothes”).
- came from other languages. In addition to the Chinese themselves, 55 other nationalities live on the territory of the Celestial Empire, their representatives introduced their own idioms into the language of the country (“If there is water in the pond, then there are fish in it”).
- phrases from literary works.
- Phrases that came from the life of ordinary peasants.
- Sayings reflecting folk wisdom (“A horse once released can be caught, but a spoken word cannot be taken back.
Proverbs by category with meaning
In addition to dividing by origin, all statements can be divided by topic.
Beautiful
A good memory is much worse than the end of a bad brush. Writing down information is always more reliable than simply remembering it.
The world is always a little better when people do things not for themselves, but for each other.
About love
Love is not about possession, but about mutual respect.
Love from the first moment. Most often it is said about a person, but is sometimes used for things.
About friendship
If a person is a friend to everyone, then he is not a friend to anyone.
If you want to receive the heart of another, do not abandon him under any circumstances.
About labor
Any difficult task is very difficult at first (the eyes are afraid, but the hands do the work).
If people unite, then the entire Taishan Mountain can be moved. If you work together, then together you can move mountains.
About wisdom
Don't do it, you won't die. The phrase means that if a person does not do stupid things, they will not harm him.
A strong person will cope with one obstacle, but a wise person will overcome the whole path.
About the enemy
The most evil dragons are the headless ones.
Beautiful quotes
In China, the expressions of the sages expressed in books are highly revered and quoted.
- Who shows my mistakes is my teacher. Who notices my correct actions- that friend of mine. He who only flatters is an enemy. Han Xiangzi.
- Family is not the exclusive place where people need to be decent, but it is the first one. Han Xiangzi "Favorites".
Statuses
Status is an opportunity for each person to express their own thoughts and feelings or to attract additional attention. Every day, millions of Chinese start their day with one habitual action - they log on to the Internet and visit their page on social networks. Everyone wants to know what news has happened since the last time a person was online, what’s new with colleagues, acquaintances, and loved ones. Most easy way to detect this is simply to read the user's current status. With the help of status, a person informs everyone about his mood, state of affairs and desire to communicate.
Interesting fact. Many names given to Chinese children are pronounced like hashtags.
Statuses in Chinese can be very different: funny, witty, sad, intriguing, and so on. With the help of statuses, the user increases interest in his person. Because of your status, you can acquire a reputation as a witty, positive, sociable person, which is subsequently reflected in relationships in real life.
Older Chinese people try to appear educated and sophisticated and try to choose statuses from the statements of famous people. Young girls write about guys, often ironically, or about eternal love and treason.
The most popular statuses in Chinese:
- It’s a pity that I don’t have the opportunity to express my love to you in the language of flowers - there are never so many red roses...
- Can't there be love over a long distance? The sun is very far away, but it is warm.
- Love can live at a great distance. She is able to survive anything if a person really wants it.
- If you wake up in the morning and feel like you overslept, sleep some more to feel completely confident about it.
- First you will live with me, and later you will go home.
Aphorisms
An aphorism is an original, logically complete thought expressed and written down in a short phrase and then repeated by other people. The Chinese quite often use the aphorisms of the great sages:
- The person who steals one hook will be executed, and the one who steals the kingdom will be its ruler. (Mengzi).
- A real person is very simple and kind, not subject to emotions, always calm and inactive. (Zhuang Tzu).
- If it’s not clear what your children have become, take a look at their closest friends. (Xunzi).
- The main law of worthy people is to do good and not fight among themselves. (Lao Tzu).
- Considering ordinary person, see how he does the biggest things. When considering an outstanding person, look at how attentive he is to all the little things. (Chen Jiru)
- They don’t stay long: a young wife with an old husband; a beautiful servant of a jealous mistress (Huang Yong Jiao).
- A noble person, having fallen into trouble, does not grieve, and when he finds himself on a holiday, he does not shun the general joy. He is not afraid of the strong and helps the weak. (Hong Zichen).
Chinese proverbs in alphabetical order
- The big river flows very quietly, the wise man does not raise his voice.
- Time is money, but money cannot buy any time.
- Always be prepared for the possibility that you may not find what you are looking for.
- Give the poor a fish and you will create a day without hunger for him. Teach him to fish and you will save him from hunger forever.
- For someone who is not sailing anywhere, there is no tailwind.
- By thinking about the past, you can know the future.
- If you rush for speed, you will not achieve your goal.
- If the word has been spoken, it cannot be caught even on four horses (the word is not a sparrow; if it is released, you cannot catch it).
- If you remove the word “problem” from your speech, it will disappear by itself.
- Live in peace. It will be spring, and all the flowers will open on their own.
- You must live until you are old, you must study until you are old.
- True friendship is like clean water.
- The wisdom of life is to die young, but as late as possible.
- Don't worry about moving slowly, worry about staying still.
- There is no point in saying anything if the spoken words do not change the silence for the better.
- Don't miss any chance, because another one may not appear.
- There are no holidays that never end.
- You need to quickly do what is not so important, so that later you can do what is truly important, without haste.
- Experience is like a comb that appears after you become bald.
- The ruling king can be inferred from the way his courtiers dance.
- Heavy rain is approaching in the mountains, and the house is being blown by the wind (clouds are gathering over the person).
- A man's straight leg will not be afraid of a crooked shoe.
- The best battle is the one that never happened.
- Saying kind words does not mean becoming kind.
- You need to treat your thoughts like guests, and your dreams like children.
- What has been created over centuries can be destroyed in just one hour.
- Sleeping together on the same pillow does not mean having the same dreams.
- What happens always happens on time.
- What can happen will happen outside of your anxiety.
- We study fish near a pond; near mountain peaks we hear birds singing.
- Every person has his own hobby.
- As you study, you realize how little you know.
- Teachers can only open the doors, then man walking myself.
- A good book is your best friend.
- The man who moved the mountain began by moving small pebbles.
- I saw a dragon being strangled by a toad.
Fact. Chinese catchphrases require careful thought. It is much better to analyze them in the original, because if you translate these phrases into another language, for example, Russian, then part of the wisdom contained in them is often lost.
Chinese sayings are a treasure trove of folk wisdom. Their meaning reflects a special view of the world around us and the location of an individual in it. And even though these expressions were composed several centuries ago, they are still relevant and help contemporaries to correctly direct their thoughts and actions.
牛鼎烹鸡 - Cook chicken in a cauldron intended for an ox.
niú dǐng pēng jī
It is said when a person of great talent or exceptional ability is given a trivial job.
Bian Zhan was famous among his contemporaries as the author of poems, rhymed prose and other literary genres. The military leader He Jin appointed him to the position of chronicler to record all more or less significant events. When Emperor Cai Yong's advisor found out about this, he thought that a person with such talent deserves much more. Cai Yong came to He Jin and said: “I think Bian Zhan is an extremely talented person. If you cook chicken in a cauldron for preparing an ox carcass by adding a little water, then nothing will work because the chicken will not be immersed in water. If we pour enough water into the cauldron so that the chicken is completely covered with water, then the broth will turn out tasteless due to the fact that there will be too much water for one chicken. What I'm afraid of is that they won't cook the bull's carcass in the cauldron. I hope that you will give Bian Zhan the opportunity to show his extraordinary abilities.” Cai Yong's words convinced He Jin, and he recommended Bian Ran for a position as a high-ranking official in the emperor's court.
宁为玉碎，不为瓦全 - It is better to be broken by jade than by a whole tile.
nìng wéi yù suì, bù wéi wǎ quán
It is said when someone would rather die for a just cause than live in humiliation.
The origin story of the proverb:
This happened in 550. The Prime Minister of the Eastern Wei Dynasty named Gao Yang overthrew Emperor Yuan Shanjian and concentrated all power in his hands. He proclaimed himself Emperor Wenxuan and founded the Northern Qi Dynasty. In an effort to strengthen his power, he tried to destroy all former ministers and officials who served the emperor he had overthrown. Many of the emperor's relatives were killed.
A judge from Dingxiang province named Yuan Jingan was very afraid for his life, therefore, in order to please the new emperor, he asked to change his name and become Gao instead of Yuan (in order to be the namesake of not the deposed emperor, but the current one). Upon learning of this, his cousin Yuan Jinghao said to him: “How can you give up the surname of your ancestors and take the surname of a stranger? A hero would rather be a broken jade than a whole tile.” The next day, Yuan Jingan conveyed his cousin's words to Gao Yang. He ordered the death of Yuan Jinghao, and rewarded Yuan Jingan, who reported on him, and allowed him to change his surname to Gao. Thus, at the cost of betrayal, the judge from Dingxiang managed not only to save his life, but subsequently to advance in his career.
Beiqi Shu (History of the Northern Qi Dynasty, written by Li Baiyao during the Tang Dynasty)
买椟还珠 - Having bought a box, return the pearls.
mǎi dú huán zhū
It is said in a situation where someone makes the wrong choice without understanding the true value of things.
The origin story of the proverb:
A jeweler from the kingdom of Chu came to the kingdom of Zheng to sell his pearls. Naturally, he wanted to present the product in the most attractive way. Therefore, he made a box for pearls from an expensive type of wood, decorated it as best he could and treated it with special incense, after which it began to exude a wonderful aroma. Only after that did he put the pearls in the box. When one of the residents of the Zheng kingdom saw such a luxurious box, he bought it without hesitation, paying a fairly high price. Having completed the transaction, the satisfied buyer returned the pearls that were in the box to the jeweler, and carefully took the box itself home.
The man from the Zheng kingdom was able to appreciate the beauty of the box, but he did not have the brains to understand that the pearls in it were immeasurably more valuable than herself.
"Han Fei Tzu"
量体裁衣 - Sewing clothes taking into account posture.
liàng tǐ cái yī
Act in accordance with the existing state of affairs; act taking into account changing circumstances.
The origin story of the proverb:
At the end of the Song Dynasty, there lived a famous tailor in Beijing. He was famous for the fact that the dresses he sewed fit their owners perfectly. One day a judge approached him with a request to sew a robe. “How many years has Your Excellency held his high position?” – asked the tailor. Puzzled by the tailor's question, the judge asked what it mattered. Portnoy explained: “When a young official first receives a high position in the civil service, he carries himself very self-confidently and walks with his chest and stomach thrust out. For this reason, his dress has to be made longer in the front and shorter in the back. If a person has held a high position for several years, then he no longer needs to demonstrate his importance and authority, so his dress should be sewn the same length in front and back. When an official holds his post for a very long time, he begins to think that he will soon have to resign. From these thoughts he becomes depressed and walks with his back bent and his head down. Clothes for him should be sewn in such a way that they are shorter in front and longer in back. How can I sew a robe for you so that it fits you just right if I don’t know how long Your Excellency has held his high post?!”
"Luyan Conghua" ("Conversations in the Luyan Garden")
Note: the translation in hieroglyphs would look like this: “Measuring the body, trim (cut) the clothes.”
老马识途 - The old horse knows the way.
lǎo mǎ shí tú
We are talking about an experienced person who knows how to behave in various situations and knows how to find a way out of difficult situations.
The origin story of the proverb:
In the Chunqiu era (the era of “Spring and Autumn”), Gong Huan from the kingdom of Qi undertook a military campaign in the kingdoms of Shanrong and Guzhu. The campaign was successful and weaker kingdoms were conquered. When it was time to return home, Gong Huan's army was faced with an unexpected problem. Guzhu was quite far from the Qi kingdom. Huan's army set out on the campaign in the spring, but completed it only in the winter. By this time, snow had already fallen, and the surrounding landscape had changed so much that the troops could not find their way back. In the end they completely lost their way. Everyone was in a very anxious mood. Then the chief adviser Guan Zhong said to Gong Huan: “Old horses always remember the road along which they have already passed once. Why don't we rely on their wisdom? Let them lead us themselves.” This is what they did: they placed several old horses at the head of the column and allowed them to find their own way to the house. After some time, the horses brought the army home.
"Han Fei Tzu"
Note: gong is the highest rank of official in ancient China, above which only the ruler (emperor) of the state was.
空中楼阁 - Castle in the air.
kōngzhōng lóugé
It talks about illusions and unrealistic, unfounded plans or ideas.
The origin story of the proverb:
One day a very rich but stupid man came to visit his friend and was delighted with his bright and spacious three-story house. Returning home, he found a mason and asked him if he could build similar houses. The mason replied that it was he who built the house that so delighted the rich man. “I want you to build me exactly the same luxurious house,” he told the mason. The mason dug a hole for the foundation and began laying bricks in it. Seeing what the mason was doing, the rich man asked him: “What kind of house are you building for me?” “As you asked, three-story.” “But I want to have only the third floor without the first and second,” said the rich man. “How can I build a third floor without first building the two lower ones?” - the artisan was amazed. No matter how hard the mason tried to explain to the rich man the absurdity of this idea, he continued to insist that only the top floor be built for him.
Baijiu Piyu Jing (Sutra of a Hundred Parables)
Note: there are various options In the presentation of this parable, in particular, the builder of a house (palace, castle) may be indicated not as a mason, but as a carpenter. Apparently, this is due to differences in translation from Sanskrit or to changes that were made to the text of the parable during its later presentations.
橘化为枳 - Sweet orange turns sour.
jú huà wéi zhǐ
Used when they want to say that environment can change a person's character.
The origin story of the proverb:
When Yanzi arrived in the kingdom of Chu as an envoy from the kingdom of Qi, the ruler of Chu held a banquet in honor of the guest. When everyone was drinking wine and having fun, two soldiers entered the hall and brought a bound criminal to the ruler. “Who is this man?” asked the ruler. “This is a thief from the kingdom of Qi,” the soldiers answered. The ruler turned to Yan Tzu and exclaimed: “Oh! But this is your fellow countryman! All people in the Qi Kingdom must be thieves?!” Seeing the undisguised sarcasm in the words of the ruler of Chu, Yan Zi stood up and said: “I heard that when orange trees are planted south of the river, sweet fruits ripen on them. When these trees are planted north of the river, they turn into trees that produce sour fruit. They have exactly the same leaves, but the fruits are completely different. Why did it happen? And all because the water and soil on both sides of the river are different. In the kingdom of Qi, people never steal, but when they come to the kingdom of Chu, they become thieves. Can I ask you, maybe the whole point is that the water and soil in the kingdom of Chu are such that they turn people into thieves?
"Yanzi Chunqiu"
Note: A more accurate translation would be more cumbersome: "Jiu (the orange tree that produces sweet fruit) becomes Zhi (the orange tree that produces sour fruit)."
举案齐眉 - Hold the tray (with food) at eyebrow level.
jǔ àn qí méi
A tray of food presented at eyebrow level symbolizes the mutual love and respect of the spouses.
The origin story of the proverb:
Liang Hong grew up in a poor family, but thanks to intense study he managed to become not just a very educated person, but a real scientist. Many rich people dreamed of marrying their daughters to him. Liang Hong was a very honest man and strong of the world treated this with contempt. He rejected all their offers and eventually married the daughter of his neighbor Meng Guang, who was not a beauty, but shared the views of her husband.
When Meng Guang came to her husband's house, she was wearing a magnificent, elegant dress. Liang Hong did not speak to his wife for seven days. Only on the eighth day, when Meng Guang pinned up her loose hair, took off all her jewelry, changed into a simple dress and began doing household chores, Liang Hong said: “That’s so good! Now you are my wife." Since then they lived happily: they treated each other with love, respect and were as polite as if each of them were an honored guest in their home. Every evening when Liang came home, dinner was already ready. Meng would place dinner on a tray, raise it to eyebrow level, and serve it to her husband. Happy Liang accepted the tray and they had dinner together.
"Houhan shu" ("History of the Later Han Dynasty")
Note: perhaps this form of expression of respect extends not only to food and not only to spouses, because... The author had to observe how Chinese students handed over written examination papers to the teacher in exactly this way (bending their heads and raising them to the level of their eyebrows).
井底之蛙 - Frog at the bottom of the well.
jǐng dǐ zhī wā
It speaks of one who cannot see beyond his nose; about a person with a very narrow outlook.
The origin story of the proverb:
At the bottom of an abandoned well there lived a frog. One day she saw a large sea turtle and immediately began to boast: “My life in the well is simply wonderful. When I'm in the mood, I can jump as much as I like along the wall, and if I get tired, I can rest in a crevice between the bricks. I can enjoy swimming in the water or walking on soft mud. The crabs and tadpoles envy me because I am the owner of this well and can do whatever I want here. Come down here and you will see for yourself how wonderful it is here.”
The turtle decided to accept the frog's invitation, but while climbing onto the edge of the well, his foot caught on something. She stopped, thought a little, took a step back and began to tell the frog about the sea: “Have you ever seen the sea? It is very large: ten thousand li in width and thousands of zhangs in depth. When in the old days there were floods and rivers overflowed their banks every nine years out of ten, the sea never overflowed its banks. When there was a drought and there was no rain for seven years, the sea never dried up. It is so huge that neither floods nor droughts are afraid of it. Living at sea is wonderful."
What he heard shocked the frog so much that he was speechless and silently stared at the huge sea turtle.
"Zhuang Tzu"
Note: in the allegories and metaphors of the author of this book, one of the founders of the Taoist teachings of Zhuang Zhou (369-286 BC), sometimes quite unexpectedly you can find ideas that are relevant for various fields of knowledge, including psycholinguistics. So, for example, the hypothesis of L.S. Vygotsky’s idea of the existence in the human mind of two distinct but interacting languages - the language of thought and verbal language - was formulated by the Chinese philosopher back in the 4th century. BC. as follows: “A trap is needed to catch hares. Having caught a hare, they forget about the trap. Words are needed to capture a thought. When the thought is caught, the words are forgotten. How can I find a person who has forgotten his words and talk to him!”
金玉其外，败絮其中 - Like gold and jasper on the outside, like rotten cotton wool on the inside.
jīn yù qí wài, bài xù qí zhōng
We are talking about something outwardly very attractive, but completely useless and worthless in reality.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Ming Dynasty, there lived a fruit merchant. He knew how to store his oranges in such a way that they remained very attractive for a whole year. But if on the outside they were smooth like jasper and shiny like gold, then on the inside they resembled rotten cotton wool.
One day one of the customers he deceived asked him why he was acting so ugly and fooling the people. The merchant replied with a grin: “Am I the only swindler in the world? No. Look around. Take, for example, these generals, swollen with importance, hung with weapons and seated on chairs covered with tiger skins. Are they capable of leading the battle? And these officials in black gauze hats and belts decorated with jade - are they capable of handling government affairs? They do nothing to make life a little easier for ordinary people. They don’t even want to know what outrages their subordinates are doing. They are of no use at all: all they do is eat up what was made by ordinary people. Aren't they as smooth as jasper? Don't they shine like gold? Don't they look like rotten cotton wool inside? Why are you outraged by the fraud of a simple street merchant and do not notice the fraud of those whom I just mentioned? The deceived buyer could not find an answer to this.
竭泽而渔 - Drain the pond to catch fish.
jié zé er yú
It is said that long-term interests are thoughtlessly sacrificed for the sake of short-term insignificant gain.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Chunqiu era ("Spring and Autumn Period"), war broke out between the kingdoms of Jin and Chu. Wen Gong (the ruler of the Jin kingdom) asked his advisor Hu Yan: “The Chu kingdom is strong, but we are weak. How can we win this war? Hu Yan replied: “Whoever is too scrupulous in matters of decency, honor and morality always has a lot of problems. Anyone who wants to be a successful warrior should not shun deception. Let's deceive the enemy! Wen Gong told his other advisor Ji Yong about Hu Yan's proposal and asked him what he thought about it. Ji Yong said: “If you drain the pond, you can easily get a lot of fish at once. But next year there will be no more fish. If you set fire to a forest, you can get a lot of game and wild animals. But next year there will be no more game or wild animals. We can resort to deception now, but in the future it will not help us, because deception cannot solve the problem itself forever.”
The prince nevertheless took Hu Yan’s advice and, with the help of deception, defeated the enemy. However, when it came time to present the awards, he awarded Ji Yong first, and only then Hu Yan. The ruler’s retinue was at a loss, then Wen Gong explained why he did what he did: “Ji Yong’s advice was concerned with the long-term interests of our state, but Hu Yan’s proposal is just a temporary solution to the problem. That’s why I decided that Ji Yong should be awarded first.”
"Liu Shi Chunqiu"
狡兔三窟 - The cunning hare has three holes.
jiǎo tù sān kū
It is used when they want to say that in case of danger, you need to have several reliable places where you could find refuge.
The origin story of the proverb:
One day, the prime minister of the ruler of the kingdom of Qi, named Meng Chang, sent his assistant Feng Xuan to his fiefdom of Xueyi with an order to collect debts. Arriving in Xuei, Feng Xuan, instead of dealing with the debtors, publicly burned all the debt receipts and announced to the amazed local residents that Mr. Meng Chang had ordered this to be done. Meng Chang was furious when he learned of Feng Xuan's action. A year later, Meng Chang was removed from his post as Supreme Councilor, and he had no choice but to return to his fiefdom. Already a hundred li before Xuei, all the local residents, young and old, came out of their homes to greet their master. Meng Chang was touched by such a warm attitude towards himself and admitted that Feng Xuan turned out to be a very far-sighted person. Feng Xuan told him: “The cunning hare must have three holes if he wants no one to catch him. You only have one mink now, so this is not the time to rest on your laurels. I want to prepare two more for you.”
Feng Xuan traveled to the kingdom of Wei and told its ruler about Meng Chang's merits as a statesman. “Any state in which he serves will definitely become powerful and prosperous,” Feng Xuan assured. The ruler of the Wei kingdom believed Feng Xuan and sent a messenger to Meng Chang with gifts and an invitation to government service. The messenger came three times, and each time the disgraced official refused. Seeing how highly Meng Chang was valued in the Kingdom of Wei, the ruler of the Kingdom of Qi invited him to retake the post of prime minister.
After some time, Feng Xuan advised Meng Chang to appeal to the ruler with a request to build a temple in Xuei and place vessels and trays there for offering gifts to deceased ancestors, which were used by members of the ruler's family. Such a temple would become a symbol of the fact that Xueyi will forever remain the patrimony of Meng Chang.
When the temple was built, Feng Xuan said to Meng Chang: “Now all three holes are in place, you can live in peace.”
"Zhangguo Tse" ("Tactics of the Warring States")
鸡犬升天 - (Even) chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
jī quǎn shēng tiān
It means that when a person receives a high position or occupies a very important position, then everyone around him also rises up the career ladder along with him.
The origin story of the proverb:
Prince Liu An of Huainan, who lived during the Han Dynasty, was a passionate adherent of Taoism. He was convinced that, having comprehended the true Tao ( true path), he will gain immortality and become a celestial. After leaving his parental home, Liu An devoted himself entirely to studying Taoist teachings. Eight celestials (see note) revealed to him the secret of preparing a magic elixir, after drinking which a person gained eternal life in heaven. Liu An prepared the elixir, drank a little, and actually ascended to heaven. Chickens and dogs roaming nearby profited from the remnants of the magic elixir. Not even a minute passed before they followed their master to heaven and became immortal celestial chickens and celestial dogs.
"Shensen zhuang" ("Legends of the Celestials")
Note: The Eight Celestials are characters from the famous Chinese culture the myth of the “eight immortals” (Taoist saints) who decided to go overseas to look at the miracles there. On the way, each of them showed miracles of which they were capable.
In a looser version of the translation: “Striving to draw a tiger, but getting a pitiful semblance of a dog.”
Used to refer to an overly ambitious person who is trying to do something that is clearly beyond his ability.
The origin story of the proverb:
The famous military leader Ma Yuan, who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty, had two nephews. Their names were Ma Yan and Ma Dun. Both of them spoke sarcastically about government affairs. They liked to pretend to be warrior knights. In general, they behaved very frivolously and were known as very superficial young people.
When rumors about the behavior of his nephews reached the military leader, he wrote them a letter with advice on how to behave. He wrote the following: “When you hear about other people’s mistakes, treat it as if it were about your parents: just listen, but refrain from commenting. I can't stand people who gossip about other people's mistakes and talk stupidly about government affairs. I would really like you to follow the example of Shandu County Governor Long Bogao, who is known for his decent behavior, modesty, frugality and honesty. He devotes all his time to public affairs. I respect him very much and would like you to try to be like him. Another very worthy person is General Du Jiliang. He is a very fair, gallant and sociable person who can quickly make friends with anyone. I also respect him very much, but I don’t want you to try to follow his example. And that's why.
If you follow Lon Bogao's example, but you fail to become like him, then you will at least become sincere and careful people. It's like trying to draw a swan and ending up with a duck. A duck is also a bird and at least in shape is a little like a swan. The difference between the intention and the result will not be very noticeable. If you follow the example of Du Ziliang, but you fail to become the same as him, then you risk turning into frivolous, cheeky and dissolute people. It's like trying to draw a tiger, but getting a pitiful semblance of a dog. The difference will be too noticeable."
"Houhan shu" ("History of the Later Han Dynasty")
画饼充饥 - Satisfy your hunger with painted cookies.
huà bǐng chōng jī
Indulge yourself and others with illusions, without doing anything in practice to solve the problem.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the era of the Three Kingdoms, the ruler of the Wei kingdom named Cao Rui decided to select the most talented and capable people. To his ministers who were supposed to do this, he said: “When you select talented people, always beware of false reputations. An inflated reputation is like a painted cookie. It may look appetizing, but it cannot satisfy your hunger.”
"Sanguo Zhi" (" Tale of Three Kingdoms")
In some sources, this statement is attributed to another ruler of the Wei kingdom, Ming, who addressed it to his assistant named Liu Yu. The meaning of the statement itself also varies: according to one version, it was not only about an inflated reputation, but about the reputation of a person in general.
囫囵吞枣 - Swallow dates whole (without chewing).
hú lún tūn zǎo
涸辙之鲋 - Carp in a dry rut.
hé zhé zhī fù
It is about someone who is in a very difficult situation and needs immediate help.
The origin story of the proverb:
Zhuang Zhou was a great philosopher, but he was very poor. One day he came to a local official to borrow some grain. He told him: “Soon I will go to collect taxes from the peasants. When I collect them, I will lend you three hundred lians of silver. Are you happy?" In response, Zhuang Zhou bitterly told the nobleman a story: “Yesterday, when I was walking to you, I heard plaintive groans and saw a dying carp in a dry road rut. I asked: “Karp, what wind brought you here?” Carp whispered barely audibly: “I came here from the Eastern Sea and now I’m dying without water. Please bring me at least a small bucket of water and save me.” Then I said to the carp: “I am going south. There is a big river there. I will dig a canal through which the water from the river will come here, and you will be saved.” Karp was indignant: “I just need a small bucket of water! By the time you dig a canal and the water from the big river comes here, I will be completely dry. To find me, you will have to go to a shop where they sell dried fish.”
"Zhuang Tzu"
鬼由心生 - Devils are generated by (one's own) mind.
guǐ yóu xīn shēng
It is spoken with irony about a person suffering from unreasonable fears.
The origin story of the proverb:
Zhan Shuliang was a stupid and timid person. One day, while walking down the street on a moonlit night, he accidentally lowered his head and saw his own shadow. He decided that there was a ghost lying on the ground. Turning around, he saw a strand of his own hair and was completely sure that this other ghost was standing right behind him. Not remembering himself from fear, Zhan Shuliang rushed to run and ran until he was exhausted. Finally he reached home... and at that very second he fell dead.
"Xunzi"
Addition: The Chinese expression uses the character 心 (xīn, heart). The fact is that in Chinese culture the heart is primarily a thinking, not a feeling organ. This is, so to speak, a heart-mind, a “smart” heart. In the Russian equivalent, we used the word reason because in Russian culture the heart and mind are clearly opposed to each other as carriers of the emotional and rational principles, respectively. For this reason, Russian expressions like “I understand with my mind, but my heart says something else” are difficult for a speaker of Chinese language consciousness to understand. For the same reason, the translations of many Chinese proverbs containing the character for “heart” use Russian word mind or mind. The Chinese understanding of the heart as the seat of the mind is in tune with the ancient tradition. Aristotle believed that a person has three souls: an animal soul (located in the stomach and genitals), a sentient soul (located in the chest) and a rational soul (located in the heart, and not in the head). For example, the philosopher Xun Tzu, when asked how people learn Tao, answered: “With the help of the heart.” When the heart helps with natural feeling to distinguish truth from falsehood, this is called reflection,” i.e. thinking is carried out with the help of feeling (symbiosis of the emotional and rational)! And one of the five feelings in ancient Chinese natural philosophy (along with anger, joy, sorrow and fear) is thought! About the concept of xin in Chinese philosophy and culture, see: Torchinov E.A. Philosophy of Chinese Buddhism. - St. Petersburg, 2001.
挂羊头卖狗肉 - Hanging a lamb's head, selling dog meat.
guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu
We are talking about attempts to sell a low-quality product, passing it off as something it is not.
The origin story of the proverb:
Jingong was a stupid and incompetent ruler of the Kingdom of Qi. He liked the ladies of the court to dress in men's clothing. Women of the Qi kingdom began to imitate the ladies of the court, and soon it became fashionable. Upon learning of this, Jingong ordered his officials to prohibit women from wearing men's clothing. However, the ban had no effect. The ruler called Supreme Councilor Yan Ying and asked: “Why were the officials I sent unable to carry out my order?” Yan Ying replied: “You encourage court women to wear men's clothing, but forbid everyone else from doing so. This is the same as displaying the head of a bull and at the same time selling horse meat. If your ban also applied at court, then all the other women themselves would not want to wear men’s dress.” Jingong listened to Yan Ying's advice, and in less than a month this fashion passed by itself.
Later, Yan Ying’s expression “Hanging the head of an ox and selling the meat of a horse” was popularly replaced by “Hanging a ram’s head and selling the meat of a dog” and began to use it as a proverb.
"Yanzi Chunqiu"
狗尾续貂 - Dog tail instead of sable.
gǒu wěi xù diāo
This is a worthless continuation of a wonderful work.
The origin story of the proverb:
Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty made Ximia Lun the prince of the Zhao Kingdom. During the reign of Emperor Hui, Sima Lun usurped the throne. Having come to power, he did not skimp on high positions and titles for his relatives and his entire retinue. Even the slaves and servants of his house were granted titles of nobility. Every time an event took place at his court, the palace was filled with a huge number of newly minted nobles, each of whom always put on a headdress decorated with a sable tail. But, since too many people acquired the title of nobility, there were not enough sable tails for everyone. Those who received the title but could not obtain a sable tail to adorn their headdress were forced to make do with dog tails. The following ironic saying was born among the people: “When there are not enough sables, dog tails will do.”
Jin Tu (History of the Jin Dynasty)
覆水难收 - Spilled water is difficult to collect.
fù shuǐ nán shōu
It is said in a situation where it is impossible to correct what has already been done.
The origin story of the proverb:
Prince Jiang, although of noble birth, was very poor. Because of this, his wife left him. After some time, the ruler Wen Wang of the Zhou Dynasty appointed him as his supreme adviser. After learning that Jiang had taken such a high position, his wife regretted leaving him and wanted to return. Jiang poured the water from the cup onto the ground and told his wife to collect it back. No matter how hard the wife tried, she could not collect anything but dirt. Jiang told his wife, “After you left me, being together again is as impossible as picking up spilled water.”
"Shi Yi Ji" ("Found Records")
断鹤续凫 - Cutting the legs of a stork and stretching the legs of a wild duck.
duàn hè xù fú
It is said in a situation when someone is trying to go against the laws of nature, offering something unnatural.
The origin story of the proverb:
Once upon a time there lived a man who came up with an unexpected idea when he saw two birds nearby: a crane and a wild duck. The crane's legs were very long, the wild duck's were short. Without hesitation, he cut off the legs of the crane and stretched out the legs of the wild duck. The man was sure that this would be more convenient for both of them. However, after this, neither the crane nor the duck could no longer fly or even just walk.
Chuang Tzu said: “If a crane was born with long legs, then it is necessary. If a duck was born with short legs- this is also not a disadvantage. If you lengthen the legs of a wild duck, she will be sad, because she will have no use for such legs. If you shorten the legs of a crane, it will also be sad because it will lose its strength.”
The ancient Taoists opposed any external norms and rules, considering them violence against life. Chuang Tzu compared state laws and regulations to stretching the legs of ducks and cutting the legs of cranes. The meaning of the parable was precisely to condemn the regulatory role of the state, and the ideal ruler in the Taoist tradition was supposed to rule through “inaction” and “leaving everything to himself.”
“Zhuang Tzu” is the main work of the famous Taoist philosopher Zhuang Zhou (369-286 BC). So far, 33 chapters of this book have been published. There is a legend that once a philosopher dreamed that he was a small butterfly fluttering carefree among the flowers. Having woken up, the philosopher could not decide for a long time who he really was: Chuang Tzu, who dreamed that he was a butterfly, or a butterfly that dreamed that he was Chuang Tzu?
东食西宿 - In the east there is, in the west we spend the night.
dōng shí xī sù
It talks about a very greedy person who agrees to do anything for his own benefit.
The origin story of the proverb:
In the kingdom of Qi there lived a family in which there was a girl of marriageable age. Two young men wooed the girl. The suitor, who lived east of the bride's house, was short and ugly, but his parents were very rich. The second contender for the hand and heart lived to the west of the bride’s house. He was good-looking, but his parents were poor.
The girl's parents could not decide which suitor to give preference to. Tired of doubts and disputes, they invited their daughter to choose her own husband. Seeing their daughter’s indecisiveness, the parents said: “If you are so shy that you cannot say in words about your choice, then let us know at least with a sign. If you prefer a young man from a family that lives east of us, raise left hand; if your choice falls on a young man from a family living to the west of us, raise your right hand.”
After thinking a little and weighing the pros and cons, the bride raised both hands. Completely perplexed, her parents asked her to explain what this meant. Blushing, the girl explained: “I would like to eat with a family living in the east, and spend the night with a family living in the west.”
"Yiwen lechu"
("Encyclopedia of Arts")
此地无银三百两 - 300 liang of silver are not buried here.
cǐdì wú yín sānbǎi liǎng
It is said in a situation when a person is trying to hide something, but betrays himself with his actions.
The origin story of the proverb:
One day, a man named Chan stole 300 liang of silver. He considered himself extraordinary smart person, so I decided to do something “cunning”. Fearing that the money he had stolen might also be stolen from him, he buried it in a secluded place under the cover of darkness and put up a sign with the inscription: “No one buried 300 lyans of silver here.”
Chan's neighbor, Wang, saw him hiding the silver and took it for himself. Like Chan, Wang considered himself very smart. So that the neighbor would not suspect him of theft, he also left a sign in the same place. On the sign he wrote: “Your neighbor Wang did not take the silver buried here.” Van was confident that he had acted very wisely.
Folk parable
唇亡齿寒 - Without lips, teeth are cold.
chún wáng chǐ hán
It is said in a situation when they want to point out the inextricable connection of someone’s interests.
The origin story of the proverb:
The Jin Kingdom gathered an army to attack the Guo Kingdom. However, it was possible to get to this kingdom only by passing through the lands of the kingdom of Yu. The ruler of the kingdom of Jin, Prince Xiangong, sent rich offerings to Yu ( gems and good horses), hoping to receive permission for the passage of his army.
An advisor to Lord Yu named Jiqi advised his master: “We should not give them permission to pass through our lands.” The interests of our state and the Guo Kingdom are as inseparable as lips and teeth. If the lips die, then the teeth will not survive due to the cold. If we allow the Jin army to pass through our lands, then the kingdom of Guo will be conquered by it, and then our state will fall.
Ruler Yu did not listen to his advisor, accepted the gifts and allowed the Jin army to pass through his territory unhindered. As Jiqi predicted, having conquered the kingdom of Guo, the Jin army also ravaged the kingdom of Yu. The ruler himself was captured, and the precious stones and horses that he was flattered by were taken from him by Prince Xiangong from the kingdom of Jin.
Zuo zhuan (Chronicles of Zuo)
痴人说梦 - A fool tells his dreams.
chī rén shuō meng
About a person who speaks obvious nonsense.
The origin story of the proverb:
In one rich family there was a very stupid child. One morning he got out of bed and, not yet fully awake, looked around. Suddenly he grabbed the hand of a maid who came into the room for something: “Did you see me in a dream today?” “No, I didn’t see it,” answered the maid. The child became terribly angry: “I saw you in my dream! Why are you lying so outrageously?!” He ran to his mother and, tugging at her dress, began shouting: “The maid must be severely punished. I definitely saw her in my dream, but she said she didn’t see me. She deliberately deceives her master. This is simply unheard of impudence!”
"Yumo o tan"
抱薪救火 - Carrying brushwood to put out a fire.
bào xīn jiùhuǒ
It is said when the wrong means are used to solve a problem and thereby only complicate the situation.
The origin story of the proverb:
After the small principalities ceased to exist during the Warring States era, seven kingdoms were formed: Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin. The most powerful of them, Qin, constantly attacked the other six kingdoms. In 273 BC. After another crushing defeat from the Qin army, one of the commanders of the Wei army was very scared and invited his ruler to cede one of his territories to the Qin kingdom in exchange for peace. One of the ministers named Su Dai opposed this. He told the ruler: “It is useless to seek peace by giving up our territories. The Qin rulers will not stop until all the lands of the Wei kingdom are conquered by them. Trying to exchange the world for part of your lands is like carrying armfuls of brushwood to a fire. Until all the wood is burned, the fire will not go out.” The ruler of the Wei kingdom did not listen to the opinion of his minister, and his kingdom was eventually completely conquered by the Qin kingdom.
"Shiji" ("Historical Records")
刮目相看 - Look with different eyes.
guā mù xiāng kàn
Look with different eyes (at someone; ed. meaning: change your opinion about someone)
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Three Kingdoms, there was a general in the Wu kingdom named Lu Meng. His family was poor and had no money for his training, so he was taught fighting techniques and eventually became a general.
Emperor Song Chuan once told Lu Meng that both Emperor Guan Wu of the Han Dynasty and Cao Cao of the Wei Dynasty were learned men. He realized that his high-ranking subordinate should also learn.
From that moment on, Lu Meng studied with all his might, so he soon became very educated. Minister Lu Su once decided to discuss military affairs with him and found that the general's ideas were simply wonderful. He said to Lu Meng, “I never thought you would become so educated. You are no longer the same as you were before!” Lu Meng laughed and said, “All you have to do is not see the person for a while, and he will appear before you in a new light!”
前车之鉴 — Someone else’s misfortune teaches.
qián chē zhī jiàn
Warning; a lesson learned from the failure of a predecessor; history lessons; lessons from the past; instructive; someone else's misfortune teaches;
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Western Han Dynasty, in the village of Luoyang there lived a man named Jia Yi. He was very smart, and the emperor himself made him his teacher. Once, when Jia Yi was giving the emperor a lesson about the proper management of the country, he said: “During the reign of the Qin dynasty, there lived a cruel official named Zhao Gao. He was the teacher of Hu Hai, the second son of the emperor. He taught Hu Hai for a long time how to eliminate political opponents and execute prisoners. After his father's death, Hu Hai became emperor. On the second day of his reign, he began to execute people and did not listen to his advisers. In fact, Hu Hai was not a bad person, but he was overthrown."
Remembering the mistakes of our predecessors, we must take them into account and not repeat them again. This is the same if on a trip we saw that the cart overturned due to a bad road. We must draw conclusions and not go the same way. Therefore, the saying “other people’s misfortune teaches” means that you need to see the mistakes that others have already made and not repeat them yourself.
玩火自焚 - Playing with fire, burn yourself.
wán huǒ zì fén
When playing with fire, burn yourself (meaning: digging a hole for yourself, chopping the branch on which you are sitting)
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), the son of the ruler of the Kingdom of Wei, Zhou Xiu, after the death of his father, killed his brother and became emperor. He was a tyrant, oppressed the people and succumbed to military provocations from neighboring principalities. By getting involved in wars, he tried to divert the attention of the people and avert the anger of people from himself in order to strengthen his power.
The ruler of the kingdom of Lu learned about the usurper regime of Zhou Xiu. He asked his advisor: “What do you think of such a government?” The adviser said the following: “He enters into wars and brings suffering to people. He won't get any support from them. He is also capricious, so he has few loyal friends. Besides, fire is like fire, if you fight all the time, you might get burned someday.”
Quite predictably, the people of the Wei kingdom, with the support of the saboteurs of the Chen kingdom, threw off the oppression of Zhou Xiu and executed him less than a year after this dialogue.
殃及池魚 - In the event of a great misfortune, it is difficult even for a small one to protect itself.
yāng jí chí yú
(When there is a fire in the city) even the fish in the pond have a bad time.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Spring and Autumn era, there lived a man named Huan Sima. He had a big jewel. When the ruler found out about this, he immediately wanted to take possession of it. And then he sent to Huan Sima to find out where he kept this thing. Huan Sima replied that he threw her into a ditch outside the city walls.
Then the ruler ordered that all the ditches be drained and the search in the mud continue until the treasure was found. The ditch was so large, and the valuable thing was so small that, although people searched for a long time, they never found it. And since the ditch was drained and people walked along its bottom, all the fish died.
Now this proverb describes a situation where an innocent person may accidentally find himself in a harmful situation.
大公無私 - Crystal honest.
dà gōng wú sī
Crystal honest, selfless; altruistic; justice, impartiality.
The origin story of the proverb:
Chi Huangyan lived during the spring and autumn period. When the ruler asked him who would be suitable for the role of judge in Hainan Province, Chi replied: “Shi Hu would definitely be suitable for this job.” The ruler was amazed by the answer, then he asked: “Isn’t he your enemy? How can you think he can do better? To this, Chi Huangyang said the following: “You asked me who is best suited for this position, you did not ask whether Shi Hu is my enemy!” Then the ruler made Shi Hu a justice of the peace, and his hopes were justified; he really did a good job and did a lot of good for the people.
When Confucius found out about this, he praised Chi Huangyang: I recommend the man, he was based only on the qualities required for the job. Even if they were enemies, Chi still appreciated the good qualities in them. Chi Huangyan was a crystal honest and fair person.
夜郎自大 - Shameless boasting.
yè láng zì dà
Ignorant presumption; shameless boasting; megalomania.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the reign of the Han Dynasty in southwest China, the following incident occurred with the small principality of Yelan. In one of the villages of this principality there lived a girl who every day went to the river to do her laundry. One day she noticed
on the river there was a large raft made of bamboo, from which the cry of a child could be heard. The girl opened the package and found a baby there, whom she happily took home.
After this boy grew up, he became the prince of Yelan. Although Elan was small, the prince was arrogant. One day he asked the Chinese envoy: “Which country is larger: China or Yelan?” The messenger could not help but laugh.
Now they say about very proud people: “arrogant, like Prince Elana.”
投鼠忌器 - Spare the guilty so as not to harm the innocent; act with caution.
tóu shǔ jì qì
Throw (a stone) at a rat, but be afraid of breaking the dishes (example: to refrain from action, taking into account the possible consequences; to spare the guilty so as not to harm the innocent; to act with caution)
The origin story of the proverb:
A chronicle from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) describes the story of a rich man who loved to collect expensive things. Among them was a rare fine jade vase self made. It had great historical value, which is why the collector loved it so much.
One night, the owner of untold wealth noticed that a rat had scurried past the precious vase. The small animal jumped inside the vessel in search of food. The animal enraged the rich man so much that he threw a stone at the rat. Of course, he killed the animal, but the precious vase was also broken. When the man realized what had happened, he deeply regretted what he had done. The rich man blamed himself for a rash act, as a result of which he lost something that could never be returned. After this, our hero realized that a person who cares only about the present and is not able to think about the consequences is himself heading towards trouble. Then the rich man realized: don’t try to burn down the house to get rid of the rat.
揠苗助長 - Pull up the shoots with your hands.
yà miáo zhù zhǎng
Pull up the seedlings with your hands (wanting to speed up their growth)
The origin story of the proverb:
Pull up the shoots with your hands.
Once upon a time there lived a farmer who was always in a hurry. From the very day of sowing, he hoped to get a quick harvest. Every day the farmer went to watch his seeds sprout.
Although the shoots had already begun to appear, the farmer was not happy. He believed that the seedlings were growing too slowly. Therefore, one day our hero went into the field and began to pull them, lifting them a little so that the sprouts seemed taller. It took him all day, but now he was satisfied.
The next morning the whole family came out to see the results of yesterday's work. They saw that all the seeds had died. The moral of the story is that sometimes it is better to let things take their course, otherwise you will only ruin everything.
笑裡藏刀 - There is honey on the lips, and ice on the heart.
xiào lǐ cáng dāo
To hide a knife in a smile (meaning: insidious, two-faced; cf.: softly spreads, but sleeps hard; there is honey on the lips, and ice on the heart);
The origin story of the proverb:
There lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) an official named Li Yifu. He skillfully flattered people, so he was quickly promoted. Eventually Li Yifu was made prime minister. He was a vicious person: when he spoke to people, he always had a sweet smile on his face, but at the same time, in his soul the official was nurturing evil intentions.
One day Lee heard that beautiful girl sent to prison. He sent for the jailer and, when he arrived, ordered her to be released. The order was carried out, and Lee took the girl to his home.
Later, someone reported this to the emperor. The jailer was afraid that he would be punished for what he had done, and went to Li Yifu for help. However, the Prime Minister ignored his pleas and asked not to disturb him. The jailer was so upset that he hanged himself out of grief.
Another prison guard, having heard about the tragic suicide, decided to tell the emperor the truth. But Lee knew about these plans. The foolish emperor believed Li's words and sent the guard to serve in the most remote area.
自相矛盾 - Contradict yourself.
zì xiāng máo dùn
Contradict oneself, have a deep contradiction in oneself, say things that are opposite in meaning.
The origin story of the proverb:
There was a seller in the kingdom of Chu who sold spears and shields. He loudly listed the advantages of the shield: “My shields are so strong that nothing can penetrate them.”
Then he began to praise the spear just as loudly: “My spear is so sharp that it can pierce any armor.”
“What will happen if someone tries to pierce your shield with your spear?” - they asked him.
The simultaneous existence of an impenetrable shield and an all-piercing spear is impossible.
熟能生巧 - Mastery is acquired by experience.
shú néng shēng qiǎo
Mastery comes from experience.
(translated: to master to perfection; the master’s work is afraid)
The origin story of the proverb:
Chen Yaozi was a talented archer from the Song Dynasty. He always hit the very center of the target, so he was nicknamed “The Magic Archer.” Chen, realizing that he was the most accurate archer, became proud of himself.
One day, while Mr. Chen was practicing shooting, a man selling oil passed by. He stopped and watched the archer for a long time. “Do you know the art of archery?” asked Chen, “Look how well I shoot,” the merchant answered, “and this is nonsense, skill is acquired by experience.” Such words angered Chen, so he asked, “How dare you underestimate my skills?” Without a single word, the stranger put the oil jug on the ground, covered the neck with a coin (then coins had a small hole in the middle - editor's note) and, scooping up water with a ladle, filled the vessel without spilling a drop. After that, the merchant turned to Chen and said the following: “This is also nonsense. It’s all about practice leading to perfection.”
狐假虎威 - Use the power of others to achieve results yourself.
hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Use the power and authority of others to achieve certain results yourself.
Literal translation: The fox borrows the strength/power of the tiger.
The origin story of the proverb:
One day a tiger caught a fox and wanted to eat it. The sly fox immediately said to him: “How dare you eat me? You should know that I was sent by heaven to the forest to be the king of all animals. If you don't believe me, follow me and watch how every beast without exception will fear me." To make sure that the fox was telling the truth, the tiger agreed with her proposal. The fox walked ahead, and the tiger not far from her. All wild animals in the fox, such as hares, deer, etc. They were afraid of the tiger and ran wild. The tiger thought that they were really afraid of the fox, and therefore did not dare to eat it. The proverb comes precisely from this story, and this is what it says about those people who use the power and authority of third parties to intimidate other people (one of the meanings).
害群之马 - A black sheep spoils the whole flock.
hài qún zhī mǎ
A black sheep spoils the whole flock; there is a black sheep in the family.
Literal translation: a horse that harms the entire herd.
The origin story of the proverb:
This story happened about 4 thousand years ago. The Yellow Emperor, the first legendary ruler of China, decided to go out of town to visit his friend. On the way, he met a boy who was watching a herd of horses.
The emperor asked the boy:
“Do you know how far my friend’s house is from here?” The boy said he knew. After this, the emperor asked if the boy knew his friend. The answer was again in the affirmative. The emperor thought that the boy was smart enough and asked him: “Do you know how to govern the state?”
The boy replied: “There is little difference between running a state and overseeing a herd of horses. We just need to get the wild horses out of the herd.”
The Emperor walked away, pondering the boy's words. After this, the proverb “a black sheep spoils the flock” was used to describe anyone who had a bad influence on others.
大公无私 - To be selfless, absolutely impartial.
dà gōng wú sī
Be selfless, absolutely impartial.
Literal translation: impartial, unselfish.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Spring and Autumn era, there lived an official named Qi Huanyang. One day, the ruler called him to the palace and asked: “We have a vacant position as the head of Jin County. Who do you think would be ideal for this position? Without hesitation, Qi Huanyang replied, “Xie Hu is an excellent candidate for this position.” The ruler asked in surprise, “Did you tell Xie Hu? I thought he was your enemy. Why are you recommending him for such an important position?” Smiling, Qi Huanyang replied, “The ruler did not ask for my personal opinion about Xie Hu. You asked me who I consider qualified to fill this position. That’s why I recommend Xie Hu.” The ruler followed Qi Huanyang's advice and appointed Xie Hu to this position. He coped well with the duties of the head of the district and won the respect of ordinary people and his colleagues.
Some time later, he correctly called Qi Huanyan to his place again and asked his advice on who to appoint to the position of judge. Qi Huanyan recommended Qi Wu for this position. Again the ruler was very surprised by Qi Huanyang's answer because Qi Wu was his son. He asked correctly: “Why are you recommending your son for this position? Aren’t you afraid that rumors will spread?” Qi Huanyang replied: “Ruler, you asked who I consider most suitable for this position, and I answered that I consider Qi Wu the most suitable.” Although he had his doubts, he still appointed Qi Wu as a judge. Qi Wu did an excellent job as a judge and was respected by all the people. Qi Huanyang's actions were praised by Confucius, who said, “Qi Huanyang was right. He recommended people according to their abilities and skills, and not according to their personal attitude, and not according to whether they would later gossip about it or not.” Since that time, people like Qi Huanyang have been considered impartial and selfless. From this commentary of Confucius this idiom came to us, and now anyone who conducts business honestly and unselfishly can be described as “Unselfish, absolutely impartial.”
打草惊蛇 - To bring a dishonest person to clean water.
dǎ cǎo jīng she
Use swift actions to scare/warn the enemy. It is said in a situation where by your actions you can bring a dishonest person to light.
The origin story of the proverb:
Long ago, a county chief named Wang Liu worked in eastern China in modern Anhui Province. He took a lot of bribes. His secretary also took a lot of bribes and often helped Wang Liu obtain bribes. One day a man came to the judge and complained about the secretary. The secretary's crimes were almost exactly the same as Wang Liu's own crimes. Wang Liu was so scared that he forgot that he was the boss and instead of inflicting punishment, all he did was write, “You hit the grass, and I was scared like a snake in the grass.”
This story later became the basis for the idiom "Kick the grass and scare the snake." The original meaning of this proverb was: “Punishment for some serves as a warning for others.”
杯弓蛇影 - To be overly distrustful and suspicious.
bēi gōng shé yǐng
It is about a person who treats everything with suspicion and distrust.
Literal translation: the onion in the cup is reflected like a snake
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Han Dynasty, there lived one county chief whose name was Ying Bin. One day he called his secretary Du Huan to his home and treated him to wine. There was a red onion hanging on the north wall of the house. It was reflected in Du Huan's cup. Du Huan thought that there was a snake wriggling in his cup. He was very scared, but did not dare to refuse Ying Bin's offer to drink wine, because... he was his boss. Du Huan drank the wine with his eyes closed.
When Du Huan returned home, he felt very bad. His stomach and stomach hurt, he could not eat or drink anything. He sent for a doctor and took medicine, but nothing could cure him.
When Ying Bin asked Du Huan about the reasons for his illness, he told him that he drank wine with a snake. Ying Bing found this very strange. He returned home, tried to think about what had happened, but could not find an answer. Suddenly he saw a bow on the northern wall. "Here it is!" Ying Bin shouted. He immediately sent for Du Huan. When Du Huan arrived, he sat him down in the same place where he had been sitting before and placed a cup of wine in front of him.
Du Huan saw the snake in the cup again. Before Du Huan got scared again, Ying Bin said, pointing to the shadow of the snake in the cup, “The snake in the cup is nothing but the reflection of the bow on the north wall.”
Now that Du Huan knew about this, he immediately felt much better. His illness disappeared instantly. Later, this incident turned into a proverb and so they began to talk about a person who was too distrustful and suspicious.
半途而废 - Doing something halfway, not completely. Stop halfway.
bàn tú ér fèi
Doing something halfway, not completely. Stop halfway. It's about a person, a cat. cannot complete something completely, stops halfway.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the time of the warring states, there lived a man named Yue Yang Zi, who had a very virtuous wife. One day, while returning home, he found a piece of gold. His wife told him to take the gold to where he found it. Another time, he left to study, and after a year of study he returned back, because... learning was difficult for him. His wife took scissors and cut the threads of the yarn: “I prepared this yarn thread by thread, I worked on it day and night.” Yue Yang then replied: “Didn’t you waste so much time if now you just cut it? It's a pity".
The wife replied: “Exactly so. Isn't this the same as your studies? Success only comes from working hard for a long time, if you finish halfway then your learning will be like this cut thread. This proverb applies to any situation where a person starts to do something, but quits without finishing it.
守株待兔 - Rely on luck and fate in your actions.
shǒu zhū dài tù
Hope to win without any difficulty, rely on luck and fate in your actions.
The origin story of the proverb:
Once upon a time during the Song Dynasty, there lived a peasant. There was a tree growing in his field. One day, when he was working in the field, he saw a running rabbit. The rabbit ran very fast, crashed into a tree, broke its neck and fell dead. The farmer quickly ran up to the rabbit, picked it up and, overjoyed, thought: “How lucky I am, I got the rabbit for free and without difficulty.”
The next day he no longer worked, but sat next to the tree and waited for another rabbit. But for the whole day the rabbit did not appear. But he continued to wait, and every day he came to the field, did not work, and waited for the rabbit. The weeds in the field had already become the size of the harvest, but the rabbit still hadn’t appeared.
This proverb is said about those people who want to achieve something without making any effort.
画龙点睛 - In one word, reveal the essence of the matter.
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add the finishing touch; reveal the essence of the matter in one word; apt addition.
The origin story of the proverb:
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 – 589 AD), there lived the famous artist Zhang Sen Zhou. His art was highly valued by Emperor Liang Wu. One day he was asked to paint the wall of the Andun Temple. He drew 4 dragons. Everyone looked at the images of dragons and admired them. Suddenly one person asked: “But why didn’t you draw pupils in the eyes of the dragons?”
Zhang Sen Zhou replied: “If I draw the pupils, the dragons will fly away.” Nobody believed him. They thought he was joking and continued to insist that he draw the pupils of the dragons. Zhang Sen Zhou had no choice but to draw the pupils of the dragons. He barely had time to draw the pupils of the two dragons when they came to life and, with a monstrous cry, “flew out” of the wall. People watching the artist got scared and fled in different directions. Someone hid, someone fell to the ground. The dragons circled around the temple a little more and soared into the sky. The other two dragons remained on the wall.
This saying means that a person can make his speech, speech or work memorable and outstanding just by highlighting a few key words or expressions.
You can find out about the netsuke meaning of the figures on the website http://viewout.ru.
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