Chinese Proverbs 3

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These Chinese proverbs are mostly expressed as four-character idioms. Like any idiom, they are expressive, precise and often leave meaningful afterthoughts for listners.

Chinese Proverbs 8:

1. A sly rabbit will have three openings to its den.
2. A smile will gain you ten more years of life.
3. Some prefer carrot while others like cabbage.
4. Sow much, reap much; sow little, reap little.
5. Steal a bell with one's ears covered.
6. The man who does not learn is dark, like one walking in the night.
7. There are always ears on the other side of the wall.
8. There is no silver here: three hundred taels.
9. Those who have free seats at a play hiss first.
10. Three humble shoemakers brainstorming will make a great statesman.
11. A tiger never returns to his prey he did not finish off.
12. To attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon.
13. To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.
14. To understand your parents' love you must raise children yourself.
15. Use power to curb power.

Chinese Proverbs 9:

1. Vicious as a tigeress can be, she never eats her own cubs.
2. Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it.
3. We are not so much concerned if you are slow as when you come to a halt.
4. A weasel comes to say Happy New Year to the chickens.
5. With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.
6. When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.
7. When you are poor, neighbors close by will not come; once you become rich, you'll be surprised by visits from (alleged) relatives afar.
8. When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.
9. When you want to test the depths of a stream, don't use both feet.
10. When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people.
11. Without food supply, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook you a meal.
12. You can only go halfway into the darkest forest; then you are coming out the other side.
13. You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.
14. You can't catch a cub without going into the tiger's den.
15. You can't expect both ends of a sugar cane are as sweet.

 

Chinese Proverbs 10:

1. You think you lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday.
2. You won't help shoots grow by pulling them up higher.
3. Your fingers can't be of the same length.

More Chinese proverbs will be added.

Related Readings:

• Fortune Cookie Sayings
• Confucius Quotes
• Quotes by Lao Tzu

 

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