20+ Famous & Common Chinese Proverbs [with English Translation]

Chinese proverbs serve as valuable educational tools, helping children grasp complex ideas and social norms. Found across various cultures and languages, these proverbs are often passed down through generations to impart life lessons and experiences. Many emphasize the importance of diligence, honesty, and kindness—core values deeply embedded in Chinese culture.

Furthermore, proverbs frequently employ vivid metaphors and imagery, making their lessons more memorable and easier to understand. This collection of Chinese proverbs, which includes pinyin pronunciation, English translations, explanations, and Chinese characters, may serve as an inspiration.

What’s a Chinese Proverb?

A Chinese proverb is a traditional Chinese saying that conveys a general truth or principle, often reflecting the wisdom and cultural values of Chinese society. Used in everyday conversation, literature, and teaching, Chinese proverbs serve as a bridge between generations, imparting valuable life lessons that resonate across time and cultures.

They are typically concise, memorable, and rich with meaning, making them effective tools for communication and education. They often draw on historical anecdotes, natural imagery, and philosophical concepts, providing insights into human behavior, morality, and the complexities of life.

Chinese Proverbs about Love

There is no doubt that love is a common theme throughout human history, as it is one of the most powerful human emotions that have helped people come together. Just like other cultures, the Chinese language has many proverbs about love.

1. 执子之手，与子偕老

• Pinyin: Zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xié lǎo.
• Literal Translation: “Holding your hand, growing old together.”
• Close English Proverb: “Together forever.”
• Meaning: This expresses the desire to spend a lifetime with a loved one.

2. 在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝

• Pinyin: Zài tiān yuàn zuò bǐ yì niǎo, zài dì yuàn wéi lián lǐ zhī.
• Literal Translation: “In heaven, I wish to be a bird flying side by side; on earth, I wish to be branches entwined.”
• Close English Proverb: “Love knows no bounds.”
• Meaning: This conveys the desire for eternal companionship and unity in love.

3. 情人眼里出西施

• Pinyin: Qínɡ rén yǎn lǐ chū xī shī.
• Literal Translation: “In a lover’s eye is the foremost beauty.”
• Close English Proverb: “Beauty lies in the lover’s eyes.”
• Meaning: Love makes one see the best qualities in their partner.

4. 有情人终成眷属

• Pinyin: Yǒu qínɡ rén zhōnɡ chénɡ juàn shǔ.
• Literal Translation: “Lovers will eventually become family.”
• Close English Proverb: “Love conquers all.”
• Meaning: True love will ultimately prevail in uniting people.

5. 爱屋及乌

• Pinyin: Ài wū jí wū.
• Literal Translation: “Love the house and all its crows.”
• Close English Proverb: “love me, love my dog.”
• Meaning: Loving someone means accepting everything associated with them.

Famous Proverbs about Life

Proverbs are sayings that people have collectively coined and transmitted orally. Most Chinese proverbs reflect the wisdom of everyday life and the values of society.

1. 否极泰来

• Pinyin: Fǒu jí tài lái
• Literal Translation: “When the situation is at its worst, it will eventually turn to the best.”
• Close English Proverb: “Peace replaces extreme evil.”
• Meaning: This saying conveys the idea that difficult or negative situations will eventually improve, emphasizing the cyclical nature of fortune and adversity.

2. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子

• Pinyin: Bù rù hǔ xué, yān dé hǔ zǐ.
• Literal Translation: “If you do not enter the tiger’s den, how can you catch the tiger cub?” or “You can’t catch a cub without entering the tiger’s den.”
• Close English Proverb: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
• Meaning: This saying emphasizes that one must take risks to achieve significant rewards. Without facing challenges or dangers, one cannot expect to succeed.

3. 平生不做亏心事，半夜敲门心不惊

• Pinyin: Píng shēng bù zuò kuī xīn shì, bàn yè qiāo mén xīn bù jīng.
• Literal Translation: “Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.”
• Close English Proverb: “A clear conscience is a soft pillow.”
• Meaning: This saying conveys that living a life free of wrongdoing allows one to face challenges or unexpected situations without fear or anxiety.

4. 不管白猫黑猫，捉住老鼠就是好猫。

• Pinyin: Bù guǎn bái māo hēi māo, zhuō zhù lǎo shǔ jiù shì hǎo māo.
• Literal Translation: “It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.”
• Close English Proverb: “Results matter more than methods.”
• Meaning: This Sichuan proverb emphasizes practicality over ideology, suggesting that the effectiveness of an action is what truly matters, regardless of the method used.

Chinese Proverbs about Success and Failure

Success and failure are essential themes in our life. Many Chinese proverbs convey the pursuit of success and reflections on failure through concise and profound language, inspiring people to remain resilient and optimistic when facing challenges. By exploring these proverbs, we can better understand how to learn from failure and strive toward greater goals.

1. 失败是成功之母。

• Pinyin: Shī bài shì chéng gōng zhī mǔ.
• Literal Translation: “Failure is the mother of success.”
• Close English Proverb: “Failure is the stepping stone to success.”
• Meaning: This proverb highlights that failures are often the key to achieving future successes. Learning from mistakes can lead to improvement.

2. 千里之行，始于足下。

• Pinyin: Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià.
• Literal Translation: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
• Close English Proverb: “Every journey starts with a single step.”
• Meaning: This saying emphasizes that even the longest and most challenging ventures begin with a simple action.

3. 有志者事竟成。

• Pinyin: Yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng.
• Literal Translation: “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
• Close English Proverb: “Determination leads to success.”
• Meaning: This proverb conveys that strong willpower and determination can lead to achieving one’s goals.

4. 塞翁失马，焉知非福

• Pinyin: Sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú.
• Literal Translation: “The old man from the frontier lost his horse; who knows if it is not a blessing?”
• Close English Proverb: “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
• Meaning: This saying suggests that misfortunes can lead to unexpected good fortune, and what seems like a loss may ultimately turn out to be beneficial.

Chinese sayings on Friendship and Family

Many Chinese sayings capture the value and understanding of familial and friendly bonds. These proverbs not only reflect profound emotions related to family and friendship but also highlight the significance of mutual support, trust, and unity.

1. 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎。

• Pinyin: Yǒu péng zì yuǎn fāng lái, bù yì lè hū.
• Literal Translation: “Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?”
• Close English Proverb: “A friend from afar is a treasure.”
• Meaning: This saying expresses the joy and value of welcoming friends from distant places.

2. 家和万事兴。

• Pinyin: Jiā hé wàn shì xīng.
• Literal Translation: “When the family is harmonious, all affairs will prosper.”
• Close English Proverb: “A happy family is a happy life.”
• Meaning: This saying suggests that a peaceful and loving family environment leads to success and happiness in all aspects of life.

3. 广交友，无深交

• Pinyin: Guǎng jiāo yǒu, wú shēn jiāo.
• Literal Translation: “Numerous friends means no deep friendship.”
• Close English Proverb: “A wide circle of friends but few true friends.”
• Meaning: This saying emphasizes the importance of having a large network of acquaintances while acknowledging that true, deep friendships are rare and valuable.

4. 家家有本难念的经

• Pinyin: Jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīng.
• Meaning: This saying reflects the idea that every household faces its own unique challenges and difficulties, often hidden from outsiders.
• Literal Translation: “Every family has its own difficult scripture.”
• Close English Proverb: “There are skeletons in every family’s closet.”

5. 家丑不可外扬

• Pinyin: Jiā chǒu bù kě wài yáng.
• Literal Translation: “Family shames must not be spread abroad.”
• Close English Proverb: “Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.”
• Meaning: This saying suggests that personal or family issues should be kept private and not discussed publicly, emphasizing the importance of maintaining family dignity and unity.

Proverbs about Learning

Education and learning are the cornerstones of personal growth and social development. In Chinese philosophy, many proverbs convey the importance of learning. These proverbs emphasize the significance of diligence and perseverance.

1. 活到老，学到老。

• Pinyin: Huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo.
• Literal Translation: “Live until old, learn until old.”
• Close English Proverb: “Lifelong learning.”
• Meaning: This proverb emphasizes the importance of continuous education and personal growth throughout one’s life. This proverb reminds us that we should embrace learning at any age.

2. 学海无涯，苦作舟。

• Pinyin: Xué hǎi wú yá, kǔ zuò zhōu.
• Literal Translation: “The sea of learning has no bounds; hard work is the boat.”
• Close English Proverb: “Hard work is the key to knowledge.”
• Meaning: This proverb emphasizes that continuous effort and hard work are essential for gaining knowledge and skills.

3. 三人行，必有我师。

• Pinyin: Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī.
• Literal Translation: “In a group of three, there is always something I can learn.”
• Close English Proverb: “Everyone has something to teach.”
• Meaning: This saying signifies that every person has unique insights and experiences to offer, making learning from others valuable.

4. 学而时习之，不亦说乎。

• Pinyin: Xué ér shí xí zhī, bù yì shuō hū.
• Literal Translation: “To learn and practice regularly, is that not a joy?”
• Close English Proverb: “Learning brings joy.”
• Meaning: This saying emphasizes the happiness derived from continuous learning and practice.

5. 听君一言，胜读十年书

• Pinyin: Tīng jūn yī yán, shèng dú shí nián shū.
• Literal Translation: “Listening to a single word from a wise man is better than reading books for ten years.”
• Close English Proverb: “A single conversation with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.”
• Meaning: This saying emphasizes the value of gaining knowledge and insights from experienced individuals, suggesting that direct communication can be far more enlightening than extensive reading.

Other Chinese Proverbs

Chinese philosophy culture is rich with sayings that cover a wide range of life experiences and values. These proverbs offer insights into relationships, perseverance, and the pursuit of wisdom, reflecting the collective wisdom of generations. By exploring these diverse proverbs, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural heritage they represent and discover timeless lessons that can guide us in various aspects of life.

1. 江山易改，本性难移

• Pinyin: Jiāng shān yì gǎi, běn xìng nán yí.
• Literal Translation: “Rivers and mountains are easy to change; changing a person’s character is much more difficult.”
• Close English Proverb: “A leopard can’t change its spots.”
• Meaning: This saying suggests that while external circumstances may change, a person’s inherent character or nature is difficult to change.

2. 天外有天，人外有人。

• Pinyin: Tiān wài yǒu tiān, rén wài yǒu rén.
• Literal Translation: “There are skies beyond the sky, and people beyond people.”
• Close English Proverb: “There’s always someone better.”
• Meaning: This saying reminds us to remain humble, as there are always others who are more capable.

3. 说曹操，曹操到。

• Pinyin: Shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào.
• Literal Translation: “Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.”
• Close English Proverb: “Speak of the devil.”
• Meaning: This is the Chinese version of “Speak of the devil.” This saying suggests that mentioning someone often leads to their sudden appearance.

4. 三个和尚没水喝

• Pinyin: Sān gè hé shàng méi shuǐ hē.
• Literal Translation: “Three monks have no water to drink.”
• Close English Proverb: “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”
• Meaning: This saying illustrates that when too many people are involved in a task, it can lead to confusion or inefficiency, resulting in failure to achieve the goal.

Conclusion

Chinese proverbs and the Chinese saying continue to play an important role in modern society. They are widely used in family education and frequently appear in literature, art, and everyday communication. Therefore, understanding and learning Chinese idioms not only aids in learning the language but also deepens one’s understanding of Chinese philosophy.

FAQs

1. What is a 4 character Chinese proverb?

A famous four-character Chinese proverb is “事半功倍” (Shì bàn gōng bèi), which translates to “Half the effort, double the results.” This saying highlights the importance of working smart rather than just hard. It encourages individuals to find efficient methods and strategies in their endeavors, suggesting that with the right approach, one can achieve more with less effort.

2. What is the oldest proverb?

While pinpointing the absolute oldest Chinese proverbs can be challenging, many scholars consider the “I Ching” (Book of Changes), written around 1000 BCE, to contain some of the earliest wisdom literature in Chinese culture. Many popular sayings and aphorisms derived from this text have been passed down through generations, influencing not just Chinese thought but also Chinese philosophy and literature across the world.

3. What was Confucius’s famous quote?

hinese proverbs and Chinese idioms are usually short phrases or rhymes in colloquial form, originating from literary works, history, or famous philosophers, writers, or poets, etc. One of Confucius’s most famous quotes is “己所不欲，勿施于人” (Jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén), which translates to “Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself.”

This quote captures the essence of ethical reciprocity and empathy, emphasizing the importance of treating others with the same respect and kindness we desire for ourselves. It remains a foundational principle in Confucian thought and continues to resonate in discussions of morality and ethics today.