Chinese Proverbs
Chinese Proverbs
beginning call names wisdom
The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names
brink horse late pull reins
When your horse in on the brink of a precipice, it is too late to pull the reins
common hall sweep
There is no one to sweep a common hall
home sign trouble
Over no home can the sign be hung:There is no trouble here.
bends branch gives takes
A young branch takes on all the bends that one gives it
defends steal thorn
A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom.
truth
The broad-minded see the truth in different religions; the narrow-minded see only the differences
hollow mind mountain open returns sounds vacant
A vacant mind is open to all suggestions, as a hollow mountain returns all sounds
joy longer month sorrow
A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy
amidst chickens flock standing
A crane standing amidst a flock of chickens
add drawing finished legs snake
Add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it
knowing
It is not the knowing that is difficult, but the doing
cold pine season
It is only when the cold season comes that we know the pine and cypress to be evergreens
days goods hold profit sell sure thousand
Hold back some goods for a thousand days and you will be sure to sell at a profit