Culture to Know

Chinese culture is rich with ancient wisdom that has been passed down through generations. This wisdom is encapsulated in numerous sayings and proverbs that touch upon various aspects of life, love, success, wisdom, and family. These time-honored expressions not only reflect the depth of Chinese philosophy but also provide valuable insights into the human experience. In this article, we will explore the 50 most popular Chinese sayings and proverbs that continue to resonate with people around the world.

Life and Wisdom:

1. 活到老，学到老 (Huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo) – “Learn as long as you live.”
2. 时光不待人 (Shíguāng bù dài rén) – “Time waits for no one.”
3. 千里之行，始于足下 (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià) – “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
4. 机不可失，时不再来 (Jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái) – “Opportunity knocks at the door only once.”
5. 前事不忘，后事之师 (Qián shì bù wàng, hòu shì zhī shī) – “Learn from the past to prepare for the future.”
6. 言多必失 (Yán duō bì shī) – “Talkative people are likely to make mistakes.”
7. 三思而行 (Sān sī ér xíng) – “Think thrice before you act.”
8. 人非圣贤，孰能无过 (Rén fēi shèng xián, shú néng wú guò) – “Everyone makes mistakes; only the wise learn from them.”
9. 画龙点睛 (Huà lóng diǎn jīng) – “Adding the eyes to the dragon,” meaning to bring something to life or make it complete.
10. 忍一时风平浪静，退一步海阔天空 (Rěn yī shí fēng píng làng jìng, tuì yī bù hǎi kuò tiān kōng) – “Endure a moment for a calm sea; take a step back for a boundless sky.”

Love and Relationships:

1. 爱屋及乌 (Ài wū jí wū) – “Love me, love my dog.”
2. 一见钟情 (Yī jiàn zhōng qíng) – “Love at first sight.”
3. 两情若是长久时，又岂在朝朝暮暮 (Liǎng qíng ruò shì chángjiǔ shí, yòu qǐ zài zhāozhāo mùmù) – “If love between two people is destined to be, it will last forever, and time will not change it.”
4. 知己知彼，百战不殆 (Zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, bǎi zhàn bù dài) – “Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.”
5. 情人眼里出西施 (Qíngrén yǎn lǐ chū Xīshī) – “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
6. 天作之合 (Tiān zuò zhī hé) – “A match made in heaven.”
7. 青梅竹马 (Qīngméi zhúmǎ) – “Childhood sweethearts.”
8. 情非得已 (Qíng fēi dé yǐ) – “Love is not a matter of choice.”
9. 宁可食无肉，不可居无竹 (Nìng kě shí wú ròu, bù kě jū wú zhú) – “Better to live without meat than without bamboo.”
10. 有情人终成眷属 (Yǒu qíng rén zhōng chéng juàn shǔ) – “True lovers end up as a married couple.”

Success and Achievement:

1. 千淘万漉虽辛苦，吹尽狂沙始到金 (Qiān táo wàn lù suī xīnkǔ, chuī jìn kuáng shā shǐ dào jīn) – “After a thousand washings, the gold is not worn out.”
2. 有志者，事竟成 (Yǒu zhì zhě, shì jìng chéng) – “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
3. 精诚所至，金石为开 (Jīng chéng suǒ zhì, jīnshí wéi kāi) – “With true sincerity, even a metal can be melted.”
4. 一分耕耘，一分收获 (Yī fēn gēng yún, yī fēn shōu huò) – “One does not reap without sowing.”
5. 不怕慢，就怕停 (Bù pà màn, jiù pà tíng) – “Don’t be afraid of slow progress, be afraid of standing still.”
6. 谋事在人，成事在天 (Móu shì zài rén, chéng shì zài tiān) – “Man proposes, God disposes.”
7. 熟能生巧 (Shú néng shēng qiǎo) – “Skill comes from practice.”
8. 一寸光阴一寸金 (Yī cùn guāngyīn yī cùn jīn) – “Time is money.”
9. 勤能补拙 (Qín néng bǔ zhuō) – “Diligence can compensate for lack of ability.”
10. 苦尽甘来 (Kǔ jìn gān lái) – “After hardship comes ease.”

Family and Filial Piety:

1. 家和万事兴 (Jiā hé wànshì xīng) – “Harmony in the family leads to prosperity in everything.”
2. 一日为师，终身为父 (Yī rì wéi shī, zhōngshēn wéi fù) – “Be a teacher for a day, be a father for a lifetime.”
3. 兄弟如手足 (Xiōngdì rú shǒuzú) – “Brothers are like limbs.”
4. 有钱能使鬼推磨 (Yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò) – “Money can even make ghosts turn the grindstone.”
5. 岁月静好 (Suìyuè jìng hǎo) – “May the years be peaceful.”
6. 一有所长，兼具三绝 (Yī yǒu suǒ zhǎng, jiān jù sān jué) – “Excel in one thing, be proficient in the three arts.”
7. 养生世上无难事 (Yǎng shēng shì shàng wú nánshì) – “With good health, nothing is difficult in life.”
8. 君子之交淡如水 (Jūnzi zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ) – “A true gentleman’s friendship is as light as water.”
9. 自由是勇敢者的奖赏 (Zìyóu shì yǒnggǎn zhě de jiǎngshǎng) – “Freedom is the reward of the brave.”
10. 美不在乎外表，爱属于灵魂 (Měi bù zài hū wàibiǎo, ài shǔyú líng hún) – “Beauty is not in the face; love is in the soul.”

Miscellaneous:

1. 笑一笑，十年少 (Xiào yī xiào, shí nián shào) – “A smile makes you ten years younger.”
2. 人山人海 (Rén shān rén hǎi) – “A sea of people.”
3. 吃一堑，长一智 (Chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yī zhì) – “One learns from experience.”
4. 自助者天助之 (Zì zhù zhě tiān zhù zhī) – “God helps those who help themselves.”
5. 知足常乐 (Zhī zú cháng lè) – “Contentment brings happiness.”
6. 知人知面不知心 (Zhī rén zhī miàn bù zhī xīn) – “You know a person’s face, not their heart.”
7. 宁做鸡头，不当凤尾 (Nìng zuò jītóu, bù dāng fèngwěi) – “Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.”
8. 饭可以一日不吃，觉可以一夜不睡，书不可以一日不读 (Fàn kěyǐ yī rì bù chī, jué kěyǐ yī yè bù shuì, shū bù kěyǐ yī rì bù dú) – “A meal can be skipped, a night’s sleep can be missed, but not reading for a day is unacceptable.”
9. 心有余而力不足 (Xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú) – “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
10. 不经一事，不长一智 (Bù jīng yī shì, bù zhǎng yī zhì) – “You can’t gain wisdom without experiencing life.”

These sayings reflect the deep cultural and philosophical roots of Chinese wisdom. Keep in mind that different regions and dialects in China may have variations of these sayings. May these insights inspire and guide you in various aspects of life!