99+ Chinese Proverbs, Sayings & Quotes (With Translation)

As we delve into these proverbs, think of them as old friends sharing their best advice. They’ve been around for hundreds of years, but their messages are still so relevant. It’s like finding a treasure chest in your backyard, filled with golden rules for a better life.

Join us as we uncover these gems of wisdom, allowing them to inspire and transform our modern lives with their ancient insights.

Short And Famous Chinese Proverbs

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” (千里之行，始于足下)

“The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” (移山者，始于碎石)

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” (授人以鱼不如授人以渔)

“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask remains a fool forever.” (问者是五分钟的傻瓜，不问则永远是傻瓜)

“A book holds a house of gold.” (书中自有黄金屋)

“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” (变风起时，有人筑墙，有人造风车)

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” (鸟之所以歌唱，并非因为它有答案，而是因为它有歌)

“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” (不怕慢，就怕站)

“A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.” (送人玫瑰，手留余香)

“To know another is not to know the person’s face, but to know the person’s heart.” (认识一个人，并非看其面貌，而是看其心)

Wise Ancient Chinese Proverbs About Life

“Life is a dream walking, death is a going home.” (人生如梦行，死亡如归家)

“When you drink the water, remember the spring.” (饮水思源)

“One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.” (前人种树，后人乘凉)

“A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials.” (玉不琢，不成器；人不学，不知道)

“A single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.” (与智者一席谈，胜读十年书)

“Happiness is not having a lot, happiness is giving a lot.” (幸福不在于拥有的多，而在于给予的多)

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” (紧张是你认为你应该成为的样子，放松是你真正的样子)

“When the root is deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” (根深不怕风摇动)

“Dig the well before you are thirsty.” (未渴挖井)

“To understand your parents’ love you must raise children yourself.” (养儿方知父母恩)

Chinese Proverbs About Love

“Love is not about possession, it’s all about appreciation.” (爱不在于占有，而在于欣赏)

“With true friends, even water drunk together is sweet enough.” (真朋友同饮一杯水，亦觉甘甜)

“Married couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking.” (相爱的夫妻无需言语，千言万语心已明)

“A heart in love with beauty never grows old.” (沐浴在美好中的心永远年轻)

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” (对于世界而言，你可能只是一个人，但对于某个人，你可能是整个世界)

“Love is an endless mystery, for it has nothing else to explain it.” (爱是无尽的谜，因为没有其他东西可以解释它)

“It is easy to dodge a spear that comes in front of you but hard to avoid an arrow shot from behind.” (正面的枪易躲，背后的箭难防)

“Where there is love, there are always wishes.” (哪里有爱，哪里就有希望)

“Love and a cough cannot be hidden.” (爱情和咳嗽，是藏不住的)

“If you love a thing, let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours forever. If it doesn’t, then it was never meant to be.” (如果你爱一个东西，就让它自由，如果它回到你身边，那么它将永远属于你；如果它不回来，那它从来就不属于你)

Chinese Proverbs About Success

“Failure is the mother of success.” (失败乃成功之母)

“Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still.” (不怕慢，就怕站)

“He who has never hoped can never despair.” (从未有过希望的人，也永远不会绝望)

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.” (最好的种树时间是二十年前，其次是现在)

“Great acts are made up of small deeds.” (伟大的行动，由小小的行为组成)

“A man who cannot tolerate small misfortunes can never accomplish great things.” (不能忍受小小的不幸，永远也成就不了大事)

“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.” (要知未来的路，询问归来的人)

“Opportunities don’t just happen, you create them.” (机会不会自己出现，你需要自己创造)

“Seize the opportunity by the forelock.” (抓住机遇的前额)

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” (移山的人，开始是搬小石头)

Chinese Proverbs About Happiness

“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” (想要一小时的快乐，就打个盹；一天的快乐，就去钓鱼；一年的快乐，就继承一笔财富；一生的快乐，就帮助别人)

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” (幸福不是现成的东西，它来源于你的行动)

“Joy is not in things; it is in us.” (快乐不在物品中，而在我们自身)

“The happiest people do not necessarily have the best of everything but they make the most of everything that comes along their way.” (最快乐的人不一定拥有最好的一切，但他们善于利用一切顺其自然而来的东西)

“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.” (幸福常常悄悄进入你不知不觉已经打开的门)

“If you want to be happy, be.” (如果你想快乐，那就快乐)

“Happiness is like a sunbeam, which the least shadow intercepts, while adversity is often as the rain of spring.” (幸福像一束阳光，最小的阴影也会阻挡，而逆境往往如同春天的雨水)

“A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.” (内心充满爱的火焰，必然带来欢乐的心)

“Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them.” (幸福不在于没有问题，而在于应对问题的能力)

“When you feel happiness, do not promise. When you feel anger, do not answer.” (快乐时不要许诺，生气时不要回答)

Chinese Proverbs About Friendship

“A friend in need is a friend indeed.” (患难见真情)

“To have a friend, be one.” (欲求良友，先自为友)

“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.” (对朋友不信任，比被朋友欺骗更可耻)

“Friends are the siblings God never gave us.” (朋友是上帝没能给我们的兄弟姐妹)

“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.” (书如随身携带的花园)

“In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.” (顺境中，朋友认识我们；逆境中，我们认识朋友)

“A friend to all is a friend to none.” (滥交者无友)

“Better to drink the weak tea of a friend than the sweet wine of an enemy.” (宁饮友人淡茶，不饮敌人甘醇)

“A small house will hold a hundred friends.” (小屋可容百友来)

“A near neighbor is better than a distant cousin.” (远亲不如近邻)

Chinese Proverbs About Family

“Home is where the heart is.” (家是心之所在)

“One family builds the wall, two families enjoy it.” (一家建墙，两家享)

“A family in harmony will prosper in everything.” (家和万事兴)

“When families are united, the sharp bitterness of poverty is sweetened.” (家庭团结，贫穷之苦也变甜)

“A harmonious family is an early heaven.” (家庭和睦，如同人间天堂)

“Parents are the first and last teachers of a child.” (父母是孩子的第一任也是最后一任老师)

“A family’s teaching is the root of many virtues.” (家教是许多美德的根源)

“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” (国之力，源于家之正)

“A good family fortune is a silent teacher.” (良好的家风是无声的教师)

“Children are the anchors that hold a mother to life.” (孩子是系住母亲生命之锚)

Chinese Proverbs About Stupidity

“He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.” (问者愚五分钟，不问终身愚)

“To believe in one’s dreams is to spend all of one’s life asleep.” (追梦是一生都在睡梦中度过)

“A fool judges people by the presents they give him.” (傻瓜用收到的礼物来评价人)

“When a fool hears about Tao, he laughs out loud.” (愚者闻道，大笑之)

“A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.” (不思考和计划未来的人，麻烦就在门前)

“Playing a lute to a cow.” (对牛弹琴)

“To add legs when drawing a snake.” (画蛇添足)

“Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.” (逼急了连兔子都会咬人)

“To climb a tree to catch a fish is talking much and doing nothing.” (上树捕鱼，言多而行少)

“A frog in a well knows nothing of the great ocean.” (井底之蛙，不知大海)

Chinese Proverbs About Learning

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” (学问是随处可随身携带的宝藏)

“To learn without thinking is labor lost; to think without learning is perilous.” (学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆)

“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.” (与其诅咒黑暗，不如点亮一盏小蜡烛)

“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” (师傅领进门，修行在个人)

“Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child.” (不知道自己出生前发生了什么，就永远是个孩子)

“Hearing something a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once.” (百闻不如一见)

“When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.” (有错则改)

“Learning is a weightless treasure you can always carry easily.” (学习是轻如鸿毛的宝藏，你可以轻松携带)

“He who excels in study can follow an official career.” (学业有成者可以从政)

“Reading ten thousand books is not as useful as traveling ten thousand miles.” (读万卷书不如行万里路)

Motivational And Inspirational Chinese Proverbs

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” (最好的植树时间是二十年前，其次是现在)

“A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections.” (有瑕疵的钻石胜过无暇的鹅卵石)

“If you do not scale the mountain, you will not view the plain.” (不登高山，不见平地)

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” (只要不停下脚步，走得慢并不要紧)

“Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.” (心中留有绿树，唱鸟或将至)

“When the sun rises, it rises for everyone.” (太阳升起，普照大地)

“He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left.” (旅行归来的人不再是出发时的那个人)

“A single spark can start a prairie fire.” (星星之火，可以燎原)

“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” (和平时期流的汗，减少战时流的血)

“Gold is tested by fire, man is tested by adversity.” (金经火炼，人经逆境考验)