1. About.com
  2. News & Issues
  3. Chinese Culture
Chinese Proverb Collection (A - D)
A - D
E - G
H - I
J - L
M - O
P - S
T - V
W - Z

Confucius
Tea Quote

Stories
Links

  • Add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it.
  • After three days without reading, talk becomes flavorless.
  • An ant may well destroy a whole dam.
  • Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
  • Behind an able man there are always other able men.
  • Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.
  • Better do a good deed near at home than go far away to burn incense.
  • Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness
  • A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
  • A book holds a house of gold.
  • Butcher the donkey after it finished his job on the mill.
  • A camel standing amidst a flock of sheep.
  • Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.
  • A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood
  • A crane standing amidst a flock of chickens.
  • Crows everywhere are equally black.
  • A dish of carrot hastily cooked may still has soil uncleaned off the vegetable.
  • Dismantle the bridge shortly after crossing it.
  • Distant water won't help to put out a fire close at hand.
  • Distant water won't quench your immediate thirst.
  • Do not employ handsome servants.
  • Do not want others to know what you have done? Better not have done it anyways.
  • Donkey's lips do not fit onto a horse's mouth.
  • A dog won't forsake his master because of his poverty; a son never deserts his mother for her homely appearance.
  • Dream different dreams while on the same bed.

Some of the collection here are translated by Haiwang Yuan. Check out his website for more Chinese proverbs.

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.