As one sows, so shall one reap.
On the basis of Buddhism, all of us have done some good deeds in our past lives so that we can be human beings in this life. The effects of these good deeds will show up in different periods during the lifetime. The part shown in youth is used ...
Let me explain with an instance in the 《Miscellaneous Treasure Sutra》.
When King Pasenadi (6th century B.C.E.) lay down to sleep, he heard an argument of two internal officials.
A said, "I live by the king."
B answered, "I don't rely on anyone, but live by my own power ...
It's called "缩脚语".
There are 2 different definitions of xiehouyu:
The most common way you would say is
现学现卖 or 现炒现卖
However, the actual and original expression is
if you read ancient Chinese novels. The character 旋 means right after. This expression is more correct, I would say.
However, you would just say 现学现卖 or 现炒现卖 nowadays, if you were to use the original expression, most likely people would not ...
A work place is also a social environment, almost all idioms can be incorporated into everyday conversations in the workplace. However, some idioms are more applicable in the work place.
公事公辦 - to not let personal affairs interfere with business
皇親國戚 -person having powerful connections (boss's daughter and son-in-law, for example)
假公濟私 - under the guise of ...
It's an old Chinese proverb, that's why there are some words missing.
In old times, as long as people can understand what you mean, you can omit as many as words you want.
The whole sentence is
Here, 好 means happy, happy life, good life, or easy life.
And 百, 千, 万 in Chinese proverbs or idioms usually refers to a very long time
So the ...
“The wise man and the tortoise travel but never leave their home
There's no such proverb in Chinese.
The only one remotely similar to this 'proverb' in Chinese is 秀才不出門，能知天下事 (A talented person can know the world without going out)
I suspect whoever coined this 'proverb', heard it somewhere that there's a Chinese idiom expressing "a wise man doesn't ...
望梅止渴 wàng méi zhǐ kě lit. to quench one"s thirst by thinking of plums (idiom), fig. to console oneself with illusions
The expression is a chengyu (成语, cheng2yu3).
There's a story behind it: in the Three Kingdoms period, general Cao Cao (曹操 Cáo Cāo (155-220)) was leading his troops on a journey to battle. They were in a dry place and his troops were ...
From Tao Te Ching ("Canon of morality") attributed to Laozi. These words are excerpted from various parts. Various translation exists, and here I am just being literal.
The utmost goodness [or benevolence] is like the water. Water is good at being benevolent to everything, and does not compete with them.
It is concrete ...
NPR did a pretty good article covering this.
After Ivanka Trump Quotes 'Chinese Proverb,' A Hunt For The Proverbial Author : NPR
Ivanka Trump's quote of a Chinese proverb — "Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it." — prompted a search for the original source. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
On the eve of her father'...
the internet archive is your friend. unfortunately, it's blocked in "that area" :(
the first one: a handbook of the chinese language, by james summers, printed in 1863
in page 95 & page 97, there're several proverbs translated in english:
Here's the prargraph from the book:
“Food comes first for the people,” says an ancient Chinese proverb, and foodie culture has blossomed in China as hedonism has grown less stigmatized. The average Chinese citizen spent more money on food in 2015 than at any time in the past, and food TV shows such as A Bite of China have soaring ratings. Nearly two-thirds ...
It's a real proverb and means what your quote says it means.
按下葫芦浮起瓢 (àn xià hú lú fú qǐ piáo)
variant: 按下葫芦又起瓢 (... yòu qǐ piáo)
葫芦 and 瓢 are two different words for gourd, similar to a pumpkin. These were used to collect water, so that's why you would want to hold them under water.
claiming this parable has chinese origin is doubtful. several themes in the text are very un-chinese, against the customs & culture:
1 "travelling through the country"
2 such travelling with a guide
in other cultures, 7 might be a "magic" number, but it's not in chinese. we used 5, 10, 12, 3, or 4.
lastly, here's a link of its mormon origin:
成語 and 諺語 are well established common expressions , well known by the whole population. 俗語 is more often, limited to regional use.
成語 mostly refer to Chinese idiom.
諺語 can be from different countries.
Chinese 成語 are uniformly four characters phrases.
For 俗語 and 諺語, number of character are flexible, some come in two parts.
俗語 : "有便宜唔好使頸&...
The provenance of "爱屋及乌" is from Han FuSheng the commentary of the book of documents Wars “爱人者，兼其屋上之乌。” This sentence means love me,love my dog.
The completed explain means that: The love for the house extends even to the crows perching on its roof -- loving one thing on account of another. He that loves the tree loves the branch.；He who loves Bertrand ...
破釜沉舟 describe an action of "destroy one's own mean to retreat/escape" ; the underline reasons are 1. "to show determination" 2. "force oneself to continue"
You can consider
burn one's bridges/boats
crossing the Rubicon
The action of "burn one's bridges/boats" match 破釜沉舟 almost word for word, but its main ...
ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs
Lit Babies [who] cry [at] night get more milk.
Fig Those who speak out or complain get more help. "The squeaky wheel gets the oil."
The Wikipedia page for The squeaky wheel gets the grease also mentions:
Similarly, one of the Chinese proverbs goes "会哭的孩子有奶吃", which means &...
I think the original proverb is "工欲善其事 必先利其器"
工 = 工匠 (craftsman)
欲善其事 (want to do his job well)
必先 (must first)
利其器 (make his tools sharp, meaning in good condition)
This saying is using "To do a good job, a craftsman must sharpen his tools" as an analogy for "To be successful, one must first prepare his tools (make preparation)&...
“Strike while the iron is hot” in Chinese is 打鐵趁熱
Forging ironware must be done while the iron is hot. It is a metaphor that you must seize the opportunity to do things without delay.
"Do it while you can" could mean '機不可失' (chance is rare, so don't miss it) or 勿失良機 (don't miss a good chance)
I have never heard of the phrase 孩子帶財，but judging from the wording, it sounded like a logical fallacy of "correlation imply causation "
The fallacy: "Couples who have money tend to have children, therefore people who have children must also have money ." It is an illogical argument. Wealthy people have children doesn't mean having children make them ...
A Chinese English Dictionary
quench one's thirst by thinking of plums-console oneself with false hopes; feed on fancies
and some Chinese:
According to this:
It seems that the proverb connotes more meanings:
it expresses friendship could not be lasting very long time.
Life is not easy; Something bad could happen and etc.
Crossing the Rubicon:
Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon river was an event in 49 BC that precipitated the Roman Civil War, which ultimately led to Caesar becoming dictator for life and the rise of the imperial era of Rome. Caesar had been appointed to a governorship over a region that ranged from southern Gaul to Illyricum (but not Italy). As his term ...
My understanding of "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" is "If you don't complain, your situation will not change for the better".
In this sense, you can say 「不平則鳴」(express your opinion when unfairness occur) is similar to it.
Another answer found here is「愛哭的孩子有糖吃」 seems like an direct translation of a similar English expression "It is cry babies who get ...