xiǎo bié shèng xīn hūn

absence makes the heart grow fonder (said of married couples)

xiǎo xīn shǐ dé wàn nián chuán

better safe than sorry

直译: If you are careful, you can steer your ship safely for a myriad years

jǐ lì lì rén jǐ dá dá rén

live and let live

直译: Just as you would like to establish yourself in the world, so allow others to establish themselves. Just as you seek to understand things, so allow others the same opportunity.

出处: From the Analects, Book 6 (《論語·雍也》)

cháng zài hé biān zǒu, nǎ néng bù shī xié⚠ 拼音待校

Constant exposure to an environment will also corrupt oneself.

直译: If one often walks by the river, how can one's shoes never get wet?

píng shí bù shāo xiāng lín shí bào fó jiǎo

to not make adequate preparations beforehand and do something hurriedly only at the last minute

直译: to not burn incense regularly, but only clasp the Buddha's feet when something happens

píng shēng bù zuò kuī xīn shì bàn yè qiāo mén yě bù jīng

if one were not guilty, they have nothing to hide

直译: if one has not committed something of guilt in their entire life, they will not be afraid when someone is knocking on their doors in the middle of the night

chuáng tóu chǎo jià chuáng wěi hé

to quarrel with each other at the head of the bed and compromise at the end of it; to fight getting into bed and make up before falling asleep; to quickly make up after a quarrel; (sometimes specifically) to end an intense argument with make-up sex

ruò guó wú wài jiāo

weak countries are diplomatically underprivileged

ruò ròu qiáng shí

survival of the fittest; law of the jungle

直译: weak (is the) meat, strong eats (the meat); if you are weak, you are the meat; if you are strong, you eat the meat

tán zhǐ yī huī jiān

time flies

qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shé

Even a powerful person cannot defeat a local bully.

直译: A strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake

dāng jú zhě mí páng guān zhě qīng

Lookers-on see most of the game.

直译: Those involved in the matter are easily blinded to the truth, and those not involved can see things clearly.

出处: Originally said of chess games.

rěn yī shí yuè xiǎng yuè qì tuì yī bù yuè xiǎng yuè kuī

The more one tolerates an offence, the angrier one may feel; the more one yields, the more wronged one may feel.

直译: Endure for one moment, (and) the more you think about it the angrier you get; take one step back, (and) the more you think about it the more you feel shortchanged

rěn yī shí fēng píng làng jìng

With a little forbearance, you will find calm and peace.

直译: Endure for one moment, (and) the wind will calm and the waves will become silent

qíng rén yǎn lǐ chū xī shī

beauty is in the eye of the beholder; love is blind

直译: in the eyes of a lover, Xi Shi (one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China) appears

dǎ shì téng mà shì ài

Sometimes harsh words or deeds can demonstrate one's love; Tough love is sometimes the only way.

直译: Beating is (a sign of) affection, (and) cursing is (a sign of) love.

dí rén dì dí rén jiù shì péng yǒu

the enemy of my enemy is my friend

wú xìn bù lì

If people have no faith in a person, there is no standing for that person.

出处: From the Analects: : Romance of the Three Kingdoms

zǎo qǐ de niǎo r yǒu chóng chī

💡 Эрт хөдөлсөн хүн бусдаас түрүүлж, боломжоо авдаг.

出处: Calque of English the early bird gets the worm.

chūn jiāng shuǐ nuǎn yā xiān zhī

Professionals within an industry or profession will be the first to notice a change in circumstances.

出处: Literally: If the waters of the spring river are warm, the ducks will be the first to know.

zhì zhě qiān lǜ bì yǒu yī shī

even the wise aren't always free from errors (even after making deep and careful consideration); even Homer nods

shù bù yào pí bì sǐ wú yí rén bù yào liǎn tiān xià wú dí

A shameless person is undefeatable and difficult to deal with.

直译: A tree without bark will die without a doubt; a man unconcerned about saving his face is invincible.

chén mò shì jīn

silence is golden

liú yán zhǐ yú zhì zhě

rumors stop with the wise

hú guǎng shú tiān xià zú

Used to refer to the fertility of land in Hunan and Hubei.

wù yǐ lèi jù

Birds of a feather flock together.

直译: things will be gathered together according to category

wù yǐ lèi jù rén yǐ qún fēn

Birds of a feather flock together.

直译: Similar things group together, similar people fit together.

nán ér yǒu lèi bù qīng tán

💡 Эр хүн зовлонд амархан уйлдаггүй, нулимсаа дотроо нуудаг.

bìng cóng kǒu rù huò cóng kǒu chū

illness comes in via the mouth because of food and trouble goes out via the mouth because of words; carefulness is required in one's diet and speech

bìng xiàng qiǎn zhōng yī

Seek medical attention when one's illness is still minor

zhī rén zhě zhì zì zhī zhě míng

know thyself; one who has self-knowledge is intelligent; those who know others are discerning, but those who know themselves are truly wise

出处: From Tao Te Ching

zhī jǐ zhī bǐ bǎi zhàn bǎi shèng

Know yourself and know the enemy, and you can win every battle you fight.

出处: Corruption of 知己知彼，百戰不殆／知己知彼，百战不殆 (zhījǐzhībǐ, bǎizhànbùdài), with 百戰不殆／百战不殆 (bǎizhànbùdài) replaced with 百戰百勝／百战百胜 (bǎizhànbǎishèng, “to be ever-victorious”).

fú bù zhòng zhì, huò bì zhòng lái⚠ 拼音待校

opportunity seldom knocks twice, misfortunes never come singly

出处: alternative form of 福不重至，禍必重來 /福不重至，祸必重来 (fú bù chóng zhì, huò bì chóng lái)

fú wú shuāng zhì, huò bù dān xíng⚠ 拼音待校

opportunity seldom knocks twice, misfortunes never come alone

出处: Attested earliest in a speech attributed to Qu Yijiu (屈宜咎) and quoted in Shuoyuan

zhòng guā dé guā zhòng dòu dé dòu

as you sow, so shall you reap; you reap what you sow

直译: Plant melons and you get melons, plant beans and you get beans

jīng chéng suǒ zhì jīn shí wéi kāi

💡 Чин сэтгэлээр зүтгэвэл төмөр чулууг ч нээнэ — юу ч бүтнэ.

ěr tīng wéi xū yǎn jiàn wéi shí

Don't believe what people tell you until you see it for yourself.

liáo shèng yú wú

slightly better than nothing

zì gǔ hóng yán duō bó mìng

since ancient times, beautiful women have often been ill-fated

直译: From ancient times, many with a rosy countenance have been ill-fated.

出处: From the Journey to the West.